|
Yahoo! May 20, 2002.
Leading dissidents say Bush's continued hard line against Cuba won't
advance democracy
By Anita Snow, Associated Press Writer. Mon May 20, 1:29 PM
ET
HAVANA - Leading Cuban dissidents said Monday that President 's continued
support of trade sanctions and other hardline policies toward Cuba could hurt
their efforts to force a democratic opening on the communist island.
"Changes have to be made but changes have to be made on both sides,"
said Vladimiro Roca, who was released from prison earlier this month just two
months short of his five-year sentence.
"Dialogue, negotiation and reconciliation" will do more than
continued U.S. hardline policies, Roca said, reacting to Bush's speech Monday in
Washington on Cuba policy. "The prickly relationship between the two
countries ... can hurt our hopes for advancing a transition to democracy."
There was no immediate response from the Cuban government. But before the
speech, the government announced that Bush's message would be subject of an
official television program Monday evening.
Roca and veteran human rights activist Elizardo Sanchez, both of whom
watched coverage of the president's speech on CNN, said that Bush's address was
more moderate than they originally expected.
They said they found several parts of it positive, especially Bush's call
for a resumption of postal service between the two countries and his reference
to the Varela Project reform referendum.
Former President Jimmy Carter also mentioned the Varela Project last week in
an unprecedented live speech to the Cuban people. It was the first time that
most Cubans had ever heard of the petition drive, which has gathered more than
11,000 voters' signatures.
The proposal seeks a national vote on guarantees of civil rights such as
freedom of speech, as well as the right to own a business, an amnesty for
political prisoners and electoral reform. Cuban officials have given little hope
for its success.
"The rest of (Bush's) speech was more of the same, the same prickly
rhetoric from the time of the Cold War that has characterized the relationship
between the countries for 40 years," Sanchez said.
Sanchez added that Bush's address "remained far behind" Carter's.
"Carter's speech reflected the point of view of the great silent
majority in both countries who want better relations," he said.
Both dissidents said they worried that Bush's promise to increase U.S.
government funding for non-governmental groups working with the Cuban people
could undermine their efforts in Cuba.
"Any kind of financial help from any government for our work is
unacceptable," Sanchez said. "That's especially true of a government
such as Washington which has such very bad relations with Cuba."
The Cuban government often tries to discredit human rights and other groups
on the island by accusing them of receiving U.S. government funds, a charge that
opposition groups here regularly deny.
In his address, Bush said he won't heed calls to lift the Cuban trade
embargo unless Fidel Castro releases political prisoners, conducts independently
monitored elections and accepts a list of tough U.S. conditions for a "new
government that is fully democratic."
Bush's speech, which aides said has been in the works since January, came a
week after Carter traveled to Cuba and urged the communist government to embrace
democracy and called on the United States to lift the 40-year-old trade embargo
and restrictions on American travel to the island.
Carter and other critics argue that the restrictions have failed to force a
change in Castro's government while making life tough on ordinary Cubans.
Human Rights Groups Differ over Cuba
Alison Raphael,OneWorld US. Mon May 20,12:26 PM ET
Leading human rights groups joined the debate on Cuba in advance of United
States President George W. 's two public addresses Monday that will throw cold
water on growing domestic sentiment in favor of an end to U.S. trade and travel
embargos.
In a new report published this week, Amnesty International welcomed Cuba's
progress on human rights, but said "a number of fundamental rights continue
to be denied."
While acknowledging that only six people are jailed as what it calls "prisoners
of conscience" and that the death penalty is no longer enforced, Amnesty
charged in the report, 'The Situation of Human Rights in Cuba,' that harassment
of dissidents continues.
Amnesty Cuba specialist Holly Ackerman told OneWorld that the regime of
President Fidel Castro (news - web sites) has "changed the pattern" of
harassment by arresting fewer dissidents and holding them for a shorter time,
but bars them from work and evicts them from their homes.
The report makes scant reference to the U.S. embargo, calling it "a
contributing factor" to the country's human rights situation.
New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), meanwhile, called late Friday for
an end to the embargo, saying it hurts the Cuban people as a whole, alienates
potential allies in efforts to bring about change in Cuba, and violates the
rights of U.S. citizens by prohibiting them to travel to Cuba.
"If the goal is to improve human rights conditions in Cuba, then the
embargo should be ended," said Jose Miguel Vivanco, head of HRW's Americas
Division. "The embargo has proved itself ineffective and even
counterproductive to the human rights cause," he added.
Vivanco's comments reflect the views of a growing coalition of unlikely
allies also pressing for an end to the embargo. In Congress a 40-member
bipartisan Cuba Working Group led by Congressman Jeff Flake, a conservative
Republican from Arizona, called last week for expanded trade and an end to the
travel ban.
The group is spearheading two pieces of legislation, one to permit private
financing of U.S. sales of agricultural goods to Cuba and another to end funding
for the government agency that enforces the travel ban, the Office of Foreign
Asset Control.
