CUBA LIBRE - QBALIBRE - CUBA TIENE QUE SER LIBRE

SE HA CREADO UNA PAGINA DE FACEBOOK Y UN MOVIMIENTO CYBERNETICO/POPULAR PARA TRATAR DE ORGANIZAR AL PUEBLO CUBANO. SABEMOS QUE LA TIRANIA CASTRISTA ES MAS COMO HITLER,STALIN, KOREA DEL NORTE ETC QUE COMO MUBARAK DE EGYPTO. LOS CASTROS AN IMPLANTADO EN CUBA UNA DICTADURA MILITAR TIPO KOREA DEL NORTE. REPRESORA Y OBSESIONADA CON MANTENERSE EN ÉL PODER A TODA COSTA. RECUERDEN QUE EN CUBA NO HAY ACCESO LIBRE AL INTERNET, SON POCOS QUE CLANDESTINAMENTE ACCEDEN AL INTERNET Y NO AL INTRANET QUE SOLO TIENE ACCESO A LO QUE LA TIRANIA QUIERA QUE SE VEA, TAMPOCO HAY TELÉFONOS CELULARES, NI COMPUTADORAS...ESTA TECNOLOGÍA SE RESERVA PARA LA CAMARILLA GOBERNANTE Y PARA LOS TURISTAS. POR LO TANTO, ORGANIZAR UN MOVIMIENTO CYBERNETICO EN CUBA NO ES TAN FÁCIL COMO EN IRÁN O EGYPTO DÓNDE GRAN PARTE DE LA POBLACIÓN TIENEN CELULARES, COMPUTADORAS Y POR ENDE, ACCESO AL MUNDO LIBRE..NO OBSTANTE,SI SE PUEDE TRATAR DE ROMPER ESTAS CADENAS A LA TECNOLOGÍA,AL LIBRE FLUJO DE INFORMACIÓN QUE AIMPLANTADO LA TIRANÍA..SE PUEDE LLEGAR ATRAVES DE LOS POCOS MEDIOS QUE EXISTAN PARA POR LO MENOS FOMENTAR EN LA CALLE LA NECESIDAD DE ORGANIZAR Y DEMANDAR LIBERTAD Y JUSTICIA. LOS ASESINOS CASTROS SÍ LE VAN A DISPARAR AL PUEBLO CUBANO,O POR LO MENOS PEDIRÁN AL EJÉRCITO YA LOS ORGANISMO DE SEGURIDAD QUE LO HAGAN..ESPERAMOS Y EXIGIMOS AL EJÉRCITO QUE NO DISPARE, QUE NO ABUSE DEL PUEBLO..LOS QUE LO HAGAN TENDRÁN QUE ENFRENTAR LA JUSTICIA EN UNA CUBA LIBRE Y DEMOCRÁTICA..NO SE DEJEN ENGAÑAR, NO SE DEJEN MANCHAR LAS MANOS CON LA SANGRE DEL PUEBLO..ÉL FIN DE LID CASTROS Y SU CAMARILLA SE AVECINA Y LES ASEGURÓ ES MUY FEO, NO SE DEJEN INVOLUCRAR EN LOS CRÍMENES DE ESTOS ASESINOS...ARRIBA PUEBLO CUBANO, VAMOS A PONERNOS DE PIES Y RECLAMAR NUESTRA LIBERTAD, RECLAMAR NUESTRAS VIDAS, BASTA YA DE VIVIR COMO ESCLAVO DE UNOS GANGSTERS...VIVA CRISTO REY,CUBA LIBRE..VIVA LA NUEVA REPÚBLICA CUBANA, DEMOCRÁTICA, LIBRE Y SOBERANA....

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Por-el-levantamiento-popular-en-Cuba/173839132658920?v=wall

EL NUEVO MANIFIESTO

2011-02-12T05:21:00.000-08:00

Ha llegado la hora en que la nación se puede salvar de la tiranía por la inteligencia, el valor y el civismo de sus hijos, por el esfuerzo de todos los que han llegado a sentir en lo hondo el destino de esta tierra donde tenemos derecho a vivir en PAZ, DEMOCRACIA y LIBERTAD.

En consecuencia, proponemos al pueblo Cubano lo siguiente:

1) Unión de todos los grupos de oposición y formación de un Frente Cívico con una estrategia común de lucha.

2) Conociendo la capacidad operativa y represora, y dado el origen criminal y abusivo de la seguridad de estado y la tiranía castrista NO designar desde ahora una figura llamada a presidir el gobierno provisional, más bien el Frente Cívico trabajara de manera discreta, y al llegar la caida de la tiranía este Frente Cívico quedara a cargo del gobierno provisional.

3) Declarar al país que dada la gravedad de los acontecimientos de los últimos 50 años no hay otra solución posible que la renuncia del tirano, el hermano del tirano, y la inmediata entrega del poder al Frente Civico.

4) Declarar que el Frente Cívico no invoca ni acepta la mediación o
intervención alguna de otra nación en los asuntos internos de Cuba EXCEPTO si estan dispuestos ayudar al Frente Civico con apoyo moral y economico para promulgar los objetivos de libertad y democracia en Cuba sin esperar que este apoyo gane influencia o crea presion al Frente Civico. En torno a este apoyo, esperamos el respaldo internacional a las denuncias que por violación de derechos humanos han hecho los
exilados cubanos ante los organismos internacionales y pide al gobierno de los
Estados Unidos, que en tanto persista el actual régimen de terror y dictadura, mantenga el embargo, y suspenda todos los envíos de remesas y viajes de calidad turistica a Cuba dado que la tirania se nutre de estos ingresos para mantener la represion y el control del pueblo de Cuba.

5) Declarar que el Frente Cívico, por tradición republicana e independentista
no aceptaría que gobernara provisionalmente la República ningún tipo de Junta Militar.

6) Declarar que el Frente Cívico alberga el propósito de apartar al Ejército
de la política y garantizar la intangibilidad de los Institutos Armados. Que los militares nada tienen que temer del pueblo cubano mientras tanto no hayan dado ordenes para cometer o personalmente cometieron abusos o crímenes en contra del pueblo cubano o cualquier otro ciudadano en violación de los derechos humanos. Sin embargo, sí deben desconfiar y temer a la camarilla corrompida que los enviará a reprimir a cualquier costo al pueblo cubano en el momento que se levante y pida su libertad mientras fidel castro, raul castro y la camarilla que los rodea intentaran salir del país para evitar la justicia y mantener su grandes fortunas y riquezas. Ejercito Glorioso MAMBI, Ejercito Glorioso CUBANO, no agredan a su pueblo, no se dejen manchar las manos de sangre en nombre y favor de unos tiranos asesinos. El destino democrático, libre y soberano de Cuba no lo puedan cambiar.

7) Declarar bajo formal promesa, que el gobierno provisional se regirá por La Constitución de 1940 y por lo tanto todo ciudadano cubano disfrutara de las libertades y derechos garantizados en esta Magna Carta. De acuerdo a esto, se celebrará elecciones generales para todos los cargos del Estado, las provincias y los municipios en el término de un año bajo las normas de la Constitución de 1940 y el Código Electoral de 1943 y entregará el poder inmediatamente al candidato que resulte electo.

8) Declarar que el gobierno provisional deberá ajustar su misión, al siguiente programa:

a) Libertad inmediata para todos los presos políticos, civiles y militares.
b)Garantía absoluta a la libertad de información incluyendo acceso total y libre al Internet para todo ciudadano cubano, a la prensa radial y escrita y de
todos los derechos individuales y políticos garantizados por la Constitución.
c) Designación de nuevos alcaldes provisionales en todos los municipios previa consulta con los grupos cívicos de la localidad.
d) Supresión del peculado en todas sus formas y adopción de medidas que tiendan a incrementar la eficiencia de todos los organismos del Estado.
e) Catorce provincias y un municipio especial (Isla de la Juventud) ahora compone Cuba. Éstas eran antes parte de seis provincias históricas más grandes: Pinar del Río, Habana, Matanzas, Las Villas, Camagüey y Oriente. Las actuales subdivisiones incorporada por la tiranía se asemejan a los de provincias militares españolas durante las guerras de independencia, cuando las áreas más molestas fueron subdivididas. Conociendo que la tiranía subdividió la isla al igual que los militares españoles, para controlar y reprimir, se restablecerá dentro de un periodo de no más de 90 días de tomar posesión el Frente Civico, la seis provincias históricas más grandes: Pinar del Río, Habana, Matanzas, Las Villas, Camagüey y Oriente, y un municipio especial (Isla de Pinos)
f) Democratización de la política sindical promoviendo elecciones libres en todos los
sindicatos y federaciones de industrias.
g)Inicio inmediato de una intensa campaña contra la degradacion social cultural que deja la tirania; la prostitucion, el robo, excecivo e innecesarios abortos, la cultura de la mentira, la mala educacion, el analfabetismo, el alcolismo, y promulgacion de educación cívica, exaltando los deberes y derechos que tiene el ciudadano con la sociedad y con la Patria incluyendo el beneficio de la etica del trabajo honesto,la honestidad en general,y corregir la falta de conocimiento de la REAL historia de Cuba atraves de educacion formal y campaña publicitaria.
h)Declaracion imediata del derecho de todo ciudadano cubano a ser propetario de tierras, inmuebles, casas, fincas, negocios, tangible o intangible y del derecho de la herencia, venta y compra de estas propediades en el mercado libre sin intervencion del estado o gobierno en terminos del acuerdo entre el comprador y el vendedor en marco a un contrato legal sea cual sea. Sentar las bases para una reforma que tienda a la indemnización, o devolución de las propiedades confiscadas por la tiranía de sus dueños legítimos.
i) Adopción de una política financiera sana que resguarde la estabilidad de nuestra moneda y tienda a utilizar el crédito de la Nación en obras reproductivas.
j) Aceleración del proceso de industrialización, promoción de turismo sano y creación de nuevos empleos, viviendas, y garantía de la estabilidad y mejoramiento de la educación gratuita libre y sin influencia política para todo escolar, y acceso medico para todo ciudadano.
k) Libertad inmediata de entrada y salida del país para todo ciudadano cubano SIN necesidad de visa o permiso del estado. Esto con limitaciones y/o excepciones establecidas por el Frente Cívico en cuanto a ciertos individuos que seran buscados por la justica como fidel y raul castro y su camarilla.
l)Libertad inmediata para todo ciudadano cubano de establecer cualquier negocio legal siguiendo las normas legales del pais establecidas antes del 1ro de enero 1959.

REFLECTIONS OF FREEDOM - Congratulations EGYPT / REFLEJOS DE LIBERTAD - FELICIDADES EGIPTO

2011-02-12T04:53:00.000-08:00

Esta pagina es dedicada al sufrido pueblo Cubano y a todo pueblo que busca LIBERTAD y DEMOCRACIA. Representa de una manera u otra la dedicacion y el amor que el exilio tiene por nuestra isla esclavizada. Esa isla tan bella y noble que los asesinos castro communistas han destruido. MENSAJE A LOS OPPRESORES DE NUESTRO PAIS: LA LIBERTAD LLEGARA, LA VERDAD, LA LUZ, LO BUENO REINARE EN NUESTRA ISLA MUY PRONTO. USTEDES LO SABEN... COMO USTEDES, LOS QUE AYUDAN A LOS GANGSTERS QUE CONTROLAN NUESTRO PAIS, VAN A ENFRENTAR SUS DELITOS CONTRA LA NACION CUBANA. RECUERDEN QUE TODAS LAS DICTADURAS, QUE TODOS LOS OPRESORES TARDE O TEMPRANO CAEN..SE DERRUMBAN.... NO HAY TIRANO QUE AFRONTE UN PUEBLO EN PIES....VIVA CUBA LIBRE!!!! CUBA WILL BE FREE!!!

THIS WEB PAGE REPRESENTS THE VERY ESSENCE OF CUBAN FREEDOM AND WE DEDICATE IT TO ALL WHO SEEK HUMAN DIGNITY, FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD...AS IT STEMS FROM THE GREAT LOVE THAT CUBANS HAVE FOR THEIR HOMELAND....THE HOMELAND THAT IS PRESENTLY ENSLAVED BY AN INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST....fidel castro. OUR COUNTRY WILL SOMEDAY BE FREE, AND I ASSURE YOU, THAT THE CRIMES THAT HAVE BEEN COMMITED BY castro and his gestapo will some day have to be accounted for....SOME HAVE CALLED CUBANS THE NEW ISRAELITES AS THEY HAVE BEEN EXILED FROM THEIR HOMELAND AND HAVE SUCCEEDED IN MANY DIFFERENT SECTORS IN SOCIETY...WE WILL ALSO BE COMPARED TO THE JEWS IN ONE OTHER IMPORTANT WAY, AND THAT IS IN THE UNTHWARTING INTENSITY WITH WHICH WE WILL SEEK THESE CRIMINALS AND BRING THEM TO JUSTICE...THERE WILL BE NO PLACE TO HIDE....JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL... VIVA CUBA LIBRE...VIVA CRISTO REY!!!!!

RESPUESTA A LA CARTA DEL BOCHORNO....NO NEGOCIACION CON LA TIRANIA!!

2010-06-15T20:46:00.000-07:00

CARTA ABIERTA A LOS GRUPOS INTERNOS EN CUBA QUE APOYAN Y LUCHAN POR LA LIBERTAD DE CUBA, A LA RESISTENCIA CLANDESTINA Y EN PARTICULAR A LA NACION CUBANA:

LA TIRANÍA ESTA ACORRALADA Y EN SUS ÚLTIMOS MOMENTOS. LOS AIRES DE LIBERTAD SE AVECINAN EN CUBA. HAY QUE MANTENER LA PRESIÓN. ESTE NO ES EL MOMENTO DE PEDIR ALIVIO PARA LOS ASESINOS DE LA NACION CUBANA, NI DE HABLAR DE EMBARGO (EL QUE EN VERDAD NO EXISTE). FIRMAR CARTAS DE APOYO AL LEVANTAMIENTO DEL EMBARGO NO TIENE NADA QUE VER CON LAS ANSIAS DE LIBERTAD DEL PUEBLO CUBANO, Y ES MAS BIEN UNA MANIPULACION DE LA TIRANIA PARA SEMBRAR DISCORDIA, CONFUSION, TRATAR DE CÍNICAMENTE JUGAR EL PAPEL DE VICTIMA Y GANAR MAS TIEMPO. EL EMBARGO ES UN ASUNTO ENTRE LOS ESTADOUNIDENSES Y LA TIRANÍA CASTRISTA, QUE POR CIERTO, LOS ESTADOUNIDENSES ESTÁN EN TODO SU DERECHO EN CUANTO A DECIDIR CON QUIEN TIENEN RELACIONES...?SI UN LADRÓN LLEGA Y TE ROBA TU PROPIEDAD, Y ASESINA A TU FAMILIA, ESTARÍAS DISPUESTO A CONTINUAR UNA RELACIÓN CON EL LADRÓN? CREO QUE SE EXPLICA POR SI SOLO...Y SI NO ENTIENDEN, LEAN UN POCO DE HISTORIA PARA ENTENDER COMO Y PORQUE SURGE EL ROMPIMIENTO DE RELACIONES Y LA DECISIÓN DE LOS EEUU DE NO MANTENER RELACIONES CON UNA TIRANÍA ILEGITIMA, (VALGA LA REDUNDANCIA)

OFICIALMENTE, EL ÚNICO PAÍS DEL MUNDO QUE NO MANTIENE RELACIONES ECONÓMICAS CON LA TIRANIA SON LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA...MAS ALLÁ DE ESTO, LA TIRANÍA HABLA DE UN TAL "BLOQUEO" QUE TODO SER NO IGNORANTE ENTIENDE QUE NO EXISTE....

EN FIN, HASTA LA EXISTENCIA "REAL" DEL EMBARGO ES CUESTIONABLE DADO A QUE SE PUEDE ASEVERAR QUE LOS EEUU ES EL PAÍS CON CUAL CUBA TIENE MAS RELACIÓN ECONÓMICA SI UNO CUENTA LOS MAS DE MIL MILLONES DE DOLARES QUE ENVÍAN EN AYUDA/REMESAS EL EXILIO CUBANO, LOS 300,000 "EXILIADOS" QUE VIAJAN ANUALMENTE A CUBA Y SI UNO CUENTA LA VENTA DE PRODUCTOS AGRÍCOLAS Y AYUDA HUMANITARIA QUE SE VENDE A CUBA DESDE LOS EEUU, PERMITIDO Y APROBADO POR EL "BLOQUEO.

EL EMBARGO, EL HAMBRE, LA MISERIA, LA FALTA DE FUTURO Y OPORTUNIDAD LO TIENE IMPUESTO LA TIRANÍA CASTRISTA AL PUEBLO CUBANO. EL QUE VIVE EN CUBA O VIAJA A CUBA, SABE MUY BIEN QUE TODOS, PERO TODOS LOS PRODUCTOS QUE EXISTEN Y ESTÁN AL ALCANCE DEL MUNDO LIBRE, LOS HAY EN CUBA....PERO...PARA LOS TURISTAS Y PARA LOS QUE TIENEN DOLARES...?ENTONCES ADONDE ESTA EL EMBARGO?..?O ES QUE LA TIRANÍA QUIERE MANTENER AL PUEBLO BUSCANDO EL PAN DE CADA DÍA Y NO PENSANDO EN PROYECTOS DE CAMBIO Y LIBERTAD?...Y TENER A QUIEN CULPAR POR LA DESTRUCION DE LA NACION CUBANA...OSEA...UNA BANDERITA POLÍTICA PARA USAR COMO MANIPULACIÓN...EXACTAMENTE COMO LA QUIEREN USAR OTRA VEZ...OPOSICIÓN...NO NOS DEJEMOS USAR, DIVIDIR, Y CONFUNDIR DE NUEVO...

Y EL TEMA DE QUE VIAJEN LOS ESTADOUNIDENSES A CUBA? QUE TIENE QUE VER ESTO CON LA LIBERTAD DE CUBA...NADA...ESTO ES SIMPLEMENTE UNA TÁCTICA PARA "CAMBIAR EL TEMA" UNA OFENSIVA POLÍTICA, PARA NO SEGUIR EN UNA POSICIÓN DEFENSIVA QUE RESULTA MUY INCOMODA PARA LA TIRANÍA YA QUE LOS OJOS DEL MUNDO ESTÁN SOBRE LO QUE PASA EN LA ISLA, HECHO QUE HA SERVIDO PARA QUE ESE MUNDO FINALMENTE SE DE CUENTA DEL ORIGEN DIABÓLICO Y ASESINO DE ESTA MAFIA QUE REPRIME Y APLASTA A LA NACIÓN CUBANA.

ESTE ES EL MOMENTO DE EXIGIR LA LIBERTAD DE TODOS LOS PRESOS POLÍTICOS, Y EXIGIR LA RESTAURACIÓN DE LA DEMOCRACIA EN CUBA Y LA SALIDA DE LOS ASESINOS, EMPEZANDO POR LOS HERMANOS CASTROS. ELLOS SE TIENEN QUE IR DE CUBA. O SE VAN O SERÁN CAPTURADOS Y PROCESADOS POR LA JUSTICIA DE UNA CUBA DEMOCRÁTICA Y SOBERANA. ASESINOS, COLABORADORES DE LA TIRANÍA...NO REPITAN LOS ERRORES DE LOS MANUEL NORIEGAS, O LOS SADAM HUSSEINS DE ESTE MUNDO...VÁYANSE DE CUBA YA...PORQUE LA JUSTICIA LLEGARA...TARDE O TEMPRANO...

ES HORA YA DE EMPEZAR UNA HUELGA DE HAMBRE A NIVEL NACIONAL, UN PARO GENERAL, DE TOMAR LAS CALLES Y TOMAR CONTROL DE NUESTRAS VIDAS...DE DAR LA OPORTUNIDAD DE UNA VIDA NORMAL, UNA VIDA LIBRE, CON FUTURO Y PAZ A NUESTROS HIJOS. DE TODOS SER UNOS ORLANDO ZAPATAS...DE TODOS SER ANTONIO MACEOS, DE TODOS SER, MARIANA GRAJALES, JOSE MARTI...SI TAN SIQUIERA POR UN MOMENTO EN NUESTRAS VIDAS NOS PONEMOS DE PIES, LEVANTAMOS NUESTRAS CABEZAS CON DIGNIDAD Y LE DECIMOS NO A LA TIRANÍA..MIS HERMANOS, SI ESTO OCURRE, LLEGAREMOS A SER LIBRES!!

HERMANOS, MANTÉNGANSE FIRMES...NO CLAUDIQUEN QUE NUESTRO LINDO AMANECER CUBANO ESTA POR REGRESAR...LOS QUIERO A TODOS...FE, FIRMESA Y CONFIANZA...

VIVA CRISTO REY,
VIVA CUBA LIBRE,
DIOS, PATRIA Y LIBERTAD!!!

NO HAY TIRANO QUE AFRONTE A UN PUEBLO EN PIE
Jose Marti

COMO IDENTIFICAR A LOS AGENTES DE LA DICTADURA/HOW TO IDENTIFY THE AGENTS OF THE DICTATORSHIP

2010-05-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

1) Dejame un mensaje con los datos/Leave me a message with the information O/OR

2) Vaya a la pagina/Go to WWW.AMERICATEVE.COM (CUBA ID)

Los rostros de los agentes represores estan sen~alado uno por uno: complete el formulario anonimo

The faces of the secret police agents are highlighted one by one: simply complete the anonymous form and submit

Recuerden que esto va a servir para presentar cargos criminales en contra de ellos en una CUBA LIBRE Y MUY PRONTO en un TRIBUNAL INTERNACIONAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS POR CRIMENES EN CONTRA DE LA HUMANIDAD

REMEMBER THAT THIS WILL SERVE TO HELP PRESENT CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THEM IN A FREE CUBA OR VERY SOON IN AN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

***UN MENSAJE PARA LOS AGENTES DE LA SEGURIDAD DE ESTADO/A MESSAGE TO THE AGENTS OF THE DICTATORSHIPS SECRET POLICE:

SABEN CUAL FUE EL FIN DE LOS AGENTES NAZIS, O DE LOS AGENTES DE CZAUSHESCU EN ROMANIA?

UNOS FUERON COLGADOS Y OTROS FUSILADOS, NO SEAN PARTE DE LOS ASESINOS PORQUE TODOS TERMINAN ASI. Y EN UNA CUBA LIBRE, EL PUEBLO LOS BUSCARA EN DONDE SE ESCONDAN, Y LOS TRAIRAN EN FRENTE DE UN TRIBUNAL. TODAVIA LE QUEDA TIEMPO PARA SALVARSE. TOMEN ACCION EN CONTRA DE LA TIRANIA Y LIMPIARAN SUS DELITOS PARA SIEMPRE Y MAS IMPORTANTE LE DARAN LA OPORTUNIDAD A SU FAMILIA A VIVIR EN PAZ Y LIBERTAD CON UN FUTURO, CON UNA ILUSION DE UN BUEN PORVENIR. SI NO, ENTONCES CONDENARAN A SU FAMILIA Y A USTEDES MISMOS A UNA VIDA SIEMPRE PENSANDO EN QUE ESA DIA DEL AJUSTICIAMENTO LLEGARA TARDE O TEMPRANO....

IDENTIFICADO CRNL TITO MARQUEZ DEPARTAMENTO #10 VILLA MARISTA Jefe de la represion en Cuba contra las damas de blanco

2010-05-07T06:16:00.000-07:00

DENUNCIA e IDENTIFICA A LOS AGENTES DE LA DICTADURA

2010-05-07T06:13:00.000-07:00

IDENTIFICADO CRNL ERENESTO SAMPER, SEGURIDAD DE ESTADO CUBANA..VEA A REPRESORES IDENTIFICADOS - ALGUN DIA TENDRAN QUE RESPONDER A UN TRIBUNAL

2010-05-07T06:10:00.001-07:00

CUBA ID - IDENTIFICA A ESTOS COLABORADORES DE LA DICTADURA - AYUDA A QUE LA JUSTICIA LLEGUE

2010-05-07T05:34:00.000-07:00

2010-05-07T05:26:00.001-07:00

April 24 - Four Cuban American lawyers and a Miami-based television station have launched a campaign to identify and publicly name Cuban state security agents and pro-government militants who attack dissidents on the island.

Called "Cuba, Repression ID," the project that began this week solicits public support from the Cuban exile community in the United States and also from people inside Cuba to identify, through photographs and film footage, individuals seen beating or harassing unarmed critics of Cuba's communist government.

In recent weeks, TV footage of Cuban state security agents and mobs of pro-government supporters heckling, harassing and forcibly breaking up dissident rallies and marches has drawn widespread international criticism of Cuba's rulers and renewed calls for them to free political prisoners on the island. The promoters of the "Repression ID" initiative backed by Spanish-language Channel 41 AmericaTeve say they want to name and shame identified persecutors of Cuban dissidents, both as a historical record, for possible future legal action, and as a way of trying to halt such violence and intimidation.

"Here are the images, the faces of repression," reads the advisory on AmericaTeve's website, above a gallery of 28 photographs of men and women who were captured on film breaking up peaceful rallies by Cuba's Ladies in White dissidents. Members of the public are requested to e-mail or call in the identities of those shown.

"Who are they? What are their names? Where do they work? Where do they live?" the website asks. Click here to visit the America TeVe website to see if you can identify any of those who are abusing the dissidents in Cuba.

2010-04-04T08:21:00.001-07:00

Amanecer en la Habana: Remiten al Hospital a Franklin Pelegrino del Toro, en Huelga de Hambre Desde Hace un Mes.

sábado 3 de abril de 2010

El opositor pacífico, Franklin Pelegrino del Toro, quien mantiene una huelga de hambre desde hace más de un mes, fue remitido de urgencia al hospital Lucía Iñiguez, de Holguín, debido al delicado estado de salud en que se encuentra. > Audio

La defensora de los derechos humanos, Caridad Caballero Batista, en su relato sobre las condiciones en que se encontraba el ayunante explicó que tenía la presión arterial muy baja, se había desmayado por la debilidad y su ritmo cardíaco era lento.

Caballero Batista dijo también que llamaron a una ambulancia para que lo condujeran hasta la policlínica del lugar y que desde allí lo trasladaron al hospital clínico quirúrgico de la ciudad de Holguín.

Pulse audio para escuchar el relato.

