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WASHINGTON,
D.C., February 28
U.S.
STRONGLY OPPOSES VENEZUELA COUP
American
officials have told dissident Venezuelan military
officers that the United States opposes any attempt
to depose President Hugo Chavez before his term
is completed, a senior administration official says.
ñWe believe that all parties should respect democratic
institutions. Those who may want change, political
change, need to pursue it democratically and constitutionally."
Successive
administrations have worked to promote democracy
in the Hemisphere, a policy that has greatly succeeded.
Elected Latin American governments are in power
everywhere but Cuba. Venezuela has been democratic
since a military government was overthrown in 1958.
During
the last 44 years, the Venezuelan military has been
the strongest defenders of the country's
democratic process.
Supporters of the Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez hold a poster of Cuban revolutionary
Ernesto "Che" Guevara, during a march
in Caracas, Wednesday. They also waved black and
red flags, similar to Cuban dictator Fidel CastroÍs
26 of July flag. ñChavists" marched to commemorate
the 1989 food riots in a scene becoming increasingly
familiar in a country sharply divided over Chavez
presidency.
HAVANA,
February 28
EVERYTHING
INDICATES SCARCITY OF "EGGS"
IN CUBA
Eggs, a mainstay of the Cuban
diet and sometimes primary source of protein, have
been getting increasingly scarce in Cuba. The egg
ration of 12 eggs per person per month, at least
in the city of Havana, was reduced to six in 2001,
but they were usually available in the black market
at 2 pesos each, or in the dollar stores at 10 cents
each.
Now,
when found, black market eggs cost 3 pesos each,
and in the dollar stores they are only sold to diplomats.
The problem seems to arise from a scarcity of chicken
feed, which in Cuba is made from imported raw materials.
HAVANA,
February 27
THE
CUBAN DICTATOR ACCUSES US OF "DOZENS OF BIOLOGICAL
ATTACKS"
Cuban
dictator Fidel Castro revived on Monday an old accusation
against the United
States of ñcarrying out biological attacks against
Cuba." "I say to our people, I say it here,
we have suffered dozens of biological attacks,"
Castro said in a television address on Cuba's massive
campaign against the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Recently
sanitary authorities had said the mosquito, a vector
for dengue and yellow fevers, was widespread through
the city.
During
his sometimes-rambling comments, Castro particularly
lashed out at the US Agency for International Aid
(USAID), which he said was dedicated to spreading
subversion in Cuba and backing corrupt elites elsewhere
in Latin America. "This is the famous agency,
well-known in our country, very charitable, very
humanitarian," he said sarcastically, after
reading a media report of USAID's work in El Salvador,
which is successfully fighting a dengue outbreak.
"We know 10 times more than them,"
Castro said. "The most they (USAID) know about,
really, is how to transport and develop viruses
-- they did it for years -- and how to attack a
country with viruses," he added.
Further
signaling a possible change in tone from recent
conciliatory comments made by Cuba's communist leaders,
Castro promised a response soon to hostile comments
in past days from a senior U.S. diplomat. ñThey
waste their time completely every time they stupidly
talk about waiting for change in Cuba ... and the
hope, I don't know what, for the post-Castro era,"
he added. The Cuban dictator clearly was referring
to recent public comments from Washington's chief
envoy, Vicki Huddleston, who heads the U.S. diplomatic
mission in Havana.
CARACAS,
February 27
VENEZUELAN
GENERAL DEMANDS CHAVEZ RESIGNATION
A
fourth military officer has demanded that President
Hugo Chavez resign.
Air Force
Gen. Roman Gomez Ruiz urged other colleagues to
speak out, citing military unhappiness with alleged
government corruption and the president's management
of the armed forces. ñTo the armed forces ... remember
that the people are above all else"
Gomez Ruiz said at a news conference.
ñPresident
Chavez, for the good of the country and for love
of the armed forces, resign peacefully and take
responsibility for your failure. Please, donÍt do
any more harm to the country,'' the general emphasized.
Addressing the military, Gomez said: "Remember
that our duty is to the nation and not to any particular
government, particularly if its actions harm the
people and the country's development."
In
a newspaper advertisement Tuesday, more than 3,000
workers at state-owned oil
monopoly Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) protested
Chavez's decision to sack company president General
Guaicaipuro Lameda, another dissident officer, and
replace him with leftist economist Gaston Parra.
"We are a single voice which says 'No' to the
politicization of PDVSA," said one of the ads.
General Lameda retired from the military last week
so he could be free to criticize the government.
FORT
WASHINGTON, February 25
WASHINGTON'S POLICY TOWARDS
CUBA OF "NO CHANGE" HAS
TO BE CHANGED (By
Major General (DC-Ret) Erneido A. Oliva, CAMCO Chairman
and Second-In-Command of the Bay of Pigs Invasion
)
Recently,
the White House, tried to justify President George
W. BushÍs second waiver
of the Helms-Burton Title III, and to explain why
the president was not enforcing the laws on Cuba,
as promised during his presidential campaign, by
distributing a fact sheet that at the end states:
ñThe recent appointment of Otto Reich as Assistant
Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
completes the PresidentÍs foreign policy team. With
it, a full review of the tools we are using to achieve
our policy goal in Cuba is now appropriate."
personally know that Ambassador Reich is an outstanding
professional and I do not question his democratic
values. However, due to my 30 years of experience
in Washington, I am sorry to say that the task assigned
to him in this Hemisphere, to make possible a democratic
transition in Cuba, is going to be very difficult
to accomplish if changes are not implemented soon.
In my dealings with many of their past and present
colleagues, I have found out that many of them have
been afraid of directly interfering with CubaÍs dictatorship and have been opposed
to supporting the Cuban-Americans who are peacefully
struggling for a free, civic and democratic Cuba.
A
few days ago, with strong rumors swirling within
and outside of the Cuban-American community about
possible rapprochement between Cuba and the United
States, the White House decided to reinforce the
presidentÍs overall policy toward Cuba by stating
that "no
change" has been made on President BushÍs
decision to achieve democratic changes in Cuba."
Three high level State Department officials
in charge
of Cuban affairs repeated similar remarks
last Thursday in Miami. There have been so many
rumors about secret negotiations between Havana
and Washington that we do not have enough space
to publish them here. Unfortunately, official statements
of ñno change" have been made year after
year by presidents and senior officials of nine
previous administrations. It seems that the tough
rhetorical position adopted by the current president,
is only a ñcosmetic" stance to appease the politically
active Cuban-Americans. In reality, ñno
change"
in WashingtonÍs Cuba policy means only a continuation
of the status
quo, a continuation of the only military
dictatorship in Latin America, a prolongation of
the Cuban people suffering under a terrorist regime
that has intervened politically and militarily in
every country of Latin America and has shamelessly
fooled with impunity nine American presidents.
It is my personal
opinion that we do not need a continuation
of present and past policies; we do not need
to hear any more promises by government officials
of ñno changes." Washington has been making
identical promises to the Cuban people and the exile
community for more than four decades. We do not
need Administration
officials wasting their precious time
preparing yet another
ñwhite paper" to appease Cuban-Americans, until
the next state or national elections as it was repeatedly
done during past administrations. What we do
need is an active policy with ñclout" (ñcojones"
as mentioned by former Secretary of State Albright)
to finally implement the ñpromises" made such as
those included in President ClintonÍs 1998 ñSupport
for a Democratic Transition in Cuba" Report that
never saw the light of the day. What we do need
is active support to civilian and military dissidents
inside Cuba who courageously demand political changes.
