That appears to be the response of Mr Castro's government to tentative efforts by opposition groups to become better known, by carrying out public protests and other outlawed activities. Mr Castro was visibly annoyed when the opposition stole some of his limelight at the Ibero-American summit held in Havana last November. Visiting leaders from Spain, Portugal and Latin America went out of their way to meet dissidents or voice public support for them. In fact, he may be no less repressive than he used to be, but there has been a shift in the pattern of his repression in recent years, and it derives from the fact that the Soviet collapse meant Cuba had to strengthen its ties with the capitalist world. The long prison sentences that used to be handed out have been replaced by constant harassment, which attracts less criticism from abroad.
Jail sentences are a last resort.
Even so, Mr Sanchez has documented 350 political prisoners in Cuba. Four people have been convicted since November. Indeed, in October Mr Castro said that outside appeals would merely mean that such prisoners would have to serve their full sentences. Many dissidents agree that Elian should go back to Cuba. But they see the issue as one of the red herrings that Mr Castro is so adept at spawning, to divert attention from other problems on the island.