Congressional Black Caucus Urged To Visit Afro-Cuban Political Prisoners And Democracy Activists

Congressional Black Caucus Urged To Visit Afro-Cuban Political Prisoners And Democracy Activists

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) April 6, 2009 -- U.S. based groups are urging the Congressional Black Caucus ("CBC") to inquire about the health and safety of Cuba's courageous political prisoners and democracy activists during their current visit to Cuba, such as Afro-Cuban prisoner of conscience Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet and civil rights activist Jorge Luis Perez Garcia "Antunez."

Cuba Democracy Public Advocacy, Corp., a Washington, D.C. advocacy group, has joined forces with Bloggers United for Cuban Liberty (BUCL.org), to highlight the plight of the island's Afro-Cuban civil rights and democracy activists, and urge the CBC to advocate on their behalf.

Of concern to both organizations is the health of Dr. Biscet, a peaceful human rights and democracy advocate currently serving a 25-year sentence for these activities (New York Times, May 19, 2004). Dr. Biscet, an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, is said to be in poor health. Antunez, who spent 17 years as a political prisoner before his release in 2007 (New York Times, April 24, 2007), has been on a peaceful hunger strike in his home since February 17th demanding the cessation of torture in Cuba's political prisons. Cuban authorities recently assaulted Antunez' home with tear gas (Miami Herald, March 26, 2009).

"It would be scandalous for the CBC delegation to visit the beach resort of Varadero during their trip, but not even inquire about Afro-Cuban political prisoners and democracy activists," said Mauricio Claver Carone, Executive Director of Cuba Democracy Public Advocacy, Corp. "Dr. Biscet and Antunez are the Dr. Martin Luther King's and Nelson Mandela's of the 21st century," Claver-Carone concluded.

A March 2009 report by the University of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies revealed that Afro-Cubans represent over 60 percent of the island's population, but only 17% of the senior leadership of the Communist Party and 10% of the senior command of the Cuban Armed Forces. Afro-Cubans also represent 80% of Cuba's massive prison population.

"If over half of Cuba's population is Afro-Cuban, that means human rights abuses in Cuba are by default racial issues, as the ruling cupola remains almost entirely white," said Henry Gomez, BUCL President. "The CBC should not stick to the program devised by their regime hosts of propaganda, beaches and monuments," suggested Gomez

Cuba Democracy Public Advocacy, Corp. is a Washington, D.C.-based, non-partisan institution that promotes human rights and democracy.

Bloggers United for Cuban Liberty, Inc. is a Florida non-profit corporation that generates awareness about the Cuban reality. More information at http://bucl.org

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State Department Press Briefing - Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow - Summit of the Americas

Only the Cuba portions, fascinating exchange and absolute media obsession! Click here to watch the entire briefing.


U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

For Immediate Release
April 7, 2009

On-The-Record Briefing

Ambassador Jeffrey S. Davidow on the upcoming Summit of the Americas

April 6, 2009

Washington, D.C.

MR. AKER: Good afternoon, everyone. It’s our great pleasure and privilege today to be able to introduce Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow, who is the Special Advisor to President Obama for the Summit of the Americas, which will take place later this month in Trinidad and Tobago.

QUESTION: Hi. Do you expect Cuba to be an issue at the summit? Do you not want it to be an issue? And what will you do to see that it’s not an issue? Are you getting pressure from other countries to bring it up? And do you think Cuba should be a participant in the summit?

AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: Well, to answer your first question, no, I do not think Cuba should be a participant in the summit. This is the fifth summit. And from Miami, you will recall that the summit – the first summit was in 1994 and it was a celebration and in a way it continues to be a celebration of the profound change in this hemisphere as compared to many periods in the past when the hemisphere was marked by undemocratic governments.

In 1994 at the first summit, it was a unique – up till that time, a unique moment in time because every government represented there had been elected, was democratic. And here we are, 15 years later, and that trend of democracy has continued. Cuba was not at the first summit. It still remains an undemocratic state. The United States still hopes to see change in Cuba that at some point will allow Cuba to rejoin the inter-American community. But it will not be at this summit.

Now, will Cuba be discussed, which was your other question. This is an open meeting of 34 heads of state. I don’t think one can dictate what is going to be discussed, particularly in – as I mentioned, there’s one meeting which is a private meeting just of the heads of state. In a way, we believe that it is not – it would be unfortunate if the principal theme of this meeting turned out to be Cuba. As I’ve told you, I think there are a lot of very important issues that warrant discussion, whether it’s the economic issue, social inclusion, the environment, public safety. We would prefer, obviously, to focus on what we have been preparing for, but there is no effort on our part to try to stifle conversation on any topic.

