MSNBC. Feb. 18

MIAMI, Fla., Feb. 18 - A suspected crackdown among Cuban dissidents is raising concern among the exile community here in South Florida.

While many dissidents say they are accustomed to the government getting tough, they complain it's worse than ever now. A recent wave of detentions and arrests by the Fidel Castro regime has Cuban-Americans in South Florida very alarmed. One exile activist says in the last 3 months there have been more than 300 arrests.

Human rights monitor Elizardo Sanchez says the Cuban government briefly detained 304 dissidents, restricted the movements of another 201 and have been holding 22 more for possible trials since early November.

The crackdown comes at a time when President Fidel Castro appears increasingly worried about the level of discontent on the island. There's also the recognition that dissidents have been winning in Cuba and abroad.

Police patrols in Havana rose dramatically in January 1999 amid government complaints of a growing crime wave. Dissidents say they've further intensified the crackdown since late November.

The Cuban government denies that they are doing anything different, calling the reports a fabrication.

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