What we do need are Radio and TV Marti to
improve their broadcasting and reach the Cuban people
without Cuba's interference. What we do need
is for the U.S. Government to provide financial
assistance, not only to academicians and American
universities, but also to Cuban exile organizations
that are prepared, organized and ready to assist
in achieving democratic changes in Cuba. Let us
be frank, if we are serious about our ñWar Against
Terrorism," why are we not
taking action against Castro? Why we are
not informing
the American people and the world about how
Cuba routinely infringes upon the human rights of
his countryÍs population? Why we are not strongly
denouncing how the Cuban dictator continues to harbor,
train and encourage native and international terrorists
as he has done for the past 42 years. Are these
not the same things that are being done by those
in the ñAxis
of
Evil?" For the reasons explained above, WashingtonÍs
policy towards Cuba of ñNO
CHANGE" should be "changed"
if President Bush is really committed to bring democracy
to the Cuban people.
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MIAMI, February 23
PRESIDENT BUSH WILL
"NOT CHANGE" U.S. POLICY TOWARD
CUBA
President
George
W. Bush
administration will ñNOT
CHANGE"
U.S. policy toward Cuba unless
its communist government undertakes serious reform,
U.S. officials said on Thursday at a ceremony at
which they handed over a check for $1,045,000 to
the University of Miami to fund a project which
will examine issues affecting Cuba's transition
to democracy. "It is all very well for Cuba to say it wants a warmer
and better relationship. What there needs to be
is fundamental change in Cuba," said Vicki
Huddleston, who heads the U.S. Interests Section
in Havana.
"What's
going on is a charm offensive by Fidel Castro and
the message is directed at Congress and the American
people," said James Carragher, coordinator
for Cuban affairs at the State Department. Adolfo
Franco, head of the U.S. Agency for International
Aid for Latin America and the Caribbean, called
Havana's moves a "cosmetic overture."
He said it was essential that the United States
prepare for a transition in Cuba, a day he said
was "not far in the future."
CARACAS,
February 23
AN
ARMY GENERAL SAID CHAVEZ MUST GO -- "I WOULD
RATHER BE CALLED COWARD BEFORE I SHOOT AGAINST MY
OWN PEOPLE," THE GENERAL SAID
Venezuelan
Army Gen. Guaicaipuro Lameda gives a news conference
at his home in Caracas, Thursday. Lameda who headed
the state-owned oil monopoly, PDVSA, said: "Today,
we are divided into two poles, which are facing
off against each other. ... What worries me is that
we might reach the point of violence," Lameda
said. The general stated that out of respect for
the armed forces, he preferred to retire and take
his uniform off before expressing opinions about
the president and the government. But he criticized
Chavez for trying to align the nation's armed forces
to his self-proclaimed "civic-military revolution"
and of using the military to threaten his political
enemies.
Lameda
recalled that the president once had publicly warned
his opponents that his "revolution" had
"planes, tanks and guns" with which to
defend itself. "I ask myself, as a general
of this country, who is the enemy we are going to
fight? Who is it we are going to be shooting against?"
Lameda asked. "I would rather be called a coward,
or retire from the army, than have to command a
brigade in the service of some political side that
shoots against its own people," the general
added.
HAVANA, February 23
CASTRO
VERY ANGRY BECAUSE PANAMA WON'T TRY POSADA CARRILES
Cuban
dictator Fidel Castro Thursday protested the Panamanian
judiciary's reported decision not to try for murder
an anti-communist militant accused of plotting to
blow him up during a regional summit. Government
spokesmen said it was "inexplicable" and
"immoral" to spare maximum charges against
Cuban exile Luis Posada Carriles, who has been jailed
in Panama since November 2000, when Castro denounced
his alleged assassination plot.
Castro
critics abroad respond to his insults by calling
the tyrant a terrorist, saying the veteran communist
ruler -- who at 75 is just two years' older than
Posada -- is guilty of killing and jailing opposition
dissidents, and denying free speech to his countryÍs
population.
BOGOTA,
February 22
COLOMBIA
MILITARY BEGINS BOMBING CAMPAIGN
The Colombian military
began aerial bombardment of a vast rebel territory
early Thursday, following the president's decision
to cancel peace talks and reclaim the region from
the guerrillas.
Military warplanes and
helicopters bombed ''85 strategic points within
the zone overnight and the operation was continuing",
said armed forces spokeswoman Consuelo Garcia. Shortly
after midnight Thursday, army tanks could be seen
moving through the streets of Bogota, and surveillance
flights were sent over the zone.
BOGOTA, February 22
PRESIDENT PASTRANA GIVES UP ON PEACE PROCESS
Hours
after Communist guerrillas boldly hijacked a plane
and kidnapped a Colombian legislator, President
Andrés Pastrana Wednesday declared an end
to peace negotiations that have dragged on for more
than three years without producing an end to decades
of conflict. Pastrana
also ordered the rebels to immediately abandon the
controversial safe haven he awarded them in a failed
effort to produce a permanent peace, and threatened
to deploy troops into the zone if they failed to
evacuate the area by midnight.
The president made the announcement
in an angry, 30-minute televised speech Wednesday
night where he pointedly spoke directly to the FARC,
the guerrillas blamed for thousands of deaths. ñColombia
offered an open hand ƒ and you gave us a slap,''
Pastrana said. ñYou mocked this nation. That's why
today it's you who will have to answer to your arrogance
and lies.''
In
late 1998, Pastrana made the controversial move
to award the FARC a 16,500-square mile area in southern
Colombia as a safe haven for peace talks. But the
move backfired: the zone was used not as a demilitarized
zone for peace but rather to plot kidnappings, grow
cocaine and store arms and stolen cars, the president
contended. Colombia's insurgency has left 35,000
people dead since 1990. Nearly two million people
have been forced from their homes by violence.
CARACAS,
February 22
VENEZUELAN COLONEL IS DISCHARGED FROM THE AIR FORCE
The first of three military officers
to publicly demand President Hugo Chavez's
resignation was discharged from the armed forces
Thursday, the defense minister said.
A military investigative council ruled that
Air Force Col. Pedro Soto should be discharged for
publicly delivering an anti-government speech that
prompted thousands to protest against Chavez. Soto
immediately condemned the ruling as unconstitutional
and said he would not obey. He said the constitution
guarantees his right to voice political views. ñI
declare myself in disobedience,'' said Soto, wearing
his full colors and saluting before TV cameras.
ñLet Chavez come and remove my uniform himself.''
The
military is evaluating whether to punish National
Guard Capt. Pedro Flores and
Navy Vice Adm. Carlos Molina Tamayo for also demanding
that Chavez step down. On Monday, Molina Tamayo
stunned many by becoming the highest-ranking officer
to publicly criticize Chavez. Navy chief Jorge Sierralta
Zavarce said Vice Adm. Molina Tamayo was ñan excellent
officer.''
SANTIAGO,
February 21
THE
CUBAN DICTATOR DEMANDS CHILE TO STOP ITS QUERIES
ABOUT A LEFTIST FUGITIVE
Cuban dictator Fidel Castro has
told Chile to stop pressuring him over allegations
that Havana sheltered Chilean leftist guerrillas.
Chilean media and government officials said the
dictator had written a letter to the government
of President Ricardo Lagos to reject Chilean claims
that Havana may have sheltered members of the Manuel
Rodriguez Popular Front rebel group in recent years.
The rebel group, active
during the 1973-1990 government of Augusto Pinochet,
returned to prominence two weeks ago when one of
its leaders was arrested for a high-profile kidnapping
in Brazil. Chilean judicial officials say the rebel,
Mauricio Hernandez Norambuena, fled to Cuba after
staging a daring helicopter escape from a high-security
Chilean prison in 1996.
"It is time for the slanders and pressure
on Cuba to stop," read the dictatorÍs letter
sent a week ago, printed yesterday in El Mercurio
daily. The letter said Communist-ruled Cuba had
already answered Chilean queries over whether Norambuena
and two other rebels went to Cuba after their jail
break. Norambuena was jailed in Chile for the killing
of a senator. Norambuena was one of six people arrested
on Feb. 2 near Sao Paulo for the kidnapping of Brazilian
business executive Washington Olivetto. Despite
CastroÍs assurances, after his arrest, the fugitive
informed Brazilian authorities of his stay in Havana
after his escape.
