The Spanish government has granted political asylum to former Cuban political prisoner José Gabriel Ramón Castillo. Despite Madrid's conciliatory position towards the Castro dictatorship, the move is not too much of a surprise, as it was the Spanish government that earlier this year was able to secure the release of Ramón and three other political prisoners from the Castro gulag because of their poor health.
Ramón, who worked as an independent journalist before his arrest during the "black spring" of March-April 2003, was the only one of the four to request asylum in Spain. Ramón opposes Spain's moves to normalize relations with Cuba, which chilled after the "black spring," but he said he was grateful that the Spanish government had granted his request.
"The decision gives me tremendous peace of mind, because it means I can count on the protection of the Spanish government," said Ramón, who suffers from diabetes, hypertension, cirrhosis and stomach ulcers. "Until now I wasn't sure. Furthermore, I could not return to Cuba because if I did, they might revoke my parole (licencia extrapenal), detain me again and send me back to prison."
The Spanish government also granted asylum to Ramón's wife and stepdaughter.
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