Obama coaxes Castro into answering questions
HISTORIC MEETING: Cuban president asked about political prisoners
HAVANA — President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro tussled Monday over differences on human rights and democracy but pledged to keep working on a new path forward between their two countries in a stunning diplomatic display.
Obama, midway through his historymaking trip to Cuba, succeeded in getting Cuba’s leader to submit to questioning by reporters, a routine occurrence for U.S. presidents but an anomaly in a communist country where the media are tightly controlled.
Though Castro’s answers were far from forthcoming, the mere occurrence of the news conference was significant. Asked by an American reporter about political prisoners in Cuba, Castro first said he couldn’t hear the question, then asked whether it was directed to him or Obama. Eventually he pushed back, saying if the journalist could offer up names of anyone allegedly imprisoned, “they will be released before tonight ends.
“What political prisoners? Give me a name or names,” Castro said. He added later, “It’s not correct to ask me about political prisoners in general.”
After responding to a handful of questions, Castro ended the conference abruptly, declaring, “I think this is enough.”
Cuba is criticized for briefly detaining demonstrators thousands of times a year but has drastically reduced its practice of handing down long prison sentences for crimes human rights groups consider to be political. Cuba released dozens of political prisoners as part of its deal to normalize relations with the U.S., and Amnesty International said in its 201516 report it knew of no prisoners of conscience in Cuba.
Cubans expressed shock at seeing Castro answer questions, especially about human rights and political prisoners.
“It’s very significant to hear this from our president, for him to recognize that not all human rights are respected in Cuba,” said Raul Rios, a 47-year-old driver.
Meanwhile, both Cuban and U.S. officials have made clear there will be no meeting between Obama and former president Fidel Castro.