Five Cuban dissidents reject proposed exile

HAVANA - Five of 52 dissidents that Cuba has agreed to release from prison and send into exile, have refused to go to Spain in line with the deal.

As the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco, a group of wives and mothers of dissidents) said Wednesday, the five have informed Havana’s Roman Catholic Cardinal Jaime Ortega of their decision.

Several released political prisoners have arrived in Spain since Tuesday and were to decide whether to stay there or go elsewhere, under an agreement between Cuban and Spanish authorities brokered by the Roman Catholic Church.

According to the Ladies in White, Pablo Arguelles Moran, Eduardo Diaz Fleitas, Arnaldo Ramos Lauzerique, Regis Iglesias Ramirez and Felix Navarro Rodriguez have refused to leave the communist island.

Cuba agreed last week to release 52 political prisoners after talks mediated by Spain and the Catholic Church. Spain is expected to receive up to 20 of the dissidents.

If any of the exiled prisoners wanted to return to Cuba, they would need special permission from the Cuban government.