hitcounter
30 August 2007 07:00:23 AM

Neighbourhood Vigilantes - Cuba

January 2007Castro may be seriously ill but his autocratic regime shows no signs of relaxing its grip on power. A network of neighbourhood spies ensures 'dangerous subversives' are kept in check.There are more than 135,000 Committees for the Defence of the Revolution (CDRs) in Cuba. There main purpose is to ensure that nothing -- or no one -- puts the achievements of the Revolution at risk. "With the help of the CDRs, we know who is who and who does what", explains Ruben Perez, Deputy Manager of the CDRs. Committees can hand out warnings to citizens deemed acting inappropriately. Those who fail to change their behaviour are then imprisoned for up to four years. People can also be imprisoned for moving from one town to another without a visa. When released, political prisoners are constantly monitored. "I am like a prisoner in my own neighbourhood", complains one former prisoner. "I'm afraid to visit anyone because I don't like to complicate anyone's life by my presence". Few people expect life to change soon. "I don't have any illusions about Fidel Castro's death leading to major democratic changes", states one man. "The generation that created this system will still be in power".

Tags

Cuba Castro Neighbourhood Vigilantes Spies Dangerous Sebversives Power illness Autocratic Regime

More Videos From journeymanpictures

Bookmark

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

Misc. Info

Avg. User Rating: 4.75
Number Of Ratings: 20

Number Of Views: 7002

website stats