Escrito por ~Zurama Luisa Johnston~ a las 20:41

etiquetas comunismo, cuba, derechos humanos, en huelga de habre, franklin pelegrino del toro, muertos en hospital

100,000 MARCH IN SUPPORT OF DAMAS DE BLANCO

2010-03-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

Thousands march with Gloria Estefan on Calle Ocho for 'Ladies in White'

2010-03-27T11:25:00.000-07:00

ORLANDO ZAPATA TAMAYO, MUERE POR LA DIGNIDAD DE LOS CUBANOS. Por Oswaldo Payá

2010-03-11T06:58:00.001-08:00

MUERE PRISIONERO POLITICO ORLANDO ZAPATA TAMAYO, ASESINADO POR LA TIRANIA CASTRISTA

2010-03-11T06:45:00.000-08:00

Extended Street Footage- El Maleconazo- Cuban Uprising for Freedom on August 5, 1994

2009-12-30T05:28:00.001-08:00

Video del "Maleconazo"....La rebelion del pueblo Cubano ocurrido August 5, 1994. Esta demonstracion espontanea de los Cubanos es quizas una ventanita al futuro. Recuerden que los que apoyan al asesino castro un dia se veran rodeado por este pueblo de nuevo y tendran que responder. No seas parte del opresor, unate al Movimiento de Liberacion Cubana!! Unate a las ideas de Jose Marti y Antonio Maceo. Ayuda a que sus suen~os de una Cuba Libre y Democratica para el bien de todos se haga realidad. No somos rusos, ni comunistas...somos Cubanos, Cristianos, un pueblo creyente que anela de futuro, paz y libertad. No apoyes a la dictadura, unate al movimiento de nuestra libertad. Un Cubano, Una batalla en contra de la dictadura militar castrista. Tu solo, sin contar con nadie mas, puedes poner tu granito de libertad. NO COOPERES, NO PARTICIPES, APOYA A LA OPOSICION CUBANA.....ACTIVAMENTE CUESTIONA A LOS SIMPATIZANTES PUES ELLOS TAMBIEN SON VICTIMAS...ABRELE LOS OJOS ....HAS PREGUNTAS Y ENTENDERAN QUE NADA DE ESTO TIENE LOGICA...VIVA CUBA LIBRE, DIOS, PATRIA Y LIBERTAD....NO A LA MUERTE, NO A LA DICTADURA, NO A LA OPRESION!!

Amateur video footage of the "maleconazo" uprising in Havana, Cuba on August 5, 1994. This spontaneous demonstration of the Cuban people's desire for freedom is being remembered around the world on...

Ninoska Pérez Castellón - Concierto de Juanes en Cuba: Nosotros los Intolerantes

2009-09-24T15:19:00.001-07:00

JUANES, para envolucrarte en nuestro tema, tan complejo, hay que informarse...el problema aqui es la LIBERTAD, no una fiesta....esto es una situacion de luto no de fiesta...NO LOS FALTEN EL RESPETO FIESTANDO EN NUESTRA CUBA QUE SE AHOGA EN CHARCOS DE SANGRE!!! FUERA DE CUBA SI NO VAN A DEFENDER AL PUEBLO!!!

Grave incidente antes de Concierto por La Paz en Cuba

2009-09-24T05:45:00.001-07:00

TE LO DIJIMOS JUANES....Esta es la realidad CUBANA...imaginate como tratan al pueblo...que no tiene la fama internacional que los protega? Y sabiendo esto no fueron capaz de gritar "CUBA TIENE QUE SER LIBRE, CUBA TIENE QUE TENER ELECIONES LIBRES, BASTA YA DE LA DICTADURA" No dijeron nada a la hora de la verdad...

juanes protesta por presion de POLICIA SECRETA CUBANA antes del concierto en cuba

2009-09-24T05:15:00.001-07:00

TE LO DIJIMOS JUANES....Esta es la realidad CUBANA...imaginate como tratan al pueblo...que no tiene la fama internacional que lo protega?

Havana, Cuba 1930s - before the communist revolution destroyed it all!!

2009-04-18T08:06:00.001-07:00

This was CUBA before the communist dictatorship. Dont let them kid you into thinking CUBA was an impoverished miserable place to live where Casinos, the mafia and prostitutes ruled the country. This is completely false. Cuba was known as the PARIS of the AMERICAS. Look at the pictures, the well dressed Cubans, the shops, the commercial activity, the traffic, a virtual cosmopolitan, metropolis.

Marisela Verena Son de las Cuatro Decadas

2009-04-17T06:53:00.001-07:00

ABAJO fidel ASESINO!!!!!!!!

Havana, Cuba 1930s

2009-04-17T06:33:00.003-07:00

Un pais sin libertad (parte1)

2009-04-17T06:33:00.001-07:00

Un pais sin libertad (parte2)

2009-04-17T06:32:00.013-07:00

Un pais sin libertad (parte3)

2009-04-17T06:32:00.011-07:00

Un pais sin libertad (parte4)

2009-04-17T06:32:00.009-07:00

Un pais sin libertad (parte5)

2009-04-17T06:32:00.007-07:00

Un pais sin libertad (parte6)

2009-04-17T06:32:00.005-07:00

Un pais sin libertad (parte7)

2009-04-17T06:32:00.003-07:00

Un pais sin libertad (parte8)

2009-04-17T06:32:00.001-07:00

El escolta de Castro Parte I

2009-04-17T06:30:00.001-07:00

Cao le advirtió a Pérez Roque que acabaría como Robaina

2009-04-17T06:29:00.001-07:00

Carlos Lage VS Juan Manuel Cao

2009-04-17T06:26:00.001-07:00

CUBA Fidel Castro - Estilo de vida y seguridad personal

2009-04-17T06:05:00.001-07:00

CUBA ANTES DE CASTRO 1959

2008-12-31T06:01:00.000-08:00

CUBA ANTES DE CASTRO 1959

Cuba antes de Castro

¿SABIA USTED?

¿Sabía usted? Que Cuba era en 1958 el tercer país de América Latina con mayor solidez monetaria por sus reservas de oro, dólares y valores convertible en oro detrás sólo de Venezuela y Brasil.

¿Sabía usted? Que Cuba tenía la inflación más baja de Latinoamérica con 1.4%. La media era de México con 7.8 y la más alta era la de Bolivia con el 63 %.

¿Sabía usted? Que Cuba ocupaba el cuarto lugar en recibir el mayor porcentaje de la remuneración de obreros y empleados en relación con el ingreso nacional en 1958.
1.- Gran Bretaña con el 74%
2.- Estados Unidos con el 71.1 %
3.- Canadá con el 68.5 %
4.- Cuba con el 66 %
5.- Suiza con el 64.4%
11.- Argentina con el 57.2%
15.- Japón con el 53 %

¿Sabía usted? Que en la distribución de las tierras el tamaño de las fincas en América en 1958 era:
1.- Cuba con 56.7 hectáreas
2.- Estados Unidos con 78.5
3.- México con 82
4.- Venezuela con 335 hectáreas

¿Sabía usted? Que Cuba con 0.86 cabezas de ganado vacuno por habitante, ocupaba el 8 lugar en Latinoamérica.

¿Sabía usted? Que en la producción de carne (vacuna, porcina y lanar) en libras por habitante Cuba ocupaba el tercer lugar con 95 libras superadas solamente por la Argentina con 304 y Uruguay con 245.

¿Sabía usted? La posición de Cuba en la producción de minerales en 1958 en el Mundo y en América ( a continuación primero se expresa el lugar mundial y segundo el lugar entre los países de América)
Cobalto......... primera.......... primera
Níquel.......... .segunda.......... segunda
Cromo........... octava ............ segunda
Manganeso .. octava ............ segunda
Cobre........... undécima ...... sexta

¿Sabía usted? Que en el consumo de pescado fresco Cuba ocupaba el primer lugar con 5.6 libras seguida de los Estados Unidos con 5.4.

¿Sabía usted? Que en el consumo de calorías para la América Latina Cuba ocupaba el tercer lugar con 2,682 superada solamente por Argentina con 3,106 y Uruguay con 2,991.

¿Sabía usted? Que en el número de habitantes por teléfono, Cuba en 1958 ocupaba el 3r. lugar con 28 y superada sólo por Argentina con 17 y Uruguay con 25. Brasil ocupaba el 7 con 63 y México el 9 con 75.

¿Sabía usted? Que en el número de habitantes por automóvil, Cuba ocupaba el 3 lugar con 27.3, superada por Venezuela con 17.4 y Uruguay con 23.2. México era el 8 con52.4 y Brasil el l9 con 62.4.

¿Sabía usted? Que en habitantes por radio-receptor, Cuba era el segundo país con 5.0 superada por Uruguay con 4.6

¿Sabía usted? Que en habitantes por televisor, Cuba ocupaba el primer lugar con 18, seguida de Venezuela con 32, Argentina con 60 y México con 70.

¿Sabía usted? Que en número de Radioemisoras, Cuba ocupaba el tercer lugar con 160, superada por Brasil con 593 y México con 417.

¿Sabía usted? Que en número de Estaciones Transmisorasrde Televisión, Cuba ocupaba en 1958 el tercer lugar con 23, Brasil tenía 26 y México 23.

¿Sabía usted? Que en salas de cine y su relación a los habitantes
1.- Argentina 2,531 14
2.- Cuba 600 16
3.- Venezuela 575 16
4.- México 2,437 22

¿Sabía usted? Que en número de periódicos y en la relación de habitantes por ejemplar
1.- Uruguay 32 6.0
2.- Cuba 58 8.0
5.- Argentina 140 11.5
13.-México 162 27

¿Sabía usted? Que en la Asistencia Social habían en 1958 hospitales al servicio del pueblo 97 Camas 21,141

¿Sabía usted? Que en 1958 habían 6,4231 médicos en ejercicio de su profesión y en número de habitantes por médicos, Cuba ocupaba con 980 el segundo lugar, superada por Argentina con 840. México era el 6 con 2,200 y Brasil el 7 con 2,500.

¿Sabía usted? Que en habitantes por dentista Cuba ocupaba en 1958 el tercer lugar con 2,978 superada por Uruguay con 1,940 y Argentina con 2,000. Chile era el sexto con 4,650.

¿Sabía usted? Que el índice de mortalidad infantil por millar de nacidos era el más bajo en Latinoamérica.
1.- Cuba ..... 37.6
4.- Argentina...... 61.1
10.- México...... 80.0
14.- Venezuela ..... 91.2

¿Sabía usted? Que en el coeficiente de mortalidad por millar en América en 1958, Cuba ocupaba el primer lugar.
1.- Cuba ...... 5.8
5.- Argentina ....... 8.1
6.- Canadá ....... 8.1
11.- Estados Unidos 9.4
15.- México ...... 11.6

¿Sabía usted? Que en coeficiente de mortalidad por millar en el mundo, Cuba ocupaba el 3 lugar con 5.8 junto con Israel con 5.8.

¿Sabía usted? Que en la cultura Cuba contaba en 1958
En Enseñanza media y superior Total
Universidades 13
Institutos 21
Escuelas Normales de Maestros 19
Escuelas del Hogar 14
Escuelas de Comercio 19
Artes Plásticas 7
Técnicas Industriales y otras 22
Periodismo, Publicidad y otras 6

¿Sabía usted? Que ocupaba con el 25 % el cuarto lugar en porcentaje de analfabetos por habitante en la América Latina, superada por Argentina con el 8%, Costa Rica con 21 % y Chile con el 24 %. México ocupaba el 9 lugar con el 38 % y Venezuela el 17 con el 60%.

¿Sabía usted? Que Cuba era el país que dedicaba mayor porcentaje del gasto público para la educación con el 23 %. Argentina era el 3 con el 19.6 México el 7 con 14.7 %

¿Sabía usted? Que en el número de habitantes por estudiante universitario (1958) Cuba ocupaba el 5 lugar en América.
1.- EE.UU. 61
2.- Argentina 135
3.- Uruguay 199
4.- Canadá 210
5.- Cuba 273
6.- México 334

¿Sabía usted? Que en porcentaje de estudiantes femeninos en relación con los matriculados Cuba ocupaba el primer lugar con el 45 %, Panamá el segundo con el 43.5%, EE.UU. el tercero con el 32.8 %, y Argentina el 4 con el 30.3 %

¿Sabía usted? Que en Cuba había un Km de vía férrea por cada 8.08 km2.

¿Sabía usted? Que el salario diario promedio en el sector agrícola en 1958 era
1.- Canadá $7.18
2.- Estados Unidos $6.80
3.- Nueva Zelanda $6.72
4.- Australia $6.61
5.- Suecia $5.47
6.- Noruega $4.38
7.- Cuba $3.00
8.- Alemania Federal $2.57
12.- Francia $1.32
13.- Japón $0.90

¿Sabía usted? Que el salario diario promedio en el sector industrial en 1958 era: 1.- Estados Unidos $16.80
2.- Canadá $11.73
3.- Suecia $ 8.10
4.- Suiza $ 8.00
5.- Nueva Zelanda $ 6.72
6.- Dinamarca $ 6.46
7.- Noruega $6.10
8.- Cuba $6.00
10.- Inglaterra $5.75
12.- Alemania Federal $4.13
13.- Francia $3.26

¿Sabía usted? Que el obrero cubano gozaba desde 1933 de la jornada máxima de trabajo de 8 horas al día con 44 horas a la semana y pago de 48 horas. También se le confería a todos los trabajadores un mes de descanso retribuido por cada once meses de trabajo.
Por la Ley 5, de 1955, se le concedió a los trabajadores del transporte público la jornada de seis horas de trabajo con el pago de ocho horas.

¿Sabía usted? Que durante los meses de verano, Junio, Julio y Agosto, por ley, todo el comercio al por menor y al por mayor cerraba sus puertas a la 1 p.m. todos los martes y jueves con el fin de que los trabajadores pudieran disfrutar de las playas, que entonces eran abiertas al pueblo mientras que ahora son para los turistas y los miembros de la nueva clase dirigente.

Havana, Cuba 1930s

2008-12-31T05:34:00.001-08:00

50 years of dictatorship has resulted in over 20% of Cuba's population to flee...this speaks for itself...here are some of their stories...

2008-12-31T05:32:00.000-08:00

BBC NEWS | Americas | Cuban revolution: Exiles' stories

Cuban revolution: Exiles' stories

The Cuban revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power in 1959 provoked a large exodus of people, most of whom headed for the US. And in the following 50 years, there have been waves of Cubans seeking exile abroad.

Five Cubans based in Miami spoke to the BBC's Emilio San Pedro about their lives.

HISTORIC GENERATION: FRANCISCO JOSE HERNANDEZ

Francisco José "Pepe" Hernández

Francisco Jose "Pepe" Hernandez is president of the powerful exile lobby group, the Cuban American National Foundation. He arrived in Miami in 1960 and later participated in the failed exile-led "Bay of Pigs" invasion of Cuba aimed at toppling the government of Fidel Castro.

He is a member of what is known as "Historic Generation" of Cuban exiles - those who arrived in Miami in the early days of the revolution:

I arrived in Miami the first time as an exile in the summer of 1960. I later returned to Cuba to continue working in the "underground", or opposition to the Castro regime. I later participated in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion and was jailed in Cuba for two years. I then returned to the US in 1964.

Those of us who arrived at that time believed we were just here for a brief period. None of us had even the most remote idea that our stay in the US would last 50 years. In our minds, we were just here for a short stay - some of us working to survive and others fighting for freedom in Cuba.

Obviously, that was not to be. And, it wasn't until the end of the 1960s that we understood that our return to our homeland would be a lot more difficult than we had imagined and would take a lot more time.

At that point, we began to concentrate on building our families, seeking new careers or professions and obtaining economic and political influence.

Proud of Miami

I think it's extraordinary to think looking at Miami now that it was nothing more when we arrived than a sleepy country town.

Today, it's a large metropolis with skyscrapers that can be compared to those of any major city in the world - and above all it has an extraordinary international mix. It is truly, as many call it, the gateway to and even the capital of Latin America.

We Cubans are extremely proud of all that we did to to work to turn Miami into what it is today. We have without a doubt played an instrumental role.

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FREEDOM FLIGHTS: ESTER ELENA SAN MARTIN

Ester Elena San Martín

Ester arrived in Miami in 1971, aged 18, on what were termed the Freedom Flights, which allowed thousands of Cubans to leave the island for the US as a result of an agreement between Fidel Castro and US President Lyndon B Johnson.

She married a Honduran national, has three children and lives in Hialeah - perhaps the most Cuban of middle-class neighbourhoods in Miami:

I arrived in Miami on 5 August 1971. It was 1230 or so in the afternoon. It was raining. I remember clearly that when the plane landed in Miami there were all these people in green raincoats, something which harked back to the olive green worn by the military in Cuba. I turned to my father and said: If this is Cuba, I'm not getting off.

Coming here was a huge change in my life. I went from being a spoiled girl and had to become a responsible adult and get to work. There was nothing else to do but work. We had to work to start making a way for ourselves here.

We left there because some government opponents had hidden in my grandfather's farm. So, our house was singled out as an anti-government house. I remember one November morning when many Cuban soldiers entered our house and pushed us out - myself, my sister and everyone else there. They threw us to the floor and were pointing weapons at our heads. For more than four hours we had a man with a machine gun behind us.

Dreams

My dream is to see a free Cuba. I dream of one day being able to take my children to Cuba but as long as that system is in power there - I won't return. There has to be democracy in Cuba like we have here - a system that will allow me to come and go as I please. But, regardless, I will never go back to live there. My children are American and grown-up and their lives are here. I could never make them go there to live.

I'm very proud and happy to be living here in the United States. I consider it to be my country. I miss Cuba but I feel happy here. I feel free. I feel that I have rights and benefits and everything - everything I need to realise my potential as a person.

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LOS MARIELITOS: DIANA CONTRERAS

Diana Contreras

Diana arrived in Miami 1980 at the age of 15 - one of some 125,000 Cubans who left during what became known as the Mariel boatlift.

It began in April after a driver crashed his bus through the fence of the Peruvian embassy in Havana and thousands of Cubans took refuge in the compound, Diana and her mother among them.

Fidel Castro responded by opening the port of Mariel, setting off a five-month exodus of Cubans.

Today, Diana is a sales manager for a major hotel chain; she's married and has a daughter:

I sought exile in the Peruvian embassy for 11 days together with my mother. Then Fidel opened the ports and said all who wanted to leave could.

They put us in a boat - it was called Isabel, I'll never forget that. They put us in the boat and called us scum.

When I arrived I blocked everything for several years - it was a psychological trauma and I didn't remember anything. Then when I became an adult and had my own children, I began to remember those events.

I spent a lot of years not letting on that I was a "marielita" (that is, one of those who arrived during the boatlift). I used to say I had come here because my grandfather had lived here a long time, and I said I came by plane, even though I had never flown before. I said that for years because the truth embarrassed me. People's opinion of the "marielitos" was terrible.

I know how it was because I lived through it. The people who took refuge in the Peruvian embassy were professional, of a certain high level.

But Fidel completely manipulated the image of the "marielitos", saying they were all criminals, they were all mad, they were jailbirds, bad people.

So I never said I was a "marielita". Imagine applying for a job, it was like having a criminal record.

So I was ashamed for years. I was full of hate and resentment and wanted to know nothing of Cuba.

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RAFTERS: MIGUEL CASTILLO

Miguel Castillo

Miguel was one of tens of thousands of Cubans who left the island in the 1990s on makeshift rafts. He took to the open seas in search of a new life on a precarious vessel which, like most other rafters, he had built in hiding.

Miguel says it took him four attempts before he was successful. He left the island with several other people, including a pregnant woman, on a small raft. Today, he works in construction but he's also a musician and a rapper and goes by the name of El Balsero - the Rafter:

We took four days to build that raft, one nail and screw at a time. I made the skeleton out of wood. Freedom has no price. We built the raft and decided to go for it. Then rumours started circulating on the streets that Fidel had authorised a mass exodus and people started worrying that it was part of a plan to have us end up at the US naval base in Guantanamo. I said that I didn't care where we were sent - Guantanamo or anywhere. The main thing was to leave Cuba.

The seas were choppy the day we left. But, somehow I felt that was my day to gain my freedom. Our friends got into the water to push our raft into the sea. Forty-five minutes into the journey things got really bad - the waves and the currents. It was incredible. The very first night our raft overturned because of the bad weather. We spent eight days in the water.

As soon as we were rescued by the US Coast Guard, we were greeted by other Cubans on board the vessel that had also been rescued. They all chanted "Freedom, Freedom". I started to cry and knelt down and kissed the ground and said "Long Live a Free Cuba without Castro".

I arrived in Miami on the 23 November 1995. The first thing I did was sign up for English classes. I worked at night and studied by day. I learned to do a bit of everything. Today, I work in the remodelling of homes.

I'll tell you one thing. I never left Cuba. I live in Miami, in the United States but I never left Cuba. It makes me sad to have to be here because I can't be free in my own country.

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RECENT ARRIVALS: IDANIA ALVAREZ

Idania Álvarez

Idania is the lead singer of a traditional Cuban musical group called: Yo Soy el Son - I am the Son (a Cuban song and dance). Along with her husband and the group's other musicians, Idania crossed the Mexican border to the US where they sought asylum in January 2008:

We arrived in Miami after having worked in Mexico for 11 months. We left Cuba in February of 2007 to work in the Mexican city of Puebla and participate in the inauguration of a new franchise of the famous Cuban bar, El Floridita - the first to be opened in Mexico. Eleven months later, after reviewing our professional possibilities, we decided to cross the Mexican border into the United States - which we did on the 13 January 2008.

All new beginnings are difficult but I have to give thanks to life because we knocked on the right doors at the right time and now we have regular work. That doesn't happen every day.

Rich roots

One day shortly after arriving, we picked up our instruments, put them in a van and we arrived here at this nightclub - Casa Panza - and we've been working here regularly since. However, I should point out that, like all beginnings, it wasn't easy at first.

As a human being, my aspiration is that all of those who are able to arrive in this great country have the desire and the impetus to push forward, as we say in our country. I wish that all of my relatives could be here and I would also like to see an end to all of those negative and ugly things that happen in Cuba.

As a musician, I simply came here to defend the rich roots of the traditional music of Cuba. I defended them in Cuba, in Italy and Mexico and now here. The day I can no longer perform that Cuban music will be the day I no longer work as a musician. It's what I hope to do my entire life.

Havana, Cuba 1930s

2008-12-30T06:09:00.001-08:00

LA CUBA DE ANTES DE LA DICTADURA DE LOS CASTROS....MIREN A LA GENTE, LAS TIENDAS, LA CANTIDAD DE AUTOMOVILES, LA LIMPIEZA...HOY CUBA PARECE HAITI...

2008-12-30T06:06:00.000-08:00

El horror del presidio político - 12/30/2008 - El Nuevo Herald

El horror del presidio político
PEDRO CORZO Y NICOLAS PEREZ
Especial para El Nuevo Herald
MARIO CHANES de Armas, el preso político con más tiempo tras las rejas en el mundo, llega a Miami en 1993.
DOUG COLLIER / AFP/Getty Images
MARIO CHANES de Armas, el preso político con más tiempo tras las rejas en el mundo, llega a Miami en 1993.
Fotografía del interior del Presidio Modelo, una prisión en Isla de Pinos antes de 1959.

* 50 años de culto a la personalidad
* FOTOGALERIA| Omnipresencia de la imagen de Castro

El ciclo histórico que se cumple tras 50 años de totalitarismo en Cuba marca también el presidio político más prolongado en la historia de la nación.

La historia del presidio político cubano comienza el 21 de Octubre de 1869, cuando José Martí, tras los enfrentamientos frente al Teatro Villanueva entre patriotas cubanos y voluntarios españoles, es condenado por un Consejo de Guerra a seis años de cárcel y enviado a trabajos forzados en La Cantera de San Lázaro, en Isla de Pinos.

Mucho más tarde fueron encarcelados allí mismo luchadores contra las dictaduras de Machado y Batista, hasta que en 1959 empieza como una explosión el presidio político histórico, que se prolonga hasta nuestros días en una amalgama que abarca a los heroicos expedicionarios de Bahía de Cochinos, los 75 disidentes detenidos en la Primavera del Terror del 2003, pasando por las decenas de patriotas condenados en cárceles estadounidenses.

En 1958 en Cuba sólo había una cárcel en cada una de las seis provincias --dos en Oriente-- y los vivac en las ciudades. Existía además la cárcel de menores en Torrens y la de Isla de Pinos. Casi cinco décadas después, cálculos conservadores indican que hay al menos 350 cárceles de diferentes niveles de seguridad.

Si de algo puede enorgullecerse el presidio político es de su continuidad y del entrelazamiento ceñido y firme de sus diferentes épocas históricas. De su jerarquía propia. Con decenas de combatientes que pasaron infinidad de años tras las rejas, como el inolvidable Mario Chanes de Armas, condenado a 30 años de prisión, el preso político con más tiempo tras las rejas en el mundo. Resulta imprescindible nombrar a Armando Valladares --y su libro Contra toda esperanza--, así como a hombres del decoro y el valor personal de Alfredo Izaguirre Hornedo. Mártires de la magnitud de Ernesto Díaz Madruga, Diosdado Aquit Manrique, Julio Tang Texier y tantos otros que harían esta lista interminable.

¿Sería acertado afirmar que fue la prisión un lugar mágico de hermosas ironías y contrapuntos?

Cuando Roberto Martín Pérez, que cumplió 28 años en prisión, fue encarcelado en 1959, jamás imaginó que Eusebio Peñalver, condenado en 1960 a 28 años, compartiría sus experiencias. Y ninguno de los dos podría haber soñado ni remotamente que Vladimiro Roca, décadas más tarde, cumpliría su pena en las mismas prisiones que albergaron a los dos.

El día que Pedro Luis Boitel murió en 1972, tras 53 días de huelga de hambre, no pudo vislumbrar que en 1992 Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez'', un joven que nació cuando Pedro Luis cumplía tres de prisión, iba a reeditar su estrategia y acosar a sus carceleros con los mismos métodos del candidato a la presidencia de la Federación Estudiantil Universitaria (FEU).

En 1962 el Dr. Alberto Fibla fue condenado a 28 años de prisión cuando todavía el Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet, otro médico, no había nacido. El poeta Angel Cuadras cumplió 15 años de prisión; Raúl Rivero, otro poeta, en una persecución digna de sus metáforas, siguió sus pasos décadas más tarde. Una última similitud fue cuando América Quesada y Cary Roque fueron encarceladas, sin imaginar que Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello sería condenada en otro momento a 20 años de cárcel por defender idénticos conceptos ciudadanos.

Escribir sobre estas cosas no es fácil. Evocar estos años de prisión crea un dolor atroz. Nos hacen daño porque es volver a vivirlos. Fueron demasiado lacerantes y sus cicatrices --decir otra cosa sería mentir-- no se cierran. Si regresamos a aquel infierno de la mano de los recuerdos, chocan los unos contra los otros, las ideas pierden su rumbo, algo nos oprime el pecho y no escribimos con claridad, sino con una inmensa angustia.

La obsesión por narrar la experiencia con exactitud, reflejar el color del espanto y el miedo, el orgullo y el desafío, nos embarga. Y nos atascamos donde no podemos, quizás por soberbia, en nuestro sufrimiento. Que no debemos mostrar al mundo desnudo, porque si bien es verdad que los pueblos odian a los verdugos, también un exceso de compasión se convierte en desprecio por las víctimas.

En el umbral de una transición histórica, la nomenclatura comunista sabe que con el presidio se cometió un error garrafal, error que no tiene arreglo. Lo ha dicho varias veces Fidel Castro. Lo repitió meses atrás Carlos Lage Dávila durante una visita a Venezuela: "En Cuba jamás se ha torturado a un preso político''. Lo gritan, lo proclaman, lo juran. Hace unos días nos decía Ramiro Gómez Barruecos, nuestro compañero entrañable en la prisión de Isla de Pinos: "No es que nos teman a nosotros, lo que sienten horror es por los crímenes que cometieron contra nosotros''.

Tiene razón: cuando el mundo conozca la barbarie de la Cárcel de Mujeres de Guanajay, las celdas tapiadas de Boniato y el Plan de Trabajo Forzado de Isla de Pinos, se asombrará de la infinita capacidad de crueldad de un gobierno contra un puñado de mujeres y hombres desarmados e indefensos.

