Zenit. Sunday, May 21, 2000. NewsMax.com
HAVANA -– Granma, Cuba's official newspaper, is accusing men of the Catholic Church of conspiring with Poland's government against Fidel Castro's revolution.
In an opinion article, abounding with insults, Polish Sen. Zbigniew Romaszewski, president of the Polish Senate's Human Rights Commission and member of Solidarity, was accused Tuesday of visiting the island to organize a counter-revolution.
The newspaper accuses the Polish senator of encouraging an opposition group to "assume the high responsibility of governing the country" and of prophesying the same end for the Cuban communist regime that the former Polish leaders suffered who, when they were aware of the changes,
bought the country with money obtained from corruption.
The article, titled "Counter-Revolutionary Adventure of the Polish Government in Cuba," accuses Romaszewski of meeting a group of persons in Pinar del Rio, during a conference of economists held at the Center of Civic-Religious Formation, directed by Dagoberto Valdes Hernandez, member
of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and director of the Cuban Catholic magazine Vitral.
The newspaper accuses Valdez of being a "systematic liar and bitter enemy of the revolutionary process."
However, between the lines, the article itself acknowledges the reasons for this violent reaction against Romaszewski's visit.
The Polish senator addressed a conference "in which he spoke on the disappearance of socialism in Poland and the methods of struggle used by the Polish opposition, including those of a clandestine character."
The article goes on to attack Bishop Jose Siro Gonzalez Bacallao of Pinar del Rio, president of Caritas-Cuba and member of the Permanent Committee of the Cuban Bishops' Conference, accusing him guilty of meeting with this Polish representative.
"What did they talk about during such a long interview?" Granma challenges on the front page. "Nobody knows," is the automatic reply, not having any proof for the reasons or content of the meeting.
These fears were also evident when reporting on the Polish senator's presence at an exhibition of signs and paintings on topics related to prisoners of conscience in the world, which is displayed in the halls of St. John Lateran Church.
"As is known, those who commit acts against the Revolution in Cuba, including conspiracy, defamation, sabotage, terrorism and treason in the service of United States policy are classified by the enemies of our country as prisoners of conscience," the article states.
"The items being exhibited hope to give a retrospective appreciation of the post-War political process in Poland, with emphasis on a negative view of the role played by Polish communists, the emergence and progress of Solidarity, its role in the fall of socialism in Poland, and the support
given by the Polish Catholic Church to achieve this end," the Granma article explains. It also points out that the exhibition was visited by diplomats from all the countries that were formerly satellites of the Soviet Union.
The Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops replied with utmost calm to Granma's statements. Spokesman Orlando Marquez limited himself to say, "The language used is surprising, and it is hoped it will not have major consequences."
All Rights Reserved © NewsMax.com |