Congressmen Urge Kerry to Reveal Status of Political Prisoners in Cuba

Congressmen from the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee urged US Secretary of State to disclose the status of 53 political captives Cuba has promised to free.

WASHINGTON, January 10 (Sputnik) — US Secretary of State John Kerry should disclose the status of 53 political captives Cuba has promised to free as part of the process of re-establishing diplomatic ties with the United States, congressmen from the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee have stressed.

"We are writing to request that you [Secretary Kerry] publicly release the names and current status of 53 Cuban political prisoners Havana committed to releasing during talks to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba," the committee's chairman, Republican Ed Royce, and a ranking committee member, Eliot Engel, said in a joint letter to Kerry Friday.

Despite Cuba's announced commitment to release these individuals, their status remains "shrouded in secrecy" the congressmen stressed.

Royce and Engel called on Kerry to provide information on when the prisoners will be released and whether those who have been released are being "surveilled and intimidated".

The Congressmen expressed fears that despite the process of re-establishing diplomatic ties with the United States, Cuban President Raul Castro could re-arrest the prisoners that have already been freed.

In December 2014 US President Barack Obama announced the decision to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba. The process began with relaxing trade and travel restrictions and reopening a US embassy in Havana.

Since 1961, the United States had an embargo in place against Cuba due to Cold War antagonism between Washington and the Communist government in Havana.

US Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Roberta Jacobson is expected to visit Havana on January 21-22 to hold talks on migration issues and the improvement of relations between the United States and Cuba.