Las experiencias históricas anteriores son inapreciables para leer el futuro. De la misma manera que no se pudieron ocultar los horrores de Adolfo Hitler y Josef Stalin, de Augusto Pinochet y la junta militar argentina, de Francisco Franco Bahamondes y Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, no se podrán ocultar los crímenes de Fidel Castro. La historia tiene una pala que desentierra mágicamente los crímenes políticos de la humanidad. El asesinato carece de ideología, a la tortura no puede defenderla ninguna bandera, la furia ciega del martillo enloquecido y feroz contra un yunque indefenso no lo puede reivindicar nadie.

Hoy el gobierno de Cuba es el habla y el mundo la escucha. Y nosotros, ¿quiénes somos? Un puñado de sobrevivientes que carecemos de todo salvo vergüenza, que morimos todos los días lentamente de asco. Con el silencio congelado en el pecho. Esperando el minuto. Nuestro minuto de tomar la palabra y ensordecer y avergonzar al mundo a gritos.

Entonces cobrará vida el cuerpo del guajiro Mayimbe, junto a la escalera del cuarto piso de la Circular 3. Con un ojo de menos por un bayonetazo. Mayimbe se arrastra a gatas dando alaridos, resbalando sobre su propia sangre, buscando el piso a tientas y tratando de colocarse inútilmente el ojo casi partido en dos en la cuenca vacía.

Cobrará vida el cuerpo de oro triturado de López Chávez, muerto en una huelga de hambre, colocado en una camilla con una sábana mugrienta por encima, la piel en los huesos, los ojos perdidos en las órbitas sanguinolentas, los labios cuarteados por la resequedad y las moscas rondando su cadáver. Aquel cuerpo de oro abandonado, desgastado hasta que parece un niño, en sólo un puñado de días en huelga, un hombre convertido en niño, un hombre convertido en ángel sin alas y que ni muerto podía volar de aquellas rejas al cielo.

Al igual que Pedro Luis Boitel, líder del estudiantado cubano y caído en la lucha por reclamar derechos fuertes como puños que no se concedieron. ¿Y la huelga de 31 días en La Cabaña? ¿Y la de 21 días en Boniato? ¿Y la espantosa de hambre y sed en el Mijial? ¿Será posible que un día el mundo se entere de estos horrores y las huelgas más prolongadas y numerosas del siglo XX se cuenten en los libros de historia de Cuba? ¿Cobrarán vida esas huelgas, se sabrá cómo, con qué argumentos, el castrismo dejaba morir a sus opositores en nombre de una libreta de racionamiento vacía y una soberanía vendida a la Unión Soviética a cambio de poder mundial para un solo hombre? ¿Habrá un día en que no sea un secreto y se pueda contar todo en voz alta en todo el continente americano? ¿Se develarán lápidas, se excavarán tumbas y el flash de las cámaras cegará silencios y desvergüenzas pasadas? ¿Se volverán a escuchar en ciertas noches de poca brisa y silencio ensordecedor el sonido de un jeep avanzando sobre la gravilla, el ruido seco y sordo de la frenada y luego voces de mando confusas, seguidas de los gritos crispantes y agónicos de ¡Viva Cuba Libre! y ¡Viva Cristo Rey! y la descarga final de los fusiles? Y el horror de escuchar, entre aplausos, los gritos de mujeres y niños frente al asesinato de un ser humano. Y luego el tiro de gracia, sordo y seco, lo más macabro de este crimen. Que se documentarán al mundo en cientos y miles, hasta que a Fidel Castro, definitivamente, la historia no sea capaz de absolverlo.

Esa etapa pasó. Y llegó otra. La vida se mueve en ciclos. Un día las rejas se abrieron. Unos antes y otros después, llegamos a Miami. Y el dolor pasado no nos paralizó. Se fundó la Casa del Preso, grupo con lo más humilde y puro de nuestra generación, que en una casa de madera, con ayuda mínima, da albergue a hermanos necesitados. Este grupo celebró a fines de noviembre, sin publicidad ni discursos, oficiada por nuestro capellán Miguel Angel Loredo, la tradicional misa por nuestros muertos.

Otro grupo, el Ex Club, fundado hace cerca de 20 años y dirigido con tenacidad, espíritu y mística, el ya desaparecido pero siempre presente Rolando Borges. Su presidente es hoy el poeta Angel Cuadras, que junto a otros directivos mantienen un periódico dirigido a Cuba y mantiene contacto directo con la disidencia, siempre cuesta arriba, frase que resume la historia de las actividades de los presos políticos en Miami: siempre cuesta arriba.

Otra expresión de nuestra versatilidad es Sisters and Brothers Forever, dirigido por una junta presidida por Jorge Sánchez Villalba, que con generosidad de políticos cubanoamericanos y capital privado, brinda ayuda económica a ex presos de bajos recursos e imparte educación gratis de inglés e informática, consigue empleo y distribuye diariamente más de 200 almuerzos a personas de bajos recursos. Este es el grupo del compromiso social con nuestro pasado.

Tampoco se puede dejar de mencionar el Consejo del Presidio Político, liderado por Roberto Martín Pérez y Pedro Fuentes Cid. La Coordinadora Internacional de ex Presos Políticos dirigida por Nelly Rojas. La Federación Mundial de ex Presos Políticos.

El grupo de la Memoria Histórica Cubana, dirigido, entre otros, por Enrique Ruano, Amadito González, Saturnino Polón, que dirigen sus esfuerzos a salvaguardar la verdadera historia de Cuba frente al castrismo.

Finalmente, Los Plantados --que coordina Angel de Fana-- mantiene un gran activismo internacional y brinda ayuda inestimable a la disidencia interna en Cuba.

La batalla de muchos de estos ex presos políticos no ha terminado y confían en participar en la sociedad en la isla en apoyo de la democracia. Otros, porque los ex presos no odian ni creen en revanchas estériles, aunque rechazan la impunidad, abogan por trabajar en aras de una reconciliación nacional y tratar de refundirnos en un solo pueblo. "Con todos y para el bien de todos''. Pero la gran mayoría se suman a la idea de ser una especie de referencia ética, de recuerdo imperecedero, que lo heredarán los hijos y los nietos, para que en ninguna circunstancia, nunca más, se persiga, acose y torture a ninguna persona en Cuba por sus ideas políticas.

Los autores de este reportaje cumplieron prisión por motivos políticos en Cuba.

PRONOSTICO DEL HURACAN IKE

2008-09-08T10:56:00.001-07:00

Hurricane IKE

Un pueblo solo...mientras los yangaras de la dictadura rechasan ayuda internacional y del exilio Cubano de Miami, ellos buscan refugio en sus lujosas mansiones...el pueblo queda solo antes el huracan sin el apoyo basico requerido de un gobierno...

2008-09-08T10:51:00.001-07:00

El paso de Ike por Camaguey

Baracoa...miren a este pueblo...una ciudad bella antes de la ROBOlucion..ahora parece que le callo una bomba atomica...

2008-09-08T10:47:00.001-07:00

LA CUBA DE castro...una nacion destruida por un dictador ahora sufre la furia del Huracan IKE

2008-09-08T10:45:00.001-07:00

Ike embiste a Baracoa

2008-07-25T15:18:00.001-07:00

2008-07-25T15:12:00.001-07:00

Alias Cesar y Alias Gafas mostrados al público

2008-07-06T04:56:00.001-07:00

AQUI TENEMOS A LOS COMUNISTAS TERRORISTAS AMIGOS DE fidel castro..ALGUN DIA NO TAN LEJANO TENDREMOS A LA MAFIA DE LOS ASESINOS CASTROS EN SIMILARES CONDICIONES

ingrid betancourt GRAN LIBERACION

2008-07-06T04:51:00.001-07:00

QUE VIVA COLOMBIA....ABAJO LOS COMUNISTAS TERRORISTAS!!!

Detienen en Cuba a 23 disidentes; al menos 5 continúan bajo arresto - 07/04/2008 - El Nuevo Herald

2008-07-04T09:48:00.001-07:00

Detienen en Cuba a 23 disidentes; al menos 5 continúan bajo arresto - 07/04/2008 - El Nuevo Herald

Detienen en Cuba a 23 disidentes; al menos 5 continúan bajo arresto
EFE
LA HABANA
Según se informó el jueves, Francisco Chaviano es uno de los opositores detenidos por las autoridades cubanas.
AP
Según se informó el jueves, Francisco Chaviano es uno de los opositores detenidos por las autoridades cubanas.
Francisco Chaviano

* FOTOGALERIA | Opositores y disidentes
* Prisión preventiva para cubanos en México por tráfico humano
* Cuba advierte que no tolerará actos opositores 'instigados' por EEUU
* Organizaciones panameñas pedirán extradición de Posada Carriles

El gobierno cubano detuvo el jueves a más de una veintena de opositores, en su mayoría durante unas horas, tras denunciar "una escalada de acciones provocadoras organizadas y financiadas'' por Estados Unidos, mientras Washington rechazó las acusaciones y afirmó que siempre apoyará a los presos políticos.

La Comisión Cubana de Derechos Humanos (CCDHRN), calificada de ilegal por el gobierno de la isla, afirmó que durante la jornada del jueves las autoridades detuvieron a por lo menos 23 disidentes, muchos de los cuales fueron siendo liberados a lo largo del día.

No obstante, Elizardo Sánchez, líder de la CCDHRN, indicó a EFE que por lo menos cinco continúan bajo arresto.

Entre los que ya han sido puestos en libertad se encuentran Francisco Chaviano y René Montes de Oca.

Los disidentes estuvieron retenidos varias horas en dependencias policiales de La Habana y, en el caso de los residentes de fuera de la capital, fueron enviados de vuelta a sus domicilios, según el dirigente de la comisión.

"Los que fueron llevados a sus provincias fueron llevados bajo arresto'', señaló Sánchez, que en la mañana había confirmado siete detenciones y denunciado casos de bloqueos en domicilios y otros actos de intimidación.

Las maniobras represivas se han producido un día después de que el gobierno anunciara que no iba a tolerar "provocaciones y acciones ilegales instigadas por la Administración norteamericana a través de sus funcionarios diplomáticos en La Habana''.

La Cancillería cubana, que responsabilizó a Washington de las "consecuencias que puedan derivarse'' de su "respuesta'', denunció el miércoles en un comunicado "una escalada de las acciones provocadoras organizadas y financiadas por la Sección de Intereses de Estados Unidos en La Habana'' (SINA) en las últimas semanas.

Sánchez indicó que la operación fue dirigida contra disidentes que querían asistir a una reunión de la plataforma opositora Agenda para la Transición y otros que pretendían participar en la SINA en la celebración del 4 de julio, día de la independencia norteamericana.

Por su parte, la SINA respondió el jueves con una declaración del Departamento de Estado en la que afirma que "el gobierno de Cuba es una dictadura que oprime a su gente y el pueblo cubano no necesita de influencia de afuera para buscar alivio de esta opresión''.

"Deseamos una transición democrática y pacífica en Cuba, apoyamos a la gente del pueblo cubano y su deseo de determinar su propio futuro'', agregó.

El jefe de prensa de la SINA, Gregory Adams, indicó a periodistas que no tiene "la menor idea'' de las razones que llevaron a la Cancillería cubana a emitir el miércoles el comunicado.

"Estamos actuando de la forma que hemos actuado desde hace mucho tiempo aquí. No es una actividad específica en los últimos días, no hemos cambiado de política ni de actuación, entonces no se explica'', puntualizó.

Adams afirmó que Estados Unidos apoya al pueblo cubano y "especialmente a las familias de los prisioneros políticos y de conciencia en muchos sentidos'', que no especificó.

Sobre el respaldo financiero a disidentes en Cuba, dijo que Estados Unidos "siempre'' ha tenido la "política de apoyar a los prisioneros políticos y sus familias que son oprimidos aquí, y no tienen otra forma de sostenerse''.

Además, anunció que harán "lo posible'' para que los más de 1,000 invitados asistan "como puedan'' a la celebración del 4 de julio y que van a continuar con los planes de festejar mañana ese día, a pesar de la declaración del gobierno cubano.

La Cancillería cubana afirmó que "dispone de información confirmada de que la SINA pretende organizar otras actividades ilegales y va a instigar a sus mercenarios en Cuba a realizar acciones provocadoras en la vía pública, alrededor de la fecha del 4 de julio''.

Organizaciones de opositores han denunciado en los últimos días varias detenciones temporales, en su mayoría de unas pocas horas.

El pasado día 20, el gobierno detuvo a siete disidentes pocas horas después de que la Unión Europea (UE) levantara las sanciones a la isla por percibir avances en la situación de los derechos humanos.

EL ESTADO MAYOR DE LA MAFIA COMUNISTA DE LOS ASESINOS CASTROS...TODOS SERAN JUZGADOS EN TRIBUNALES ESTILO NUREMBERG, eso es si sobreviven el colapso

2008-07-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

LA MAFIA COMUNISTA DE LOS CASTROS SE LE AVESINA SU FINAL...ACORRALADOS, SOLOS Y CON UN PUEBLO EN ESPERA DE LA JUSTICIA..CUBA SERA EL NUEVO NUREMBERG..

2008-07-03T06:28:00.000-07:00

Colombia rescata a Ingrid Betancourt y a 14 secuestrados - HOY DIA, EL GRANMA, ORGANO OFICIAL DE LA DICTADURA CASTRISTA, NO PUBLICA NADA SOBRE ESTE EVENTO INTERNACIONAL...?PORQUE? Sera porque la mafia castrista entreno y ayudo a la farc...Sera que es porque comulgan con los mismos conceptos de terror y surgieron igual que como la farc quiso surgir...matando y intimidando al pueblo...El problema es que la farc no tuvo a la union sovietica...no tuvieron un padrino millonario....y la farc no tuvo a un SEN~or PRESIDENTE...electo DEMOCRATICAMENTE por su pueblo....no tuvieron a un heroe de verdad...no tuvieron a un URIBE........QUE VIVA COLOMBIA LINDA...QUE VIVA ESE PAIS GLORIOSO...

ABAJO fidel ASESINO..........

Colombia rescata a Ingrid Betancourt y a 14 secuestrados - HOY DIA, EL GRANMA, ORGANO OFICIAL DE LA DICTADURA CASTRISTA, NO PUBLICA NADA

2008-07-03T06:17:00.001-07:00

Noticias24 :: Actualidad » Colombia rescata a Ingrid Betancourt y a 14 secuestrados

Colombia rescata a Ingrid Betancourt y a 14 secuestrados
02:41 pm | 02 Jul 2008 | 491 comentarios | 171,281 views

El Ejército de Colombia ha liberado hace unos minutos a Ingrid Betancourt, los 3 norteamericanos y otros 11 secuestrados han sido rescatados por el Ejército de Colombia tras una operación de infiltración del Secretariado de las FARC.

Foto: AP

El ministro Santos señaló en una rueda de prensa que la ex candidata presidencial colombo-francesa, cautiva desde febrero de 2002, y los estadounidenses Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell y Marc Gonsalves, secuestrados en el 2003, fueron liberados en un campamento de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC).

La operación consistió en un engaño al Secretariado de las FARC: infiltrados de la Inteligencia colombiana convencieron de que lo mejor era trasladar a los secuestrados junto a Alfonso Cano y los llevaron hacia el sur del país.

Para ello abordaron un helicóptero que, en realidad, era de las Fuerzas Armadas colombianas. Una vez a bordo, se neutralizó a los guerrilleros.

Los detalles del engaño y la delcaración del Ministro Santos la puede revisar pulsando aquí.

Añadió que los rehenes liberados viajan en este momento en helicópteros hacia San José del Guaviare, capital de esa región. Más tarde serán trasladados a la base aérea de Tolemaida, en el departamento el Tolima, a menos de 190 kilómetros de Bogotá.

Estos son los liberados:

Así ha sido el operativo militar:

“Esta operación que se denominó ‘Jaque’, no tiene precedentes y deja muy en alto la calidad y el profesionalismo de las fuerzas militares colombianas”, señaló Santos.

“Mis felicitaciones muy sinceras a nuestros hombres de la Inteligencia del Ejército”, añadió el funcionario y felicitó a los generales Freddy Padilla, comandante de las Fuerzas Militares, y Mario Montoya, comandante del Ejército.

“El país y sus seres queridos no tendrán cómo agradecerles semejante operación de rescate”, que llevaba más de un año en ejecución, dijo.

buscador

Se suicida legendario piloto anticastrista - 06/28/2008

2008-06-28T10:43:00.001-07:00

Se suicida legendario piloto anticastrista - 06/28/2008 - El Nuevo Herald

Se suicida legendario piloto anticastrista
WILFREDO CANCIO ISLA
El Nuevo Herald
DIAZ LANZ
Cortesía LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
DIAZ LANZ
El primer jefe de la fuerza aerea revolucionaria Pedro Luis Díaz Lanz

>El legendario piloto que garantizó los mayores abastecimientos de armas para los rebeldes de Fidel Castro, fue jefe de la Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria en enero de 1959 y se convirtió en el primer desertor de alto rango que alertó sobre el rumbo comunista de Fidel Castro, se quitó la vida de un balazo en el pecho.

Pedro Luis Díaz Lanz se suicidó la noche del jueves en Miami en circunstancias aún no esclarecidas. Murió de 81 años, pobre y decepcionado, golpeado por transtornos emocionales que habían afectado seriamente su salud en los últimos años.

La noticia de su fallecimiento circuló desde las primeras horas del viernes en los principales espacios radiales y televisivos de Miami.

"Fue un patriota, un hombre que tuvo la dignidad de darlo todo por la libertad de Cuba'', dijo su hermano Eduardo Díaz Lanz a la radio local.

Según su testimonio, Díaz Lanz le había anunciado meses atrás que "no iba a caer en el vacío'' y que antes prefería quitarse la vida.

Vivía angustiado con la suerte de Cuba. Se sentía pesimista y comentaba que "los cubanos nunca verán su patria libre si no se llenan de dignidad''.

Con la muerte de Díaz Lanz desaparece un protagonista insustituible de la historia cubana contemporánea y una figura mítica del prolongado enfrentamiento de la comunidad exiliada con el régimen castrista.

"Fue un hombre de ideales firmes que contribuyó decisivamente a una revolución que considerábamos reivindicatoria de los derechos del cubano y por eso cayó entre las primeras víctimas de la traición de Fidel Castro'', comentó anoche el ex comandante Huber Matos, quien abandonó las filas revolucionarias tras los pasos de Díaz Lanz y cumplió 20 años de cárcel bajo acusaciones de traición.

Nacido en La Habana el 8 de noviembre de 1926, en el seno de una familia de tradición independentista y patriótica, su abuelo combatió en las filas mambisas frente a las fuerzas colonialistas españolas y su padre fue un alto oficial del ejército constitucional cubano hasta 1930. Díaz Lanz se vanagloriaba también de ser biznieto de una hermana de José Martí (1853-1895), prócer de la independencia de la isla.

Se graduó de bachillerato en 1944 y cursó estudios como mecánico de aviación. En 1946, con apenas 20 años, comenzó a pilotear aviones y llegó pronto a fungir como copiloto para la firma Aerovías Q, que transportaba pasajeros y carga entre La Habana y Miami.

Inconforme con la situación política del país tras el golpe militar de Fulgencio Batista, Díaz Lanz conoció a Frank País, líder de la resistencia urbana en Santiago de Cuba, y poco después entró en contacto directo con Fidel Castro, quien lo designó para la estratégica misión de introducir armas clandestinamente desde el extranjero, usando la cobertura de piloto comercial.

El primer cargamento con destino a las fuerzas rebeldes fue llevado desde Punta Arenas, Costa Rica, hasta un cacerío en plena Sierra Maestra el 20 de marzo de 1958. Piloteando un avión de carga donde viajó Huber Matos, la expedición concluyó exitosamente con la entrega de cinco toneladas de armas y municiones a los insurgentes.

"Lo conocí días antes del viaje y desde el primer momento reconocí que se trataba de una persona con una determinación, una seguridad y una valentía fuera de toda duda'', recordó Matos.

Díaz Lanz llevó también abastecimientos bélicos a los combatientes revolucionarios volando desde Venezuela. Se calcula que el 70 por ciento de las armas que fueron entregadas a los frentes del Ejército Rebelde en la última etapa de la guerra fueron facilitadas por sus operaciones aéreas.

El triunfo de Fidel Castro lo sorprende en los preparativos de un envío aéreo desde territorio costarricense y viaja de inmediato a Santiago de Cuba para encontrarse con las fuerzas rebeldes.

Nombrado ese mismo día como jefe de las Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria, Díaz Lanz viajó a Camagüey para convencer a los pilotos militares del régimen anterior de que serían respetados por el gobierno revolucionario. En esa oportunidad, Castro les prometió que podrían permanecer en las fuerzas armadas y que cualquier acción anterior sería considerada en cumplimiento de órdenes recibidas.

"Los pilotos lo creyeron y muchos de ellos volaron conmigo a [el campamento militar de] Columbia [en La Habana]'', recordaría Díaz Lanz en un testimonio de 1988. "¿Quien les iba a decir que pocos meses más tarde serían arrestados y juzgados por orden del jefe del Estado Mayor conjunto, Raúl Castro, y condenados --haciendo caso omiso de un previo proceso absolutorio-- por el propio Fidel?".

El caso de los pilotos marcó el desencanto de Díaz Lanz con el proceso revolucionario que había ayudado a triunfar.

Fidel Castro anuló un primer proceso a los pilotos, inconforme con el veredicto judicial que los consideró inocentes, y procedió a ordenar un nuevo encausamiento. Las condenas se elevaron entonces hasta 30 años de cárcel, pero muchos testigos dicen que fue la intervención de Díaz Lanz en el tribunal la que permitió salvarles la vida.

Opuesto a la influencia de los comunistas en las principales posiciones del gobierno, Díaz Lanz fue removido de su puesto y abandonó Cuba el 29 de junio de 1959, a bordo de un barco de vela. Luego de varios días a la deriva, llegó a Miami el 4 de julio y testificó ante el Congreso sobre las intenciones de Fidel Castro de convertir a Cuba en un país comunista bajo la influencia soviética.

Pero la temeridad de Díaz Lanz se pondría a prueba el 21 de octubre de 1959, cuando sobrevoló La Habana en una avioneta para lanzar miles de volantes donde denunciaba el camino marxista de la revolución. El vuelo fue rasante por encima de la ciudad, lo que provocó una balacera indiscriminada desde los campamentos militares, edificios y calles por parte de miembros del Ejército Rebelde.

Al día siguiente, Castro lo acusó de bombardear La Habana y vinculó la acción con el caso de Matos, quien había sido ya detenido en la provincia de Camagüey bajo acusaciones de sedición. En una concentración convocada poco después por el gobernante cubano frente al Palacio de la Revolución, una multitud enardecida pidió "paredón'' para Matos y Díaz Lanz.

Matos niega que entre ambos existieran vínculos conspirativos, aunque Díaz Lanz lo había alertado de una conversación privada a bordo de un avión, en la que Castro comentó que "vamos a tener problemas con Huber'' en referencia a sus declaraciones anticomunistas.

En el exilio, Díaz Lanz fundó en 1959 la Cruzada Constitucional Cubana, junto a Frank Sturgis, y se alistó en las misiones organizadas por la CIA para realizar acciones de infiltración en la isla.

Figuró también entre los integrantes de la llamada Operación 40, un grupo de prominentes activistas anticastristas que debían acompañar la expedición de Bahía de Cochinos en abril de 1961.

Díaz Lanz participó activamente en numerosas operaciones marítimas para introducir armamentos en Cuba durante la década de los 60.

El gobierno cubano lo consideró siempre como un enemigo peligroso y llegó incluso a difundir versiones de su supuesta participación en el asesinato del presidente John F. Kennedy en 1963.

"Quedará en la historia como un visionario'', manifestó el activista anticastrista José Hilario Pujol, amigo personal de Díaz Lanz. "Fue el primero que desde dentro del proceso se dio cuenta de lo que traería Fidel Castro para Cuba, y fue el que más sacrificó por sus ideales''.

En el exilio, Díaz Lanz realizó diferentes trabajos para sobrevivir, entre ellos el de techero. Su situación económica era precaria y en los últimos años hasta llegó a dormir en su propio automóvil, carente de los recursos para costearse una vivienda.

Pero muchos amigos dicen que costaba trabajo hacerle aceptar cualquier ayuda monetaria para su subsistencia. Había abrazado con fervor la fe religiosa.

"Creímos en una Cuba sin vencedores ni vencidos, sin más odios ni rencores, con todos y para todos. Creímos en el respeto al derecho ajeno, en la libertad y la justicia. Sueño bello era aquel que tantos abrazaron y por el cual muchos dieron la vida. Pero la noche de las ambiciones se extendió sobre nuestra bella isla'', escribió años atrás en un artículo publicado en El Nuevo Herald.

Le sobreviven sus hermanos Eduardo, Marcos y Carlos, y su hija Tania, en Miami. Su hermana Esther María fue asesinada en Miami Beach en 1986.

Al cierre de esta edición se desconocían los detalles de su funeral.

The Stupid Left vs. the Satanic Left

2008-05-03T05:16:00.001-07:00

The Stupid Left vs. the Satanic Left
Israel Nation News

The first kind are merely stupid, the second nefarious. It is impossible to understand politics in the world today without grasping the fundamental fact that there exist two different Lefts. These are the Stupid Left and the Satanic Left. The two are very different, although they work together. People who are part of the first are simply stupid people. People who are part of the second may in fact be quite shrewd, but are evil and nefarious. There is no third type of leftist.

Over time, the Stupid Left has been losing its numbers, as many Stupid Leftists either become smarter or morph into Satanic Leftists, and so desist from being mere Stupid Leftists. So a process of selection is occurring whereby the strength of the Satanic Left within the overall Left grows.

Both the Stupid Left and the Satanic Left demonstrate together against the United States, in favor of Islamofascism, in favor of destroying Israel and in favor of Palestinian terrorism. But for different reasons.

The Stupid Left hates America because it thinks America promotes evil oppressive regimes around the world. The Satanic Left hates America because America gets in the way of the evil oppressive regimes that the Satanic Left promotes.

The Stupid Left denounces capitalism and globalization and supports communism because it really believes that people are poor and oppressed under capitalism but free and happy under socialism. The Satanic Left denounces capitalism and supports communism precisely BECAUSE it knows that the opposite is the case.

The Stupid Left does not know that communism produces gulags. The Satanic Left supports communism precisely BECAUSE it produces gulags and also because the Satanic Leftists presume they will be placed in charge of the gulags.

The Stupid Left wants a Palestinian state because it thinks that such a state will pursue peace alongside Israel. The Satanic Left wants a Palestinian state precisely because it knows such a state will launch a war of destruction against Israel and perpetrate endless atrocities against the Jews.

The Stupid Left opposes Israeli armed force being used to suppress terror because it thinks that terror can be resolved through dialogue and negotiations. The Satanic Left opposes Israeli armed force being used to suppress terror because it supports terror against Jews.

The Stupid Left thinks that Palestinian leaders and Arab nationalists are progressive and liberal. The Satanic Left supports the same people precisely because it knows they are Islamofascists.

The Stupid Left is under the impression that Arab states have elections and freedom and enlightenment. The Satanic Left supports Arab regimes because they want to destroy Israel and murder Jews.

The Stupid Left thinks that Israeli settlements are an obstacle to peace. The Satanic Left wants the settlers evicted or killed because they are an obstacle to the Palestinians destroying Israel.

