CUBA

The dictatorship of President Fulgencio Batista, having long since reduced the legislative branch of the Cuban government to a rubber stamp, busied itself last week with destroying the independence of the judiciary. Enacted into law a fortnight ago was a Cabinet decree making judges removable for "any public or private statements, express or tacit conduct, direct or indirect actions criticizing any political officials or authority."

Star-chamber proceedings were held under the "zipper law" (so-called because it seals judges' mouths) against two judges and nine magistrates. Lawyers called the new law a clear violation of Article 170 of the constitution, which says: "Judges are independent and owe no obedience except to the law. " In Miami where he fled last month, José Miró Cardona, dean of the Havana Bar Association and Cuba's leading criminal lawyer, pointed out that Batista had done more to demolish Cuba's courts than any previous dictator in the nation's history. Mourned respected Lawyer Cardona: "In Cuba there is no more law."