The Baltimore Orioles are set to play ball in Havana tomorrow, and now attendence at the historic game with Cuba's national team is -- no surprise -- by invitation only. Let's see the Cuban regime pack the stadium with party faithful and segurosos -- the state security goons seen everywhere during the Pope's visit.

Heaven forbid any fan shout the names of dissidents Felix Bonne, Rene Gomez Manzano, Vladimiro Roca and Marta Beatriz Roque -- recently sentenced to prison for peaceably criticizing the one-party state; or hold any sign saying ``Down with the dictatorship of the brothers Castro,'' as did a woman at a Papal mass last year; or even cheer for the Orioles. Treasonous acts, all.

For the record, the timing of this exchange stinks. John Henry, Florida Marlins owner, has it right: ``People are not aware of the depth of oppression in Cuba. If they were, no one would support the game.''

People-to-people contacts can work wonders. But Sunday's game got the green light amid one of the Cuban regime's worst crackdowns. Messrs. Bonne, Gomez, Roca and Ms. Roque were just condemned to prison in flagrant abuse of their fundamental human right to free speech. The regime also passed Draconian gag laws that carry sentences of up to 20 years for the crime of collaborating with the enemy, namely us, the United States. Those Cuban baseball players better watch what they yell rounding first base.

That said, let's hope for the best: that the foreign press gives as much coverage to the context of the game as to the runs batted in. For one, Cuba's regular baseball fanatics are incensed at being shut out from the game. They know who is responsible and why: An aging dictator must keep his choke hold. Many of the excluded, fans and dissidents alike, could show up outside the gate -- unless the regime arrests them all first.

WPLG-Channel 10 commendably plans to broadcast the game. It's not selling ads, and respected political editor Michael Putney will guide coverage. Complaints notwithstanding, just as with the Pope's visit, South Florida and the world will be watching. Let the Orioles win this one for the dissidents and democracy.