CUBA NEWS
The Miami Herald

No plans to restart talks on migration, U.S. says

Posted on Tue, Feb. 24, 2004.

HAVANA - America's top diplomat in Cuba said on Monday there were no plans to restart formal U.S.-Cuba migration talks that the United States suspended last month.

The meetings, held every six months, were established to monitor 1994 and 1995 accords designed to promote legal, orderly migration between the two countries -- and prevent a mass exodus as in 1994 when tens of thousands of Cubans took to the sea in flimsy vessels for Florida.

The United States said it suspended the migration talks because of Cuba's repeated refusal to discuss key issues, while Cuba blamed the suspension on U.S. presidential election politics.

''The talks potentially could be useful,'' James Cason, chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba, told The Associated Press in an interview. "But I think we have found in recent years that they haven't been.''

Florida lawmakers are battling Castro

A generation of Cuban-American leaders has united to fight the anti-Castro battle from an unlikely place: Tallahassee.

By Oscar Corral, ocorral@herald.com. Posted on Mon, Feb. 23, 2004.

State Rep. David Rivera was elected to represent a district that includes parts of Miami-Dade, Broward and Collier counties. But if he had his way, he'd be the alcalde of the city in Cuba where his family comes from, Cienfuegos.

''You grow up and all your family does is talk about Cuba. Your parents, your grandparents, they instill in you a sense of pride in the homeland,'' said Rivera, who was born in New York and has never been to Cuba. "I want to be mayor of Cienfuegos in a free Cuba.''

At a time when the United States is exploring new ways to weaken Cuba's communist dictatorship, Rivera has emerged as the main architect of an anti-Castro strategy aimed at Havana from an unlikely place: Tallahassee.

As part of the Republican Hispanic caucus, a group consisting mostly of Cuban-American lawmakers from South Florida, Rivera and others want to be players in Cuba as well as Florida. The caucus plans to meet again in the next two weeks to discuss ways to further the anti-Castro cause, Rivera said.

The phenomenon of state politicians trying to battle Castro from Tallahassee is not new, but there has never been such a united front, observers say.

''It's new because of the increased attention being given to terrorism issues, and the growing political muscle of Cuban-American legislators,'' said Susan McManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida.

Critics say Rivera and others in the Legislature who rally round the Cuban flag are merely pandering to conservative Cuban exiles in South Florida, and should be focusing their energies on tackling Florida's many problems.

George Willis, a Democratic political activist from Collier County, said he is stunned by Rivera's obsession with Cuba.

''He ought to be run out of office,'' Willis said. "We've got so many problems in Florida that for a legislator to spend his time on anything other than the people of Florida, he's not fulfilling his responsibilities.''

Rivera, 38, proudly says that his top priority is to help Cuba become free.

''It's the most important issue to me,'' Rivera said. "I see my role as being vigilant so that wherever the Castro regime tries to rear its ugly head in the state of Florida, I try to chop it off.''

State Rep. Manny Prieguez, a close Rivera ally, said the catalyst that drew the Cuban American politicians together in Tallahassee for the Cuban cause was the Bush administration's decision last year to repatriate 12 Cubans suspected of hijacking a boat to reach Florida.

After negotiations with Cuba, the United States agreed to return the suspects when Castro's government pledged to spare their lives and sentence them to no more than 10 years in prison.

''That was very hard to swallow,'' Prieguez said. "It opened my eyes and made me think there's something more that we can do.

"We thought that morally we have an obligation because of who we are, where we come from and the people we represent. It was all about trying to bring a little bit more attention to the issue.''

Critics point out state representatives have practically no clout in international affairs.

Former State Rep. Annie Betancourt, one of the few Cuban-American Democrats elected to office in Tallahassee, said Rivera and lawmakers who claim they can help topple Castro are pandering.

''Come on, topple Castro? You're kidding me,'' she said. "It's wishful thinking. It's good publicity.''

But Rivera is unfazed by critics. He said he has plenty of time to deal with the Cuba issue after fulfilling his other state duties.

''I think every Cuban American from whatever walk of life has a moral obligation to continue the cause of a free and Democratic Cuba,'' he said.

HOUSE ACTION

Marcelo Llorente, another first-term Cuban-American lawmaker, agrees. In April of last year, Llorente introduced a resolution in the House condemning the Cuban government for its crackdown on peaceful dissidents and expressing solidarity with the Cuban people. He later called a press conference with several other legislators to push the issue.

