Cuban dissident released from prison

Why stop at "1" Raúl?

Release them all.

In a surprise move, the Cuban government Wednesday released from prison dissident Hector Palacios, who had been serving a 25-year prison sentence since the "black spring" crackdown of March-April 2003.

Palacios, according the BBC said he was released because of a heart condition. He said he felt physically "destroyed" but "morally strong".

"I was in jail for almost four years that felt like 10. It was extremely unjust," Palacios, 65, said from his Havana home.

The Associated Press and other outlets were quick to credit temporary dictator Raúl Castro for making Palacios the first dissident of significant stature to be released during the interregnum. The move comes in the wake of Raúl's peace offering to the United States last weekend — which was rebuffed, in part, because Cuba currently holds more than 330 political prisoners.

Palacios' release is a triumph for him and for his family. But it might be useful to consider a few points before ascribing a significance other than the government's desire to do whatever neccessary to prevent a political prisoner from dying in jail, to Castro's decision to release the prisoner:

— That a regime has political prisoners at all says much more about that regime than a decision to release a solitary prisoner ever could.

— Palacios' release comes the same week that journalist Raimundo Perdigón was sentenced to four years in prison for being a "pre-criminal social danger." Other dissidents have reported more frequent harassment by state seurity officials and other government functionaries.

— There are still more than 330 political prisoners in the Castro brothers' gulag.

If Raúl wants to deal, he first has to let each and every one of them go.

Palacios was the first political prisoners profiled as Political Prisoner of the Week. To read about more Cuban political prisoners, click on the names under "Political Prisoner of the Week" or "March 18 Project."