Obama hosts dissidents in Cuba but rivals slam 'token' gesture

President Barack Obama held a symbolic meeting with Cuban dissidents at the U.S. embassy in Havana Tuesday, in an encounter dismissed as a "token" gesture by his political rivals at home. 


On the last day of a landmark trip that has seen him press for democracy on the communist-run island, Obama met more than a dozen figures from Cuba's highly restricted civil society, the White House said. 


"All of the individuals around this table have shown extraordinary courage," Obama told the group. "They have spoken out on behalf of the issues that they care deeply about." 


"Part of our policy with respect to engagement with Cuba is not simply me meeting with President (Raul) Castro or government-to-government relations," Obama told the activists. 


"Much of this is a matter of us being able to hear directly from the Cuban people and making sure that they have a voice and making sure that their concerns and their ideas are helping to shape U.S. policy." 


Obama earlier made an address to the Cuban people that was broadcast live on national television and served as the capstone of a historic but criticized visit. 


Asked about the detention of political prisoners, Castro responded: "After this meeting is over, you can give me a list of political prisoners and if we have those political prisoners, they will all be released before the night ends

Source: NNA