I have no idea if it means anything, other than the dictatorship trying to keep a prisoner off-balance. But the optimist in me wonders whether the recent transfer of imprisoned journalist Miguel Galván Gutiérrez from the Agüica prison in Colón to a prison in Havana is a precursor for his imminent release.
Like other political prisoners, Galván, 42, suffers from a variety of health ailments, including a painful urinary tract infection.
Other political prisoners have been released on medical parole, but the problem for the dictatorship with such releases is that just about every political prisoner suffers from one serious ailment or another. Releasing them all would be the right thing — which, of course, the dictatorship knows nothing about.
But more serious for the regime, a general amnesty for political prisoners might be seen as a sign of weakness at a moment in Cuban history when that perception might spell the beginning of the dictatorship's demise. Just imagine how threatened the Castro brothers and their cronies might feel if patriots with the moral authority of a Oscar Biscet or a Miguel Galván are free to advocate for Cuban liberty. Once the Cuban people start to listen, nothing might stop them.
No, keeping political prisoners, even the sickest of the sick, in jail, is one of the brutal ways the dictatorship keeps its grip on power. It will not give that up without a fight.
But still, I wonder what if, what if Galván's transfer means good news is coming soon for him and his family.
Faith on behalf of Cuba's political prisoners is not futile. One day they, and the rest of Cuba will be free.
That faith keeps the prisoners going.
Follow their example.
Galván, a journalist, independent trade unionist and mechanical engineer, was arrested during the "black spring" crackdown of March 2003, tried and sentenced to 26 years in prison — one of the harshest punishments handed down to dissidents arrested four years ago.
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