PANAMA, February 21
POSADA
CARRILES WONÍT FACE ALLEGED MURDER PLOT CHARGE
Luis
Posada Carriles, an anti-Castro activist arrested
in Panama, will not be tried in connection with
an alleged plot to kill Cuban
dictator
Fidel
Castro, Panamanian prosecutors said Tuesday. Posada
Carriles could, however, face a number of lesser
charges as early as May. ''The only one in this
case who has talked about assassinating Fidel Castro
is Fidel Castro himself,'' said defense lawyer Rogelio
Cruz.
Saying
there was insufficient evidence to support a case,
Panama's prosecutor's office announced that Posada
Carriles and three Miami Cubans arrested in November
2000 would not face charges of attempted homicide.
But the four defendants still may be tried for falsification
of documents, illegal association to commit a crime
and possession of explosives. According to sources,
prosecutor Dimas Guevara told the presiding court
that ''no grounds exist for the [charge] of attempted
felonious homicide'' in the case of the four defendants.
Posada,
73, Gaspar Jiménez, 65, Guillermo Novo, 61,
and Pedro Remón, 56, were arrested Nov. 17,
2000, during the 10th Ibero-American Summit at Panama
City. When Castro arrived, he notified the Panamanian
authorities of an alleged assassination plot.
HAVANA,
February 21
THE
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT PAY REGULARLY TO RETIREES
Pensioners
in Old Havana complain of irregularities in getting
their retirement pay every month. A retired woman
who receive a retirement pay of 76 pesos (2.92 dollars)
said that she should have received her money for
January on February 6, but after five visits to
the post office that's supposed to handle the transaction,
she still doesn't have her money.
"They always tell me there is no money
to pay me," she said. The retiree gets 76 pesos,
or just under three dollars a month, on a widow's
pension. "If my children didn't help me, I
don't know what I would do. What can one do with
so little money?"
TEHERAN,
February 20
TEHERAN
AND HAVANA, ANOTHER ALLIANCE BETWEEN TWO TERRORIST
"SISTER CITIES"
Cuban
Ambassador to Iran Jose Amiro Rodriguez and Minister
of Agricultural Jihad Mahmoud Hojati in a meeting
Monday explored avenues of economic and agricultural
cooperation. Hojati stressed that the implementation
of joint agreement signed should be expedited. Cuban
ambassador expressed satisfaction on cooperation
between the two countries and welcomed exchange
of ñexperts" and transfer of know- how in agriculture
and other economic fields between Iran and Cuba.
Meanwhile,
earlier in February, First Vice President Mohammad-Reza
Aref in a meeting with Rodriguez described
bilateral relations as very satisfactory and underlined
continuation and consolidation of mutual ties mainly
in the scientific, technical and bio-technology.
Highlighting Cuba's place in Iran's foreign policy,
he said the exchange of official-level visits and
strengthening the joint-economic commission will
be useful in upgrading Tehran-Havana relations.
CAMAG EY,
February 20
"EL
ZORRO" STRIKES AGAIN
"El Zorro"
is back after several weeks underground, and another
steer from the government's herd
has been the subject of a midnight distribution
among the townspeople of Céspedes, CamagÙey
province.
"If
Fidel Castro and his cronies eat beef, why can't
the people and I not do the same," read the
note left behind by whoever slaughtered a cow near
the Yaguarama reservoir and then went door to door
in the wee hours of Tuesday, February 12, telling
residents where the cow was so they could help themselves.
A local dissident said the
Cuban Zorro
has become
a legend in the area. "People in Yaguarama
consider him a humanitarian person, since he has
never profited from the beef. I wish there were
more like him in Cuba."
(Read a related story published on December 24,
2001)
HAVANA,
February 19
RICARDO
ALARCÓN
IS VERY
OPTIMISTIC -- ñU.S. RELATIONS WILL IMPROVE SOON",
THE OLD COMMUNIST SAID
The
president of Cuba's National Assembly, Ricardo Alarcón,
said yesterday that the two countries' traditionally
hostile relations could be normalized "in the
immediate future." But Alarcón,
the most powerful member of the Cuban Communist
Party after the dictator and his brother Raúl,
told a U.S.-Cuba sister cities meeting in Havana
that ñrisks and obstacles remained."
"We
are at a moment filled with great possibilities
of taking important steps in the immediate future
toward completely normal relations between the United
States and Cubaƒ," Alarcón said. He
pointed to recent visits to Cuba by U.S. businessmen,
politicians and other personalities as a very positive
sign. He also pointed to the growing climate in
favor of changing Cuba policy within various sectors
of the United States and Congress.
In
sharp contrast to Alarcón's upbeat tone,
the highest ranking U.S. diplomat in Cuba earlier
this month rejected the notion that Washington's
relations with the communist-run island were on
the mend. "Relations have not improved. ...
Nothing has changed in Cuba," said Vicki Huddleston,
the head of the U.S. Interest Section in Havana.
Huddleston was reacting to speculation that Cuba's
cooperation over the detention of al Qaeda and Taliban
captives at Guantánamo Bay, and Havana's
recent first-time purchase of food from the United
States, signaled a thaw in relations.
Who is right? SHE
or HE?
Well,
let's wait and see.
CARACAS,
February 19
A VENEZUELAN
ADMIRAL CALLS FOR CHÁVEZÍS RESIGNATION
Yesterday,
in a press conference, Vice Adm. Carlos Molina Tamayo
said: "I am calling on the national armed forces
and the population to publicly demonstrate their
rejection of President Chávez' position and
to call for his resignation."
The vice-admiral accused Presidente Chávez
of seeking to impose a totalitarian regime in Venezuela.
The
vice-admiral also accused Chávez of veering
Venezuela away from its traditional
allies, such as Washington, and damaging its interests
by cozying
up to Cuba and other totalitarian regimes. ñI publicly
state my rejection of the conduct of President Chávez
and his regime,'' he said. ñWe demand a truly democratic
system." Molina Tamayo condemned Venezuela's relations
with ñthe terrorist Colombian guerrillas, lambasted
what he called illicit ñenrichment'' of top government
officials, accused Chávez of installing ñan
extreme leftist'' regime, and demanded an end to
Venezuelan sales of oil to Cuba.
Earlier this month, Air
Force Colonel Pedro Soto and National Guard Captain
Pedro
Flores, also demanded Chávez's resignation.
Some
armed forces officers are known to be upset with
the Chávez administration's
relations
with Marxist Colombian guerrillas and Cuba's Fidel
Castro, noting the Venezuelan army fought Castro-backed
guerrillas in the 1960s and 1970s. "Venezuelans!
For Venezuela, its future and the well-being of
our children, we must all demand with a single voice
the immediate resignation of President Chávez
and his government. The dissident admiral told reporters
some 90 percent of the armed forces shared his discontent.
HAVANA,
February 18
THE CUBAN DICTATOR DOESN'T CARE ABOUT TERRORIST
LIST
Cuban dictator Fidel Castro
says he doesn't care if the United States includes
Cuba on
its annual terrorism watch list and singled out
the top ranking American diplomat in Havana for
criticism. At the close of a forum on ñeconomic
globalization," the dictator said: ''There is not
a country in the world where the American diplomats
don't meddle ƒ
Cuba could be vanished from the face of the
earth but it will never be subjugated ƒ In the United
States, they donÍt realize that we donÍt care whether
we are not included" on the State Department list
which designates Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya,
and North Korea as countries that sponsor terrorism
since 1993. Castro also blasted possible plans to
take action against Iran and Iraq calling them WashingtonÍs
ñworld military dictatorship."