''It was important for us as Cuban Americans and state elected officials that we support the Cuban people during that very difficult time,'' Llorente said. "We are all very passionate about issues relating to Cuba.''

For years, Cuban-American elected officials have used their posts -- however small -- to fight the anti-Castro battle. Miami Commissioner Tomas Regalado, for example, has done it for years, rallying his constituents against Cuban bands and artists who come to perform in the city.

UNITY IS NEW

Joe Garcia, executive director for the Cuban American National Foundation, pointed out that other state lawmakers in the past, like former State Reps. Luis Morse and Humberto Cortina, have tried to bring the anti-Castro fight to Tallahassee. But never has there been so much unity.

''I think we have much more cohesion now than at any time in the past,'' Garcia said. "It shows an understanding that their primary responsibility is to their constituents.''

Since he was elected in November 2002, Rivera has been the most visible Tallahassee lawmaker in the anti-Castro fight.

o In August, he helped draft a letter to President Bush -- signed by the entire Republican Hispanic Caucus -- warning him that Cuban-American support for him may suffer if he didn't get tougher on Cuba.

o In October, he showed up at Miami International Airport to confront and inform people traveling to Cuba as part of a state university program.

o In December, he and other members of the state's Republican Hispanic caucus persuaded Manatee County officials to strip the most inflammatory sentence out of an agreement with the Cuban government to trade products to Cuba through Port Manatee. The sentence said Manatee County had to oppose the U.S. embargo.

o Also in December, Rivera and other Hispanic Republican Caucus members asked Taiwanese officials during a visit there to financially assist Cuban dissidents.

o Next month, Rivera plans to introduce a bill that would force anyone traveling from a Florida airport to a ''terrorist sponsor'' state like Cuba to pay a surcharge.

The money would go to a Homeland Security Trust fund for state airports.

He also wants to make it mandatory for state public colleges and universities that sponsor Cuba trips to submit their itineraries and passenger list before each visit.

It's not surprising that Rivera has chosen to champion the anti-Castro cause, given his background. He spent more than a decade of his early career as a soldier of La Causa, working for the Cuban American National Foundation, Radio and TV Martí, and the Valladares Foundation, an international human rights group.

A PREOCCUPATION

''It's an issue that has preoccupied my entire political career,'' he said.

Not all Cuban-American state legislators see the Cuba issue as a priority. Majority Whip Gaston Cantens said he sees state politicians as playing a ''supportive'' role for the South Florida Congressional delegation.

''We all want to see a free and democratic Cuba,'' he said. "Some of us perhaps feel that is an issue that needs to be at the forefront in Tallahassee, while others feel it's an issue we can be involved in, but with our congressional delegation.''

Rep. Marco Rubio said people should understand that his priority is state business. But that doesn't mean he can't care about Cuba.

''It shouldn't distract us from our other jobs,'' he said. "But it's part of who we are and an issue in our community.''

Exiles offer post-Castro Cuba plan

A proposal released by Cuban-American congressional leaders and members of Cuban exile groups offers a blueprint for a transition to democracy.

By Oscar Corral, ocorral@herald.com. Posted on Sat, Feb. 21, 2004.

Cuban-American congressional leaders and members of anti-Castro exile organizations Friday unveiled one of the most comprehensive proposals to date of how to proceed with a transition to democracy and a social market economy in a post-Castro Cuba.

The sweeping study is a clear indication of the vision some exile leaders have for the island that they fled years ago.

It calls for the privatization of joint ventures between the government and foreign investors, endorses the right of urban property dwellers in Cuba to remain in their homes as long as old private owners are properly compensated, and suggests that government-owned land be redistributed to small- and medium-sized private farmers to help foster a middle class.

Congressional leaders say they hope it will provide input to the Bush administration's post-Castro plans.

''We will make sure that this plan becomes part of the Bush commission,'' said U.S. Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart, R-Miami. "The solution of Cuba is not in Washington, but to have freedom. We insist that Cuba has to have plurality.''

The proposal is also a clear rejection of dissident Osvaldo Payá's Proyecto Varela, a referendum signed by thousands of Cubans to create change on the island by working within the communist constitution.

''It's important for us to set the tone that there will be no fundamental change in Cuba's system if you go along with the constitution drafted by Fidel Castro,'' said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. "This sets up a new path.''

But by laying out a blueprint counter to Payá's Varela project, conservative exile leaders may be widening the gap that exists between them and more moderate-minded Cuban Americans who support that effort.

