From Cubanet:
HAVANA, April 29 - (Richard Roselló / www.cubanet.org) - Twenty-three Cubans who sought asylum in the Mexican Embassy have received prison sentences ranging from tour to 18 years.
Eighteen of the Cubans penetrated embassy grounds February 27, 2002, in a commandeered bus that smashed through the entrance, four scaled the fence and one walked through the damaged gate.
The sentences were made public by Elizardo Sánchez Santa Cruz,, president of the dissident Cuban Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation. He termed the sentences harsh.
The would-be asylum seekers were tried in January, but were only advised recently of the sentences meted out.
Paramilitary forces removed the 23 from the embassy grounds before they were able to formally ask for asylum.
Embassy officials had asked Cuban authorities to allow the 23 to return to their homes and not face trials.