This
month, the chief of the U.S. Interests Section in
Havana, told foreign journalists based here that
Cuba should work to remove itself from the list.
Cuba remains on the list primarily because of Basque
terrorists in the country, fugitive American terrorists
and for its contacts with Colombian guerrilla groups.
GUANTÁNAMO,
February 16
US TROOPS PRACTICE WAR GAMES IN CUBA
A helicopter swooped on
a motor boat closing in on Camp "X-Ray"
Thursday. The chopper hovered above then pulled
back as a patrol boat with a 50-caliber machine
gun approached. Two other patrol boats pulled along
side the intruding craft.
On land, a man with a backpack
approached the perimeter fence. The control tower
radioed guards and in minutes patrols were chasing
the intruder who dived into a trench. He was dragged
out, his hands were tied with plastic ropes and
he was taken away. Were these real terrorist threats
on Camp "X Ray"? No, they were antiterrorism
exercises conducted by the Marines, Army, Navy and
Coast Guard in the bay off the seaside detention
center that now holds nearly 300 Afghani terrorists.
In fact, these were the first exercises of their
kind since prisoners first started arriving at this
remote U.S. base in southeastern Cuba on Jan.11.
"The timing of the exercise
is not in response to any particular terrorist threat,''
said camp spokesman Maj. Stephen Cox. However, on
Monday, four uninvited visitors suddenly arrived
at the naval base. They were Cubans who apparently
swam undetected to the U.S. base. The unarmed "civilians"
unexpectedly appeared in front of Marine barrack
clothed only in soaked shorts. But what would have
happened if they had been armed terrorists?
Or, was this action a well planned feint by the
Cuban military to test the base's perimeter defense?
CIEGO
DE AVILA, February 16
ONE
STUDENT DEAD IN SCHOOL MENINGITIS OUTBREAK
Three students, one of
whom has since died, were known to have come down
with meningitis at the agricultural polytechnic
institute "Flores 2," in Nuevitas, CamagÙey
province. It wasn't immediately clear whether the
students were afflicted with viral or bacterial
meningitis.
The
institute, with more than 100 live-in students,
is located in a rural setting, with its own water
tank and pump. "Frequently, the pump doesn't
work because there is no electricity, and the students
bathe in the cistern," said a resident of the
area whose daughter is one of the students at the
polytechnic.
WASHINGTON,
D.C., February 15
MESSAGE FROM CAMCO TO ALL ACTIVE, INACTIVE AND RETIRED
MEMBERS OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES
Major
General (DC-Ret) Erneido A. Oliva, CAMCO Chairman:
"The
hour to act has arrived, the Cuban people can not
continue to suffer so much pain and unhappiness
only to satisfy the whims of a dictator
who is holding desperately to power and does
not heed the calls of a free world for immediate
democratic changes in our Homeland.
The
moment to unite all dissidents against the communist
system in the fight for the democratization of Cuba
has arrived. Such a union could only help to avoid
the unnecessary shedding of Cuban blood on Cuban
soil."
Brigadier
General (FAR) Rafael del Pino, CAMCO Vice-Chairman:
"Brothers
of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and of the Interior
Ministry, we
are Cuban
military men and women, originally from FAR, who
did not want to continue to be accomplices of the
autocracy that has destroyed our country. We are
presently exiled and have united our efforts to
other Cubans, also military men and women from other
periods of time that were exiled before us. Together
we are organized in order to offer you our modest
help when our country and you decide to initiate
a true reconstruction free of the autocracy responsible
of all that is presently wrong in Cuba."
Lt.
Colonel (USAF-Ret.) Archibald J. Kielly,
CAMCO Senior Director:
"All
the political transitions to democracy that occurred
in Eastern Europe and Nicaragua were filled with
problems and difficulties.
But then, all changes are difficult.
Humans dislike change because it confuses
them and makes life harder at the beginning.
Unfortunately, many people prefer to so suffer
than to break with their comfortable routines. A political transition offers many exciting possibilities at
the beginning, but it is often disappointing when
the changes and hopes do not result in the immediate
desired solutions.
Political changes often require a change
in the way people think and act.
It also requires the prayers, the hopes and
the determination of the people.
The Cuban people are capable and anxious
to get started.
FORT WASHINGTON, ST.
VALENTINE'S
DAY, February 14
ñLOVE"
MAY BE
THE LAST WORD IN A TYRANT'S MIND, BUT IT'S THE FIRST
ON THE LIPS OF A FREE WOMAN OR MAN
CARACAS, February
14
PRESIDENT
CHÁVEZ OFFERS OLIVE BRANCH TO HIS POLITICAL
OPPONENTS
Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez, stung by harsh criticism
from two military officers, offered an olive branch
to his foes on Tuesday. But the president did not
respond directly to recent attacks against him by
the two dissident officers. Air Force Col. Pedro
Soto and National Guard Capt. Pedro Flores broke
military discipline last week to call the president
a capricious, domineering "tyrant" and
demand he resign.
Chavez
said Tuesday he wanted to replace the sword in his
hand with a plow, dedicating his energy to work
for the good of the country instead of battling
political opponents. "Despite our differences,
let's put good faith to the fore ... Venezuela belongs
to all of us ... I am appealing for us to work for
the country," the president said in a radio
broadcast.
CAMAG EY,
February 11
COMMITTEE
FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE REVOLUTION PRESIDENCY HAS
NO TAKERS
No one has been willing
to accept the presidency of the Committee for the
Defense of the Revolution (CDR) No. 1 in Florida,
CamagÙey province, since 1992, and reportedly there
are other CDRs in the same situation. "Last
week there was a meeting to elect a president, but
no one would accept the position, which has been
vacant since 1992," said one area resident.
After
the chosen declined the position, a resident reported,
they would mutter softly a variation of "Let
someone else handle that hot potato." "That's
not the only CDR without a president; there are
others in Florida in the same situation," said
a member of the Cuban Human Rights Foundation in
Florida. "You never find that reported in the
official press," he added.
GUANTÁNAMO,
February 13
MORE TERRORISTS ARRIVE AT GUANTÁNAMO
Monday's
34 new arrivals of terrorists at Guantánamo
prison brought the camp's total to 254 detainees.
Marine Corps Public Affairs officer Maj. Stephen
Cox said that many detainees have been interviewed
as many as four times, each time providing different
names and different information.
Also
Monday, other uninvited visitors arrived at Guantánamo.
Four Cubans apparently swam to the U.S. base in
southeastern Cuba, officials said. The men unexpectedly
arrived at the base wearing only soaking wet shorts.
It seems the Cubans were able to easily evade the
perimeter security. Cuban refugees arriving at the
U.S. Naval Base generally are repatriated.
ALTO SONGO, February 13
CRIME
WAVE VICTIMIZES CUBAN PEASANTS
A
crime wave in this area of eastern Cuba finds Cuban
peasants unable to help themselves. In the last
fifteen days, two thefts have been reported from
the independent cooperative "Transición."
The first time, thieves carried off a sow of over
200 pounds from the farm operated by Antonio Alonso,
the president of the National Alliance of Independent
Cuban Farmers. Later, thieves took two sheep after
throwing stones at some farmers who were trying
to protect the animals. Reportedly the thieves were
intercepted by a farmer from the militia, who shot
one of them and sent him to the hospital in critical
condition.
Cooperative members attribute the
increase in thefts to one of two causes: some say
the coop's increased productivity has become the
motivation for the thieves, others speculate that
the thefts are a strategy by the government's security
forces to discourage independent farmers. These
last point to a comment by a State Security Lt.
Col., Daniel Enrique, who told Antonio Alonso some
time back that "the principal problem the independent
cooperatives are going to have to face is the high
level of delinquent activity in Cuba."
