Three journalists among first dissidents to be released in Cuba

José Luis García Paneque, Pablo Pacheco Ávila, and Lester Luis González Pentón, independent Cuban journalists imprisoned during the 2003 crackdown against the political opposition and the press, are among the five dissidents to be released soon and sent to Spain as part of an agreement between the government of President Raúl Castro and the Catholic Church, international press reports said today.

In a statement on Wednesday, Cuba ’s Roman Catholic Church said Castro had agreed to promptly release five political prisoners, who will leave for Spain with their families.

The church’s statement said that 47 other dissidents will be freed over a three- to four-month period.

Copyright: Committee to Protect Journalists