By Vanessa Bauzá
HAVANA BUREAU

HAVANA · The Cuban government freed a jailed 59-year-old independent journalist on Thursday after he spent nine months at a Havana prison hospital receiving psychiatric treatment.

Edel Garcia is the sixth dissident to be released this week -- of 75 jailed 19 months ago -- in what many see as a gesture from Havana to repair damaged relations with the European Union. Seven others have been released since the 2003 crackdown.

Garcia, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison, said he would not return to his writing for fear his parole could be revoked. Instead, he hoped the Cuban government would issue him an exit permit to seek political asylum in the United States.

Garcia called the release of the 13 dissidents a positive sign and especially thanked the European Union for its support.

"Everyone who is in prison has the hope of getting out. We had a lot of trust in the negotiations of the European Union," he said.

Garcia, a former linguist, said he suffered severe claustrophobic episodes and depression during his first 10 months in solitary confinement before being transferred to a prison hospital. He also has glaucoma and a cyst in his kidney. He said he received adequate medical care in prison. On Thursday his hands shook as he spoke at a friend's Havana home. He said he felt agitated and nervous, but also "full of emotion."

About 18 other political prisoners from several provinces across Cuba have been transferred to Havana for medical checkups this week, including activist Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet and veteran opposition leader Hector Palacios. There was widespread speculation that others could be released in the days to come. However, the dissidents' wives had no information on potential paroles.

Vanessa Bauzá can be reached at vmbauza1@yahoo.com

Copyright © 2004