Rights groups call for release of 55 prisoners still held after 2003 crackdown

International human rights and journalism advocacy groups called Tuesday on President Raul Castro's government to free critics still serving long sentences five years after a broad crackdown that landed 75 people behind bars.

"It is time for Cuba to release these prisoners immediately and without conditions," said Matt Easton, of the New York-based Human Rights First, in a news release. "The world is waiting to see whether Cuba is really ready for change, or only going through the motions."

The Committee to Protect Journalists focused on the 20 independent journalists among the 55 still held. Carlos Lauria, committee representative for the Americas, called for the journalists' release during a news conference in Madrid, attended by Cuban writer Raul Rivero.

Rivero who was among 16 people in the original group of 75 who were released early on medical parole. Another four in the group were released into forced exile in Spain last month.

About two dozen members of the Ladies in White, a support group for wives of political prisoners, marked the anniversary in Havana on Friday with a march demanding the release of their men.

The March 18, 2003, crackdown prompted governments and rights groups around the world to condemn Fidel Castro's communist government. Cuban officials defended the roundup, saying they needed to protect the nation from "mercenaries."

Cuba later tried and sentenced the 75 to prison terms of up to 28 years, accusing them of working with the United States to undermine Castro's government — charges the activists and Washington denied.

Since Raul Castro assumed the presidency from his ailing 81-year-old brother Fidel last month, Cuba has signed two international treaties on civil and political rights and the number of political prisoners counted by human rights groups has edged lower.

"Cuba's decision to commit publicly to human rights principles is welcome, but the continued imprisonment of these activists says much more about Cuba's intentions than the signing of any documents," said Easton.

In Washington, the U.S. State Department issued its own call for the release of all prisoners of conscience on the island. "The Cuban people deserve real change and the opportunity to join a dialogue about their country's future free from fear," said deputy spokesman Tom Casey,