Cuban embargo imbroglio
By Frank Calzon. The
Washington Times, November 7, 2004.
While the Washington debate on U.S. Cuba
policy remains stuck on the issue of trade
sanctions, the world has not stood still.
At a recent meeting sponsored by the Czech
government in Prague, a dozen former presidents
and chiefs of governments, including Vaclav
Havel of the Czech Republic, Jose Maria
Aznar of Spain, and former leaders from
Uruguay, Chile, Canada, Costa Rica, Bulgaria
and Estonia, met not to discuss the U.S.
embargo but to urge the international community
to support the Cuban people's aspirations
for a transition to democracy.
The Czech meeting was followed by a similar
meeting in Slovakia, where again prominent
Europeans called on Fidel Castro to open
his jails and allow civil society to grow.
Earlier European illusions have been destroyed
by Mr. Castro's repression and unwillingness
to reform. Just last week, three members
of Parliament (two Dutch and one Spaniard)
were prevented from entering the country
at Havana airport because they intended
to meet with Cuban human rights activists.
Much has also changed about the U.S. trade
embargo. Those who still talk about "lifting
the embargo" routinely ignore that
American companies already sell foodstuffs
and medicine to Cuba. The issue is not about
selling, but getting paid.
American companies sell to Cuba on a cash
basis; the U.S. government does not provide
credit guarantees. So there are no American
banks standing in the long queue of Mr.
Castro's creditors in the Paris Club.
The Paris Club is comprised of foreign
governments and banks that have extended
credit to Mr. Castro, who hasn't made a
payment on principal or interest since 1986
to many of them. Havana owes Mexico $380
million. In 2002, that debt was renegotiated.
But last March, Mr. Castro stopped payments
when he became angry with Mexican President
Vicente Fox. BancoMex has since closed its
offices in Havana.
Even South Africa, a longtime ally due
to Mr. Castro's support for Nelson Mandela
during Mr. Mandela's many years of imprisonment,
suspended its export insurance and credits
to Cuba because of nonpayment.
We all know what happens when American
banks can't collect on outstanding loans:
One way or another, taxpayers shoulder the
burden. Remember the U.S. savings and loan
debacle? If the U.S. unilaterally lifts
what remains of its Cuba trade sanctions,
as some are pushing for, American taxpayers
will be handed the bill and the Cuban people
will see no benefit.
"Commercial engagement" with
Cuba comes with an extra political price.
When Mr. Castro buys from U.S. companies,
he expects them to become apologists and
lobbyists for his government. As USA Today
reports, "Castro's regime uses its
checkbook as leverage so that U.S. political
and commercial groups sign promises to work
for changes in the laws that restrict travel
and trade with Cuba." Sysco, which
was ready to export $500,000 in foodstuffs,
backed out when told it had to "take
legal action to promote changes in trade
with Cuba."
If the insolvency of Cuba's government
is not reason enough for caution, how about
the fact Cuba remains in the State Department
list of rogue-nation terrorism sponsors?
Cuba's espionage against the United States,
in which a high-ranking U.S. intelligence
analyst pleaded guilty to spying for Mr.
Castro for many years? The hospitality Cuba
has granted fleeing felons - including accused
killers of American police officers? Commerce
is not the only factor to weigh in determining
U.S. relations with other countries.
With the Soviet Union's collapse and the
end of Soviet subsidies, Mr. Castro turned
to tourism for financing his repressive
government. Should Americans now join in
exploiting Cuban workers?
"Private enterprise" doesn't
exist in Cuba. The government owns all businesses,
and Cuba's military controls tourism. Unless
they work at a hotel, nightclub or restaurant,
Cubans are routinely banned from businesses
catering to tourists. Some call it "tourist
apartheid." Paychecks are issued by
Cuba's government; foreign investors deal
only with the Cuban government and become
complicit exploiters of Cubans who get only
$15 to $20 a month.
That is not enough to live on, so prostitution
thrives. Anyone who promotes or talks about
an "independent labor union" or
"collective bargaining" is fired,
arrested and imprisoned.
Some argue American tourists in Cuba would
promote democracy and freedom. They are
wrong; they misunderstand the lessons of
Eastern Europe.
It was not American tourists enjoying
Soviet ballets in Leningrad that brought
down communism. Rather, it was Western efforts
such as Radio Free Europe that broke the
Soviet news monopoly. And Western leaders,
such as President Ronald Reagan, kept the
pressure on while maintaining America's
commitment to freedom and human decency.
The American people have a role in helping
Cubans and others achieve freedom. It is
a solidarity that should not now be replaced
by complicit exploitation. Cubans need help
maintaining pressure for reform on one of
the world's last communist tyrants.
There will be plenty of time to trade
with a free Cuba.
Frank Calzon is executive
director of the Center for a Free Cuba,
an independent human rights organization.
He has testified before congressional committees
and the U.N. Commission on Human Rights
in Geneva, Switzerland.
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