Agustin Blazquez with the collaboration of Jaums Sutton.
Friday, June 15, 2001. NewsMax.com
This is a revealing case that is indicative of what the Castro regime thinks
about the importance of the institution known as the family: Sandra is a girl
held hostage in Cuba for four years to punish her parents, who now live in
Brazil.
Sandras case, very much publicized in Brazil, has also received media
attention in Latin America and Europe, but has been all but ignored by the U.S.
media that last year exploited the case of 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez, tilting
public opinion in favor of Castro while maligning Cuban-American exiles.
Sandra is not the first child to be held hostage by Castro. Over the last 42
years there have been thousands who suffered the trauma of being separated from
their parents in a country where the state (Castro) has all the rights over the
children and their education. The Cuban Communist Constitution spells it all out
clearly for anyone interested enough to research the subject. Cubans on the
island and abroad understand it all too well after living in that society.
Sandra is the daughter of Zaida Jova and Vicente Becerra. Both are Cuban
engineers sent by the Castro regime for postgraduate studies at Brazils
University of Campinas, near Sao Paulo. As customarily required by Castros
regime, the young couples daughter, Sandra, had to remain in Cuba to make
sure they didnt try to defect and to keep them silent about the atrocities
and violations of human rights on the island.
But, according to Brazils laws, after the birth in Brazil of Zaidas
and Vicentes son Daniel three years ago, the couple automatically received
residence status, which also extended to Sandra in Cuba, indicative of Brazils
strong belief in keeping families together. The young couple made the decision
to stay in Brazil for good. Since then, Zaida and Vicente have been trying to
get their daughter out of Cuba. But Castros regime refused to issue the
exit permit to Sandra, now 11, who has been forced to live without her parents.
After many unsuccessful and humiliating tries with the Castro regime, Sandras
parents decided to take the drastic and risky step of talking to the Brazilian
press, therefore exposing Castros scheme to the world. After learning
about their case, the Brazilian people gave their support and solidarity to the
point that last April the Brazilian government interceded in favor of the
release of Sandra.
As Castro refused again, the people of Brazil became upset and exasperated
at his regime. And the Sandra story transcended to all Latin America and Europe,
embarrassing Castros regime internationally.
There are other Cuban parents studying in Brazil in the same situation as
Sandras parents, but they remained silent because of their concern for the
well being and safety of their sons and daughters as well as other family
members trapped on the island under Castros blackmail schemes. In the same
delicate family situation, there are other Cuban parents in the U.S. and in many
other countries throughout the world. And these family situations have been
going on for decades.
According to the Inter-American News Service, on June 3, 2001, in San Jose,
Costa Rica, at the 31st General Assembly of the OAS, of the Inter-American
Commission of Human Rights, Dr. Claudio F. Benedí, author of the book "Human
Rights: The Theme of Our Times," said, "For the citizens of Brazil,
the case of 11 year-old Sandra Becerra Jova, who the Havana regime does not
allow to leave Cuba to reunite with her parents, constitutes the literal
kidnapping of a minor."
Dr. Benedí, a veteran advocate of human rights, solicited the
commission to take the case of Sandra and denounce the injustice to the world,
as one more example of the "institutional violation of human rights
exercised by the Cuban communists over a defenseless population."
Sandras mother told the Brazilian press that the same Havana regime
that organized the massive demonstrations to demand the return of Elian Gonzalez
to Cuba claiming "family reunification," is the one that "with
cruelty has kept me separated from my daughter for 4 years."
The Sandra story, due of the publicity received in Brazil and abroad (except
in the U.S.), unmasked Castros fake concern for children and family
reunification. This was another myth propagandized during the Elian Gonzalez
case by the U.S. media and Castros agents such as the Rev. Joan Brown
Campbell, the National Council of Churches and Pastors for Peace, as well as his
supporters in the U.S. Congress such as Democrats Charles Rangel, Jose Serrano,
Christopher Dodd, Maxine Waters and Sheila Jackson Lee, as well as political
activists such as Rev. Jesse Jackson and Randall Robinson, and a bunch of silly
airheads in Hollywood.
Thanks to the valiant decision of Zaida Jova and Vicente Becerra on behalf
of the freedom of their 11-year-old daughter, Castro has been exposed for what
he really is. And one more myth created, nurtured and preserved by the U.S.
media has collapsed.
The current silence of the U.S. media about the reality in Cuba results in
more Cuban children suffering and more families separated, as well as more
abuses and injustices against democratic Cubans.
For example, on Nov. 23, 2000, CNN videotaped but refused to air a
150-person gathering in Havana protesting Castros regime. Afterward, the
protesters were beaten and jailed by Castros thugs during a religious
gathering. According to Jay Nordlingers article "A Protest in the
Dark," published in the National Review Online on May 16, 2001, many of
them later reported that they felt "incensed and betrayed" by CNN.
They complained that CNN is consistently pro-Castro and that Ted Turner is a "friend
and admirer" of their countrys tyrant.
The U.S. media, by refusing to report a demonstration like this is denying
attention, international recognition and solidarity with these brave individuals
risking their lives inside a brutal totalitarian regime as they struggle for
human rights, justice, freedom and democracy.
With their silence and misinformation about Cuba, the U.S. media are doing a
disservice to the American people by keeping them ignorant of a reality 90 miles
away. The result is a fostering of animosity and misunderstanding for what Cuban
Americans stand for on behalf of their families held hostage in Cuba.
This U.S. medias silence is encouraging more violations of human
rights on the island by allowing Castro to act with impunity. The result is more
imprisonment and torture of advocates of human rights and democracy in Cuba,
more apartheid, humiliation and misery for the population on the island and more
people drowning and being eaten by sharks while trying to escape Cuba in the
Florida Straits.
Because communist regimes are based on lies, deceptions and a fake image,
they are very concerned of being exposed at international levels, and they cave
in if challenge by the world. Due to the international condemnation - sadly
except from the U.S. - Castro finally decided to release Sandra to her parents
in Brazil.
The return of Elian to Castro was a shameful page in U.S. history. In
contrast, the more open and humane attitude of Brazil will lead to the eventual
release of 11-year-old Sandra, accomplishing a real family reunification in a
free environment. This will give some hope to the many Cuban families that are
still separated from their children in similar situations. Unfortunately, Cuban
Americans cannot count on the same open and humane support and treatment in the
U.S.
© 2001 ABIP
Agustin Blazquez is producer/director of the documentaries "Covering
Cuba," "Covering Cuba 2: The New Generation" and the upcoming "Covering
Cuba 3."
All Rights Reserved © NewsMax.com |