According to Sally Grooms-Cowall, head of the Washington-based Cuba Policy
Foundation, the embargo is hurting Americans as well as Cubans. Citing a recent
study by the University of Texas, Grooms-Cowall, who served as an ambassador
under the previous Bush administration, told reporters last week that the U.S.
loses $1.2 billion a year as a result of the trade sanctions.
President Bush has chosen to overlook this growing opposition to
Washington's long-held policies and instead will stress that the 40-year-old
sanctions would be lifted only as a result of political and economic reform in
the island nation.
In remarks released Sunday night, Bush said, "Without major steps by
Cuba to open up its political system and its economic system, trade with Cuba
will not help the Cuban people, it will merely enrich Castro and his cronies and
prop up their dictatorship."
In a set of policy pronouncements on Monday, also Cuban Independence Day,
Bush will call on the Cuban government to undertake free and fair elections next
year, open its economy, allow trade unions and stop discriminatory practices
against Cuban workers.
Bush Hardens Stance on Cuba Embargo
Mon May 20, 7:36 Am Et . By Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press
Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - President is rejecting pleas from former President Carter
and others to ease a 40-year-old trade embargo against Cuba and is instead
setting detailed conditions for loosening the ban.
But Bush also proposes to improve the plight of Cuban people with an array
of initiatives meant to bolster humanitarian assistance and communication with
the island nation.
In a morning speech at the White House on Cuban Independence Day and in an
afternoon appearance in Miami, Bush on Monday was reaffirming his support for
the embargo, which Carter, human rights groups and dozens of lawmakers from both
parties say is a failure.
Bush was demanding far-reaching changes in Cuba's communist political and
economic systems before he will consider easing the embargo.
"Without major steps by Cuba to open up its political system and its
economic system, trade with Cuba will not help the Cuban people; it will merely
enrich Castro and his cronies and prop up their dictatorship," Bush said in
excerpts of prepared remarks released late Sunday.
"With real political and economic reform, trade can benefit the Cuban
people and allow them to share in the progress of our times."
The administration has long said that Cuba must allow democracy, foster a
free-market economy and show full respect for human rights.
Monday's remarks were intended as an elaboration on those themes, specifying
what measures the administration requires before it will consider lifting the
embargo — a step that would require congressional approval.
Bush was demanding that opposition parties be allowed to organize, assemble
and speak freely, with equal access to the airwaves. He also was saying Cuba's
2003 elections must be monitored by objective outside observers and that human
rights groups be free to visit Cuba to monitor the conditions for those
elections.
In addition, the president was insisting that all political prisoners be
released and allowed to participate in the election.
"Full normalization of relations with Cuba — diplomatic
recognition, open trade and a robust aid program — will only be possible
when Cuba has a new government that is fully democratic, when the rule of law is
respected and when the human rights of all Cubans are fully protected,"
Bush said in his prepared remarks.
He also was to voice support for a referendum in Cuba asking voters whether
they favor civil liberties including freedom of speech and assembly, and amnesty
for political prisoners, said Jorge Mas Santos, chairman of the Cuban American
National Foundation, who was briefed on Bush's message.
There was irony in the thrust of Bush's remarks and its delivery in Miami.
Cuba mocked the United States for the chaotic conclusion in Florida of the 2000
presidential election, and Cuba's foreign minister offered to send observers to
ensure fair balloting there in the future.
Bush also was to call on Cuba to open its economy and allow independent
trade unions. Aides said he planned to back the establishment of
government-business partnerships patterned after an approach the United States
took with Poland as that nation emerged from communism.
The demands were the result of a policy review by the White House and were
packaged in what the administration has dubbed the Initiative for a New Cuba.
Seeking to balance the hard line on the embargo with a sensitivity to Cuba's
grinding poverty, Bush also was announcing a four-pronged strategy for helping
the people there.
The measures will:
_Seek to cut U.S. bureaucratic hurdles that hamper American aid groups from
working in Cuba.
_Send taxpayer money to such non-governmental groups that want to help in
Cuba.
_Establish scholarships in the United States for Cuban students and
professionals trying to assemble independent institutions and for relatives of
political prisoners.
_Resume mail service between the United States and Cuba, something this
country has sought since 1999.
Last week, a 40-member, bipartisan group in Congress announced support for
easing the embargo. The private Human Rights Watch called for the same, saying
the embargo "imposes indiscriminate hardship on the Cuban people and
impedes democratic change."
Politics loomed large over Bush's events Monday.
Cuban-American voters helped carry him to a narrow victory in Florida, the
state that decided the 2000 election, and they favor the kind of hard line he
was espousing. The tough talk also could appeal to the broader Hispanic vote
throughout the United States.
Bush's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, faces re-election this year and is
depending on Cuban-Americans, who vote heavily Republican.
The president was to headline a fund-raiser Monday evening for the Florida
Republican Party, which will use the money to boost Jeb Bush's re-election
campaign. It will be the third fund-raiser for his brother the president has
attended this year.
