An activist support group for the wives of Cuban political prisoners has written to Barack Obama, expressing hope his policies toward the communist-run island may help free their loved ones if he wins the US presidential race.
The Ladies In White, wives and other female relatives of 75 dissidents and independent journalists who were rounded up during a 2003 governmental crackdown on political dissent, sent an open letter to the Democratic candidate during his visit to Miami on Friday.
Two days later, 15 of its members - dressed in white and many wearing T-shirts with the pictures of their imprisoned relatives - marched silently down Havana's crowded Fifth Avenue, clutching small plastic Cuban flags and flowers.
Varying group members repeat the same ritual every Sunday after Roman Catholic Mass, marching two blocks, then returning to face the church and yell "Freedom for political prisoners!" again and again. Most Cubans walking or driving past ignored their small demonstration, though some honked in support and others rolled down windows to shout obscenities.
The government does not tolerate organised opposition, and considers political opposition leaders "mercenaries" who take money from US officials to undermine Cuban communism. In the five years since the arrests, authorities have freed 16 of the inmates on medical parole and released four others into forced exile in Spain.
"We have great hope that you can contribute to the immediate, unconditional liberation of the 55 who are still in horrible prison conditions, with serious health problems," the group wrote to Obama.
One of the founders of the Ladies in White, Miriam Leiva, said that representatives of the group living outside Cuba travelled to Miami to deliver the letter, and spoke with Obama for a few minutes.
"This has nothing to do with the presidential race or support for one candidate or another," she said. "We are not political. The only thing we hope for is the liberation of our prisoners and improved well-being for the Cuban people."
But Leiva and her husband, economist Oscar Espinosa Chepe, also drafted a separate letter to Obama in which they applauded his pledge to meet with President Raul Castro and ease restrictions on Cuban Americans who want to travel or send money to the island.
The letter said an Obama win during the presidential election in November could "begin an era of political realism toward Cuba due to increased contact in all areas and with all representatives of society, including governments and leaders".
Obama says he would maintain the embargo to use as leverage for winning democratic change in Cuba. But he said he would allow "unlimited family travel and remittances to the island" and repeated that, if elected, he would be willing to meet with Raul Castro, who in February became Cuba's first new president in 49 years.