The Stupid Left thinks the Middle East conflict is about Arab human rights. The Satanic Left knows the Middle East conflict is about suppressing Jewish human rights. They support this suppression.

The Stupid Left thinks the Middle East conflict is about land and borders. The Satanic Left knows it is about Israel's existence.

The Stupid Left thinks Israel is a discriminatory apartheid country. The Satanic Left wants Israel destroyed so that the Arabs can impose an apartheid regime directed against the Jews and any other non-Moslems.

The Stupid Left thinks Zionism is a form of racism. The Satanic Left supports anti-Zionism precisely because it is a form of anti-Semitism.

The Stupid Left says it favors equality. The Satanic Left favors transferring power to itself so that it can oppress others.

The Stupid Left thinks animals should be treated like humans. The Satanic Left thinks humans should be treated like animals.

The Stupid Left wants socialism because it thinks that people will not have to work under socialism and because it thinks that leftists will have a lot of friends under socialism. The Satanic Left wants socialism because Satanic Leftists will not have to work under socialism, while they turn everyone else into slaves, and because they will get to shoot their friends.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events

Exposing the Real Che Guevara: And the Useful Idiots Who Idolize Him*GET THIS BOOK

2008-03-08T05:23:00.001-08:00

I am always amazed when I see the faces of Mao or Che Guevara on clothing or posters by those free spirits who imagine that these men would do anything but kill them for their social and political views. On page 16 of this book the author recounts how Henry Gomez made a t-shirt to counter all the "Che Lives" shirts floating around. His said "Che's Dead - Get Over It". Carlos Santana saw it and came over to berate him (never mind that Santata's brand of music was banned in Cuba by Guevara). Santata said, "Che may be dead for you, but he lives in our hearts ... Che is all about love and compassion." They then exchanged points. Santata's were based on fantasy and Gomez in fact. In the end, Santana said what one would expect, "You're getting hung up on facts, man." Wow.

This book recounts Che's murderous role in the deaths of more than 10,000 people after the Cuban revolution. Just one story of horror involves a mother pleading for the life of her boy directly in front of Che. He listened, thought, and then picked up the phone and shouted a command for the boy to be taken out and shot immediately. He had no respect for the law. It was a bourgeois detail that impeded the revolution. When one official pleaded for a trial before a sentence of death was passed, Che shouted that the man could conduct his trial tomorrow, but that the execution had to be conducted tonight. Even when there were trials, they were just for show with the sentences already noted on the form prior to the trail. There is much of this.

That so many on the left, including many American media outlets (such as the New York Times, Time Magazine, Life, and many others), helped Castro and Che come to power should still be a matter of shame, but is never mentioned anymore. That so many on the left extolled Che's justice, courage, beauty, and perfections should be always remembered. More than few are still writing today. All of them are wrong, all of them are perpetuating lies. Che ran from real fights and enjoyed bullying and even killing the defenseless.

Far from being a savvy guerilla leader (despite his book on the subject), he bungled every fight he was in and got lost for weeks at a time. In Bolivia, he never recruited a single Bolivian to his cause. Oh, he tricked a few into joining him by promising them training in the USSR or China, but as soon as they could, many of those deserted and became informants for those looking for Che.

If you are committed to the dream of Che, you will hate this book. If you want to know more of the reality of who he really was and the atrocities he committed, this book will be an important read for you.

Far from being Satre's "most complete human being of our time", he was a monster who improved the world most when he was sent out of it.

LA BESTIA EN SUS DIFERENTES VESTUARIOS....CONFUNDIENDO AL MUNDO

2008-03-01T10:16:00.001-08:00

Calle 8, Miami, tras renuncia de Castro (CBS)

2008-02-19T21:01:00.001-08:00

CONSEJO DE RELATORES DE DERECHOS HUMANOS DE CUBA

2008-02-19T15:50:00.001-08:00

CONSEJO DE RELATORES DE DERECHOS HUMANOS DE CUBA
Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. 19 de febrero de 2008.

CONSEJO DE RELATORES DE DERECHOS HUMANOS DE CUBA

Declaración

No estamos de acuerdo con el traspaso de poder. El pueblo cubano necesita y desea urgentemente una transición pacífica hacia la democracia. La más grande bendición sería que viniera del gobierno. El continuismo anacronista resuelve mucho a la cúpula gobernante pero es un oprobio sin límites para Cuba.

Nos alegramos de la ‘renuncia’ del señor Fidel Castro, aún cuando esta no pasa de ser la condena inexorable del decursar del tiempo, pero por eso mismo, por el poder de Jesucristo o la fuerza de los hombres, la libertad cubana esta a las puertas, nadie podrá evitarlo por eso todos los cubanos y la comunidad internacional debe alistarse.

La dignidad y los derechos humanos de nuestra gente no deben continuar padeciendo en el ultraje. El gobierno bajo la presidencia de cualquier ser humano debe comenzar a respetar todos los derechos del pueblo cubano y esto es primordial para hablar de apertura en Cuba.

Margarito Broche Espinosa. Presidente.
Roberto de Miranda Hernández. Vicepresidente 1ro.
Noelia Pedraza Jiménez. Vicepresidenta para la Región Central.
Juan Francisco Sigler Amaya. Vicepresidente para la Región Occidental.
Rolando Rodríguez Lovaina. Vicepresidente para la Región Oriental.
Juan Carlos Fonseca Fonseca. Relator para Cárceles y Prisiones.
María de la Caridad Noa González. Tesorera General.
Tania Maceda Guerra. Secretaria de Organización.
Carmelo Díaz Fernández. Relator para Asuntos laborales.
Marilyn Díaz Fernández. Relatora para la Cultura.
Oscar Mario González Pérez. Relator de Prensa.
Juan Carlos González Leiva. Secretario Ejecutivo.
Maura Iset González Jurquet. Relatora General de Derechos Humanos.
Clara Lourdes Prieto Llorente. Directora del Centro de Información y Prensa.
Bárbara Jiménez Contrera. Relatora para los Derechos de la niñez y la mujer.

Consejo de Relatores de Derechos Humanos
Calle Campanario # 261, entre Concordia y Neptuno, Centro Habana, Ciudad de La Habana,Cuba.
Tel: + 53 7 861 8475
------------------------
Informacion enviado desde Cuba por el Consejo de Relatores de Derechos Humanos a la Coalicion de Mujeres Cubano-Americanas en EEUU/ Joseito76@aol.com

President Bush Discusses Cuba Policy

2007-10-25T18:24:00.001-07:00

President George W. Bush greets his guests
Marlenis Gonzalez, right, and her daughter Melissa, center, Wednesday,
October 24, 2007, after his remarks on Cuba policy at the State
Department in Washington, D.C. Melissa's father, Jorge Luis Gonzalez
Tanquero is currently being held in a Cuban prison after being arrested
for crimes against the regime. White House photo by Eric Draper
President George W. Bush acknowledges his
guests, from left to right, Yamile Llanes Labrada, Melissa Gonzalez,
and Marlenis Gonzalez during his remarks on Cuba policy, Wednesday,
October 24, 2007, at the State Department in Washington, D.C. Labrada
is the wife of Jorge Luis Garcia Paneque, a surgeon and journalist who
was sentenced to 24 years in prison for speaking out against the
regime. Melissa's father, Jorge Luis Gonzalez Tanquero is currently
being held in a Cuban prison after being arrested for crimes against
the state. White House photo by Eric Draper

El Fomento de la Libertad, Justicia y Prosperidad en Cuba

2007-10-25T17:38:00.001-07:00

El Fomento de la Libertad, Justicia y Prosperidad en Cuba

El Fomento de la Libertad, Justicia y Prosperidad en Cuba
El Presidente Bush anuncia una serie de medidas en apoyo de movimientos democráticos que se están propagando en Cuba

Hoy, el Presidente Bush anunció medidas para ayudar a preparar a Cuba para la transición a un futuro democrático, entre ellas un nuevo programa para establecer un fondo internacional para la libertad (Freedom Fund) de varios miles de millones de dólares. Antes de su discurso, el Presidente se reunió con familiares de presos políticos en Cuba. El Presidente considera que éste es el momento de respaldar al pueblo cubano que se pone de pie por su libertad. El mundo debe poner de lado sus diferencias y prepararse para la transición de Cuba a un futuro de progreso y oportunidades.

* El Presidente les ha solicitado a la secretaria de Estado Condoleezza Rice y al secretario de Comercio Carlos Gutiérrez que encabecen los esfuerzos para establecer el Freedom Fund y solicitar contribuciones de gobiernos extranjeros y organizaciones internacionales. Este fondo ayudará al pueblo cubano a reconstruir su economía y hacer la transición a la democracia. Daría a los cubanos acceso a subvenciones, préstamos y condonación de deudas para reconstruir su país tan pronto el gobierno de Cuba demuestre que ha adoptado, de palabra y acción, las libertades fundamentales: libertad de expresión, libertad de asociación, libertad de prensa, libertad para formar partidos políticos y libertad para cambiar el gobierno mediante elecciones multipartidarias periódicas.

* El Presidente también anunció medidas que el gobierno de Estados Unidos está listo a tomar ahora mismo para ayudar al pueblo cubano directamente, pero sólo si la clase gobernante de Cuba no pone obstáculos.

o Si los gobernantes cubanos ponen fin a las restricciones para el acceso al Internet que le imponen a todo el pueblo cubano, Estados Unidos está listo para permitir que organizaciones no gubernamentales y grupos religiosos proporcionen computadoras y acceso al Internet a los estudiantes cubanos.

o Si los gobernantes cubanos les permiten participar libremente, Estados Unidos está listo para invitar a jóvenes cubanos de familias oprimidas a participar en programas de becas de la Alianza a favor de la Juventud Latinoamericana (Partnership for Latin American Youth), concebidos para ayudarlos a tener acceso equitativo a mayores oportunidades educativas.

* El Presidente mencionó a familiares de presos políticos en Cuba cuyo único crimen fueron sus creencias.

o Ricardo González Alfonso fue arrestado por escribir sobre ideas que no eran del agrado de las autoridades cubanas, y fue condenado a 20 años de prisión.

o José Luis García Paneque fue condenado a 24 años de prisión por atreverse a decir la verdad sobre el régimen de Cuba.

o Omar Pernet Hernández cumple una condena de 25 años de prisión por abogar por la libertad y derechos humanos, y fue castigado por sus creencias.

o Jorge Luis González Tanquero fue arrestado y purga su condena en una prisión cubana, acusado de delitos contra el Estado por defender los derechos humanos de sus conciudadanos.

o El Presidente también mencionó a disidentes destacados como el Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet, Normando Hernández Gonzales y Omar Rodríguez Saludes.

El Presidente reitera la política del gobierno de Estados Unidos que el embargo contra el régimen cubano debe seguir en vigor mientras el régimen mantenga su monopolio sobre la vida política y económica del pueblo cubano. El comercio con Cuba bajo el régimen actual simplemente enriquecería a las élites en el poder y afianzaría su control. El Congreso debe mostrar su solidaridad y apoyo a la realización de cambios fundamentales en Cuba manteniendo nuestro embargo contra la dictadura hasta que haya un cambio.

El mundo libre puede hacer mucho más para mostrar su solidaridad con el pueblo cubano

Estados Unidos apoya al sufrido pueblo cubano. Hemos otorgado asilo a cientos de miles de personas que han huido de la represión y miseria impuesta por el régimen, hemos alentado a países para que sean abanderados de la causa de la libertad en Cuba y hemos autorizado a ciudadanos y organizaciones privadas para que proporcionen alimentos, medicamentos y otros tipos de asistencia. Esta ayuda ascendió a más de $270 millones tan sólo el año pasado

El Presidente agradeció a los miembros del Congreso por el apoyo de ambos partidos en la votación a favor de fondos adicionales para los esfuerzos en pos de la democracia en Cuba y les pidió que lleven a cabo el proyecto, para que él pueda promulgar la ley pronto.

El Presidente Bush también insta a otros países a que hagan esfuerzos tangibles para manifestarles públicamente su apoyo a los disidentes en Cuba. La República Checa, Hungría y Polonia han mostrado su liderazgo y valentía al convertirse en fuentes vitales de apoyo y aliento para la valiente oposición a favor de la democracia en Cuba. El Presidente alienta a otros países a que adopten medidas similares:

* Abrir sus embajadas en La Habana a los líderes a favor de la democracia e invitarlos a eventos;
* Usar la antecámara de sus embajadas para darles a los cubanos acceso al Internet, libros y revistas, y
* Animar a las organizaciones no gubernamentales de sus países a que establezcan lazos directos de comunicación con la sociedad civil independiente de Cuba.

Estados Unidos está comprometido a ayudar a Cuba a unirse a las democracias del mundo

La política de Estados Unidos es clara: acabar con el control absoluto que tiene el régimen de los recursos materiales que el pueblo cubano necesita para vivir y para prosperar. Al pueblo cubano se le niegan las libertades y oportunidades más básicas, libertades que están consagradas en la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos y que los gobiernos de nuestro hemisferio acordaron respetar y defender en la Carta Democrática Interamericana.

En todo el Hemisferio Occidental, Estados Unidos se ha establecido como un aliado de confianza dedicado a reforzar la soberanía de nuestros vecinos apoyando los derechos humanos, la democracia y el imperio de la ley, y promoviendo la apertura de mercados.

President Bush Discusses Cuba Policy

2007-10-25T17:33:00.001-07:00

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 24, 2007

Fact Sheet: Encouraging Freedom, Justice, and Prosperity in Cuba
President Bush Announces A Series Of Measures To Support Growing Democratic Movements In Cuba

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Fact sheet President Bush Discusses Cuba Policy

Today, President Bush announced measures to help prepare Cuba for transition to a democratic future, including a new initiative to develop an international multi-billion dollar Freedom Fund. Before his speech, the President met with family members of political prisoners in Cuba. The President believes that now is the time to stand with the Cuban people as they stand up for their liberty. The world should put aside its differences and prepare for Cuba's transition to a future of progress and promise.

* The President has asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez to lead the effort to form the Freedom Fund by enlisting foreign governments and international organizations to contribute. This Fund would help the Cuban people rebuild their economy and make the transition to democracy. It would give Cubans access to grants, loans, and debt relief to rebuild their country as soon as Cuba's government demonstrates that is has adopted, in word and deed, fundamental freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of the press, freedom to form political parties, and the freedom to change their government through periodic, multi-party elections.

* The President also announced measures that the United States government is prepared to take right now to help the Cuban people directly – but only if Cuba's ruling class gets out of the way.
o If Cuban rulers will end their restrictions on Internet access for all of the Cuban people, the U.S. is prepared to license nongovernmental organizations and faith-based groups to provide computers and Internet access to Cuban students.
o If Cuban rulers allow them to freely participate, the U.S. is prepared to invite Cuban young people whose families suffer oppression into the Partnership for Latin American Youth Scholarship Program, designed to help them have equal access to greater educational opportunities.

* The President highlighted family members of political prisoners in Cuba who have been jailed for nothing more than their beliefs.
o Ricardo Gonzalez Alfonso was arrested for writing ideas that the Cuban authorities did not like, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
o Jose Luis Garcia Paneque was sentenced to 24 years in prison for daring to speak the truth about Cuba's regime.
o Omar Pernet Hernandez is serving 25 years in prison for being an advocate of freedom and human rights and was punished for his beliefs.
o Jorge Luis Gonzalez Tanquero was arrested and is serving time inside a Cuban prison, charged with crimes against the state after defending the human rights of his countrymen.
o The President also mentioned leading dissidents such as Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, Normando Hernandez Gonzales, and Omar Rodriguez Saludes.

The President reiterates U.S. Government policy that the embargo on the Cuban regime must stand as long as the regime maintains its monopoly over the political and economic life of the Cuban people. Trade with Cuba under the current regime would merely enrich the elites in power and strengthen their grip. Congress should show their support and solidarity for fundamental change in Cuba by maintaining our embargo on the dictatorship until that change comes.

The Free World Can Do Much More To Show Its Solidarity With The Cuban People

The United States stands with the Cuban people in their suffering. We have granted asylum to hundreds of thousands who have fled the repression and misery imposed by the regime, rallied nations to take up the banner of Cuban liberty, and authorized private citizens and organizations to provide food, medicine, and other aid. This aid totaled over $270 million last year alone.

The President thanked members of Congress for their bipartisan support in a vote for additional funding for Cuban democracy efforts and asked them to complete work on the measure, so that he may quickly sign it into law.

President Bush also calls on other nations to make tangible efforts to show public support for dissidents in Cuba. The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland have shown their leadership and courage by becoming vital sources of support and encouragement to Cuba's brave democratic opposition. The President encourages other nations to follow their lead by:

* Opening their embassies in Havana to pro-democracy leaders and inviting them to events;
* Using the lobbies of their embassies to give Cubans access to the Internet, books, and magazines; and
* Encouraging their country's nongovernmental organizations to reach out directly to Cuba's independent civil society.

The United States Is Committed To Helping Cuba Join The Democracies of the World

The policy of the United States is clear: to break the absolute control the regime holds over the material resources that Cubans need to live and prosper. The Cuban people are denied the most basic freedoms and opportunities – freedoms that are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and which governments in our hemisphere have agreed to honor and defend in the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

Throughout the Western Hemisphere, the United States has established itself as a reliable partner that has worked to strengthen the sovereignty of our neighbors by supporting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law and by promoting open markets.

President Bush Discusses Cuba Policy

2007-10-25T17:31:00.001-07:00

President Bush Discusses Cuba Policy
U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C.

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Fact sheet Fact Sheet: Encouraging Freedom, Justice, and Prosperity in Cuba

1:20 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Gracias. Buenos Dias. I am pleased to be back at the State Department. I appreciate the work that's done here. Every day the men and women of this department serve as America's emissaries to the world. Every day you help our country respond to aggressors and bring peace to troubled lands. Every day you advance our country's mission in support of basic human rights to the millions who are denied them. Secretary Rice constantly tells me about the good work being done here at the State Department, and on behalf of a grateful nation, I thank you for your hard work and I'm pleased to be with you.

President George W. Bush acknowledges his guests, from left to right, Yamile Llanes Labrada, Melissa Gonzalez, and Marlenis Gonzalez during his remarks on Cuba policy, Wednesday, October 24, 2007, at the State Department in Washington, D.C. Labrada is the wife of Jorge Luis Garcia Paneque, a surgeon and journalist who was sentenced to 24 years in prison for speaking out against the regime. Melissa's father, Jorge Luis Gonzalez Tanquero is currently being held in a Cuban prison after being arrested for crimes against the state. White House photo by Eric Draper Few issues have challenged this department -- and our nation -- longer than the situation in Cuba. Nearly half a century has passed since Cuba's regime ordered American diplomats to evacuate our embassy in Havana. This was the decisive break of our diplomatic relations with the island, a troubling signal for the future of the Cuban people, and the dawn of an unhappy era between our two countries. In this building, President John F. Kennedy spoke about the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba's dictatorship. And it was here where he announced the end of the missile crisis that almost plunged the world into nuclear war.

Today, another President comes with hope to discuss a new era for the United States and Cuba. The day is coming when the Cuban people will chart their own course for a better life. The day is coming when the Cuban people have the freedom they have awaited for so long. (Applause.)

Madam Secretary, thank you for your introduction. I'm pleased to be with you and Ambassador Negroponte and all who work here. Thanks for the hospitality. I'm pleased to be here with our Secretary of Commerce, Secretary Carlos Gutierrez -- born in Cuba. I appreciate other members of my administration who are here.

I particularly want to thank the members of Congress who have joined us: Senator Mel Martinez, born in Cuba; Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, born in Cuba; Lincoln Diaz-Balart, born in Cuba; su hermanito --(laughter) -- Mario Diaz-Balart. I want to thank Chris Smith for joining us, Congressman from Jersey; Thaddeus McCotter, Michigan; Debbie Wasserman Schultz, from Florida; as well as Tim Mahone from Florida. Appreciate you being here.

I thank the members of the Diplomatic Corps who have joined us. I appreciate the Ambassadors to the Organization of American States who are with us. I particularly want to thank the Cuban families who have joined me on the stage.

President George W. Bush greets his guests Marlenis Gonzalez, right, and her daughter Melissa, center, Wednesday, October 24, 2007, after his remarks on Cuba policy at the State Department in Washington, D.C. Melissa's father, Jorge Luis Gonzalez Tanquero is currently being held in a Cuban prison after being arrested for crimes against the regime. White House photo by Eric Draper One of the great success stories of the past century is the advance of economic and political freedom across Latin America. In this room are officials representing nations that are embracing the blessings of democratic government and free enterprise. And the United States is proud and active to work with you in your transformations.

One country in our region still isolates its people from the hope that freedom brings, and traps them in a system that has failed them. Forty-eight years ago, in the early moments of Cuba's revolution, its leaders offered a prediction. He said -- and I quote -- "The worst enemies which the Cuban revolution can face are the revolutionaries themselves." One of history's great tragedies is that he made that dark prophecy come true.

Cuba's rulers promised individual liberty. Instead they denied their citizens basic rights that the free world takes for granted. In Cuba it is illegal to change jobs, to change houses, to travel abroad, and to read books or magazines without the express approval of the state. It is against the law for more than three Cubans to meet without permission. Neighborhood Watch programs do not look out for criminals. Instead, they monitor their fellow citizens -- keeping track of neighbors' comings and goings, who visits them, and what radio stations they listen to. The sense of community and the simple trust between human beings is gone.

Cuba's rulers promised an era of economic advancement. Instead they brought generations of economic misery. Many of the cars on the street pre-date the revolution -- and some Cubans rely on horse carts for transportation. Housing for many ordinary Cubans is in very poor condition, while the ruling class lives in mansions. Clinics for ordinary Cubans suffer from chronic shortages in medicine and equipment. Many Cubans are forced to turn to the black market to feed their families. There are long lines for basic necessities -- reminiscent of the Soviet bread lines of the last century. Meanwhile, the regime offers fully stocked food stores to foreign tourists, diplomats and businessmen in communism's version of apartheid.

Cuba's rulers promised freedom of the press. Instead they closed down private newspapers and radio and television stations. They've jailed and beaten journalists, raided their homes, and seized their paper, ink and fax machines. One Cuban journalist asked foreigners who visited him for one thing: a pen. Another uses shoe polish as ink as a typewriter ribbon.

Cuba's rulers promised, "absolute respect for human rights." Instead they offered Cubans rat-infested prisons and a police state. Hundreds are serving long prison sentences for political offenses such as the crime of "dangerousness" -- as defined by the regime. Others have been jailed for the crime of "peaceful sedition" -- which means whatever Cuban authorities decide it means.

Joining us here are family members of political prisoners in Cuba. I've asked them to come because I want our fellow citizens to see the faces of those who suffer as a result of the human rights abuses on the island some 90 miles from our shore. One of them is Olga Alonso. Her brother, Ricardo Gonzalez Alonso [sic], has been harassed by Cuban authorities since he was 11 years old, because he wrote things that the Cuban authorities did not like. In 2003, Ricardo was arrested for his writings and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The authorities seized illegal contraband they found in his home. These included such things as a laptop computer, notebooks and a printer. Olga, we're glad you're here. Thank you for coming. (Applause.)

Marlenis Gonzalez and her daughter, Melissa, are here. They recently arrived from Cuba, but without Melissa's father. Jorge Luis Gonzalez Tanquero dared to defend the human rights of his countrymen. For that, he was arrested for crimes against the state. Now he languishes in poor health inside a Cuban prison. Bienvenidos. (Applause.)

Damaris Garcia y su tia, Mirta Pernet, are with us today. Damaris calls the Cuban government "a killing machine" -- those are her words. They've seen relatives imprisoned for supporting liberty. One beloved family member, Omar Pernet Hernandez, was a poor man who sold candy on the streets of Havana. For advocating freedom, he is serving a sentence of 25 years. He's 62 years old, he's emaciated. Yet he remains a determined advocate for human rights for the Cuban people. Bienvenidos. (Applause.)

Also with us is Yamile Llanes Labrada. Yamile's husband, Jorge [sic] Luis Garcia Paneque, was a surgeon and journalist. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison for daring speak the truth about the regime. Yamile herself was accused of espionage and she feared for the safety of her four children. After Jos 's arrest, a mob organized by state authorities surrounded their house. The mob carried sticks and threatened to set fire to the house with the family inside. Earlier this year, Yamile and her children made it off the island. They do not know when they'll see their father again. Bienvenidos, Yamile. (Applause.)

I want to thank each of you [for] coming today. I thank you for allowing me to share your stories, and I thank you for your courage. I ask that God watch over you and your loved ones. Que Dios les bendiga a ustedes y a sus familias. And I join your prayers for a day when the light of liberty will shine on Cuba.

These are just a few of the examples of the terror and trauma that is Cuba today. The socialist paradise is a tropical gulag. The quest for justice that once inspired the Cuban people has now become a grab for power. And as with all totalitarian systems, Cuba's regime no doubt has other horrors still unknown to the rest of the world. Once revealed, they will shock the conscience of humanity. And they will shame the regime's defenders and all those democracies that have been silent. (Applause.) One former Cuban political prisoner, Armando Valladares, puts it this way: It will be a time when "mankind will feel the revulsion it felt when the crimes of Stalin were brought to light." And that time is coming.

As we speak, calls for fundamental change are growing across the island. Peaceful demonstrations are spreading. Earlier this year leading Cuban dissidents came together for the first time to issue the Unity of Freedom -- a declaration for democratic change. They hear the dying gasps of a failed regime. They know that even history's cruelest nightmares cannot last forever. A restive people who long to rejoin the world at last have hope. And they will bring to Cuba a real revolution -- a revolution of freedom, democracy and justice. (Applause.)

Now is the time to support the democratic movements growing on the island. Now is the time to stand with the Cuban people as they stand up for their liberty. And now is the time for the world to put aside its differences and prepare for Cuban's transition to a future of freedom and progress and promise. The dissidents of today will be the nation's leaders tomorrow -- and when freedom finally comes, they will surely remember who stood with them. (Applause.)

The Czech Republic and Hungary and Poland have been vital sources of support and encouragement to Cuba's brave democratic opposition. I ask other countries to follow suit. All nations can make tangible efforts to show public support for those who love freedom on the island. They can open up their embassies in Havana to pro-democracy leaders and invite them to different events. They can use their lobbies of the embassies to give Cubans access to the Internet and to books and to magazines. They can encourage their country's non-governmental organizations to reach out directly to Cuba's independent civil society.

Here at home we can do more, as well. The United States Congress has recently voted for additional funding to support Cuban democracy efforts. I thank you all for your good work on this measure -- and I urge you to get the bill to my desk as soon as we possibly can. (Applause.) I also urge our Congress to show our support and solidarity for fundamental change in Cuba by maintaining our embargo on the dictatorship until it changes. (Applause.)

Cuba's regime uses the U.S. embargo as a scapegoat for Cuba's miseries. Yet Presidents of both our political parties have long understood that the source of Cuba's suffering is not the embargo, but the communist system. They know that trade with the Cuban government would not help the Cuban people until there are major changes to Cuba's political and economic system. Instead, trade with Cuba would merely enrich the elites in power and strengthen their grip. As long as the regime maintains its monopoly over the political and economic life of the Cuban people, the United States will keep the embargo in place. (Applause.)

The United States knows how much the Cuban people are suffering -- and we have not stood idle. Over the years, we've granted asylum to hundreds of thousands who have fled the repression and misery imposed by the regime. We've rallied nations to take up the banner of Cuban liberty. And we will continue to do so. We've authorized private citizens and organizations to provide food, and medicine, and other aid -- amounting to more than $270 million last year alone. The American people, the people of this generous land, are the largest providers of humanitarian aid to the Cuban people in the entire world. (Applause.)