QUESTION: A follow-up on Cuba. If you just said that the U.S. is looking for dialogue, then why not include Cuba if you want to open better relationships with the continent?

AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: Well, we are obviously interested in having the best possible relations with – you know, with countries that you had mentioned, Venezuela and Bolivia, and other countries. Our relationship with Cuba is a complicated one. It’s a complex one, and I don’t intend to dissect it here.

But the fact of the matter is, is that the United States seeks and would like to see and would hope that others in this hemisphere would like to see a Cuba which affords to its people the same kind of minimal rights which almost every other country, indeed every other country that will attend this summit, does afford to their people as a – as democratic nations.

So I don’t think it makes sense to try to compare Cuba and Venezuela or Ecuador or China or what have you. The fact of the matter is, is these have different histories, different backgrounds, different political situations, and we just have to be realistic about that.

May I – I’ll continue – okay, you, sir.

QUESTION: Dan Dombey, Financial Times. Two questions, if I may. First, would you view the President’s longstanding pledge to get rid of the restrictions on family visits to Cuba as just a humanitarian – just a – justifiable on humanitarian grounds, or is there also an element to which that improves relations with the rest of the continent?

And secondly, the President also, of course, on his trip is going to Mexico ahead of the Trinidad summit. Can we expect any more deliverables in terms of the relationship with Mexico, or should we be content with what we’ve just got in the last couple of weeks in terms of –

AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: Well, look, I think our policy with Mexico is fairly well established. The President and the Secretary of State, indeed the whole cabinet, have made it clear that our relationship with Mexico is of the highest priority. We have programs of support for Mexico, the Merida Initiative, which are on their way into being implemented. The level of cooperation between the United States and Mexico is higher than it ever has been in a whole range of issues, but in – particularly in terms of law enforcement. And Mexico is, as you can see, daily in the newspaper making very strong efforts and successful efforts.

On the question of relaxation of some of the restrictions in our policy towards Cuba, the President has said while he was in campaign and has been repeated since and the Secretary of State has said that – and the Vice President most recently in Chile, that we can expect some relaxation and changes in terms of the restrictions on family remittances and family travel. And as the Vice President said in Chile when he was down there, this does not include a lifting of the embargo.

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Yeah, just more broadly on Cuba policy, is the Administration hopeful that, you know, the changes that have been going on there and changes in the – you know, the Cuban-American population or organizations – is the Administration hopeful that these can – will help bring about a closer relationship up – perhaps upgrading to an embassy, the interests sections, that kind of thing?

AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: Well, I’m not going to comment on domestic politics here. The fact of the matter is that for all of the reportage and speculation about changes in Cuba, the fact remains that the situation in that country as it relates to the freedom of its own citizens does not seem to have changed with the departure of Fidel Castro from the presidency, at least the formal departure, and the advent of his brother.

What I think is very important in talking about Cuba is that we should view Cuba in the context of this hemisphere, which, as I said, is a democratic hemisphere. Back in the ‘60s and ‘70s and ‘80s when governments in this hemisphere were run by military dictatorships, when there were countries with political prisoners with no free press, Cuba, though special, was not totally unique in terms of human rights. Now, it is clearly the odd man out. As I say, there is no government in --

QUESTION: Are you talking about Cuba under Batista or under Castro?

QUESTION: (Laughter.)

AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: I’m talking about both.

QUESTION: Okay. But so --

AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: And I’m glad you recognize that there’s not much difference. That’s your point.

QUESTION: What – okay, so if that’s the case, and things haven’t changed and you don’t want to comment on internal politics, why ease the restrictions? Why --

AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: The President has said, made the point that he wants to allow Cuban Americans to have, as a matter of both moral – a moral matter and the question of elemental justice, to have more contact level --

QUESTION: Does the Administration see that as a way to bring change if more money is going in, if there are exchanges --

AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: The President has said that he thinks that Cuban Americans are the best possible ambassadors --

QUESTION: Okay.

AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: -- of this – of our system when they visit that country.

QUESTION: And what about the idea – there are moves afoot on the Hill to lift – to allow all Americans, not just Americans with families in Cuba to go – what is – what’s the Administration’s position on that?

AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: I think that’s an issue still to be debated. But right now, what the President is looking at is – and I can say this because I know; I’ve read his promise in his May speech while he was a candidate in Miami that there will be lifting of restrictions on the question of – or a lessening of the restrictions on remittances and travel.

Yes.

QUESTION: Jeff Mason with Reuters. Two follow-ups on two issues that have just been discussed – first on climate change, can you give any more details on what kind of preparatory work towards Copenhagen might be done at this summit? Will there be any bilaterals specifically on that issue? Are there any specific goals you’ll be looking for?