BOGOTÁ,
February 12
REBELS
CONDEMN EXPANDED U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN COLOMBIA
Simón Trinidad, a leader
of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC),
claimed that President Bush administration's plan
to help Colombia protect an oil pipeline from guerrilla
attacks proves that Washington wants to intervene
militarily in the country's civil war. ''The mask
has been taken off,'' the rebel commander said Wednesday.
Top
Bush administration officials, who ended a three-day
visit to Colombia on Wednesday, announced plans
Tuesday to train and arm Colombian army troops to
protect an oil pipeline that has been a frequent
target of guerrilla attacks. The move, which faces
debate in the U.S. Congress, marks a dramatic departure
from a policy that had previously limited military
aid to Colombia to wiping out drug crops controlled
by the rebels and their paramilitary foes.
The
FARC has long opposed Washington's anti-drug aid,
which has provided for the training by U.S. special
forces of Colombian counter-narcotics troops, dozens
of combat helicopters and fumigation planes. The
aid is part of an anti-drug initiative, called Plan
Colombia. ''From the beginning we said that ñPlan
Colombia" was a counterinsurgency plan,'' Trinidad
said. Instead
of increasing aid to the Colombian military, Trinidad
insisted U.S. military personnel be withdrawn from
this South American country.
CAMAG EY,
February 12
ABANDONED
CHANNEL BECOMES HATCHERY OF MOSQUITOES (CAMCO's
Department of Engineers)
An abandoned
channel has become a hatchery of mosquitoes in Santa
Cruz del Sur, CamagÙey. However, the government
has not solve the problem despite the residentsÍ
multiple complaints. "People are very concerned,
mainly because the government has admitted the existence
of cases of dengue throughout the country",
declared a Santa Cruz's resident. On the other hand,
an official of the Popular Power revealed that the
local government doesn't have funds to clean the
channel.
"Our main fear is that the
mosquito Aedes aegypti would reproduce in quantities
that could put our community at risk" -- said
another resident of the area. It seems that local
officials don't care about the conditions of the
channel. They are doing nothing, they only said
again, an again, ñ'there is not budget, there is
not budget' ", the resident added. The special
school ñTania la Guerillera" is located
near the channel.
MIAMI,
January 11
TV
MARTÍ CAN AND MUST BE SEEN IN CUBA: WHY IS
IT NOT?
(By Manuel
Cereijo)
TV Marti
(and Radio Martí)
is the
most powerful weapon that we can have to overthrow
Castro.
To inform the Cuban people, daily, of the true world,
what is happening, how is life in the United States,
and the rest of the world, is something Castro cannot
afford and what he fears most. Why has not been
done yet?
Click
Here and Learn the Reasons
HAVANA, January 10
CASTRO:
CUBA WILL ESTABLISH CLOSER TIES WITH NORTH KOREA
Cuban
dictator Fidel Castro Thursday called for stronger
relations between Cuba and North Korea, a little
more than a week after President Bush listed North
Korea along with Iran and Iraq as an "axis
of evil." Castro made the comment during birthday
greetings for North Korean dictator Kim Jong. The
dictator will turn 60 years old on February 16.
"Your
devoted efforts exerted to lead the struggle of
the Korean people to foil the hostile acts of the
imperialist powers and build socialism and the country,
earn our admiration and respect," said Castro.
"Availing myself of this significant occasion,
I would like to reiterate our strong will to steadily
expand and strengthen fraternal ties and cooperation
between the peoples, parties and governments of
the two countries," Castro concluded. Both
countries are on the State Department's list of
states that sponsor of terrorism.
During
his recent State of the Union address, Bush said,
"North Korea is a regime arming with missiles
and weapons of mass destruction while starving its
citizensƒStates like these, and their terrorist
allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten
the peace of the worldƒThey could attack our allies
or attempt to blackmail the United States. In any
of these cases, the price of indifference would
be catastrophic," the president said. "We
will work closely with our coalition to deny terrorists
and their state sponsors the materials, technology
and expertise to make and deliver weapons of mass
destruction," the president continued. "America
will do what is necessary to ensure our nation's
security."
|
"The
world is divided into two camps:
one is filled with those who hate freedom
because they
want it only for themselves; the other is
filled with those
who love freedom and want it for everyone."
|
HOLGUÍN, February
10
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION DAMAGES THE HEALTH OF
WORKERS OF NICKEL PLANT (CAMCO's
Department of Engineers)
Lung Illnesses were detected
among the workers of the nickel processing
plant ñErnesto Che Guevara," located in the municipality
Moa of the Cuban county Holguín. A reliable
source revealed the news and added that the workers
of the plant are being subjected to medical checkups.
The nickel plant
of Moa is characterized to be an industry that contaminates
the environment. A medical source that requested
not to be identified fearing reprisals, specified
that among the workers whose health has been damaged
there is tuberculous and others present a lot of
lack of air, but didn't want to give more details
on the problem.
On the other hand,
medical sources confirmed that the employees of
the plant are not well fed an that - according to
consulted sources - it could also contribute to
the deterioration from the health of exposed people
to the contamination of the environment where they
carry out their works. They should take urgent measures
about the contamination in the nickel plant. That
place is wrapped up permanently in a very thick
cloud powder " said a resident of Moa
.
HAVANA,
February 9
ñCHARM OFFENSIVE" DOES NOT CONVINCE USA
Characterizing
Cuba's current friendliness toward Americans as
a ñcharm offensive'' aimed at changing U.S. policy,
the top American diplomat in Havana said Thursday
that the communist island must also embrace democracy
and human rights if it expects restrictions on trade
and travel to end.
ñWhat
happens if you give a lot of money to the Cuban
government and it doesn't change?'" asked Vicki
Huddleston, chief of the U.S. Interests Section,
the American mission here. ñThen you find out you
are just supporting Fidelismo,'' she said, using
a term that signifies support for President Fidel
Castro. ñIs there a better relationship? No,'' Huddleston
told reporters. ñThe relationship is not improving
because we are still concerned about human rights,
democracy, the free flow of information.''
Huddleston
said that nothing has fundamentally changed in Cuba.
Her assertions echoed statements last week by the
White House and State Department. On a separate
issue, Huddleston said members of Cuba's political
opposition should not be underestimated. ñThe human
rights activists represent those people who would
like to be part of the world," Huddleston said.
ñThe independent journalists represent all the people
who want to speak out.'' ñThose dissidents represent the Cuban people and their hopes,''
emphasized Huddleston.
CARACAS,
January 9
SECOND
VENEZUELAN OFFICER BLASTS THE PRESIDENT: ñCHAVEZ
WANTS TO IMITATE FIDEL CASTRO," HE SAID
A
day after Air Force Colonel Pedro Soto lambasted
Chávez as a "tyrant" and demanded
that he resign, National Guard Captain Pedro Flores
accused the president of endangering the country's
democratic system through corruption and attacks
on the Catholic Church, the media and the rule of
law. "All this is carrying us to the cliff
edge," Flores told reporters.
Flores,
like Soto, accused Chávez of dragging the
armed forces into politics and of trying to imitate
Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. "At any moment,
the president might try to become an exact copy
of Fidel Castro, who is not exactly an object of
devotion for us Venezuelans," the National
Guard captain said.
In
their harsh criticism, Soto and Flores echoed arguments
used by Chávez' opponents, who accuse the
president of trying to install a Cuban-style, authoritarian,
leftist regime in Venezuela. Castro, a friend and
ally of Chávez, came to the defense of the
Venezuelan leader on Friday, describing him as "the
greatest democrat in South America."
CARACAS,
January 8
VENEZUELAN
COLONEL DEMANDS CHÁVEZ RESIGNATION
Colonel
Pedro Luis Soto, a Venezuelan air force high ranking
officer, on Thursday called
President Hugo Chávez a tyrant and demanded
his resignation, touching off a noisy anti-government
demonstration in Caracas. Venezuela's armed forces
head, Gen. Lucas Rincón, a close ally of
Chávez, quickly dismissed the surprise outburst
by Colonel Soto as an isolated incident, and said
the country's armed forces were calm.