Bagsby's visit to Cuba won't be like Carter's
By NEIL STRASSMAN, Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH - When Tarrant County Commissioner Dionne Bagsby gets off the
plane Friday in Havana, she will be following close on the heels of former
President Jimmy Carter, whose visit to Cuba ended Friday.
But Bagsby's weeklong sojourn to the island nation is with a dozen members
of the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Worth, and it will be far less
political than Carter's.
"This is Christian to Christian. This is not politics," said
Bagsby, who speaks little Spanish. "If you are open and a hugger like I am,
people take care of you. I am always fascinated by other cultures. I am a lover
of sun, sea, sand and God's people."
Full story at Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Bush Demands Free Elections in Cuba
By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer. Sun May 19,10:27
PM ET
WASHINGTON (AP) - President is setting detailed conditions for easing the
U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, demanding free and open elections next year and
turning aside pleas from former President Carter and others to loosen a
40-year-old blockade.
But Bush also wants to improve the plight of Cuban people with an array of
initiatives meant to bolster humanitarian assistance and communication with the
island nation.
In a morning speech on Cuban Independence Day and in an afternoon appearance
in Miami, Bush on Monday was to reaffirm his support for the embargo, which
Carter, human rights groups and dozens of lawmakers from both parties say is a
failure.
Bush planned to demand far-reaching changes in Cuba's political and economic
systems before he will consider easing the embargo.
"Without major steps by Cuba to open up its political system and its
economic system, trade with Cuba will not help the Cuban people, it will merely
enrich Castro and his cronies and prop up their dictatorship," Bush was to
say, according to excerpts released late Sunday by the White House. "With
real political and economic reform, trade can benefit the Cuban people and allow
them to share in the progress of our times."
The administration has long said that Cuba must allow democracy, foster a
free-market economy and show full respect for human rights.
Monday's speech was intended as an elaboration on those themes, specifying
what measures the administration requires before it will consider lifting the
embargo — a step that would require congressional approval.
Bush was to say opposition parties must be allowed to organize, assemble and
speak freely, with equal access to the airwaves. He also planned to say Cuba's
2003 elections must be monitored by objective outside observers.
Bush was demanding that human rights groups be free to visit Cuba to monitor
the conditions for free elections. And he said all political prisoners must be
released and allowed to participate in the election.
"Full normalization of relations with Cuba — diplomatic
recognition, open trade and a robust aid program — will only be possible
when Cuba has a new government that is fully democratic, when the rule of law is
respected, and when the human rights of all Cubans are fully protected,"
Bush said in his prepared remarks.
He also was to express his support for a referendum in Cuba asking voters
whether they favor civil liberties like freedom of speech and assembly, and
amnesty for political prisoners, said Jorge Mas Santos, chairman of the Cuban
American National Foundation, who was briefed on Bush's message.
There was an irony in Bush's pro-democracy message, and in the site itself:
Cuba mocked America's disputed 2000 election and its chaotic conclusion in
Florida, and Cuba's foreign minister once offered to send observers to ensure
fair balloting there in the future.
Bush also was to call on the government to open its economy and allow
independent trade unions. Aides said he planned to back the establishment of
government-business partnerships patterned after an approach the United States
took with Poland as that nation emerged from communism.
The demands were the result of a policy review by the White House and were
packaged in what the administration has dubbed the Initiative for a New Cuba.
Seeking to balance the hard line on the embargo with a sensitivity to Cuba's
grinding poverty, Bush also was to announce a four-pronged strategy for helping
the people there.
The measures will:
_Seek to cut U.S. bureaucratic hurdles that hamper American aid groups from
working in Cuba;
_Send taxpayer money to such non-governmental groups that want to help in
Cuba;
_Establish scholarships in the United States for Cuban students and
professionals trying to assemble independent institutions and for relatives of
political prisoners;
_Resume mail service between the United States and Cuba, something the
United States has unsuccessfully sought since 1999.
Politics loomed large over Bush's speech and trip: Cuban-American voters
helped carry him to a narrow victory in Florida, the state that decided the 2000
election, and they favor the kind of hard line Bush was espousing Monday. The
tough talk also could appeal to the broader Hispanic vote throughout the United
States.
Bush's brother Jeb Bush, the Florida governor, faces re-election this year
and also is depending on Cuban Americans, who vote heavily Republican.
The president was to headline a fund-raiser Monday evening for the Florida
Republican Party, which will use the money to boost Jeb Bush's re-election
campaign. It will be the third fund-raiser for his brother the president has
attended this year.
Last week, a group of 40 lawmakers — Republicans and Democrats —
also announced support for easing the embargo, and on Friday, Human Rights Watch
called for the same, saying the embargo "imposes indiscriminate hardship on
the Cuban people and impedes democratic change."
"We concede that if we engage in China and North Korea (news - web
sites), Vietnam, that we can bring them closer to democracy, have a more rapid
transition, yet in Cuba we say the opposite is true," Rep. Jeff Flake,
R-Ariz., a House International Relations Committee member, said on ABC's "This
Week" Sunday. "And I don't think that's right, and I think that we
ought to get more involved there." | 