Díaz-Balart, his brother, U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, R-Miami, and Ros-Lehtinen reject the Varela project because they feel it does not go far enough in its intended reforms.

More moderate exiles disagree.

''It seems sad that the efforts of these exiles is to derail the cause that dissidents in the island are carrying out,'' said Jose Basulto, former head of Brothers to the Rescue. "These are the plans of people who have no plans. If they really had plans, they'd be planning the fall of Castro and how to carry that out.''

Many other high-profile exiles have expressed their support for the Varela Project, including Archbishop Agustín Roman; Joe Garcia, executive director of the Cuban-American National Foundation; and Carlos Saladrigas, a prominent Cuban American businessman.

Saladrigas said Friday that any proposed plan is positive because it can help foster a healthy debate. But he said it still isn't clear how proposed changes will be achieved.

'The 'how' is what's missing from this debate,'' he said. "Osvaldo Payá has proposed a how. We all want democracy, liberties, institutions and privatization, the question is how do you get there?''

The study, called ''Socio-Economic Reconstruction, suggestions and recommendations for a Post-Castro Cuba,'' was prepared by Antonio Jorge, a political economy and international relations professor at Florida International University.

The congressional leaders also praised the recent formation in Miami of the Cuban Socio-Economic Reconstruction Commission, which is made up of professionals and experts to devise ways to help the post-Castro transition in specific fields such as housing, agriculture and economic development.

Jorge said the goal was to create a series of principles "to ensure that those who want a pseudo, false transition will fail.''

''We have a certain vision of Cuba's future,'' Jorge said. "Those who want to share this view are free to do so. Those who do not are free to follow their own inclinations.''

Independent observers say that it's not unusual for exiled populations to take an active role in a post-communist transition. For example, exiled Czechoslovakians worked closely with members of the internal dissident movement after the fall of the Berlin wall.

''There's no doubt that Antonio Jorge and the others who worked on this are extremely knowledgeable on the Cuban economy,'' said Ricardo Bofil, one of Cuba's original dissidents who now runs a human rights organization in Miami.

"I think they bring forth many interesting themes that will produce a fertile debate in the future.''

Despite the differences over Payá, Mario Díaz-Balart insisted there was no division between Cuban exiles.

''Whoever says Cuban exiles are divided, let them come here today,'' said Díaz-Balart, addressing a crowd of mostly elderly supporters at the Koubek Center in Little Havana.

Ros-Lehtinen said that the plan is supported by prominent dissidents in Cuba, including Oscar Elías Biscet and Marta Beatriz Roque.

''I think this will be accepted by the Cuban community on the island,'' she said.

Jorge, who worked closely with University of Miami Professor Jaime Suchlicki, did not set out to develop a detailed blueprint for transition, but rather a framework of principles to guide the process.

For example, he advises that loans and credit lines should be made available by Cuba's financial institutions to help finance the rebirth of the private sector. He also believes that public money should be loaned to the private sector to finance reconstruction of infrastructure, and to facilitate the transfer of government property to private Cuban ownership.

He recommends that promotion of individual liberties and rights should be a priority.

By drawing on the lessons learned from other post-communist transitions in Eastern Europe, Jorge warns that the transition should be gradual, not rushed. Still, the report calls for a complete change in Cuba's political and economic system.

Jorge said it is critical that Cuba enable its own citizens to become the private owners of its assets -- through loans and grants -- instead of seeing assets auctioned off on the international market.

''I've never been a conservative, political or social,'' Jorge said. "This is a populist proposal.''

Roman Catholic prelate

Posted on Tue, Feb. 24, 2004.

HAVANA - (AP) -- Roman Catholic Bishop Salvador Riverón Cortina, auxiliary bishop to Havana archdiocese, is dead at age 55, the Cuban church said Monday.

The prelate died Sunday from a stomach tumor. The bishop died seven days after the tumor was discovered, the church statement said.

Cardinal Jaime Ortega, lead bishop in Havana and the island's top Roman Catholic churchman, officiated Monday afternoon at a funeral Mass for Riverón at the cathedral in Old Havana.

Born in the central province of Camagüey, Riveron traveled to the nation's capital to study biology at the University of Havana. He later decided to study for the priesthood and enrolled at the San Carlos y San Ambrosio Seminary in 1977.

He was ordained by Ortega in 1982 and named auxiliary bishop to Havana in 1999 by Pope John Paul II during his visit to the island.

The funeral Mass was to be followed by burial at Colón Cemetery in Cuba's capital.

PRINTER FRIENDLY