But
Soto was hailed as a national hero by ChávezÍs
opponents, who
honked horns, beat pots and pans, and shouted slogans
in support of the officer and against the government.
In a rare act of defiance that mesmerized the whole
nation, Soto delivered a blistering verbal attack
against the Venezuelan leader in a series of public
statements widely carried by several local television
and radio stations.
"What
we are facing is a tyrant government," Soto,
dressed in his dark blue air force uniform, said.
"The president has to go. He has to resign
and call elections to leave this country in the
hands of a democracy, of a civilian," Soto
told reporters after fiercely criticizing Chávez
at a public conference. He also denounced that Cuban
military are already occupying Venezuela. A military
police van later intercepted the car in which Soto
was traveling with his lawyers, sparking a spontaneous
protest by supporters who chanted "Death to
Chávez" and surrounded his vehicle,
keeping soldiers at bay. Soto said his words, in
which he called on all Venezuelans to defend their
democratic freedoms, represented the "feeling
and voice" of 75 percent of officers,
non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel
of VenezuelaÍs Armed Forces.
WASHINGTON,
D.C., January 8
U.S.
ACCUSES HAVANA OF SHELTERING TERRORISTS
Carl
Ford, the head of the State Department's Intelligence
and Research branch said Wednesday Cuba is sheltering
20 Basque terrorists. Testifying before the Senate
Intelligence Committee, Ford and CIA Director, George
Tenet, fielded several questions on Cuba's presence
on the State Department's list of countries that
sponsor terrorism.
''There
are 20 ETA members in Cuba, and they provide some
degree of safe haven and support to the Colombian
FARC and ELN groups,'' Ford said, referring to the
Marxist guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia and National Liberation Army. Ford also
recalled that an Irish nationalist arrested in Colombia
last summer on charges of training the FARC guerrillas
in terror tactics was later identified as a Havana
resident who was acting as the Irish Republican
Army's representative in Cuba.
WASHINGTON,
D.C., January 8
THE CUBAN DICTATORÍS "NUMBER ONE GOAL IS STAYING
IN POWER"
Cuban
dictator Fidel Castro has not criticized the United
States decision to imprison Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists at the Naval Base at Guantánamo
because he is facing a grave economic crisis. Since
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, tourism and remittances
from the United States, CubaÍs two leading sources
of income, have declined sharply. Besides, Cuba
has been listed by the United States as a country
that sponsors terror and it became critical for
Castro to take a public stand against terrorism.
However,
American diplomats in Havana said they saw the Cuban
dictatorÍs gestures as a calculated response to
the cold front developing at the White House, where
President Bush has filled key Latin policy posts
with officials who are known for their hard-line
views on the dictator. As a result, the diplomats
said, Castro is seeking to sidestep the White House
with diplomatic efforts aimed at the Congress and
American public opinion.
The American
diplomats seem unmoved by Cuba's new language. While
the dictator talks about his willingness to improve
relations, they said, he has done nothing to move
Cuba toward
democracy. Vicki Huddleston, the senior officer
of the United States Interests Section in Havana,
said that Castro continued to forbid free elections
and opposition leaders continued to suffer government
harassment. "It's all a facade," she said
recently of Castro's moves. "It's all cosmetic.
Castro is very clever. And his number one goal is
staying in power."
WASHINGTON,
D.C., January 7
US
CONGRESSWOMAN ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN CRITICIZES INCREASINGLY
COZY US-CUBA RELATIONS
Rep. Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) is taking a dim view of recent
contacts between the U.S. government and Cuba's
communist government, saying such contacts violate
the Bush administration's policy toward Cuba. She
said she has learned that U.S. Navy medical personnel
at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay
have taken part in exchange programs and other joint
efforts with military doctors from Cuban dictator
Fidel Castro government.
In
her letter to Navy Captain Albert Shimkus, head
of the Naval Hospital at the U.S. Naval Base at
Guantánamo, she rightfully referred to the
Castro government as "Cuba's terrorist regime."
Ros-Lehtinen said the regime of Fidel Castro has
a history of trying to "legitimize itself by
attempting to expand the government-to-government
contacts and creating a facade of 'cooperation'
with the U.S." She requested information on
whether such government-to-government exchanges
are taking place, who is participating in them,
who is sponsoring them, and if American taxpayer
funds are involved.
Ros-Lehtinen
has also
criticized
the State Department for granting visas to two Castro
government officials who want to attend a U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service conference in Miami. The State
Department has also approved a request by an Environmental
Protection Agency official to officially
travel
to Cuba. "These two requests run contrary to
the Bush administration's stated position of restricting
the unfettered access previously provided to representatives
of the Castro regime in the U.S. and those seeking
to travel to the U.S.," said Ros-Lehtinen in
a letter to the State Department. None of the letter
has been answered yet.
WASHINGTON,
D.C., January 6
U.S.
CONGRESSMAN LINCOLN DÍAZ-BALART TO DENOUNCE
AGGRESSION AGAINST CUBAN DISSIDENT MARTA BEATRIZ
ROQUE
Congressman
Lincoln Díaz-Balart (R-FL) will take to the
floor of the House of
Representatives Wednesday to denounce the Cuban
dictatorshipÍs barbaric treatment of dissident Marta
Beatriz Roque following a meeting she and other
dissidents had with Mexican President Vicente Fox
Monday.
Roque
was detained at her house and taken to a detention
center where she was subsequently abused and
strip-searched by dictatorship agents, after meeting
with President Fox.
ñThis abhorrent example of brutality
by the Cuban dictatorship is not only intolerable;
it must be denounced everywhere. I will raise my
voice of protest and indignation Wednesday on the
floor of the United States Congress," said Díaz-Balart.
WASHINGTON,
D.C., February 6
U.S.
CRITICIZES CHÁVEZÍS GOVERNING STYLE
U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell criticized leftist
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's style
of governing on Tuesday, expressing concern over
Chávez ideas on
democracy, his fraternizing with U.S. enemies such
as Iraq and Cuba and his questioning of the war
on terrorism. In a television appearance, Chávez
blasted the U.S. air war on Afghanistan as a ñslaughter
of innocents.'' To drive home his point, he held
up pictures of dead Afghan children, who he said
were victims of the US military campaign. Powell
made the comments in the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee in response to a question about allegations
Venezuela is supporting leftist guerrillas in neighboring
Colombia.
The
Secretary said Chávez has a habit of visiting
ñstrange countries,'' an apparent reference to his
visit to Cuba and Iraq. His visit to Iraq in August
2000 was the first by a foreign head of government
since United Nations sanctions were imposed to the
country after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Chávez
also
has repeatedly visited Cuba and has established
close ties with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
ñI'm not
sure what inspiration he thinks he gets or what
benefits he gets for the Venezuela people, dropping
in and visiting some of these despotic regimes,''
Powell said. In some of the Bush administration's
firmest criticism to date of Chávez,
the Secretary said: "We have been concerned
with some of the actions of the Venezuelan President
and his understanding of what a democratic system
is all about." In Caracas, Venezuela's Foreign
Minister Luis Alfonso Dávila defended Chavez's
foreign policy, saying it was "sovereign, independent
and autonomous" and did not require the approval
or authorization of other governments."
CARACAS, January 6
A BLACK DAY FOR VENEZUELA
DEMOCRACY
Black-clad opponents of Venezuelan
President Hugo Chávez beat pots and pans
and honked car horns on Monday in a noisy protest
against the leftist leader's triumphant
celebration of the failed 1992
coup bid that made him famous. The protests erupted
in several parts of Caracas as the paratrooper-turned-president,
wearing a red beret, told supporters his revolt
had helped to create a "new country" now
under his regime.
