Church says Cuba to free 52 political prisoners

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba will free 52 political prisoners, Cuba's Catholic church said on Wednesday, in a major concession to international pressure and a possible step toward improved relations with the United States and Europe.

The church said five of the prisoners would be released later on Wednesday and allowed to go to Spain, while the remaining 47 would be freed over the next few months and permitted to leave the country.

The 52 men appeared to be those still in jail from 75 arrested in a 2003 government crackdown against dissidents that damaged Cuba's international standing.

The release was the result of recent dialogue between President Raul Castro and Cuban Catholic leader Cardinal Jaime Ortega, as the church has taken a more prominent role in national affairs.

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos came to Havana this week to join in their discussions.

He said on Wednesday the release would "open a new era in Cuba...with the desire to definitively resolve the question of the prisoners."

The release would be the largest since 1998, when 101 political prisoners were among about 300 inmates freed following a visit by Pope John Paul II.

It will reduce the number of dissidents behind bars on the communist-led Caribbean island to about 100, which moves Cuba closer to eliminating one of the biggest stumbling blocks in its relations with the United States and Europe.

The U.S. and European Union have long pressed Havana to free political prisoners, improve human rights and move toward democracy.

The Cuban Commission for Human Rights said on Monday that Cuba had 167 political prisoners, including 10 who were out on parole, which was the lowest number since the 1959 revolution that put Fidel Castro in power.

U.S. SEES POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT

The U.S. State Department issued a cautious statement, saying it was working to confirm the church's report, but "would view prisoner releases as a positive development."

Reaction from Cuban dissidents was mixed, with Elizardo Sanchez of the independent Cuban Commission on Human Rights, saying the release was "something good," but not an indication that Cuba's human rights will improve.

But, Laura Pollan, leader of the dissident group Ladies in White and whose husband Hector Maceda was one of those still behind bars from the 2003 crackdown, said the release was an important moment in Cuba.

"I believe we are at the doors of a change, a significant change," she said.

Hopefully, Pollan said, it will be "the first steps of a true freedom, of a true democracy."

The Cuban government has not issued a statement on the release.

Cuba came under heavy international criticism after the February 23 death of hunger-striking dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo and in recent weeks has slightly relaxed its policy toward dissidents. It views them as mercenaries working for the United States and other enemies to topple the communist-led government

Zapata's death prompted another dissident, Guillermo Farinas, to launch a hunger strike that, after 134 days, reportedly has brought him near death in a hospital in the central city of Santa Clara.

He is demanding the release of 25 ailing political prisoners, who are believed included in the group to be freed.

But he said through his spokeswoman, Licet Zamora, he would not yet abandon his strike because he has not received word from the church or the government.

DRAMATIC SCENE

His refusal led to a dramatic scene at Pollan's home in central Havana, where she implored him to start eating.

"Trust a little bit. Stop the hunger strike; you are more valuable alive than dead," she told him, but to no avail.

Sarah Stephens, director of the Washington-based Center for Democracy in the Americas, said she hoped Wednesday's events would shift U.S. policy away from its cornerstone, a 48-year-old trade embargo against Cuba, and toward greater dialogue.

"This is joyful news ... and a lesson for U.S. policy makers that engagement -- talking to the Cubans with respect -- is accomplishing more, right now, than the embargo has accomplished in 50 years," she said.

U.S. President Barack Obama has made modest efforts to improve relations with Cuba, including a slight easing of the embargo, and said there would be further progress when the island released political prisoners.

But standing in the way is Cuba's detention of U.S. contractor Alan Gross, who has been jailed in Havana since December on suspicion of espionage activities.

U.S. officials, who say Gross is not a spy and was only providing Internet access to Jewish groups, have said there will be no significant improvements in relations until he is freed.

Cuba, which considers Gross to be part of longstanding U.S. efforts to undermine its system, has only said that he remains under investigation.

Moratinos said the release of the prisoners "logically has to help (Cuba's) relations with the United States, because now there is no excuse."

The Spaniard has been a leading voice in Europe for engagement with Cuba instead of confrontation and has pushed for the 27-nation bloc to drop its common position emphasizing improved human rights and democracy on the island.

The Cubans view the EU's stance as an obstacle to relations.

Zapata's death helped derail his efforts to amend the EU position while Spain led the organization the first half of this year, but the freeing of the prisoners may add momentum to his cause.

(Additional reporting by Nelson Acosta and Rosa Tania Valdes; Editing by Paul Simao and Cynthia Osterman)