Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Parole of Anti-Government Human Rights Activists in Cuba

May 19, 2000

The Government of Japan welcomes the fact that the Government of the Republic of Cuba paroled two of the four members of the Internal Dissidents' Working Group, whose incarceration had been drawing the attention of the international community.
The Government of Japan will continue to observe the situation in Cuba, and strongly hopes that the release of the two activists will lead to the release of the other two members and those who are detained for the peaceful expression of their opinions.
Japan has been urging Cuba to take necessary measures for its democratization as well as for the improvement of its human rights situation, and will continue to encourage Cuba, through frank and sincere dialogue, to make further efforts in this regard.

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