And second, on the issue of Cuba, just broadly, what will the President tell his fellow participants about the U.S.’s strategic review of that relationship?

AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: Well, on climate change, I would direct you to, you know, the special negotiator for climate change. I don’t think that we should expect specific outcomes – negotiating outcomes from this summit. It’s not the time and place, it would seem to me, when you get heads of state together. I’m sure that the President will mention it and the desire to cooperate, but that cooperation will be taken care of at other levels and not at the summit.

In terms of Cuba, I think the President will say that, you know, we are engaged in a continual evaluation of our policy and how that policy could help result in a change in Cuba that would bring about a democratic society there. I don’t think he’s going to be in any way unwilling to discuss that. As I said, however, there’s a very long agenda of topics that we think are quite important, that other governments think are important, and it would be unfortunate if the conference spent more time on that topic than it would have to.

Why don’t I take just a couple more questions? Well, I’ll keep going and – did I – yes, sir.

Classic...

From Reuters --

"Obama has said he would maintain the trade embargo until Cuba shows progress on human rights and democracy, which [U.S. Rep. Barbara] Lee said the delegation discussed only generally with the Cubans."

Yet, they've spent 4 whole days attacking U.S. policy!

Bail out Cuba? No way!

BY MAURICIO CLAVER-CARONE

The Miami Herald

Mon, Apr. 06, 2009

With bailout fever spreading through the Capitol, it's hardly surprising that even a bankrupt dictatorship has found surrogates to plead for a handout.

Americans thought the financial-services industry was audacious in asking for billions of taxpayer dollars while senior managers gold-plated their bathroom fixtures, scheduled ''team-building'' sessions at luxurious resorts in the Napa Valley and paid themselves unmerited bonuses. Then executives of Detroit's Big Three automakers, also seeking billions, flew their private jets to Washington.

Now, a host of business and trade groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and the American Farm Bureau, are voicing their support for bailing out the Cuban government. In a letter earlier this year to President Obama, they urged him to extend U.S. trade credits and financing to the Castro brothers' regime. Needless to say, Cuban authorities quickly reacted to this generous -- and unconditioned -- proposal with praise and enthusiasm.

The letter essentially endorsed a Cuba-policy report released by the NFTC just as the Paris Club of creditor nations disclosed that Cuba already owes $29.7 billion to its international trading partners -- with little hope for repayment -- and ranks second on the list of the world's most indebted nations.

Coincidentally, the Castro regime's biggest international benefactor, President Hugo Chávez of oil-rich Venezuela, is scrambling to adjust his domestic and international spending as declining oil prices remain steady below the $50 a barrel mark. Chávez had been making his short- and mid-term budget forecasts on an assumption that the price of oil would average $60 a barrel. From a fiscal standpoint, it's unsustainable for him to continue his ideological handouts around the hemisphere. However, Cuba has been the biggest beneficiary of Chavez's largesse, raking in about $5 billion a year.

If U.S. trade credits and financing aren't sufficient to bailout the Cuban regime, the American business groups, so eager to subsidize this dictatorship, held multiple press conferences this week with their Congressional allies promoting legislation to send American tourists to Cuba. According to Cuba's Ministry of Tourism, lifting U.S. restrictions on tourist travel to Cuba would net the Castro government $5 billion annually. Wouldn't that be convenient?

Never mind that Cuba's travel and tourism industry is owned and operated by the Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, which keeps and spends the money. Try to forget, too, that Cuban nationals are denied access to those isolated resorts -- including the hotels, beaches, clinics, restaurants and stores -- where foreign tourists only vacation.

Curiously, the American business group's letter to Obama never uses the words freedom, democracy or human rights; nor does it mention the most popular word in America today -- change -- in any context that might help the Cuban people. Perhaps its authors were unaware that Cuba's nascent civil society was struggling for ''change'' even before it became the Obama campaign's mantra. Change translates into the Spanish word cambio. When young Cubans began wearing white wristbands last year -- á la Lance Armstrong's yellow wristbands -- imprinted with the word cambio, the Cuban government's repressive response was sweeping arrests and prison sentences.

Obama correctly promised, while campaigning, to keep the embargo on the Cuban dictatorship and use it as leverage to negotiate civil liberties and political freedom. Cubans admire the United States as much for its democratic ideals and personal freedoms as for its prosperity. Change cannot be achieved by bailing out Cuba's longtime oppressors.

For Cuba to become a credit-worthy nation, it must first become a multi-party democracy that respects its citizens.