The aid we provide goes directly into the hands of the Cuban people, rather than into the coffers of the Cuban leaders. And that's really the heart of our policy: to break the absolute control that the regime holds over the material resources that the Cuban people need to live and to prosper and to have hope.

To further that effort, the United States is prepared to take new measures right now to help the Cuban people directly -- but only if the Cuban regime, the ruling class, gets out of the way.

For example -- here's an interesting idea to help the Cuban people -- the United States government is prepared to license non-governmental organizations and faith-based groups to provide computers and Internet access to Cuban people -- if Cuba's rulers will end their restrictions on Internet access for all the people.

Or the United States is prepared to invite Cuban young people whose families suffer oppression into the Partnership for Latin American Youth scholarship programs, to help them have equal access to greater educational opportunities -- if the Cuban rulers will allow them to freely participate.

We make these offers to the people of Cuba -- and we hope their rulers will allow them to accept. You know, we've made similar offers before -- but they've been rejected out of hand by the regime. It's a sad lesson, and it should be a vivid lesson for all: For Cuba's ruling class, its grip on power is more important than the welfare of its people.

Life will not improve for Cubans under their current system of government. It will not improve by exchanging one dictator for another. It will not improve if we seek accommodation with a new tyranny in the interests of "stability." (Applause.) America will have no part in giving oxygen to a criminal regime victimizing its own people. We will not support the old way with new faces, the old system held together by new chains. The operative word in our future dealings with Cuba is not "stability." The operative word is "freedom." (Applause.)

In that spirit, today I also am announcing a new initiative to develop an international multi-billion dollar Freedom Fund for Cuba. This fund would help the Cuban people rebuild their economy and make the transition to democracy. I have asked two members of my Cabinet to lead the effort -- Secretary Rice and Secretary Gutierrez. They will enlist foreign governments and international organizations to contribute to this initiative.

And here's how the fund will work: The Cuban government must demonstrate that it has adopted, in word and deed, fundamental freedoms. These include the freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of press, freedom to form political parties, and the freedom to change the government through periodic, multi-party elections. And once these freedoms are in place, the fund will be able to give Cubans -- especially Cuban entrepreneurs -- access to grants, and loans and debt relief to help rebuild their country. (Applause.)

The restoration of these basic freedoms is the foundation of fair, free and competitive elections. Without these fundamental protections in place, elections are only cynical exercises that give dictatorships a legitimacy they do not deserve.

We will know there is a new Cuba when opposition parties have the freedom to organize, assemble and speak with equal access to the airwaves. We will know there is a new Cuba when a free and independent press has the power to operate without censors. We will know there is a new Cuba when the Cuban government removes its stranglehold on private economic activity.

And above all, we will know there is a new Cuba when authorities go to the prisons, walk to the cells where people are being held for their beliefs and set them free. (Applause.) It will be a time when the families here are reunited with their loved ones, and when the names of free people -- including dissidents such as Oscar Elias Biscet, Normando Hernandez Gonzales, and Omar Rodriguez Saludes are free. (Applause.) It will be a moment when Cubans of conscience are released from their shackles -- not as a gesture or a tactic, but because the government no longer puts people in prison because of what they think, or what they say or what they believe.

Cuba's transition from a shattered society to a free country may be long and difficult. Things will not always go as hoped. There will be difficult adjustments to make. One of the curses of totalitarianism is that it affects everyone. Good people make moral compromises to feed their families, avoid the whispers of neighbors, and escape a visit from the secret police. If Cuba is to enter a new era, it must find a way to reconcile and forgive those who have been part of the system but who do not have blood on their hands. They're victims as well.

At this moment, my words are being transmitted into -- live into Cuba by media outlets in the free world -- including Radio and TV Marti. To those Cubans who are listening -- perhaps at great risk -- I would like to speak to you directly.

Some of you are members of the Cuban military, or the police, or officials in the government. You may have once believed in the revolution. Now you can see its failure. When Cubans rise up to demand their liberty, they -- they -- the liberty they deserve, you've got to make a choice. Will you defend a disgraced and dying order by using force against your own people? Or will you embrace your people's desire for change? There is a place for you in the free Cuba. You can share the hope found in the song that has become a rallying cry for freedom-loving Cubans on and off the island: "Nuestro Dia Ya Viene Llegando." Our day is coming soon. (Applause.)

To the ordinary Cubans who are listening: You have the power to shape your own destiny. You can bring about a future where your leaders answer to you, where you can freely express your beliefs and where your children can grow up in peace. Many experts once said that that day could never come to Eastern Europe, or Spain or Chile. Those experts were wrong. When the Holy Father came to Cuba and offered God's blessings, he reminded you that you hold your country's future in your hands. And you can carry this refrain in your heart: Su dia ya viene llegando. Your day is coming soon. (Applause.)

To the schoolchildren of Cuba: You have a lot in common with young people in the United States. You both dream of hopeful futures, and you both have the optimism to make those dreams come true. Do not believe the tired lies you are told about America. We want nothing from you except to welcome you to the hope and joy of freedom. Do not fear the future. Su dia ya viene llegando. Your day is coming soon. (Applause.)

Until that day, you and your suffering are never far from our hearts and prayers. The American people care about you. And until we stand together as free men and women, I leave you with a hope, a dream, and a mission: Viva Cuba Libre. (Applause.)

END 1:48 P.M. EDT

Press Briefing Via Conference Call by a Senior Administration Official on the President's Speech on Cuba

2007-10-25T17:29:00.001-07:00

Press Briefing Via Conference Call by a Senior Administration Official on the President's Speech on Cuba

RSS Feed Press Briefings

6:24 P.M. EDT

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thank you all very much. Thank you for doing this at this hour.

The President will give remarks on Cuba tomorrow. He will start out the speech by noting that one of the success stories of the last several years has been the overall advance of economic and political freedom across Latin America, and juxtaposed against that is the fact that there is still one country that traps its citizens in a failed system, and that country is Cuba.

And the President will then go through some of the promises that the regime made in its early moments, and then discuss and describe for the listeners what Cubans deal with on a day-to-day basis and what have been the results of this 48-year totalitarian reality. He will talk about the denial of basic rights -- the Cuban people's denial of basic rights, such as things that they cannot change jobs, they cannot change addresses without the express approval of the state, that they're subjected to neighborhood watch programs, that there are efforts to limit what they have access to in the way of information. He will then talk about the economic circumstance that they face, the deprivations, the challenges, the poor condition of the economy and the country that faces shortages, again because of policies by the regime.

He will note that the constant assault on the freedom of the press that has occurred, and give some examples of Cuban -- independent journalists today and how they try to survive. He will then -- he will also talk about the lack of respect for human rights and the regime's use of political offenses to deal with what it sees as its enemies, and the vague nature of the legal structure they operate under.

To give this picture of Cuba a human face, to really show people that this is not an academic or a theoretical exercise, it impacts people on a daily basis, he will have with him for these remarks six family members who represent four political prisoners. He will highlight the cases of four political prisoners who are currently imprisoned in Cuba. He will have family there. Some of these family members have arrived in the United States as recently as a month ago. So Cuba and the experience that they lived on the island is very, very real. He will recount their stories and introduce them to the audience. One of the individuals who will be there is Yamile Llanes, who the President introduced at the Hispanic Heritage event about two or so weeks ago. He will note that these are examples of the terror and trauma that is Cuba today, that the Cuban people confront this kind of brutal reality on a daily basis, and that the international community needs to take note that this is the reality of Cuba.

But he will also then note that calls for change are growing across the island; there are examples of peaceful demonstrations. One of the best known has been the Ladies in White. He will note that Cuban dissidents came together earlier this year to issue what they called the unity for freedom. That's a declaration for democratic change, basically that there are -- there's a restive element to the Cuban people, and that the -- that this will be the real Cuban revolution of them seeking their rights and joining the community of democracies.

And he will then say that now is the time to stand with the democratic movements and the people of Cuba; now is the time to put aside the differences that have existed amongst the international community, and we need to be focused on how we're prepared -- we, the international community are prepared for Cuba's transition. He will acknowledge and thank three countries specifically for their efforts to stand with Cuban pro-democracy forces -- the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. He will call on other countries to follow suit and to make tangible efforts to show public support for pro-democracy activists on the island -- such things as interacting with pro-democracy leaders, inviting them to embassy events, encouraging their country's NGOs to reach out directly to Cuba's independent civil society.

Turning back to the U.S. support for pro-democracy activists on the island, he will note that the U.S. Congress has approved his -- the President's request for additional funding to support Cuban democracy efforts. He will thank the members of Congress for this bipartisan support and urge them to get the law -- or the bill to him that they approved -- get the bill to him so that he can sign it. They will also urge members of Congress to show our support and solidarity for fundamental change in Cuba by maintaining our embargo until there is fundamental change in Cuba.

He will note that the regime does use the embargo as a scapegoat, but that Presidents of both countries have understood that Cuba's suffering is a result of the system imposed on the Cuban people. It is not a function or result of U.S. policy, that the only thing that trade will do is further enrich and strengthen the regime and their grip on the political and economic life of the island.

He will note then that the United States over the years has taken a series of steps to try to help the Cuban people overcome the suffering; that we have done things such as opened up as a place of refuge the United States; that we've tried to rally other countries; that we have authorized private citizens and NGOs to provide humanitarian aid to the island. And it's to the point that the United States is one of the, if not the largest, providers of humanitarian aid to the Cuban people in the world.

He will note that for us the objective has been -- the objective is to get aid directly into the hands of the Cuban people, and that the heart of our policy, the essence of our policy is to break the absolute control the regime holds over the material resources that Cubans need to live and prosper.

He will then announce some initiatives that the U.S. is prepared to take now to help the Cuban people directly if the Cuban regime will allow it to happen, if the regime will get out of the way. One initiative will be to -- one initiative he will announce is that the United States government is prepared to license NGOs and faith-based groups to provide computers and Internet access to Cuban students, and here we would like to be able to provide this to a Cuba in which there are no restrictions on Cubans on Internet access -- so that we would look at expanding this category of getting more computers with Internet access capability to the island, if Cuba's rulers end their restrictions on Internet access for all Cubans.

Excuse me, I apologize, a little tired here.

The next initiative is that we are prepared to invite Cuban young people into the scholarship program, Partnership for Latin American Youth. This is an initiative the President originally announced in March that was hemisphere-wide. He is going to extend a specific invitation to have Cuban youth participate in this, and again call upon the Cuba's rulers to allow Cuban youth to freely participate.

The President will then make the point that life will not improve for Cubans under the current system. It will not improve by exchanging one dictator for another, and it will not improve in any way by seeking accommodation with a new tyranny for the sake of stability. He will note that our policy is based on freedom for Cuba; our policy is not stability for Cuba, it is freedom, and that the way to get to a stable Cuba is through the Cuban people being given their freedom and fundamental rights.

To help bring about that reality, the President will ask Secretary of State Rice and Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez to pursue an effort to develop an international freedom fund for Cuba. They will be asked to go work with international partners and to look at how we can -- how we, the international community, can work together to be prepared to assist Cubans as they transition to democracy. But a key to this is going to be at a point at which there is a transitional government in place that respects fundamental freedoms -- freedom of speech, press, freedom to form political parties, the freedom to change their government through periodic multiparty elections. And also key to this is going to be the government that releases political prisoners, and which no longer imprisons or represses individuals who exercise their conscience freely, and frankly, where the shackles of dictatorship are removed.

The President then will note that the speech is being carried by a number of media outlets, some of which are reaching the island. And he will, for a moment, deliver a message to members of the Cuban regime, especially members of the Cuban military and the security apparatus. He will note that they are going to face a choice, and the choice is, which side are they on, the side of Cubans who are demanding freedom, or are they going to face the choice of having to use force against a dying -- force against their own -- their fellow citizens against a dying regime. And he expresses the hope that they will make the choice for freedom, and that -- and note that they will have a place in a democratic Cuba for those who support Cuba's democratic evolution.

He will then address a comment to the ordinary Cubans who are listening. He will say to them that they have the power to change, and/or to shape their destiny; that they are the ones who will bring about a future where Cuban leaders are chosen by them, where their children can grow up in peace and prosperity. He will remind them that over the years there have been many so-called experts that have said that change would never come to certain spots in the world, that there would always be totalitarian in Central and Eastern Europe, or there would always be authoritarianism in Spain or Chile, and that has not been the case; that there you had a case in which the people understood that they could shape their own destiny. Cubans can do the same. And at that point he will pretty much end the speech.

So I will end there, and then be happy to take some questions.

Q I'm not sure what you're saying here. Will the President be calling for Cubans to take arms against their government, to overthrow it?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: No. The President is not calling for armed rebellion. The President is reminding Cubans -- and I say this -- or putting out his view that they have, literally, as he puts it, the power to shape their destiny, and that they can bring about a future that is a different Cuba. And again if you look at the examples of Eastern Europe and Spain and Chile, you had examples there were -- those weren't armed. You had the people saying, enough is enough, and then through different mechanisms helping to bring about change.

So I think this is no different than his message has been in many -- in previous remarks on Cuba in terms of the faith and the ordinary Cuban to realize that they have a power within themselves to help move that country in a different direction that would be democratic, but he's also given that message to other peoples around the world who have faced authoritarian governments.

Q And is the President pegging this call for a -- the Cuban people to shape their destiny to the anticipated death of Fidel Castro?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm not quite sure I understand your question, if I can --

Q Well, I'm saying -- is he looking ahead to this change, to the time in which Castro dies? Is that when he thinks is the right time for this change in Cuban government to take place?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, I think that there's -- if I say -- earlier in the speech he makes a comment that now is the time to support the democratic movements that are growing across the island, now is the time to stand with the Cuban people. So now means now. But he also understands that -- and this is the other part of the speech -- that the international community needs to be prepared for that moment of change, and we're focused on the moment of change at which you've got a transitional government in place that is, as I think it says, in word and deed, is taking concrete steps to show that it respects fundamental freedoms.

Q And who is the audience for this speech?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: The audience for this speech are Cubans on the island and the larger international community.

Q But who is he addressing at State?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: He's addressing a audience that will be -- the invitees include members of the diplomatic corps, members of Congress. There will be the Washington -- representatives of the Washington policy community; there will be some of the -- a number of U.S. government officials there who either work on Cuba today or work on -- have worked on Cuba, say, with the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba. This is not to a Miami audience.

Q Okay, thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: The address is, as you all I think know, is at State Department in the Ben Franklin Room.

Q All right, thank you.

Q Hi, I appreciate you doing this today. I have a few things I've got here in my mind. I wonder first, why now, why the President is making this address now? Why at the State Department? And is there a vote coming up on the embargo at the United Nations?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I've lost the thread of when the U.N. vote is. That's one that's not coming up in my memory right now. So let me just, if I can, park that. I'm happy to try to find -- see if we can get an answer for you tonight. I guess that ties back to --

Q Why now?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: The President has wanted to give a speech for some time on Cuba. We looked at a lot of different possibilities on the calendar, and it was just a matter that this was the timing that worked for a lot of reasons, given as much as anything, the calendar here in the United States. So it is not tied to a specific date, it is not tied to some U.N. action or congressional vote. We just thought that this timing worked. We thought that this was the right time for the message that the President wants to convey, again, looking forward, and addressing both audiences on the island and the international community, which also goes to the question of why the State Department. I mean, if you're going to do a speech, and you want to try to talk to a larger international community, then the State Department is as good a venue as any other place, and in fact, in some cases, representative of our interest in discussing Cuba with potential international partners.

Q And the international fund you said that you're going to -- can you explain that to me again? You're going to sort of launch an initiative to begin work on a fund?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, it's -- we want to announce an initiative to develop an international -- something we're calling the Freedom Fund for Cuba. And he will ask the Secretary of State and Secretary of Commerce to work with and enlist foreign governments and international organizations to contribute to an initiative that will be positioned to support Cubans and the rebuilding of their country when there is a government in place that is respecting fundamental freedoms.

Q All right, thank you.

Q Thank you for the chance. Just one point here; when you started to outline the initiatives the President will be discussing, it was based on this premise that the Cuban regime will get out of the way, I believe is how you put it. What gives you reason to think that that is going to happen, or gives you any optimism that the regime will allow these things to happen, whether it's the programs to help the kids, or invite them into the scholarship program, or the broader point about this transition to a democratic government? Where do you get the confidence for that kind of premise?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I think the confidence from that premise -- I guess there's a couple parts to your question. I would say that the larger confidence for our approach to Cuba is that -- is a belief in the Cuban people and in an understanding that they do have the ability to shape their future. Not to repeat myself, but this is something that we've seen in other places.

As for the specific initiatives, I don't think any of us are naive about the nature of the regime. I mean, it blocks Internet access now; it restricts various other opportunities for Cubans. But fundamentally, we think it's important to continue to remind Cubans that there are these opportunities out there. We want to try to get them access to the Internet, get them access to the world; and that the regime is what stands in their way, and one would, frankly, hope that the regime would step out of the way, so that the Cuban people can enjoy these benefits.

Q And just to follow, picking up on one of Mark's questions from earlier, is this all sort of framed around the working assumption that when Castro dies that will then trigger this transition and perhaps this movement by the Cuban people, or is it more complicated than that, that perhaps the current regime could simply continue on?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, I think that the analysis by a lot of people is, is that upon the death of Fidel Castro it will be a unique moment in modern Cuban history, because for nearly 50 years, that has not been a -- he's been a constant presence. I don't think anyone has premised that somehow he's here today, gone tomorrow, and, voila, the world or Cuba necessarily changes, but no one is discounting that. I mean, we don't know what happens the day after in this instance. I don't think Cubans know; whether the Cubans are in the top tier of the regime right now or, frankly, an ordinary Cuban in the eastern end of the island who's just trying to survive. It will be a unique moment.

Again, to go back to the speech, the President will note that now is the time to stand with the Cuban people. So it's not premised on, oh, yeah, we're all waiting and maybe when Fidel -- or when Fidel goes, that's the time to stand with the Cuban people. That's not the case. But there will be a different reality, not to sound like a -- I'm giving a cliche, but there's going to be a different and potentially dramatically different reality at that moment in Cuban history.

Q Okay, thank you.

Q Hi, I just have a question about the call for Congress to keep the economic sanctions in place, and I'm wondering if this is partly fueled by worries that the President has that they may weaken the sanctions, especially in 2009 when there's a new President and potentially a different climate in Congress?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: This is driven by a reiteration that if you trade or engage in activity and economic activity in Cuba today, your partner is the regime; and to remind the listeners that, one, U.S. policy is premised on getting assistance and support directly to the people, not bolstering this repressive apparatus that is the Castro regime. And it is just a reminder that part of our support and solidarity with the Cuban people is this continuing effort to deny resources to the dictatorship.

And I would say as far as the changes in Congress, we have seen a change this past year -- amendments being voted down; the President's request for $45 million in Cuban democracy assistance being approved on a bipartisan basis by both chambers. So I'm not going to speculate what kind of Congress is going to come out the elections of November in 2008 and what may -- a new President may confront in 2009. A new President may confront a Congress, frankly, that is solid in support of a strong U.S. position in Cuba, including maintaining the embargo. Clearly that's what this President would like to see. But right now he's just talking about, this is an important element of what we need to do -- we, the United States, need to do -- is maintain the embargo on the dictatorship as a way of standing with the Cuban people.

Q And one follow-up to that. Some analysts view Ra l Castro as somebody who will allow at least gradual change in the way Cuba is governed, and I'm just wondering, do you have any hope at all that he would be any better than his brother if he takes over permanently?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: There's nothing in Ra l's past that suggests anything good coming to Cuba, but separate -- I'll park that. But the key for this President is fundamental democratic change. If the regime were serious about that they could do that -- they could take a number of steps today that would be dramatic in showing that there's going to be a new Cuba. And so I'm not going to get into speculation any more than what I've already put out there, but the fact of the matter is, is that within the hemisphere we know what democracy is; it's been a hard-fought battle over 30 years to move a number of countries -- and when I say "move," it's been a number -- the citizens of those countries to move their governmental structure to one that respects their rights and gives them an opportunity to change their leadership through peaceful processes. And for the hemisphere that's been enshrined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter, that should be the standard that we apply to Cuba.

MR. JOHNDROE: We've got time for one more. It's getting late.

Q Two quick ones. You've mentioned that trade and investment in Cuba bolsters this oppressive apparatus, it serves to enrich Cuban leaders. Are you asking -- is the President going to be asking countries to reconsider their trade and investment in Cuba, and join the embargo in any capacity?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: What we are asking countries to do is to stand with the Cuban people, to do so now; that there are some things they can do that are very practical in terms of -- practical steps they can take through their presence on the island. They can define that in any number of ways. We also are going to ask them to work with us, with this Freedom Fund for Cuba. The idea is to work with us in a sense of kind of how are we prepared to help the Cuban people transition to democracy.

So a lot of this is going to be -- a lot of this is simply going to be that countries can decide how they define this. There's already -- the European Union has a common position, for example. Some Latin governments have at least spoken out about the situation of human rights in Cuba. So in no way is the President trying to say, here, you have to do this, you have to do that. In a way it's an appeal to their conscience, in some ways. That's one reason we're going through and saying, this is the reality -- this is the brutal reality of today's Cuba. This isn't something that just happened in the early '60s, in the early days of the revolution, this is what continues to this day. And it is a function and a result of the regime that's in place there. That's the key.

Q Okay. Then on the international fund, who would control this? When would it start spending money? Do you have a dollar goal for the amount you hope to gather?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: At this point, those are things that we would want, in terms of its operation -- again, that's something we want to discuss. This isn't the idea that the President says, oh, here, let me wave my hand and here's a structure, and it's going to have a board of directors and it's going to have this and that. It is a case in which we want to get the international community proactively thinking about how we can help the Cuban people. We all know that Cuba is going to face very significant requirements to rebuild itself, just across the board, whether it's infrastructure types, whether it's housing, whether it's electrical grids. There's a whole set of dynamics that Cuba -- a whole set of challenges that Cuba is going to face. The United States clearly will want to help the Cubans as they define what it is they need.

But we think that the international community should be thinking that way, as well. And in terms of, okay, the Cubans want assistance, what is it that we would be prepared to move forward on, how do we do this in a way where we are not tripping over each other, potentially -- and the mechanism or the threshold at which we think that this kind of assistance needs to move forward again is when there is a transition government in place that has shown by word and deed that it is following through on fundamental freedoms.

Q Okay, and one final one. Is the President planning to lift the restrictions on Cuban Americans going to Cuba?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: No. What I gave you is -- when I went through the speech, that's what was --

Q The complete list.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: -- what was in there. Yes. I wasn't -- at Gordon's urging here, I wasn't holding something back. So you all can thank Gordon for that.

MR. JOHNDROE: All right, well, that's a good note to end it one. Senior administration official, thank you for your time. Members of the press, thank you all for your time and a late phone call. And that will do it. Thanks.

END 6:55 P.M. EDT

EL PRESIDENTE BUSH RECHAZA A LOS ASESINOS CASTRO...Pide por la libertad completa de Cuba

2007-10-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

El Persidente George Bush reafirma su compromiso de no aceptar a Raúl Castro como sucesor de su hermano en Cuba.

''La visión que tengo para la región incluye una Cuba libre y democrática'', aseveró el Presidente.

''El largo mandato de un dictador cruel está a punto de culminar, y mientras Cuba se acerca a la transición, los líderes del hemisferio deben insistir en que exista libertad de expresión y de asamblea, en que sean liberados los presos cubanos, y todos tenemos que insistir en que se realicen elecciones libres'', explicó Bush.

Antes de su intervención en el evento auspiciado por la Cámara de Comercio del Gran Miami y el Centro de Política Hemisférica de la Universidad de Miami (UM), Bush se reunió con un grupo de líderes del exilio cubano en Miami.

A la reunión, que la Casa Blanca sólo confirmó al último momento, asistieron el comentarista radial Armando Pérez Roura, el presidente de Unidad Cubana; Javier de Céspedes, el presidente del Directorio Cubano; el ex representante estatal Gastón Cantens; los miembros del Cuban Democracy PAC Remedio Díaz-Oliver, Gus Machado, Mauricio Claver-Carone y César Conde, así como Ninoska Pérez Castellón, la directora del Cuba Liberty Council.

Según los asistentes, la reunión --que tuvo lugar en el Hotel Radisson Miami del downtown-- al igual que el discurso presidencial, se enfocó en el intercambio de temas como las próximas elecciones en Cuba, la situación de los presos políticos y de conciencia, y el estado de los derechos humanos en la isla.

''El mensaje del presidente Bush fue muy alentador para los que apoyamos la resistencia cívica interna de Cuba'', expresó De Céspedes. ``El Presidente expresó nuevamente su apoyo a una Cuba democrática, pluralista, donde se puedan llevar a cabo elecciones verdaderamente libres''.

Pérez Castellón afirmó que se sentía ''satisfecha'' con la reunión.

''El Presidente reiteró que Raúl Castro nunca será aceptado por los Estados Unidos porque es una continuación de la misma dictadura'', acotó la activista.

Al encuentro también asistieron los representantes Mario y Lincoln Díaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen y el senador por la Florida Mel Martínez.

''Fue una conversación muy franca'', señaló Mario Díaz-Balart.

Ros-Lehtinen comentó que pidió al Presidente que le otorgue la medalla presidencial al disidente cubano Oscar Elías Biscet, quien se encuentra preso en Cuba

Mientras el Presidente Bush hace declaraciones en la ONU, los verdugos de la dictadura salen corriendo de la sala de la ONU como RATAS al no querer escuchar LA VERDAD

2007-09-25T18:52:00.001-07:00

El Presidente Bush Se Dirige a la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas

En Cuba, el largo gobierno de un dictador cruel está llegando a su fin. El pueblo cubano está listo para su libertad. Y al entrar la nación a un periodo de transición, Naciones Unidas debe insistir en la libre expresión, libre asamblea y finalmente, elecciones libres y competitivas.

***ADONDE SE VAN A ESCONDER LOS COMPLICES DE LA TIRANIA CUANDO LLEQUE LA JUSTICIA Y EL ORDEN??

2007-09-25T18:47:00.001-07:00

President Bush Addresses The United Nations General Assembly

In Cuba, the long rule of a cruel dictator is nearing its end. The Cuban people are ready for their freedom. And as that nation enters a period of transition, the United Nations must insist on free speech, free assembly, and ultimately, free and competitive elections.

