CNS News
Estonian delegate criticizes Castro government at conference
By Jim Burns. CNS Senior Staff Writer. April 04, 2001
(CNSNews.com) - An Estonian representative to the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Conference in Havana irritated Cuba by denouncing the Castro government for
repression. The Estonian specifically mentioned Cuba's arrest of two Czech
citizens for meeting with Cuban dissidents.
Radio Havana reported in its Tuesday broadcast that Ignar Fjuk of Estonia
delivered what the Castro government described as "a counterrevolutionary
diatribe" in defense of Ivan Pilip, a former Czech finance minister who is
now a member of the Czech parliament, and Jan Bubenik, a former Czech student
leader, who were arrested in January after speaking with some Cuban dissidents.
After Fjuk's address to the Union, Cuban Vice President Jaime Crombet
responded, saying that the "two Czechs were taken into custody by Cuban
authorities after they violated laws that were approved by the island's
sovereign parliament, also known as the National Assembly of People's Power."
Crombet described the two Czechs as "mercenaries" who came to Cuba
"under the auspices of a foreign country in an attempt to finance isolated
and powerless people who hope to once again make a Cuba a U.S. colony."
Cuba, according to Crombet, "is known for its solidarity, for its
internationalist spirit and its defense of Socialism. He also said "despite
Washington's efforts to destroy the revolution, Cuba continues to be an example
of struggle and inspiration for small and underdeveloped nations, especially
because of its consistency and refusal to surrender and betray its principles or
sell its soul to the highest bidder."
Pilip and Bubenik were arrested in the Cuban province of Ciego de Avila
shortly after arriving in Cuba on tourist visas.
The Castro government insisted that their visit had nothing to do with
tourism: "The real aims were to contact counter-revolutionary elements,
give them instructions and hand them resources," the communist government
said after arresting the men.
Pilip and Bubenik were released in February, after Cuba threatened to try
them for inciting subversion. They never went to trial, however.
The Czechs reportedly met with anti-Castro activists Antonio Femenias, a
dissident journalist, and Robert Valdivia, a human rights activist.
Both Pilip and Bubenik recently were honored on Capitol Hill for their
bravery.
Pilip said at the ceremony, "We are very glad that our case was solved
in the way it was. But, we worry much about the people who still have to live in
Cuba. We think that it's very important to continue every effort to change the
situation there. It's necessary to strengthen the international pressure against
the regime of Fidel Castro in order to bring some changes to the island."
Castro Allows Foreign Lawmakers To Meet With Dissidents
By Jim Burns. CNS Senior Staff Writer. April 03, 2001
(CNSNews.com) - Members of the European Parliament met Monday with opponents
of the Castro governmen to discuss political prisoners, the death penalty and
other human rights abuses. The Europeans are in Havana to attend a week-long
meeting of the Interparliamentary Union.
Renzo Imbeni, vice president of the European Parliament, told reporters, "It
was a very useful meeting for us to learn about the opposition's position."
Imbeni also said he didn't think a proposal to condemn Cuba for its human
rights record "would be useful to democracy." The United Nations Human
Rights Commission, now meeting in Geneva, is expected to vote on a resolution
condemning Cuba later this month.
During Monday's proceedings in Geneva, both Cuba and North Korea condemned
the the United States for supporting efforts to condemn the two countries for
human rights violations. Representatives from Cuba and North Korea accused the
United States of ignoring its own human rights violations, especially among the
poor and minorities.
"Every year the United States accuses other countries of serious
problems. But it is well known that the most serious violator of human rights is
the United States," said North Korea's delegate Jo Sung Ju.
He also cited the use of the death penalty against minors and widespread
poverty in the United States.
"Racial discrimination, child abuse, killing, trafficking, drug abuse
and police brutality are taking place as a usual practice. Rape and murder
committed by U.S. troops abroad are a serious problem," Jo said.
Cuban Ambassador Carlos Amat Fores then accused the United States of
sponsoring U.N. resolutions critical of Cuba merely to justify Washington's own
"genocidal policy of aggression and the economic blockade it has imposed
for more than 40 years."
"There is a massive and flagrant denial of human rights to tens of
millions of people with its own borders," Fores said. He also said that
about 15 percent of the U.S. population lived below the poverty line and were
excluded from proper education and health care.
Secretary of State Colin Powell recently noted that the United Nations human
rights resolution contains criticism of the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba,
and Powell wants that language removed. Thus far, the Czech Republic and Poland
have indicated they are supporting the United States.
Back in Washington, the House Wednesday is expected to act on a resolution
that would express the sense of the House regarding the human rights situation
in Cuba. Specifically, the measure would urge the United Nations Human Rights
Commission to condemn the human rights abuses being committed by the Castro
government.
The House International Relations Committee approved the resolution last
Wednesday. | 