New law increases protections for Cubans accused of crimes
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, HAVANA – Cuba’s National Assembly approved a number of laws expanding the legal rights of citizens, Thursday, 10/28. The changes stem from the 2019 constitution which requires reforms to modernize Cuba’s penal code and laws.
Cuban lawmakers and judges say the new law increases protection for those accused of crimes and should increase transparency. They demand, for example, that the accused be informed of the charges against them and that those detained have the right to be accompanied by a lawyer within 24 hours.
Residents will also be able to access to file and their own court documents. The promulgated law will enter into force in 2022.
Canada-based Cuban lawyer and legal analyst Eloy Viera said the law was a big step forward in preserving the right of citizens to defend themselves in court. “This law offers more guarantees and is more in line with international standards than the current regulations,” he said.
William LeoGrande, professor of government at the American University in Washington, said how the law was implemented would determine whether or not Cubans saw a significant change in their legal rights. “The law still gives officials enough leeway and only time will tell how they use it, especially in political affairs,” he said.
Dissidents and human rights organizations say more than 1,000 protesters were arrested after the July protests, the largest anti-government protests since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution. Several detainees have been held without charge, without communication and without representation.
The Cuban government has said those arrested in July were guilty of crimes including public nuisance, resisting arrest and vandalism. They declared the opposition march scheduled for November 15 illegal, claiming it was funded and promoted by the United States.
The reforms, however, removed a long-criticized law that allowed authorities to jail someone they deemed potentially dangerous. This method, critics say, is often used against dissidents. This decision also includes a ban on illegal detention.
source: Reuters
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