Cubanology, "A Cuban-American and Patriotism in America"

2007-09-24T04:50:00.001-07:00

"A Cuban-American and Patriotism in America"

By José Reyes 9/5/2007

I am a Cuban-American which simply means that I was born in Cuba and I was raised here in America. Cuban-Americans are mostly concentrated in Florida but could be found throughout this great nation and in every single state. We love Cuba and we are very proud of our beloved and besieged country of birth but we admire the United States of America just as much and "That's a Fact Jack". We protect and defend this country to the end, after all, it was America that accepted, with open arms, "all" Cubans who fled Cuba when Fidel took over in 1959. This humanitarian act was unjustly discontinued in 1994, when ex-president Clinton decided to illegally change the status of Cubans fleeing Cuba from Refugee to Migrant, although Cuba's unelected leaders were still in power then and still are, right now. I love this country and will protect it with all I my might, but there is growing concern that has been constantly bothering me since 1992, yeah that's right again, when Bill Clinton came into power. This is when the emphasis of belonging to either two particular "groups", Conservative or Liberal, became necessary to observe and/or judge a person or a political party. Americans, which includes all Cuban-Americans, began to split up into 2 groups, Conservatives and Liberals. The new Clinton presidential atmosphere at the white house was about youthfulness and change, starting with the song played when the final results came in and Clinton and Gore came up on stage, it was that corny Fleetwood Mac song, "Don't Stop". On the other hand, representing the Republican party, you had a stubborn George Bush who was close to the edge of becoming a tyrant, so this made it much easier to vote Clinton's way. Clinton found the right tactic and was able to win, but it wasn't because he was loved by the American people, that's for sure. Clinton then proceeded to split the country in two, where one was forced to, by public opinion to think as a liberal or as a conservative. This was the main goal and the main objective of the Clinton camp right from the very beginning and was probably planned for many years before he even became a candidate. Clinton was the one who initiated this separation and has created a big problem and an enormous concern in the Patriotism department in America. The Conservative image makers are as much to blame, for they fell into the tender trap constructed by the Clinton Party. Although it was a big mistake by the Republican party, I think it was done in a defensive and protective manner, but contributed in the separation of the people. The exact thing happened with the US media, for this was their big chance to obtain more control of their misinformation network of reporting. Now, what is the result of Liberal and conservative thinking and what about those who do not want to be identified with either group? Before I continue, to clear things up for those who are not sure of Conservative thinking and Liberal thinking, I have the dictionary definitions and description of both here "in general" (Online TheFreeDictionary.com):
A Liberal:
adj.
1.
a. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
b. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.
c. Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism.
d. Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.
2.
a. Tending to give freely; generous: a liberal benefactor.
b. Generous in amount; ample: a liberal serving of potatoes.
3. Not strict or literal; loose or approximate: a liberal translation.
4. Of, relating to, or based on the traditional arts and sciences of a college or university curriculum: a liberal education.
5.
a. Archaic Permissible or appropriate for a person of free birth; befitting a lady or gentleman.
b. Obsolete Morally unrestrained; licentious.
n.
1. A person with liberal ideas or opinions.
2. Liberal A member of a Liberal political party.
A Conservative:
adj.
1. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
2. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit.
3. Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate.
4.
a. Of or relating to the political philosophy of conservatism.
b. Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement.
5. Conservative Of or belonging to the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.
6. Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism.
7. Tending to conserve; preservative: the conservative use of natural resources.
n.
1. One favoring traditional views and values.
2. A supporter of political conservatism.
3. Conservative A member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.
4. Archaic A preservative agent or principle.

So now that you have read the definitions provided here, where do you stand? Are you a Conservative or a Liberal? Tough isn't it? I say 90% percent of you agree partially or completely with both, but I feel because of the political situation that has been placed upon us by Mr. Bill Clinton, we are forced to choose from one or the other. I personally have chosen the Conservative ideals and for several reasons which I will explain later, but I am in favor of all the liberal ideals also because both of these ways of thinking add up to one thing, that is a DEMOCRACY. These ideals were split by Mr. Bill Clinton and the leftist media in this country. Mr. Clinton and the media's constant admiration with communist ideals enforced by the iconic communist leaders they marvel has placed all American with a crazy predicament. Well, conservative or liberal, I agree with both as you know, so how would I choose and vote for a leader in an election here in America, a leader that will preserve and defend "Democracy", a man or Woman that will be voted by the people and will be for the people. Take a look at all the candidates who are running for president, Republican and/or Democrat and choose which one will preserve and defend democracy in America to its fullest. I personally have decided, hands down, I will take "any" Republican in a heartbeat and I will "show" you why. I will show you the two sides and then you choose. I say 90% of you will choose the Conservative side after close analysis. Here is a link I created on my website that support Republicans: Conservative Websites Listing

Democratic Candidates:

Republican Candidates:

Here are some Liberal (Commie) Websites which support Democrats:
Left Turn Truthout.org Democrats.com Thecrisispapers.org TheNation.com Common Dreams.org Bear-Left.com

Now where do you stand? As an American citizen I hate anybody who is a liberal in the times we live in. They do not fall under the real definition listed above of what liberals is suppose to think like. For a matter of fact, they are anti-American and fall under the category of Communism in my book. These so-called Liberal websites are the strongest supporters of the Democrat party and are connected with several communist websites here in America and Communist ruled governments around the world. As you can see, the so-called liberal websites are more concern with degrading this country, they do not have any solutions in their criticism, all they do in a very negative way, is discriminate their fellow so-called brothers and sisters. They concentrate on problems in America that are very evident to everybody and connect it to the Republican party, like they are solely responsible for "all" the problems here. Meanwhile they have no concrete support or examples to support their arguments. If you read the Conservative websites you get more of a feel of the truth, although they might sometimes exaggerate a little to get their point across, they still at least supply the reader with plenty of evidence and examples to support their argument. As I work myself back to Mr. Clinton, who started this separation of Democracy, the true liberal is still in the Conservative thinker, the liberal the Bill Clinton administration created is a politically correct, anti-American communist. So for all you true liberals out there, try to disassociate yourselves from these phonies. Coming soon on November 2008, the wife of Mr. Bill Clinton, Hillary, will be competing for president of these United States of America, all indications show her in front and unless something drastic happens, she will be nominated for Presidency. Vote as a true American, as a true Liberal, forget about the term Conservative, although you agree with the thinking process of one and vote for Democracy! Speaking as a true American and as true Patriot, vote Republican, your kids will have a better future. Speaking as a true patriot of America and a true Cuban Patriot with plenty of experience in communist tactics, vote Republican or don't vote at all, you will regret it in the future.

Reports: Castro’s Health Deteriorating - THE TYRANT's END IS NEAR- THE CUBAN PEOPLE CELEBRATE

2007-08-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

Reports: Castro’s Health Deteriorating
NEWSMAX 8/20/07
Two reputable Spanish-language newspapers are reporting that Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s already precarious health has taken a turn for the worse.

The Madrid paper Hechos De Hoy and the Mexican newspaper Reforma both say Castro can no longer eat solid food and is hooked up to an IV after recent emergency surgery.

Reforma also reported that Castro has lost a great deal of weight and does not want to walk or receive visitors.

Several other developments seem to confirm that Castro is severely ailing:

Castro did not appear in public on his 81st birthday, on Aug. 13, and there were no major celebrations to mark the event. He has not appeared in public for over a year.
Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage telephoned Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s talk show on Sunday, Aug. 5, to fill in for Castro, who usually phones. Lage did not explain why Castro did not call, the Miami Herald reported.
Cuban dissidents say that Internet access has been curtailed for the very few Cubans who have it — mostly trusted “journalists” who work for the regime’s official publications. Their correspondence is now routed through one government-monitored Web portal.
The Spanish news agency EFE quoted Mariela Castro — daughter of Fidel’s brother Raul and a Castro family spokesperson — as saying: “The concern that we all had about losing our leader is now closer to us.”
She also reportedly said: “For the first time, the people are taking stock of [Fidel’s] process of aging, the process that the revolution has to continue without him, be it with my father or with other leaders who will come.”

POR FIN LIBRE...LA LIBERTAD DE CUBA SE ACERCA MAS CADA DIA

2007-08-10T16:53:00.000-07:00

LA TIRANIA CASTRISTA YA VE SU FINAL...Y NO ES MUY BONITO PARA ELLOS...ADONDE SE VAN A ESCONDER LOS GANGSTERS castristas??? ADONDE SEA, LA JUSTICIA DE CUBA LIBRE LOS ENCONTRARA

LOS QUE MUY PRONTO COLGARAN DE UN ARBOL HABANERO

2007-07-29T05:41:00.001-07:00

Juan Almeida, Ramiro Valdes, Guillermo Garcia y Raúl castro
??A DONDE SE TRATARAN DE ESCONDER ESTOS ANCIANOS ASESINOS??...EL PROCURADOR DE UNA CUBA INDEPENDIENTE Y DEMOCRATICA LOS BUSCARA EN EUROPA, EN LATINO AMERICA, EN CHINA, ADONDE SEA, HASTA QUE SEAN PROCESADOS POR LOS TRIBUNALES DE LAS JUSTICIA....ESO ES...SI ESCAPAN LA JUSTICIA DEL PUEBLO....ni musulini, ni czauzcescu lo lograron...ojala que ellos tampoco....QUE EGOISTAS SON...SABIENDO QUE ELLOS ALARGAN LA TRAGEDIA PARA TENER MAS TIEMPO...PERO EMPEORAN LA SITUACION PARA LOS QUE DEJARAN ATRAS...SU HIJOS, NIETOS Y SEQUIDORES DE LA ELITE QUE QUEDARAN MINIMAMENTE ESTIGMISADOS CON ESTAR RELACIONADOS CON LOS ASESINOS........SERA MUY DIFICIL PARA ELLOS...Y SUS RIQUESAS??....LAS PERDERAN...QUEDARAN AMBULANDO POR LAS CALLES HABANERAS COMO LOS LEPROSOS DE LOS TIEMPOS BIBLICOS...PERO LA NUEVA CUBA, DEMOCRATICA Y JUSTA, LES DARA A AQUELLOS QUE NO HAYAN COMETIDOS ATROCIDADES, O FOMENTADO ESTAS, LA OPORTUNIDAD DE SER LIBRES.......DIOS, patria y libertad!!!!!!!!!

LOS QUE MUY PRONTO COLGARAN DE UN ARBOL HABANERO

2007-07-28T06:51:00.000-07:00

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT: The Sinking of the "13 De Marzo" Tugboat on 13 July 1994

2007-07-14T06:08:00.000-07:00

Amnesty International

Report - AMR 25/13/97
July 1997

Cuba
The Sinking of the "13 De Marzo" Tugboat on 13 July 1994

On 13 July 1994 at least 35 men, women and children were lost at sea when the vessel on which they and others were attempting to flee Cuba sank some seven miles out from Havana. The 31 survivors were eventually picked up by coast guards and taken to shore where the 20 male survivors were detained. Several of the survivors allege that their vessel sank after it had been pursued and assaulted by three other vessels, apparently acting under official instructions, and that those on board were given no opportunity to surrender. The Cuban Government denied any responsibility for the sinking of the tugboat or for the loss of life, alleging that it was an accident caused by the irresponsible actions of those on board. However, Amnesty International has received compelling evidence, including eyewitness testimony from several of the survivors, indicating that those on board the three pursuing vessels employed excessive force disproportionate to the actual situation and seemed to be taking orders from a fourth vessel. They allege that their pursuers deliberately rammed the “13 de Marzo” and undertook other aggressive actions which deliberately put at risk the lives of those on board, none of whom, from the information so far available, even from government sources, were armed or in a position to seriously resist capture. If this was the case, Amnesty International believes that those who perished in the incident were the victims of extrajudicial execution.

On 21 July 1994 Amnesty International called on the Cuban authorities to conduct a full and impartial investigation into the incident and to make the findings public, and that if the investigation revealed that any government official or agent acting on their behalf committed an offence, to bring them to justice and to give them a fair trial. It also called for the release of any survivors detained as a result of the incident unless they were charged with a recognized criminal offence and urged that no reprisals be taken against those who spoke out about what happened. Since then, despite calls to do so from human rights defenders inside Cuba and international human rights bodies, the Cuban authorities have not only failed to carry out an adequate investigation of the incident but have also continued to harass and intimidate those inside Cuba who have sought to peacefully protest the sinking of the “13 de Marzo” or commemorate the lives of those who died.

Context

It is important to describe the context in which the sinking of the “13 de Marzo” took place. In order to leave the country, either to emigrate or simply to travel and return to Cuba, Cuban citizens have to obtain an official exit permit. Those who seek permission to emigrate have to be in possession of a visa for another country and fulfill a series of other requirements, including the payment of certain fees. In practice, it is very difficult for most Cubans to meet such conditions. Many resort to trying to leave by illegal means, usually by sea, often floating on homemade rafts or inner tubes of tyres. Over the years many people have reportedly perished trying to make the 90-mile crossing to the United States over the Straits of Florida. Sometimes, even if those wishing to emigrate have fulfilled the necessary conditions, the authorities arbitrarily refuse to let them leave or give permission to some family members and not others. Being caught trying to leave illegally is punishable by imprisonment or a fine but if violence is employed, a more serious charge of “piracy” can be brought.

The desire to emigrate is in itself seen by the Cuban authorities as tantamount to a rejection of the Cuban political systemSee footnote 1 and those who seek to do so are often labelled as “counter-revolutionaries” or “traitors”. In the two or three years leading up to the sinking of the “13 de Marzo”, when economic conditions in Cuba had seriously deteriorated, there had been a significant increase in the number of Cubans attempting to leave Cuba by sea to try to reach the United States which had until that time had a policy of permitting those Cubans who reached its territory to remain in the USA. At the same time, despite having agreed in 1984 to accept up to 20,000 Cubans who sought to emigrate by legal means, the US authorities had in practice reduced the number of visas it granted to Cubans. The Cuban Government therefore claimed that, by withholding visas, the US authorities were encouraging Cubans to resort to illegal means to leave. They also accused them of inciting such action via radio and television broadcasts directed at Cuba by the US government- funded Radio and TV Martí. Given the traditional hostility that has existed between the Cuban and US Governments since the Cuban revolution in 1959 which brought President Fidel Castro Ruz to power, the argument over Cuban migration in effect became yet another political battleground between the two countries with those who were seeking to leave Cuba caught as pawns in the middle.

The sinking of the “13 de Marzo” increased the general level of discontent that clearly already existed in Havana at the time and sparked off further escape attempts as well as anti-government protests. In the days that followed, the Cuban authorities apparently took a conscious decision to cease preventing illegal departures and the numbers of people trying to leave Cuba illegally by sea soared. In some instances, large groups of people tried to hi-jack public ferries and other vessels, in some cases by violent means. On 19 August 1994, in response to the exodus that ensued, the US Government ordered the US Coast Guard to prevent undocumented Cubans from reaching US territorial waters. As a result, between 19 August and mid-September 1994, some 32,000 Cubans were intercepted by the US Coast Guard and taken to the US naval base at Guantánamo Bay, CubaSee footnote 2. On 9 September 1994, the two governments announced that they had come to an agreement on how to deal with migration issues for the future. As part of the agreement, the Cuban authorities said it would take “effective measures in every way it can to prevent unsafe departures, using mainly persuasive methods”. For further information, see “United States/Cuba: “Rafters” - Pawns of Two Governments”, AMR 51/86/94, October 1994.

It is important to note that the escape attempt by those on board the “13 de Marzo” took place at a point when the Cuban authorities were actively seeking to deter and prevent such illegal departures. It is also relevant to point out that it is not the first time, either before or since, that Amnesty International has received reports of apparently excessive force being used by the Cuban authorities to prevent illegal departures by sea where the lives of unarmed civilians, often women and children, appear to have been put at risk.

Accounts by survivors

[Victims: Estrella Suárez Esquivel, Miralis Fernández Rodríguez and 12-year-old Eliecer Suárez García ]

According to an account compiled by an unofficial Cuban human rights group on the basis of interviews carried out with some of the survivors on the day after the sinking of the “13 de Marzo” took place, events took place as follows:

"The boat left [the port of Havana] at about 3.00am. About 45 minutes later, having advanced nearly seven miles out to sea, they were intercepted by another Japanese-made tugboat which started to ram them in order to make them capsize. Another tugboat soon appeared and, taking over from the first one, continued doing the same thing. All [the passengers] were trapped between these two boats, which then began to direct water at them with high-pressure hoses.The force of this tore the clothes off the women, knocked them down, and forced the children out of their arms.

"The mothers screamed and implored the attackers to stop directing the water hoses at them because they might cause the young ones to drown. The perpetrators continued using the hoses against the citizens, including the children, trying to drown them by suffocation. Many of the men, women and children on board were injured by the pressure of the water which threw them against the bulwarks of the boat. Seconds later, a third tugboat appeared and attacked forcefully from behind, splitting the boat in two since it was an old Second World war boat which had been repaired and was called “13 de Marzo”.

"All those on board were submerged in the water including those who had taken refuge in the engine room where they were trying to hang on to poles, ropes and whatever they could find. After nearly an hour of battling in the open sea, the other boats circled round the survivors, creating a whirlpool so that they would drown. As a result many disappeared into the sea and lost their lives."

[Victims: Julia Caridad Ruiz with three-year-old son, Angel René Abreu ]

The following are extracts from the testimony of survivor Janette Hernández Gutiérrez, now living in the USA, which was provided to an unofficial human rights group in Cuba in the days immediately after the incident occurred:

"As we were leaving the bay, we saw two tugboats at the mouth of the bay. As we left, they also left and started directing jets of water at us. Constantly. They would not stop, even though they knew there were children on board... the pressurized water jets were really powerful. We were holding the children, afraid that they would fall. The men were standing behind us, afraid that we would fall. But so that they would see that there were women and children on board, we had to go out on deck, so that they would be certain of that and would not commit murder ... At no time did they shoot at us neither did they at any time order us to halt with the loudspeaker. They simply let us leave the bay and attacked us seven miles out where there are no witnesses... They sent one of the tugboats, the biggest one, which was green with a red line along it, behind us and it hit us from the stern and broke our boat in half ... When that happened the boat started to drift because the captain... was forced into the sea from the pressure of the water jets.... he disappeared just like that and when Raúl saw that we were drifting, he assumed responsibility and ran upstairs..... By then we knew we were going to sink, it was something I just knew, I had a feeling they were going to kill us because otherwise they would have stopped . Raúl stopped the engine... and when they saw that Raúl had stopped it, they did not forgive that or respect what Raúl did. They sank us in the following way: the tugboat which had split our stern went ahead and split us from the prow. That meant there was no way to keep the tugboat afloat, it was sinking, because the weight was all in the middle... But they did not throw us lifebelts or try to help us in any way... Then a "griffin" [coastguard vessel] arrived, it was the only one which helped us by throwing us lifebelts but the tugboats stood by doing nothing, they did not help at all. Later a small speedboat arrived and picked up about seven people..."

[Victims: Omar Rodríguez Suárez with two-year-old daughter Sixdy Rodríguez Fernández ]

Amnesty International has received similar accounts from interviews it has carried out with other survivors who were eventually able to leave Cuba during the August 1994 exodus (see above). In September 1994, an Amnesty International delegation visited the US Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, CubaSee footnote 3, where thousands of Cubans were in detention after being picked up by the US Coast Guard while trying to reach the USA by sea. One of the men interviewed by the delegation was one of about five people in the camps said to be among the 31 survivors of the sinking of the "13 de Marzo" and who had subsequently again tried to flee from Cuba. According to his account of events on 13 July 1994, the “13 de Marzo” had already been detected by the authorities as it was leaving the port of Havana and three vessels, all also tugboats, started to pursue it straightaway. However, they were able to continue into open sea. The first pursuing vessel began to direct jets of water at them. Then two of the pursuing tugboats deliberately rammed the “13 de Marzo” while the third, despite their protestations that there were women and children on board, continued to persistently direct jets of water into the hold. Once the “13 de Marzo” started sinking, the other three boats backed off but did not immediately attempt to rescue those on board. He himself was by this time in the water. At a certain point he got the impression that orders were given to pick them up. He was picked up by what he described as the "least aggressive" of the three vessels. He said that those on board the three attacking vessels were dressed in civilian clothes but he did not believe, as the Cuban authorities alleged, that they were ordinary dockworkers, especially as several of the crew of one boat appeared to be suffering from seasickness. He was arrested, along with the other male survivors, and held at Villa Marista for 13 days before being released into house arrest. At the time he left Cuba, another detainee, Raúl Muñoz García, was still in detention accused of being in charge of the tugboat and organizer of the escape attempt. However, he said that in fact Raúl Muñoz was only second-in-command and that the man in chargeSee footnote 4 had drowned. Raúl Muñoz was reportedly released into house arrest after eight months in detention but is said to have been subjected to police surveillance and harassment ever since.

[Victim: eleven-year-old Yousel Pérez Tacaronte ]

Another survivor interviewed by Amnesty International in the USA in May 1996, Sergio Perodin Pérez, said that their departure was detected by the port authorities as they were leaving the port and that passers by on shore had also noticed what was happening. However, the “13 de Marzo” was allowed to continue on its way for about seven miles. He pointed out that one of the effects of everything inside the tugboat being drenched with water from the pressurized water jets was that their communications equipment no longer worked and they were unable to call for help. In fact, he believes, from information that he and other survivors were able to obtain from various sources, including people working in the Port of Havana, after the incident took place, that the authorities had found out about the escape attempt some time beforehand and were lying in wait for them. At no point did the pursuing vessels warn those on board what they were going to do or give them any opportunity to give themselves up. When a foreign cargo boat came within some 800 metres of where the “13 de Marzo” was sinking, the vessels which were attacking it temporarily suspended their activities. After he and some 40 other people had been forced into the water, the three attacking tugboats surrounded them, causing a whirlpool. At one point, he said he heard one of the occupants of the attacking vessels say, “Let's see what you are going to do now, you sons of whores”. A coastguard vessel which had followed the “13 de Marzo” and the other three tugboats out of the port, and which appeared to be directing operations by radio, eventually picked him and others up. However, rather than taking them straight to shore for medical attention, the boat continued sailing around for some six hours until it was given the order to go to Jaimanitas on the western outskirts of Havana, where they were received by 50-60 Interior Ministry officials. The survivors, who were brought to land on two or three different vessels, were desperate to know what had happened to the others who were on board the “13 de Marzo”. When they asked the authorities who else had survived, they were simply told that if they could not see them, then the sharks had eaten them. The women and children were allowed to go home later that day but the men were handcuffed and questioned until evening when they were transferred to the State Security headquarters at Villa Marista in Havana. For the first two days, they were not allowed to sleep much and had to sleep on the floor but once the women survivors started speaking out about what had happened, their treatment improved. He said that the authorities tried by various means to persuade them to change their story. In his case, a psychologist was brought in to work with him. Another of the survivors was reportedly offered a job working with State Security outside of Cuba which he refused to do.

Among the 20 male survivors arrested were: Raúl Muñoz García, Sergio Perodin Pérez, Modesto Almanza Romero, Daniel González Hernández, Juan Gustavo Martínez Gutiérrez, José Fabian Valdés, Arquimides Ledreijo Gamboa, Román Lugo Martínez, Fidel González, Eugenio Fuentes Díaz, Ivan Prieto Suárez, Daniel Prieto Suárez and Jorge Luis Cuba Suárez. They were reportedly detained at Villa Marista, with no access to lawyers. All except Raúl Muñoz García, who was detained for eight months (see above), were held for approximately one month before being released into house arrest. It is not clear whether any formal charges were brought against any of them. One female survivor, María Victoria García Suárez, who lost thirteen relatives in the tragedy and who the day afterwards made statements to foreign journalists contradicting the official version, was twice taken into custody for questioning in the days immediately following the incident. She is said to have been severely traumatized by what happened and to have spent some time in the Havana Psychiatric Hospital. She and other survivors who have remained in Cuba have reportedly been kept under police surveillance and been subjected to limitations on their freedom of movement. All have been repeatedly warned not to speak out about what happened to them.

The vessels which attacked the “13 de Marzo” were reportedly identified as belonging to the Ministry of Transport and are called “Polargo 2", “Polargo 3" and “Polargo 5". According to survivors, “Polargo 5" was the vessel which acted most aggressively towards them. The fourth vessel which followed along behind them and which appeared to be directing operations was believed to belong to the Cuban Coast Guard, which is part of the Ministry of the Interior.

The victims

Estimates of the number of victims have varied. Most survivors concur that there were some 70-72 people on board the tugboat when it departed. According to the Cuban Government, 32 people drowned and 31 were rescued. However, an investigation carried out by an independent human rights group inside Cuba found that at least 37 people were missing. So far Amnesty International has received the names of 35 people who were lost at sea. Most came from four areas of Havana - Cotorro, Guanabacoa, Marianao and Arroyo Naranjo. Many were members of the same family.

NAMES OF THOSE WHO DIED

Arroyo Naranjo:

Angel René ABREU Ruiz, 3
Jorge Arquimides LEBRIGIO Flores, 28
Julia Caridad RUIZ Blanco, 35

Cotorro:
Pilar ALMANZA Romero, 30
Yaltamira ANAYA Carrasco, 22
Marta CARRASCO Tamayo, 45
Yuliana ENRIQUEZ Carranza, 23
Sindy RODRIGUEZ Fernández, 2
Manuel GAYOL, 58
Caridad LEYVA Tacoronte, 4
Reinaldo MARRERO, 48
Helen MARTINEZ Enríquez, 6 months
Marjolís MENDEZ Tacoronte, 17
Odalys MUÑOZ García, 21
José Carlos NIKEL Anaya, 3
Leonardo NOTARIO Góngora, 27
Yousel Eugenio PEREZ Tacoronte, 11
Yasse (or Yasser) PERODIN Almanza, 11
Marta Caridad TACORONTE Vega, 33

Guanabacoa:
Ernesto ALFONSO Loureiro, 25
Lissette María ALVAREZ Guerra, 24
Giselle (or Lisette) BORGES Alvarez, 4
Lázaro BORGES Briel, 34
Joel GARCIA Suárez, 24
Armando GONZALEZ Raíz (or Raizes), 50
Augusto Guillermo GUERRA Martínez, 45
Mario GUTIERREZ, 35
Elio Juan GUTIERREZ García, 10
Fidelio Ramel PRIETO Hernández, 50

Marianao:
Miralis FERNANDEZ Rodríguez, 27
Eduardo SUAREZ Esquivel, 35
Eliecer SUAREZ García, 11
Estrella SUAREZ Esquivel, 45
Yolindis RODRIGUEZ Rivero, 2
Omar RODRIGUEZ Suárez, 30

Government version of events

Conflicting reports of the incident appeared in the Cuban media, which are entirely state- controlled, some alleging that the “13 de Marzo” sank simply because it was very old and not seaworthy and others saying that it sank because it had accidentally collided with the pursuing vessels. On 14 July 1994, the day after the tragedy, Granma, the official Communist Party newspaper, in an article entitled “Capsized Tugboat robbed by Anti-Social Elements” described what happened as an “irresponsible act of piracy promoted and stimulated by counter-revolutionary radio stations, the most reactionary elements of the [Cuban exile] nest of maggots in Miami, and by the well-known failure of the United States to abide by migration agreements”. On 16 July 1994 it published a note from the Ministry of the Interior saying that the appropriate authorities had investigated circumstances surrounding the sinking of the tugboat and found that it had taken place as a result of a collision between the “13 de Marzo” and another tugboat which was attempting to catch up with it. It said that those involved in the escape plan had known that the “13 de Marzo” had been leaking before its departure and that they had behaved irresponsibly by going ahead anyway. It admitted that the manoeuvres of the three vessels belonging to the Ministry of Transport in trying to intercept it and prevent its highjacking had provoked “the unfortunate accident” but said that two coast guard units on patrol nearby immediately rushed to the aid of the people on board and that the three Transport Ministry vessels also joined in the rescue effort. It said that, given the conditions of navigation and the force of the currents (Force 3) in the early hours of the morning, only 31 people were rescued alive. The rest of the persons belonging to the group had been lost at sea and the principal leader was being detained.

