Category — Security forces

Via BBC:

The number of political prisoners in Cuba has fallen in the past six months, according to a new report by the island’s main human rights group.

[...]

But the report also says that the authorities are continuing to take a tough line against dissidents.

It says that any change in the human rights situation remains “unlikely”.

There are an estimated 219 political prisoners currently held in Cuban jails, 15 fewer than in January this year.

But according to the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCHRNR) this does not represent a fundamental change in the treatment of dissidents under Raul Castro.

Instead, the latest half yearly report by this illegal but tolerated organisation points to a change in tactics, with a marked increase in what it calls arbitrary systematic detentions.

Instead of high profile arrests and imprisonment, opponents are picked up by police, often prior to planned meetings or rallies.

They are then released without charge, usually within 24 hours.

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Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) publishes different data sets concerning the military sector, overall security environment, human rights situation and governance in all together 170 countries.

The following data set identifies the danger of disproportionate military capacities impairing development. Checks whether an unproportionately high share of military expenditure, military personnel and arms imports may have a negative effect upon both human and economic development (Criteria 8 of the EU Code of Conduct).

If rated as “red”, there is a clear danger that this may be indeed the case. Cuba rated “green”, not critical.

Military data is based upon information obtained from both the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) as well as from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London.

Most notable in this data set is Cuba’s military expenditure, military personnel per inhabitants and number of military and paramilitary forces personnel.

“Cuba’s regular army, twenty years ago, numbered 145,000 men, most of them conscripted privates who served for three years. They were backed up by at least 110,000 ready reserves, who were trained forty-five days or more annually.  The best estimates point to military expenditures of $1.8 billion or more in 1985. This military outlay amounted to more than 10 percent of the government budget and exceeded eight percent of the island’s gross domestic product.”

Military Capacity

Military expenditure 2007 in Million USD (constant 2005)

1,416,000

Military expenditure as share of GDP 2007

not available

Number of personnel in military and paramilitary forces 2006

76,000

Military and paramilitary forces per 1.000 inhabitants

6.76

Military and paramilitary forces per physician

1.14

Imports of major conventional weapons, 2002-2006, in Million USD

not available

Share of weapons imports in total imports

not available

Source: SIPRI Yearbook 2007; SIPRI Yearbook 2008; IISS Military Balance 2007

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