But
his opponents proclaimed the date a
ñBLACK DAY"
for
Venezuelan democracy.
Donning black clothes as a sign
of mourning, thousands of Venezuelans staged noisy,
but peaceful, protests throughout the city. Long
caravans of cars flying black flags clogged the
capital streets. Chavez's opponents
accuse the populist
president of trying to impose a Cuban-style regime
in Venezuela. In his speech, Chavez hailed communist
Cuba as an ally and praised its dictator Fidel Castro
as an "eternal revolutionary."
Later, at
a news conference, Chávez bluntly ruled out
the possibility that his government could be toppled
by the same kind of bloody revolt that he had led
against Carlos Andrés Pérez's
government.
"That's impossible in Venezuela. There is not
going to be a coup d'etat here," he said. Chávez
insisted the country's armed forces, which captured
and jailed him as a coup-plotter 10 years ago, were
now fully behind him. But he revealed that he always
carried a religious charm with him to ward off assassins'
bullets.
In his speech, the
president lashed out at the members of the opposition
who he has branded as political enemies for criticizing
his self-proclaimed
"REVOLUTION."
Chávez described his
"REVOLUTION,"
which rejects "neo-liberal" free-market
economics as an inspiration for Latin America and
the world.
HAVANA,
February 5
FOX ENDS CUBA VISITS
WITH DISSIDENT MEETING
Mexican
President Vicente Fox met with Cuban dissidents
on Monday at the end of a brief trip to communist-run
Cuba, apparently showing he would not set aside
human rights concerns while seeking to improve ties
with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's government.
It
was the first time a Mexican president had had such
a meeting in Cuba. Fox, wrapping up a 24-hour
visit, and Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda
met with Cuba's best known dissidents -- Elizardo
Sanchez, Oswaldo Paya, Martha Beatriz Roque, Hector
Palacios, Raul Rivero, Manuel Cuesta, and Osvaldo
Alfonso. The Cuban dissidents and members of Fox's
own party pushed hard for Monday's meeting. The
Cuban government views the illegal dissident groups
as traitors working for Washington.
Cuban
Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez was quick to
say the meeting had not effected the positive results
of Fox's 24-hour trip. Emerging from the Mexican
embassy where they met Fox, the dissidents said
they were grateful for the meeting. "His meeting
with us was a very clear and human way of recognizing
our peaceful efforts to achieve democratic changes
in our country," Sanchez said. "He made
no promises. The President limited himself to listening
to our views and expressing his solidarity,"
Alfonso said. After
his return to Mexico, Fox emphasized that the Cuban
dissidents ñare a valuable representation and a
voice of the Cuban people."
NOTE: ALL
CAMCO MEMBERS SHOULD READ INSIDE OUR
CLASSIFIED PAGES
THE
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS PREPARED WEEKLY BY
LTC ENRIQUE FERNANDEZ
HAVANA, February 5
CUBA CONTINUES PUSHING FOR BETTER RELATIONS
The push
by some Americans to overturn the 40-year-old U.S.
trade embargo against Cuba is an ñunstoppable snowball''
that will ultimately end the sanctions, Cuba's foreign
minister said. Felipe Pérez Roque said growing
U.S. opposition will eventually ñsquash'' the supporters
of the trade sanctions, which called he characterized
as ñdinosaurs".
ñWe
are waiting for responses from the United States
to move ahead. Cuba is ready for this," Perez Roque
said. He also said a
certain ñcooperation in the last months show
that normal and respectful relations are possible
between Cuba and the United States."
However, U.S. State Department
spokesman Richard Boucher said last week that relations
will not improve because: "Cuba
has not taken any of the steps necessary to make
improvement of relations possible. These steps include free elections, the release of political prisoners,
the removal of draconian laws that, for example,
send Cuban citizens to prison if they criticize
their government."
HAVANA, February
4
FOX:
RELATIONS WITH CUBA "ARE SOLID"
The meeting
between the Mexican president, a conservative politician
who until yesterday was considered a symbol of democratic
reform in Latin America, and Castro, the region's
only dictator, was compared by experts to a political
high-wire act.
Mexico
will not support an upcoming U.N. vote on whether
to condemn Cuba for its poor human rights record,
officials with the administration of President Vicente
Fox said during a visit to the island. Cuba resents
being named in the annual U.N. Human Rights Commission
vote in Geneva and regularly accuses countries that
join the vote of being manipulated by the United
States.
Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe
Pérez Roque last year accused Mexican Foreign
Minister Jorge Castaneda of trying to get Mexico
delegates to join the U.N. condemnation. But after
the two diplomats met Sunday, Castaneda said it
was likely Mexico would abstain during the April
vote, as it did last year. ñThe government of President
Fox will not sponsor, nor co-sponsor, nor present
any proposed resolution on the theme of Cuba or
vote on the projects that others present,'' Castaneda
said. ñPresident
Fox's visit is a message of independent will,''
Pérez Roque said Sunday. And he added,
ñNot the entire world dares
to come and resist the pressures of the United States.''
\HAVANA,
Cuba February 4
MEXICAN
PRESIDENT FOX VISITS CUBA
Mexican
President Vicente Fox began a 24-hour visit to Cuba
on Sunday. "This trip is very important for
us. We are making it at practically the start of
our term because we want to strengthen relations
with Cuba," Fox told the press at Jose Marti
airport, where he was welcomed by Cuban Foreign
Minister Felipe Perez Roque.
Cuban
dictator Fidel Castro officially welcomed the Mexican
president some 20 minutes later at the Palace of
the Revolution, where they will hold talks and have
lunch before Fox tours various sites in the afternoon
and then meets Castro again for dinner. The two
leaders' attire highlighted their ideological differences
-- Castro in his traditional olive-green military
uniform and former Coca-Cola executive Fox in a
blue business suit.
Fox,
whose center-right Action Democratic Party ended
71 years of rule by Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary
Party in 2000, condemned "flagrant" human
rights abuses and a "lack of democracy"
in Cuba during his electoral campaign. Since taking
office, Fox has struck a less critical pose toward
Cuba. But Cuban dissident leaders want Fox to fulfill
his promise and want to meet with him--members of
Fox's party are pressuring him to do so.
CAMAG EY,
January 4
DONATED
USED CLOTHING SOLD IN DOLLAR STORES
Used
clothing donated to Cuba from abroad is sold in
the "Variedades" dollar store, in Florida
municipality, CamagÙey province. "It's shameful
that the government sells these old rags at such
high prices when the people who are going to buy
them earn only Cuban pesos which are not even enough
to eat properly," said one resident.
"In
spite of the poor quality, for example, pants
are sold at 5.50 dollars each," said the man.
This would amount to 143 pesos at the current exchange
rate, or more than half the average salary of 234
pesos a month. Other stores in the city sell poorer
quality used clothing in pesos, at prices between
20 and 100 pesos depending on the garment.
MEXICO, January 3
FOX WALKS TIGHTROPE
ON FIRST VISIT TO CUBA OVER MEETING DISSIDENTS
President
Vicente Fox is walking a tightrope over whether
he will meet with dissidents on his first official
visit to Cuba and members of his own party are publicly
urging him to do so. The issue goes to the core
of Fox's most valuable asset, his pro-democracy
credentials as the first opposition candidate ever
to win Mexico's presidency.
It
is also high stakes for Cuban President Fidel Castro.
It would be difficult to imagine a harder blow than
a public meeting between a president of Mexico and
Cuban dissidents. This may represent one of the
toughest foreign policy questions yet for Fox. There
are economics: Mexico is the sixth-largest investor
in Cuba, and Fox is scheduled to discuss the energy
industry with Castro.
In
a June interview, Fox,
the elegant former Coca-Cola
executive and keen capitalist,
said Mexico is using its "moral authority"
to pressure Cuba to respect human rights and democracy.
