Cuba Has Most Political Prisoners Per Capita--U.S.

Cuba has more political prisoners per capita than any other country and has forced 15% of its people into exile, the United States told the U.N. Human Rights Commission today.

A U.S. statement said an investigation by the 43-member U.N. human rights body is long overdue.

“Per capita, Cuba has more political prisoners in its jails--estimated variously at between 10,000 and 15,000--than any other country in the world,” the U.S. statement said.

Political prisoners in Cuba, the U.S. statement said, “are subjected to beatings, deprivation of food and other forms of torture, including electric shocks, drugs, denial of adequate food, medical care or exercise.”

Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Raul Roa Kouri denied any violations and told reporters that Cuba would refuse entry to any U.N.-appointed investigator. He said Cuba would submit a counter-resolution charging U.S. violation of rights of Indians, blacks and Puerto Ricans.