An article published in Granma on 23 July 1994 alleged that Fidencio Ramel Prieto Ramos, said to be the organizer of the escape attempt, who was on duty as operations officer of the Havana port authority, stole the “13 de Marzo” after knocking out the night watchman with a drug which he had put in his drink. It claimed that the boat, which was made of wood, had been built in 1879, that it was known to leak and that too many people were on board. It then went on to cite statements supporting the official version of events allegedly made by four of the male survivors, who were at the time still in detention without access to lawyers. From its interviews with two of the male survivors (see above), Amnesty International believes that there is reason to believe that these statements were made under duress. In one of the statements, said to have been made by Raúl Múñoz García [see above], he admitted trying to ram one of the pursuing tugboats early on in the chase. All four appeared to admit that it was irresponsible of them to have attempted to undertake the journey in the first place in such a vessel.

he Cuban authorities have never made public any further information relating to the circumstances of the sinking of the “13 de Marzo”. According to unofficial sources, a very limited police investigation may have taken place but was reportedly filed in the Havana prosecutor's office, Fiscalía Provincial de la Ciudad de la Habana. In response to requests by family members and lawyers, the prosecutor's office reportedly responded in mid-1995 that there were no plans to initiate legal proceedings in connection with the sinking of the “13 de Marzo”. Relatives of the victims were also told by the authorities that it had not been possible to locate and recover the bodies of the victims or the boat itself. It is not clear whether any concerted effort was made by the authorities to do so. However, from unconfirmed reports some survivors have received from people who were involved in the rescue, they believe that some of the bodies may have been located and disposed of or hidden by the authorities.

Calls for investigation from within Cuba

On 19 July 1994, the Archbishop of Havana and President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba, Monsignor Jaime Ortega Alamino, expressed his sorrow for the loss of so many lives and said that “the sinking of the vessel, which was carrying women and children, and the difficulties of the rescue of the survivors do not appear to be in any way accidental. This adds to the sorrow a feeling of astonishment and a need for the facts to be clarified and responsibilities to be established.. What can lead a human being to set off on such risky ventures except a certain degree of desperation or despair? What can lead other human beings to use such unusual force against their brothers other than a violent mentality?”

On 10 July 1995, lawyer René Gómez Manzano, who has faced problems from the authorities on several occasions before and since then because of his political views and his professional activities in defence of political prisonersSee footnote 5, wrote to the Minister of Justice expressing his surprise that over a year after the incident, the courts had not carried out an investigation to determine how it had happened. On 20 July 1995, a group of seven other lawyers, including Dr Leonel Morejón AlmagroSee footnote 6, and two members of the public also sent an open letter to the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General requesting that a criminal investigation be opened into the events surrounding the sinking of the “13 de Marzo”. Both letters questioned in particular why no investigation had been opened under article 184 of the Cuban Penal Code, “Offences committed in the course of Rail, Air and Maritime Traffic” which provides for the punishment of anyone who causes an accident by failing to abide by the relevant laws and regulations. The second letter ended as follows: “... until the suspicious deaths of the innocent are clarified, there will be no light in our country, or in our justice... There is no excuse for silence, silence cannot be forgiven. Nothing justifies crime, even [if it is carried out] in the name of the Revolution. That reminds us of when people have been killed in the name of God... We are waiting for justice to act.” As far as Amnesty International is aware, the authorities did not respond to either of the letters.

International condemnation of the incident

In October 1996 the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States condemned the sinking of the tugboat saying that there was clear evidence that it was not an accident but “a premeditated and intentional act”. It concluded that it constituted a violation of the rights to life, physical integrity, free movement and justice. It recommended that the Cuban Government carry out a full investigation and punish those responsible, compensate the survivors and relatives of the victims, and take steps to recover the bodies and the wreck of the boat.

In 1996, in his report to the 52nd Session of the UN Commission on Human RightsSee footnote 7, the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions stated that he had transmitted allegations concerning the case to the Cuban Government in June 1995 and expressed deep concern that he had not received a reply. He urged that the allegations be properly investigated, the perpetrators brought to justice and the victims' families compensated. The UN Special Rapporteur on Cuba, in his interim report to the UN General Assembly dated 7 October 1996, also expressed serious concern “about the fact that an event of this magnitude, in which 37 people died, has not been investigated”See footnote 8.

Subsequent arrests and other violations relating to the incident

In the days immediately following the tragedy, the authorities attempted to prevent any protest or public demonstration of grief. A mass for the victims had to be cancelled and people wearing black armbands as a sign of mourning were also reportedly detained briefly. Relatives of the victims were also reportedly prevented from throwing flowers into the sea on the grounds that that is only usually done for “martyrs of the Revolution”. On 23 July 1994 Aida Rosa Jiménez of the Movimiento de Madres Cubanas Por la Solidaridad, Movement of Cuban Mothers for Solidarity, which had called on Cuba women to wear black or purple ribbons for three days as a sign of mourning, was arrested at her home and taken to State Security headquarters at Villa Marista. She was reportedly told by officials that it was because of her efforts to encourage people to attend a mass in commemoration of the victims of the tugboat sinking. Seven other human rights activists, Nelson Torres Pulido, Odilia Collazo Valdés, Oscar Gutiérrez, Lázaro Rodríguez, Martha Losada, Horacio Casanova and Nelida Vera Pérez, all members of the unofficial Partido Pro Derechos Humanos en Cuba (PPDHC), Party for Human Rights in Cuba, who were trying to investigate the events, were also detained on 22 July 1994 and held for three days before being released without charge.

In December 1994, a woman who lost her daughter, her brother and two other relatives in the incident made an appeal to international human rights organizations and governments which concluded as follows: “This crime cannot remain unpunished. We who suffered their [the victims'] physical disappearance can only cry and be silent. We keep a vigil by their photos with Rapid Response BrigadesSee footnote 9 standing by. We have been warned not to put at risk the safety of those who survived. Everything is clear, we have to keep quiet. But you who are free to shout to the world that incidents like this should not be repeated must not forget this massacre... We only ask for the remains of our loved ones and that justice is done for this horrendous crime.”

In July 1995, at the time of the first anniversary of the sinking of the "13 de Marzo", an extensive police operation was reportedly carried out in Havana to prevent any commemorative activities from taking place and a number of political and human rights activists were briefly detained. A mass in commemoration of the victims that was scheduled to take place at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was cancelled by the authorities and the church was closed.

On the second anniversary in 1996, the authorities again took action to prevent protests or activities commemorating the sinking of the “13 de Marzo”. On 5 July 1996 Isabel del Pino Sotolongo, president of an unofficial group called Seguidores de Cristo Rey, Followers of Christ the King, was reportedly arrested in a Havana park where she was displaying the photos of the victims of the tugboat sinking and distributing leaflets containing quotes from the Bible. She was released later that day but warned that she was under investigation on several charges. Aida Rosa Jiménez, who was planning to hold a prayer meeting in a church on 13 July 1996, was told that she should pray at home. She was warned that if she tried to go to church that day, she would be arrested.

Conclusions

Given the grave accusations of the survivors, the contradictory official accounts of the incident and the failure of the Cuban authorities to carry out a full and impartial investigation and to make the findings public, as well as the fact that those seeking such an investigation or even simply to commemorate the incident have faced intimidation and harassment, Amnesty International believes that there are serious reasons to doubt the official version of events. While acknowledging that those on board the “13 de Marzo” had committed a crime by stealing the tugboat, there is no evidence to suggest that they were armed or that they were in a position to offer any serious resistance to the pursuing vessels. Indeed, from many of the survivors' accounts, it appears that their pleas to surrender and to be rescued may have been deliberately ignored. Amnesty International has therefore concluded that at the very least the force employed by the pursuing vessels to prevent the departure of the “13 de Marzo” was disproportionate to the nature of the crime, especially taking into account the risk to the lives of those on board the “13 de Marzo” who included women and children. The Cuban authorities have argued that those on board the pursuing vessels were dock workers acting on their own initiative and not government or law enforcement officials. However, several of the survivors have doubted this assertion and have alleged that the whole operation appeared to be coordinated and directed by radio from a coast guard vessel. The Cuban coast guard service falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior. Amnesty International believes that there is sufficient evidence to indicate that it was an official operation and that, if events occurred in the way described by several of the survivors, those who died as a result of the incident were victims of extrajudicial execution.

Recommendations

Amnesty International is therefore making the following recommendations to the Cuban Government:

That a full and impartial investigation into the sinking of the "13 de Marzo" tugboat be carried out immediately, and that the findings be made public.

That such an investigation be carried out in accordance with international standards, including the UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra- Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions.

That anyone identified as being responsible for the loss of life be brought to justice in accordance with international standards for a fair trial.

That the families and dependents of the victims be granted fair and adequate compensation within a reasonable period of time.

That the relatives of the victims be fully informed of what efforts were made to locate the bodies of the victims and, if any were found, what happened to the remains.

That survivors or relatives of the victims be permitted to speak out about what happened without fear of reprisals.

That no further reprisals be taken against anyone who seeks to peacefully protest or commemorate the sinking of the “13 de Marzo”.

That no one should be imprisoned for attempting to leave the country illegally if they have not committed any other recognizable criminal offence.

That strict orders be issued to law enforcement officials and agents acting on their behalf to abide at all times by the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.

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Footnote: 1 The Cuban Constitution declares Cuba to be a socialist state. Only one political party - the Partido Comunista de Cuba (PCC), Cuban Communist Party - is permitted to exist.

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Footnote: 2 The USA maintains the naval base at Guantánamo Bay on the mainland of Cuba under the terms of an agreement reached in 1903 when the country was under US occupation. The lease was renewed in 1934 and although the current Cuban Government, which came to power in 1959, objects to the presence of the base on Cuban territory, it has continued to remain there.

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Footnote: 3 See footnote 2. Amnesty International has been unable to conduct an investigation inside Cuba itself because the Cuban authorities have not permitted the organization to visit the country to carry out research since 1988.

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Footnote: 4 Fidelio Ramel Prieto Hernández, the former head of operations at the Port of Havana as well as a Communist Party official.

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Footnote: 5 See “Cuba: Government Crackdown on Dissent”, AMR 25/14/96, April 1996 See “Cuba: Government Crackdown on Dissent”, AMR 25/14/96, April 1996

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Footnote: 6 Idem.

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Footnote: 7 E/CN.4/1996/4

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Footnote: 8 A/51/460, 7 October 1996

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Footnote: 9 Government-organized groups of Communist Party members, participation of which is supposed to be voluntary, set up with the aim of “defending the country, the Revolution and socialism in all circumstances, by confronting and liquidating any sign of counter-revolution or crime”, wherever it might appear. Amnesty International has received frequent reports of acts of intimidation and even physical violence carried out by such brigades against known dissidents. See “Cuba: Silencing the Voices of Dissent”, AMR 25/26/92, December 1992 for further background. Government-organized groups of Communist Party members, participation of which is supposed to be voluntary, set up with the aim of “defending the country, the Revolution and socialism in all circumstances, by confronting and liquidating any sign of counter-revolution or crime”, wherever it might appear. Amnesty International has received frequent reports of acts of intimidation and even physical violence carried out by such brigades against known dissidents. See “Cuba: Silencing the Voices of Dissent”, AMR 25/26/92, December 1992 for further background.

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AI Index: AMR 25/13/97

Amnesty International July 1997

2007-07-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

LOS ASESINOS CASTRISTAS SERAN JUZGADOS POR ESTA MASACRE

2007-07-14T05:57:00.000-07:00

EL NUEVO MAMBI....CUBA SERA LIBRE

2007-04-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

EL ASESINO DEL PUEBLO CUBANO SE LE ACERCA SU CITA CON el diablo

2007-03-31T04:53:00.000-07:00

LOS PRODUCTOS DE LA CUBA LIBRE, DE LA CUBA DE ANTES DEL ASESINO CASTRO

2007-03-29T14:37:00.001-07:00

MATERVA...QUE FUERA DE CUBA HOY SI FUERA LIBRE, INDEPENDIENTE Y SOBERANA

Cawy

The Cawy Bottling Company was one of the most successful bottlers of soft drinks in Cuba. The company started in 1948, and Cawy Lemon-Lime soda became Cuba's best selling soft drink, even outselling Coca-Cola. With four bottling plants and an efficient distribution network, Cawy was one of the most successful Cuban-owned and run companies. Until 1959, that is, when the communists took over the plants and two of the original partners fled to the United States. In 1964, the company was re-incorporated in the United States.
Cawy Lemon Lime
Cawy re-introduced its flagship product, Cawy Lemon-Lime, a name that brought back good memories for Cuban exiles. Over the years, the company diversified by acquiring several soft drinks that were also popular in Cuba: Materva, Jupiña, and Quinabeer.

Materva is a mate soft drink, produced with herbs imported from South America. The drink was originally produced in Cuba, but was bought out by the competing Cawy Bottling Company of Miami. [1] Materva is very popular among Cubans and other Hispanics in the United States. [2] Some claim that the drink has health benefits, like improving one's immune system or sexual health. [3] [4] There is also a diet brand called Diet Materva.

"La Tropical" Beer

Another great Cuban beer is La Tropical, or Cerveza la Tropical. This beer was first brewed in 1888 by the Blanco Herrera family in Havana.

It was probably Cuba's best selling brand until Castro confiscated it in 1960. Back in the good old days, the La Tropical brewery in Havana was an idyllic spot with a beautiful tropical garden along the banks of the Almendares river. On Sundays, Cubans from all walks of life would gather in the gardens to dance the rumba to live music and drink fresh, cold beer. They also had a professional baseball stadium on the same site.

A couple of years ago, a Cuban-American guy, Manuel Portuondo bought the U. S. trademark and began brewing the beer from the original family recipe.

HATUEY BEER

The Indian in question is Hatuey, a Taino indian chief who headed several rebellions against the Spanish in the early 16th century. The Bacardi Rum Company began brewing this beer at the Santiago Brewery in 1926.Hatuey Sign It, like all of their Cuban holdings was seized by the corrupt Cuban government after the "revolution."

2007-03-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

TU CITA CON EL diablo SE AVESINA

2007-03-25T07:00:00.001-07:00

CINCO MIEMBROS DEL PARTIDO RADICAL ITALIANO PARTICIPARON EL DOMINGO EN MARCHA CON LAS DAMAS DE BLANCO

2007-03-19T14:41:00.001-07:00

LA NUEVA CUBA

EFE
La Habana
Yahoo Noticias Marzo 19, 2007

La Habana, 18 mar (EFE).- Un grupo de cinco miembros del Partido Radical italiano participó hoy en la marcha que realizaron en La Habana las Damas de Blanco, en coincidencia con el cuarto aniversario del inicio de las detenciones de 75 disidentes en 2003.

Más de medio centenar de Damas de Blanco, como se denomina al colectivo de mujeres familiares de los 75, marcharon, como hacen habitualmente todos los domingos, por la Quinta Avenida habanera para reclamar la libertad de los presos, tras asistir a misa a la Iglesia de Santa Rita.

El eurodiputado Marco Cappato, el diputado italiano Maurizio Turco y María Fida Moro, ex diputada e hija del primer ministro italiano Aldo Moro, asesinado en 1978, formaban parte del grupo de la formación italiana, integrado en el Partido Radical Transnacional y No Violento, organización que trabaja con la ONU en la promoción de la democracia y el estado de derecho.

"Hemos venido para manifestar nuestro apoyo esperando que esto pueda servir para que muy pronto se produzca la liberación de todos los presos políticos", indicó Capatto a la prensa, tras asistir a la misa y mostrar una pancarta con el lema "Libertad y No Violencia para Cuba".

El eurodiputado italiano manifestó su esperanza en que "el apoyo de los activistas internacionales pueda facilitar la liberación de esos presos que no han hecho nada malo sino manifestar sus propias opiniones".

Capatto señaló que no espera ninguna reacción del gobierno cubano en respuesta a su presencia en la isla, ya que, según dijo, no son "provocadores" y han participado en la marcha de forma "completamente pacífica".

"Los provocadores son agresivos y violentos y nosotros no somos agresivos ni violentos, entonces espero que nadie vaya a decir nada", indicó.

Las Damas de Blanco agradecieron la presencia de los activistas italianos, que desvelaron que habían decidido venir a Cuba hace algunas semanas sin ponerse en contacto con este colectivo de mujeres y aún no tienen fecha de partida del país.

"No hablamos con nadie para no hacer fracasar el plan, la primera cosa para nosotros es sumarnos para pedir la liberación de los presos políticos, la libertad en la isla y esperamos que esto pueda ser una señal para la comunidad internacional", agregó.

Los 75 fueron condenados en la primavera de 2003 en juicios sumarísimos bajo los cargos de conspirar con Estados Unidos, atentar contra la independencia del Estado y socavar los principios de la revolución.

De ellos, 59 permanecen en prisión y 16 fueron beneficiados con licencias extrapenales por motivos de salud.

De estos últimos, cuatro residen actualmente fuera de Cuba y uno, Miguel Tamayo Valdés, falleció el pasado mes de enero en La Habana.

EFE

MUERE UN GIGANTE EN LA LUCHA POR LA LIBERTAD DE CUBA AGUSTIN TAMARGO

2007-03-10T06:06:00.001-08:00

Por Ariel Remos
Diario Las Américas
Florida
E.U.
Infosearch:
Francisco Díaz
Dept. de Investigaciones
La Nueva Cuba
Marzo 9, 2007

Agustín Tamargo es otro gigante de la lucha por la libertad de Cuba, que cae en campaña sin ver cumplido su ideal de regresar a esa Cuba que llevaba en su corazón hoy, después y siempre, que le obsesionaba y con la que comprometió su vida.

Sabíamos que estaba delicado por la dolencia que interrumpió sus esperados y escuchados programas por Radio Mambí, pero la noticia la mañana de este jueves, de su fallecimiento, no puede ser más estremecedora. Muere a los 82 años tras una larga y cruel enfermedad que afectó irónicamente su garganta.

Durante décadas su voz batió los aires con un mensaje de denuncia, un análisis siempre profundo de la situación cubana, una esperanza consoladora de victoria final.

Diríamos que comentarista radial era una de sus facetas como periodista con experiencia en cada uno de los medios informativos. Porque, más que eso, era un escritor de primer orden, de prosa vibrante y fluido estilo. Sus artículos eran enjundiosos.

En otro orden era elocuente en la improvisación apoyado en una memoria prodigiosa. Apasionado en el debate, pero basado siempre en un razonamiento silogístico. Con una honestidad a toda prueba, siempre dispuesto a rectificar si creía que se había equivocado. Integro siempre para no faltar en ningún momento a sus lealtades.

Fue Tamargo un autodidacta, que no habiendo pasado el cuarto grado de lo que frecuentemente solía blasonar, llegó a poseer una vasta y polifacética cultura. No había tema de literatura, arte, historia, política, filosofía, de que no tuviera conocimiento y tejiera comentarios sustanciosos. Pero esos conocimientos poco hubieran valido si no hubieran estado respaldados por un talento para aplicarlos siempre con puntería. Sus preguntas eran tan inteligentes que sugerían siempre la mejor respuesta. Y sus respuestas tenían siempre la solidez del que sabe lo que dice.

Nació Tamargo en Puerto Padre, provincia oriental de Cuba, en 1925, y se dedicó al periodismo desde muy joven. Fue articulista del periódico “Avance” desde 1944, redactor-jefe del diario “Tiempo”. Era colaborador semanal de la revista “Bohemia”. En 1958 asumió la dirección del Canal 2 de TV, cargo al que renunció en protesta por la intervención del régimen comunista.

Ya en el exilio en 1960, fue director de la revista “Kena”, redactor-jefe de la revista “Resumen”, y subdirector de la edición de la revista “Bohemia”, todas en Caracas, donde vivió muchos años.

Desde 1980 se vinculó con la popular radioemisora Radio-Mambí, creó uno de los programas radiales de exposición, preguntas y respuestas, de más audiencia, “La Mesa Revuelta”, por donde ha desfilado la mayoría de los talentos del exilio y del extranjero, siendo muchos de ellos contribuciones a la cultura.

En cuanto se supo la noticia de la muerte de Tamargo, La Brigada de Asalto 2506, emitió una nota de pesar: Por la presente la Asociación de Veteranos de Bahía de Cochinos Brigada 2506, extiende sus condolencias a los deudos del veterano y brillante periodista e incansable luchador por la libertad de Cuba, y miembro del staff informativo de Radio Mambí, Agustín Tamargo.

Hacemos extensivo nuestras condolencias a la nación cubana en el exilio y hacemos votos por que pronto sea una realidad la vuelta a la democracia y la constitucionalidad en nuestra patria, ese anhelo que tantos dignos cubanos y patriotas no pudieron ver”.

En Washington, el Centro por una Cuba Libre manifestó: “Ha muerto en el exilio el cubano y periodista Agustín Tamargo. De otros podrá decirse que amaron a Cuba y a la libertad tanto como él, pero nadie más que él. Batallador incansable por la libertad, enemigo de todas las tiranías, su muerte es una gran pérdida para su país, pero su influencia en los destinos de Cuba continuará mientras hayan cubanos que conozcan de su prédica, y se atrevan a seguir su ejemplo”.

Tamargo murió a las 10 de la noche del miércoles, pero la noticia no se supo hasta que en el programa “La noticia y Ud.”, en el que participó en un tiempo el propio Agustín, su director de Radio Mambí Armando Pérez Roura la lanzó al aire.

En el orden personal, Tamargo era sumamente cordial, amable, cortés, de trato exquisito. Deja por ello una estela de afecto, simpatía y admiración.

Al momento de redactar esta nota no se tienen los detalles sobre los oficios fúnebres que se le harán al ilustre periodista.

DIARIO LAS AMERICAS envía su más sentida condolencia a su viuda, señora Rosalba Nápoles de Tamargo, sus hijos Ariel, Manolo, José Luis, Saul, Nora y Carlos Briceño, Eva y Lila, y demás familiares.

Que descanse en la Paz del Señor el alma de Agustín Tamargo.

LLAMADO URGENTE PARA TODOS LOS DISIDENTES

2007-03-10T06:04:00.001-08:00

LA NUEVA CUBA

Por Oswaldo Yañez
Ciudad de La Habana
Analista
La Nueva Cuba
Marzo 10, 2007

Los chicos de Ramirito Valdés se están aplicando duro a controlar el potro salvaje de Internet, no solo se dedican a interferir las emisiones vía satélite de la red de las embajadas, se están dedicando a localizar cuentas, vaciarlas de información y cerrarlas.

No se si yahoo será cómplice de sus maquinaciones pero lo cierto es que las cuentas de yahoo o bien son más susceptibles de ser atacadas que las demás o tienen ayuda desde dentro para cerrar las más molestas.

Recomendaciones de seguridad.

1. Tener varias cuentas de correo.

2 Enviar las direcciones y correos que no desean ser perdidos a las otras direcciones.

3. No emplear las direcciones alternativas de correo hasta tener una cuenta cerrada.

4. No enviar correos a varias direcciones empleando el CC SINO el CCCO de esta manera se oculta las direcciones a las demás personas enviadas.

5. No enviar correos a las personas que hagan reenvios masivos.

6. No desesperar si les cierran una cuenta, abrir otra y seguir trabajando.

Hay gente que conoce bien como está usando Ramirito al Departamento Técnico de Investigaciones y estoy seguro de que sabrían dar mejores consejos que los míos, desde aquí les animo a asesorar a los disidentes en la lucha cibernética que ha desatado el régimen castrista.

Yo estoy preparado para todo y espero que los demás también pero creo que hay gente muy nerviosa con su propio destino, lo mejor que podrían hacer estos desesperados es unirse a los que trabajan activamente para conseguir una Cuba Libre y Democrática.

Repito y reitero:

Ad utrumque paratus.
Preparado para todo.

Oswaldo Yañez.
Ciudad de La Habana.
A nueve de Marzo del año de la inminente Libertad para los Cubanos.

Décimas de Cuba

2007-02-24T04:59:00.001-08:00

Resiste todo apagón
e ilumínate con vela;
cepilla con cal tus muelas
y come como un ratón.
Majasea como un lirón,
límpiate bien sin papel,
endulza el café con miel,
monta carretón de mulo,
imita al pobre de Angulo
y grita: ¡Viva Fidel!

Tómate el agua caliente,
al baño ve sin jabón,
y bebe azuquín por ron
para despejar la mente.
Friega bien sin detergente,
haz las cartas sin papel,
dibuja sin un pincel,
haz comida sin carbón
y para ser más sangrón
repite: ¡Viva Fidel!

Ve al trabajo sin zapatos,
aféitate sin cuchilla,
come soya por ternilla
y ceolita por sulfato.
Come fricasé de gato
adobado con laurel.
Si eres comunista fiel
cúrate sin medicina,
maneja sin gasolina
y grita: ¡Viva Fidel!

Alúmbrate con chismosa,
almuerza sin hamburguesa,
ve a la iglesia y allí reza
para que cambie la cosa.
Si quieres tener esposa
has de encontrar un motel.
Pon la mesa sin mantel,
usa el calzado sin medias,
y si no quieres tragedia
repite: ¡Viva Fidel!

Escribe sin lapicero,
haz las copias sin carbón,
por café, toma infusión
y piensa como un carnero.
Y como buen zapatero
corta un cuero sin troquel
o haz un zapato sin piel
sin ponerle pegamento,
y legaliza tu invento
gritando: ¡Viva Fidel!

Ve a otro pueblo en bicicleta,
no uses desodorante,
y para estar elegante
anda con "short" y chancleta.
Y siquieres ser "maceta"
y coger un buen nivel,
móntate en el carrousel,
vende, compra y especula,
jinetea, busca "fulas"
y grita: ¡Viva Fidel!

Escribe a la vieja Tula,
-la que en la cruel "Yuma" está:
que contacte alguna "mula"
y te ayude desde allá.
Dile que no puedes más,
que esto es mucho padecer,
que no hay como resolver
si no robas o enmarañas
mientras a todos engañas
gritando: ¡Viva Fidel!

También ruega a Yemayá
que te consiga una lancha,
o mira si el "bombo" enganchas
y te libras de esto ya.
Pero en tanto que allí estás,
-y aunque reniegues de él-,
gana, mentecato fiel,
la camiseta que dan
por pedir que vuelva Elián,
y grita: ¡Viva Fidel!

En torno al café

2007-02-24T04:57:00.001-08:00

El café cubano tiene fama por su excelente calidad y también por la peculiar forma en que los cubanos solemos prepararlo. La misma palabra "café" nos da la clave: Caliente, Amargo; Fuerte y Escaso; pero no siempre fue el café cubano como lo conocemos en la actualidad.

Durante la época colonial, se preparaban en Cuba tres tipos de café: el café propiamente dicho, que era la primera colada del café molido, y era el que consumían los señores; el cafuí, segunda colada de las borras, que tomaban los criados y sirvientes; y la cafuinga, o tercera colada de las borras del café, que se daba a los esclavos.

EX JEFE DE DESPACHO DE RAUL CASTRO DUDA QUE EL SUCESOR DESIGNADO TENGA TIEMPO DE REFORMAR EL PAIS

2007-02-03T19:08:00.001-08:00

IBLNEWS, AGENCIAS Enero 31, 2007

El antiguo embajador cubano ante Naciones Unidas Alcibíades Hidalgo considera que tras la muerte de Fidel Castro su hermano Raúl no tendrá tiempo de llevar a cabo la reforma del país, dado el estado 'catastrófico' de la economía.