Just after he took over the presidency, Fox said,
ñIn Cuba, we are always trying to construct in positive
terms a road to full democracy.
HAVANA, February 3
TWO DEAD, HUNDREDS
SICK IN DENGUE OUTBREAK
Dengue fever has killed two people
and stricken hundreds in Havana in recent months,
Cuban dictator Fidel Castro said on Friday, despite
an emergency campaign to contain the worst outbreak
of the disease in Cuba in two decades.
"By November 28th, 1,601 cases were reported
in Havana. After that the situation became worse,"
Castro said during a three-hour televised speech
explaining what the government was doing to bring
the epidemic under control. "Unfortunately
two people have died, but no children," the
dictator said. Conveniently, he did not say how
many deaths and new dengue cases were reported since
November.
Dengue,
which causes severe pain, fever, headaches and nausea,
normally passes after about a week. But patients
have to be treated to avoid complications, especially
with hemorrhagic dengue, which occurs from repeated
exposure to different strains of the virus. The
last national dengue epidemic in Cuba was in 1981,
killing 158 people. In 1997, there was a local outbreak
in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, but no
deaths were reported. The new epidemic, however,
could be worse than Castro indicated in his speech.
There are unconfirmed rumors in Havana that many
persons have died during the last weeks as a result
of the outbreak of the potentially lethal dengue
fever.
WASHINGTON,
D.C., February 2
U.S.
THREATENS "TERROR" STATES
The United States threatened
on Thursday to impose its own justice on countries
it saw as backing terrorism and unveiled plans to
spend billions more dollars on arms. "If you're
one of these nations that developed weapons of mass
destruction and you're likely to team up with a
terrorist group or you're now sponsoring terror,
and you don't hold the values that we hold dear
true to your heart, then you too are on our watch
list," U.S. President George W. Bush said in
a speech in Atlanta.
Although Bush did not mention
them by name in his speech, he was clearly alluding
to Iran, Iraq and North Korea -- the three nations
that in his State of the Union address on Tuesday
he charged represented an "axis of evil."
Bush said such nations "better not try to terrorize
America and our friends and allies or the justice
of this nation will be served on them as well."
CANCÚN,
February 2
CUBA SAYS NO MORE U.S. IMPORTS UNTIL EMBARGO EASED
Cuba
says it will not import any more U.S. agricultural
products until Washington's embargo against the
island is eased further, but modest "gestures"
like easing credit restrictions might stimulate
more trade. CubaÍs Trade Minister, Raúl de
la Nuez, said December's purchase of more than $30
million of U.S. meat and grains -- the first such
shipment in almost 40 years
-- demonstrated that commerce between the
two nations benefits U.S. agricultural producers
as much as Cuba.
"As we are now, it
is impossible to keep doing business," de la
Nuez said late on Thursday in Mexico's Caribbean
resort of Cancún, where Cuban government
officials met with U.S. producers at a trade conference
aimed at building closer ties.
The U.S. Congress last year approved
legislation allowing cash sales of food and medicine
to Cuba. Although Cuban dictator Fidel Castro at
first refused to make any purchases, he changed
tack when the United States offered Cuba humanitarian
aid after Hurricane Michelle swept across the island
in early November, causing widespread damage. De
la Nuez said if Congress or the U.S. government
would further soften the embargo, Cuba would import
more U.S. goods. "The ideal would be that the
embargo is canceled and bilateral trade allowed.
That is what we want."
HAVANA,
February 2
MORE
THAN TWO HUNDRED NEIGHBORS PREVENT EVICTION OF PREGNANT
MOTHER
More than a hundred neighbors of Nueva Gerona municipality,
Isla de la Juventud, prevented the eviction by local
authorities of a eight months pregnant woman mother
of a 2 years old boy. Yaisbel Santos Peña
was being evicted from the house she helped built,
when a crowd of concerned neighbors came out in
defense of the woman and her family. The eviction,
called "extraction" by Cuban authorities,
was stopped for the moment, but many think it will
be inevitable.
Reliable
sources informed that the civil employees are now
trying to convince the neighbors that the family
is illegal and they should be "extracted"
from the property. Meanwhile people wonder what
the government wants to do with the house, and where
they are going to lodge Peña and her family.
MIAMI,
February 1st.
COAST GUARD HALTS SEARCH FOR 10 CUBANS
After
scouring 31,400 square miles of water over the course
of about 36 hours, the
Coast Guard suspended its search Thursday evening
for 10 Cuban migrants, including a 3-year-old girl.
The extensive search -- which included 12 missions
in three aircraft and several vessels -- was launched
Wednesday, after family members of the migrants
reported that their relatives and others departed
from Carahatas, Cuba, early Sunday on a 20-foot
boat, said Petty Officer Gene Smith.
Smith said the search area extended from north of
Port Canaveral south to Key West and east to the
Bahamas and south to Cay Sal Banks and the Florida
Straits. Capt. Mike Moore, chief of the search-and-rescue
division at the Seventh District, said deciding
to end the search was not easy. ñIt's always a difficult
decision to suspend a search, especially when children
are involved,'' Moore said.
Smith also said he did not know why the search was
called off after about 36 hours, when another intensive
search in November lasted four days. ñI can't answer
that question. That was Captain Moore's decision.
ñPeople need to let them know they are putting their
lives at risk every time they get into an unseaworthy,
or unsafe, or underpowered, or overcrowded vessel,''
Smith added. ñIt's just really sad. I don't know
if they consider the risk."
VIENNA,
February 1st.
US
RESPECTS INTERNATIONAL LAWS IN HANDLING AL-QAEDA
TERRORISTS
The United States
assured the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) on Thursday that it was respecting
international law in handling terrorist held at
a U.S. military base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
"We
believe our actions and our plans are consistent
with the United States government's commitment to
respect and safeguard international law," U.S.
Ambassador Stephan Minikes told the permanent council
of the 55-nation security and human rights watchdog
in Vienna. He was responding to a call by the OSCE's
human rights envoy Gerard Stoudmann on Wednesday
for Washington to apply the Geneva Conventions to
158 Taliban and al Qaeda terrorists held at Guantánamo.
Minikes
said the legal status of the detainees was under
review and he asked Washington's partners in the
OSCE for patience. The organization comprises the
U.S., Canada and all the countries of Europe, as
well as former Soviet republics in Central Asia.
"Whatever the legal status of the detainees,
the individuals being detained at Guantánamo
are being treated humanely and consistently with
the principles of the Geneva Conventions,"
Minikes said. "It is, of course, also the case
that these detainees are very dangerous individuals
so that all appropriate security precautions need
to be taken." The White House says the captives
should not be granted the status of prisoners of
war because they were not conventional soldiers.
VENEZUELA, February
1st.
VENEZUELA PARTY ASKED THE SUPREME COURT TO REMOVE
CHAVEZ FOR MADNESS
Waving a banner reading "Out With The Madman,"
Venezuela's largest opposition party asked the Supreme
Court on Thursday to have President Hugo Chávez
dismissed as mentally unfit, calling the former
paratrooper a liar, extremely aggressive and authoritarian.
As clowns and a Chávez
impersonator wearing a straitjacket posed for cameras,
the secretary-general of the Democratic Action party,
Rafael Marin, presented the appeal, based on reports
from two teams of psychiatrists. "The study
includes comparative analysis of the president's
personality and other historical figures with similar
conduct, such as Cuban dictator Fidel Castro,
Idi Amin, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini,
Marin told reporters outside the court.
Marin acknowledged that
the psychologists who wrote the report did not interview
Chávez for it. "Unfortunately, it is
very difficult to make the president put on a straitjacket
and intern him in a clinic for analysis, although
that would have been ideal," Marin said to
laughter from dozens of supporters. |