En declaraciones que hoy publica el vespertino francés 'Le Monde', Hidalgo afirma que la única posibilidad es intentar poner en marcha en Cuba un régimen 'calcado' del modelo chino, pero 'no creo que tenga tiempo'.

Hidalgo fue jefe de Gabinete de Raúl Castro entre 1985 y 1993, año en el que fue brevemente embajador de su país en la ONU, ya que fue obligado a regresar a la isla y puesto 'bajo control', lo que no impidió que pudiera exiliarse poco después en EEUU, donde vive ahora.

Raúl Castro, actual hombre fuerte de Cuba por la enfermedad de su hermano Fidel, evoca en Hidalgo 'un sentimiento de frustración (...) Descubrí a un individuo que no tenía la envergadura intelectual de Fidel pero que controlaba el sistema de manera eficaz'.

Para el antiguo embajador Raúl Castro tiene, a diferencia de su hermano, sentido del humor y un trato más cercano, pero como él, 'está sediento de poder'.

Para los Castro Estados Unidos ha sido siempre 'una obsesión en cada momento', según Hidalgo, quien está convencido de que algún día volverá a Cuba, pero no para hacer política.

SANTO PRELADO ANTONIO MARIA CLARET Y SU PREDICCION SOBRE CUBA HACE MAS DE 100 AÑOS

2007-01-26T13:29:00.001-08:00

PROFECIA DEL ARZOBISPO ANTONIO MARIA CLARET
Dice así textualmente.

A esta Sierra Maestra vendrá un joven de la Ciudad y pasara un corto
tiempo cometiendo hechos muy lejanos a los mandamientos de Cristo,
habrá inquietud, desolación y sangre, vestirá uniforme no tradicional,
jamás visto en el país, muchos de sus seguidores llevaran rosarios y
crucifijos colgados al cuello e imágenes de muchos santos junto a armas
y municiones, este joven bajara de las estribaciones de la sierra
maestra con barbas y muchas veces fumando un puro, será recibido con
fervor por el pueblo cubano, al cual lo engañara. Lo dividirá y lo
dejara sumido en angustias con mucho dolor y sangre.
La republica será entregada a un hombre que viene de un país muy
lejano, que hablara un lenguaje que no es ni castizo ni romano. Con la
riqueza de la isla Cuba entregara la soberanía y la independencia por
la que hoy se lucha (se refería a la guerra de independencia.) Todos
los cubanos serán presos y esclavos de un sistema maléfico.
Este joven gobernara por casi 4 décadas cercano a medio siglo, en ese
tiempo habrá sangre mucha sangre, el país quedara desbastado, cuando se
cumpla ese tiempo, ese joven que ya será viejo, caerá muerto y entonces
el cielo cubano se tornara limpio y azul sin esta oscuridad que ahora
me rodea.
Se levantaran columnas de polvo y otra vez la sangre anegara el suelo
cubano por unos pocos días, sin embargo como dice el refrán "Después de
la tempestad llegara la bonanza", cuando esto ocurra, vendrá un estado
de alegría, paz y unión entre cubanos, y la republica florecerá como
nadie podrá imaginar.
Habrá un gran movimiento de barcos en las aguas, que de lejos las
grandes bahías de Cuba parecerán ciudades enclavadas en el mar.
Habrá venganzas y revanchas entre grupos dolidos y otros codiciosos,
que por corto tiempo empañaran de lagrimas los ojos.
Después de estos días tormentosos, lo mejor para Cuba estará por venir.
Se erradicaran enfermedades, vendrá el arrepentimiento, se extinguirán
falsas religiones, la fe Cristiana entrara en los corazones ateos.
Después de toda esta catástrofe que ahora veo, saldrá el arco iris,
anunciando la paz y la prosperidad para todos los cubanos.
Cuba será la admiración de toda América, incluyendo la del Norte.

El arzobispo Antonio María Claret, nació en España el 23 de Octubre de 1807, fue una figura muy querida por los pobres y esclavos de la isla, a su muerte se convirtió en una figura de protección espiritual, que la mayoría en la isla invocaban.

Montado en un burro atravesó mas de 35 veces la Sierra Maestra, para evangelizar y ayudar a los pobres y esclavos del lugar. Su diócesis como arzobispado comprendía Camagüey y Oriente. El no se mezclo nunca en asuntos políticos pero como español, muchas veces sirvió de mediador entre cubanos y españoles cuando la guerra de independencia. Entre sus obras mas destacadas se encuentran, la cooperativa de ahorros y créditos. El instituto de religiosas de María Inmaculada, para ayudar a niños pobres y fue presidente de amigos del país.

Viajaba en su burro por la Sierra Maestra acompañado de sus seguidores cuando de momento cayó como desmayado, todos pensaron que era a causa del gran calor del lugar, al tratar de ayudarlo, el prelado comenzó ha hablar como en un estado de éxtasis lo que sus ojos veían. Hoy muchos se dan cuenta que esas predicciones que estuvieron sepultadas por años en los archivos de la catedral de Santiago de Cuba, se han ido cumpliendo paso a paso. Dicha versión quedó manuscrita perteneciente al siglo ante-pasado.

2007-01-20T06:52:00.001-08:00

"IRONIC HOW THE DICTATOR DIES IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS THAT HE HAD HIS POLITICAL PRISONERS....SLOWLY STARVING TO DEATH AND HIS BODY ROTTING AND CONSUMED BY HIS OWN ESCREMENT.....GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.....

IRÓNICO COMO EL DICTADOR MUERE DE LA MISMA MANERA Y EN SIMILARES CONDICIONES QUE MANTUVO A LOS PRESOS POLÍTICOS, LENTAMENTE MURIÉNDOSE DE HAMBRE, SU CUERPO PUDRIÉNDOSE, Y CONSUMIÉNDOSE CON SU PROPIO EXCREMENTO...A VECES DIOS TRABAJA EN FORMA MISTERIOSA...

BBC NEWS | Americas | Chavez admits Castro gravely ill --A report from the BBC...LOOKS LIKE THE MURDERER HAS HIS DAYS COUNTED.....

2007-01-20T06:44:00.001-08:00

Chavez admits Castro gravely ill. Dictator Castro handed over his executive powers in July 2006. (The Cuban Dictator) Fidel Castro is battling to save his life, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said.

Mr Chavez, a close friend of Cuba's communist dictator, said he hoped Castro would recover but admitted he faced a hard struggle.

Dictator Castro, 80, has not been seen in public since undergoing surgery in July and handing over political power.

Mr Chavez spoke at the Latin American summit in Brazil in a rare admission of the state of Mr Castro's health.

Chavez hopeful

Venezuela's president said he spoke to the Cuban dictator by telephone for half an hour several days ago.

I hope he lives 80 more years, I hope he lives 100 more years
Hugo Chavez Venezuelan president "He is going through a difficult situation but just like he says, the machine that they have to fix is 80 years old," Mr Chavez told the Mercosaur trade summit.

"I cannot give details [of his health] because I am not his doctor, and even if I was I would not give them to you.

"He's back in the Sierra Maestra and locked in a battle for his life," Mr Chavez said.

The Sierra Maestra is a rugged mountain range in south-east Cuba with a long history of guerrilla warfare.

After Dictator Fidel Castro returned to Cuba from exile in Mexico, he and his fellow rebels hid out in the Sierra Maestra from where they were able to expand their 26 July Movement, building up their guerrilla forces and starting the revolution which in 1959 overthrew the regime led by Fulgencio Batista.

"There are those who want Fidel to die... [but] we have confidence he will recover completely.

"I don't know when Fidel will die, I hope he lives 80 more years, I hope he lives 100 more years."

'Slow recovery'

There have been steady reports suggesting that Mr Castro's condition is extremely serious.

In an interview with the Reuters news agency, Dr Jose Luis Garcia Sabrido, head of surgery at Madrid's Gregorio Maranon public hospital, described Mr Castro's recovery as "slow but progressive".

Dr Garcia Sabrido examined the Cuban dictator late last year.

Earlier this week a Spanish newspaper quoted medical sources as saying Mr Castro opted for a risky medical procedure that led to grave complications.

"IRONIC HOW HE DIES IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS THAT HE HAD HIS POLITICAL PRISONERS....SLOWLY STARVING TO DEATH AND HIS BODY ROTTING AND CONSUMED BY HIS OWN ESCREMENT.....GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.....

EL CAMBIO VIENE....QUE SE VAN HACER LOS COMPLICES DE LA TIRANIA...NO COOPERES CON LA DICTADURA

2007-01-19T14:08:00.001-08:00

EL ANO ARTIFICIAL: fidelito.....Dicen que la momia sique muy grave ahora tiene un ano artificial

2007-01-15T18:39:00.001-08:00

ELPAIS.com - Una cadena de actuaciones médicas fallidas agravó el estado de Castro - Internacional

Una cadena de actuaciones médicas fallidas agravó el estado de Castro
Un diplomático cubano dice que sufre "problemas de cicatrización"

ORIOL GÜELL/ ANA ALFAGEME - Madrid - 16/01/2007

Una grave infección en el intestino grueso, al menos tres operaciones fallidas y varias complicaciones mantienen al dictador cubano, Fidel Castro, postrado con pronóstico muy grave, según fuentes médicas del hospital Gregorio Marañón de Madrid. En este centro trabaja José Luis García Sabrido, jefe del servicio de Cirugía, que viajó a visitar a Fidel Castro en diciembre pasado.

* Una decisión crucial y difícil

La noticia en otros webs

* webs en español
* en otros idiomas

Según las fuentes consultadas, Castro, de 80 años, sufría antes del verano (transfirió el poder en julio) una severa inflamación del intestino grueso denominada diverticulitis. Se trata de bolsas anómalas en el intestino inflamadas que pueden llegar a infectarse y sangrar, causando hemorragias, de forma parecida a una apendicitis. Según la periodista brasileña Claudia Furiati, autora de la biografía autorizada de Castro La historia me absolverá, publicada en 2001, Castro ya padeció diverticulitis hace más de 20 años.

En esta ocasión, sin embargo, Castro ha sufrido esta enfermedad de forma más severa. En verano, el líder cubano sangró de forma abundante por el intestino. Esta adversidad le llevó a la mesa de operaciones, según las mismas fuentes médicas. Su estado, además, se vio agravado porque la infección se extendió causando una peritonitis, la inflamación de la membrana que recubre los órganos digestivos. En esta primera operación, el cirujano procedió a retirarle una parte del intestino grueso, el sigma, y otra del recto, las más afectadas por la diverticulitis. El cirujano tuvo que escoger entre dos procedimientos: el primero consiste en una ileostomía, la apertura de un ano artificial en el abdomen durante unas semanas mientras se recupera la parte del colon afectada. Durante este periodo, el paciente evacua en una bolsa hasta que una segunda intervención conecta el intestino grueso con el recto para recuperar la dinámica natural. El cirujano, en cambio, optó por la segunda técnica, que conecta directamente el colon transverso (la parte central del intestino grueso) con el recto.

La evolución de Castro no fue buena. La infección que sufría impidió que el empalme entre el colon y el recto cicatrizara y su abdomen se inundó de heces, causando otra peritonitis. En una segunda intervención, los médicos limpiaron y drenaron la zona infectada, suprimieron todo el intestino grueso y le realizaron un ano artificial.

Tras la segunda operación, Castro tampoco cicatrizó bien. Además, su salud se agravó con una afección en la vía biliar. Una de las fuentes médicas señala que sufrió una colecistitis alitiásica (una inflamación de la vesícula biliar y de las vías biliares que se atribuye a la falta de riego sanguíneo y también a la manipulación quirúrgica). Esta situación tiene una altísima mortalidad (alrededor de un 80%). Otra fuente señala que la dolencia de Castro obligó a implantar en la vía biliar una pequeña prótesis fabricada en Corea. Pero ésta falló y tuvo que ser sustituida por otra de origen español.

En diciembre, cuando García Sabrido le visitó, se dudaba si someter a Castro a otra operación. El paciente tenía una herida en el abdomen que liberaba al día más de medio litro de fluidos (proteínas, líquidos e iones), lo que causaba "una pérdida severa de nutrientes". Castro sufrió una regresión de su masa muscular y ha requerido alimentación intravenosa.

Un diplomático cubano admitió ayer en Quito (Ecuador) que Castro sufre "problemas de cicatrización" que impiden su recuperación, informa Reuters.

OTRO ASESINATO DE fidel castro ruz y la mafia que lo rodea

2007-01-15T18:29:00.001-08:00

DE NUEVO
EL SILENCIO COMPLICE

EN MEMORIA DE
MIGUEL VALDES TAMAYO
PRESO CUBANO
DE CONCIENCIA

Madrid. Enero 15 de 2007- La prensa informa de la muerte de un disidente cubano en la Habana. Su nombre: Miguel Valdés Tamayo. Uno mas, hoy, en estos tiempos, en estos dias, uno más y poco mas. En apenas unas líneas, pocas, se recoge la noticia, y de nuevo el silencio cómplice, las palabras huecas, el mirar hacia otro lado. La vida sigue, la barbarie permanece. El disidente cubano tenía nombre, Miguel Valdés Tamayo y una esposa: Bárbara Collazo. Y una corta, que no pequeña, historia de compromiso con la libertad de Cuba. Miguel era uno de los 75 opositores detenidos en la represión contra la disidencia interna del 2003. Lo habían sacado de la prisión, a la cárcel grande, negándole el permiso de salida para ser tratado de su enfermedad, luego, los valientes brigadistas de respuesta rápida (tremendo titulo para semejantes bárbaros) le dieron una paliza brutal que acentuó sus dolencias y aceleraron su muerte el pasado miércoles, a los 50 años. Ya podemos incluirle en la tétrica lista de muertos bajo el terror, ese suma y sigue, que a algunos de nosotros, nos avergüenza y nos conmueve, a partes iguales. Vivió a golpes, entre el sobresalto y la cárcel Esto es, lo que implica ser disidente en Cuba. .Mientras escribo, españoles muy dignos, muy amantes de la libertad, la suya, gritan en las calles en manifestación por la Paz. La paz eterna que añora el Presidente ZP. Tras las pancartas muchas caras conocidas, muchos de ellos, son los mismos que viajan a Cuba, admiran a su presidente, ejemplarizan sus mensajes revolucionarios, y hasta, ateos como son, dedican sus oraciones por la pronta recuperación del compañero Castro. Todos ellos aman la paz sobre todas las cosas. La libertad un poco menos, sobre todos si es la libertad de los otros-De eso que se ocupe le compañero Fidel-Y el compañero Fidel, sigue dejando su estela de muerte, muerte ajena, naturalmente, para no defraudar a sus admiradores. La paz eterna, o sea la paz de los cementerios, para los disidentes cubanos .El silencio vergonzante para tapar la muerte de Miguel Valdés Tamayo, como antes se silenciaron la muerte de tantos otros, y las vidas, de los que se pudren en las cárceles por toda la Isla. Los Europeos , los españoles " pobres progres", piden insistentemente el cierre de la cárcel de Guantánamo, olvidando pedir que se abran de inmediato todas las que a lo largo de la Isla fueron denunciadas por proferir a sus prisioneros, 283 presos de conciencia recocidos por instituciones de Derechos Humanos, un trato Cruel,
Inhumano, y Degradante. Para Miguel Valdés Tamayo, mi recuerdo y mi gratitud por su valentía. Para su esposa Bárbara Collazo, mi cariño fraterno. Para todos los demás, mi maltrecha esperanza.
Por Mari Paz Martínez Nieto
Columnista
Madrid
España
La Nueva Cuba
Enero 15, 2007

REPRESION / Expulsan a opositor de la Shotokai-Cuba

2007-01-15T18:26:00.001-08:00

Expulsan a opositor de la Asociación Shotokai-Cuba

LA HABANA, Cuba - 12 de enero (Ahmed Rodríguez Albacia, Jóvenes sin Censura) - El instructor de karate y opositor pacífico, Juan Bermúdez Toranzo, fue expulsado de la Asociación Shotokai-Cuba (Karate-Do) por participar en la marcha pacífica del día 10 de diciembre de 2006.

Mario Rodríguez, presidente de dicha Asociación, en conjunto con el Consejo Directivo y dos oficiales de la Seguridad del Estado, se reunieron con el opositor para informarle que no podía continuar impartiéndole clases a los niños debido a su partcipación en la marcha opositora del día 10 de diciembre y, según el rector, "la presencia de Bermúdez Toranzo perjudica a la institución".

Relató la fuente que los oficiales, vestidos con kimono, le manifestaron que el karate solamente estaba al servicio de la revolución, y que si continuaba ofreciendo clases a los niños por cuenta propia lo agredirían físicamente.

Bermúdez, quien llevaba 10 años en esa Asociación, expresó que continuará impartiendo sus clases "aunque el gobierno tome represalias contra mí."

Por su parte, los padres de los menores manifestaron su indignación ante la decisión política contra el karateca.

Juan Bermúdez Toranzo, de 42 años de edad, es el delegado de la Fundación cubana de Derechos Humanos en el municipio de San Miguel del Padrón, Director de la biblioteca independiente Rosa Parks y fundador del proyecto "Por la sonrisa de un niño".

LA OPOSICION SIGUE CRECIENDO EN CUBA......EL MIEDO SE PIERDE.......

2007-01-12T12:28:00.001-08:00

“At the end of the day,” Cruz said, “all we care about is the freedom of our country.”

2007-01-10T19:40:00.001-08:00

ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CUBAN EXILE COMMUNITY CHOOSES FREEDOM FOR CUBA OVER MONEY IN THEIR POCKET......

The New York Times, January 9, 2007;
Miami’s Cigar Sellers Ponder a Cuban Future

By ROCHELLE OLIVER

MARIE DE JESUS / The New York Times.

Four generations of Alberto Cruz’s family have worked their hands over brown leaves that emit the scent of sweet earth. For Cruz, the cigar is more than a symbol of the good life. It is a part of his culture and his people.

As many of Miami’s Cuban-Americans await the death of Fidel Castro and hope for a transition to democracy, could the Cuban cigar, one of the island’s iconic cultural commodities, be imperiled by newfound freedom?

“Once the borders open up, we want to return to Cuba and build up our factories there,” said Cruz, 38, owner of the online retail store CubanMadeCigars.com. “The fact that the environment there produces inarguably the best tobacco leaves in the world” is a plus.

Gregg Fields, a journalism professor at Florida International University, predicts that if the United States lifts its embargo on Cuba, the coveted Cuban cigar, which cannot now legally be sold in the United States, would flood the U.S. market. Because the United States and Cuba sell similar cigars under the same brand names, the ending of the embargo could prompt far-reaching legal disputes.

“If the Cuban cigars flood the industry, it will be a problem for Miami,” said Fields, a former business writer for The Miami Herald.

In 1971, when Cruz’s family migrated to the United States, their cigar making activities came to an end. But as he was growing up in Miami, he said, he became intrigued by cigars. In a strange way, he said, “I came back to it,” a quarter of a century later. Cruz returned to the cigar-making industry in Miami, during the height of the Internet boom.

Cruz says that his father, a man who rarely shows his emotions, was amazed to see the tradition come full circle. The only things that could make being in the cigar business any better, Cruz said, would be to return to his home country and make a true Cuban cigar.

But will the demand for the cigar still be there?

“A lot of its value is based on scarcity,” Fields said of Cuban cigars. “Once you remove scarcity from any product it’s obviously going to become less expensive. There’s a little bit of the forbidden fruit to them now.”

Bethy Aguirre, who works at Deco Drive Cigars, a chain of shops located on Miami Beach, agreed. She said that people come into the smoke shop all the time asking for the illegal Cuban cigar. (The shop does not sell them.)

“It’s famous,” she said of the cigars “They don’t care about the Cuban situation.”

Aguirre said she doubted customers even know the difference between a good cigar and a bad one. She said that customers can find better cigars from Honduras, Nicaragua, or the Dominican Republic – all countries that make Cuban-seed cigars and raise tobacco in climates similar to Cuba’s.

“It just has to be Cuban,” she said. And, she said, borders or not, nothing will change.

Sharon Moore Bode, owner of Moore and Bode Cigars, is a Miami native who has watched the influx of Cubans into Miami over the past four decades. After witnessing Cuban demonstrations on Calle Ocho, where Cubans have protested the conditions in their island nation, Bode said she thought of a way to get back at the communist leadership.

“I thought that it was important to fight back, but fight back by offering a product made by Cubans, free Cubans, living in Miami,” she said. She started a company that offers quality cigars so consumers have an alternative to buying Cuban. For Bode, making cigars was “a political statement.”

Bode said she does not foresee a threat from the opening of the borders. She said she believes that the Cuban cigar that the world used to love ceased to exist when Castro came to power in 1959. So she doesn’t expect Cuban-made cigars that may legally come to the American market to pose much of a threat.

“Cuban cigars will enter the market in the U.S. and Americans will try those cigars, and then they will decide whether or not if they prefer that cigar over another cigar. Ultimately, it will be the best cigar, best marketed, best equipped, that will be the winner. It’s just a matter of time.”
“Cuban cigars have changed,” Bode said. The cigars, she believes, have evolved into a “cash commodity item used by the Castro government as opposed to a capitalistic oriented art form.”

Alberto Gutman, director of operations for Cuban Crafters Cigars, said that he even thinks that the opening of the borders would have a positive effect on the market.

“We had a meeting about it this morning, and there is no concern,” said Gutman. “There would actually be a boom.”

Gutman thinks that when Castro is no longer in the picture, competition will increase and a better quality of cigar will result.

But for many Cuban cigar makers and sellers now living in the United States, the most significant issue isn’t economics.

“I’m yearning for the day when Cuba is free,” Cruz said.

Even if the industry takes a downward turn, he said, there is something more important than his cigar company.

“At the end of the day,” Cruz said, “all we care about is the freedom of our country.”

CUBA LIBRE - QBALIBRE - CUBA TIENE QUE SER LIBRE

Amaury Gutierrez, al recibir un premio Grammy ante millones de televidentes, pide el fin de la dictadura de los hermanos asesinos, fidel y raul castro.. Y pide la libertad de Cuba!

Otro asesinato de la tiranía de los hermanos castros

Protesta en el Capitolio

BONO de U2 pide por la libertad de Cuba y por el Dr Biscet..Juanes aprende de BONO..el si es un hombre..Juanes tu eres un cobarde que te dejaste manipular por una sangrienta tiranía..abajo fidel asesino!

UNETE AL LEVANTAMIENTO POPULAR EN CUBA

EL NUEVO MANIFIESTO

REFLECTIONS OF FREEDOM - Congratulations EGYPT / REFLEJOS DE LIBERTAD - FELICIDADES EGIPTO

RESPUESTA A LA CARTA DEL BOCHORNO....NO NEGOCIACION CON LA TIRANIA!!

COMO IDENTIFICAR A LOS AGENTES DE LA DICTADURA/HOW TO IDENTIFY THE AGENTS OF THE DICTATORSHIP

IDENTIFICADO CRNL TITO MARQUEZ DEPARTAMENTO #10 VILLA MARISTA Jefe de la represion en Cuba contra las damas de blanco

DENUNCIA e IDENTIFICA A LOS AGENTES DE LA DICTADURA

IDENTIFICADO CRNL ERENESTO SAMPER, SEGURIDAD DE ESTADO CUBANA..VEA A REPRESORES IDENTIFICADOS - ALGUN DIA TENDRAN QUE RESPONDER A UN TRIBUNAL

CUBA ID - IDENTIFICA A ESTOS COLABORADORES DE LA DICTADURA - AYUDA A QUE LA JUSTICIA LLEGUE

100,000 MARCH IN SUPPORT OF DAMAS DE BLANCO

Thousands march with Gloria Estefan on Calle Ocho for 'Ladies in White'

ORLANDO ZAPATA TAMAYO, MUERE POR LA DIGNIDAD DE LOS CUBANOS. Por Oswaldo Payá

MUERE PRISIONERO POLITICO ORLANDO ZAPATA TAMAYO, ASESINADO POR LA TIRANIA CASTRISTA

Extended Street Footage- El Maleconazo- Cuban Uprising for Freedom on August 5, 1994

Ninoska Pérez Castellón - Concierto de Juanes en Cuba: Nosotros los Intolerantes

Grave incidente antes de Concierto por La Paz en Cuba

juanes protesta por presion de POLICIA SECRETA CUBANA antes del concierto en cuba

Havana, Cuba 1930s - before the communist revolution destroyed it all!!

Marisela Verena Son de las Cuatro Decadas

Havana, Cuba 1930s

Un pais sin libertad (parte1)

Un pais sin libertad (parte2)

Un pais sin libertad (parte3)

Un pais sin libertad (parte4)

Un pais sin libertad (parte5)

Un pais sin libertad (parte6)

Un pais sin libertad (parte7)

Un pais sin libertad (parte8)

El escolta de Castro Parte I

Cao le advirtió a Pérez Roque que acabaría como Robaina

Carlos Lage VS Juan Manuel Cao

CUBA Fidel Castro - Estilo de vida y seguridad personal

CUBA ANTES DE CASTRO 1959

Havana, Cuba 1930s

50 years of dictatorship has resulted in over 20% of Cuba's population to flee...this speaks for itself...here are some of their stories...

Havana, Cuba 1930s

PRONOSTICO DEL HURACAN IKE

Un pueblo solo...mientras los yangaras de la dictadura rechasan ayuda internacional y del exilio Cubano de Miami, ellos buscan refugio en sus lujosas mansiones...el pueblo queda solo antes el huracan sin el apoyo basico requerido de un gobierno...

Baracoa...miren a este pueblo...una ciudad bella antes de la ROBOlucion..ahora parece que le callo una bomba atomica...

LA CUBA DE castro...una nacion destruida por un dictador ahora sufre la furia del Huracan IKE

Alias Cesar y Alias Gafas mostrados al público

ingrid betancourt GRAN LIBERACION

Detienen en Cuba a 23 disidentes; al menos 5 continúan bajo arresto - 07/04/2008 - El Nuevo Herald

EL ESTADO MAYOR DE LA MAFIA COMUNISTA DE LOS ASESINOS CASTROS...TODOS SERAN JUZGADOS EN TRIBUNALES ESTILO NUREMBERG, eso es si sobreviven el colapso

LA MAFIA COMUNISTA DE LOS CASTROS SE LE AVESINA SU FINAL...ACORRALADOS, SOLOS Y CON UN PUEBLO EN ESPERA DE LA JUSTICIA..CUBA SERA EL NUEVO NUREMBERG..

Colombia rescata a Ingrid Betancourt y a 14 secuestrados - HOY DIA, EL GRANMA, ORGANO OFICIAL DE LA DICTADURA CASTRISTA, NO PUBLICA NADA

Se suicida legendario piloto anticastrista - 06/28/2008

The Stupid Left vs. the Satanic Left

Exposing the Real Che Guevara: And the Useful Idiots Who Idolize Him***GET THIS BOOK**

LA BESTIA EN SUS DIFERENTES VESTUARIOS....CONFUNDIENDO AL MUNDO

Calle 8, Miami, tras renuncia de Castro (CBS)

CONSEJO DE RELATORES DE DERECHOS HUMANOS DE CUBA

President Bush Discusses Cuba Policy

El Fomento de la Libertad, Justicia y Prosperidad en Cuba

President Bush Discusses Cuba Policy

President Bush Discusses Cuba Policy

Press Briefing Via Conference Call by a Senior Administration Official on the President's Speech on Cuba

EL PRESIDENTE BUSH RECHAZA A LOS ASESINOS CASTRO...Pide por la libertad completa de Cuba

Mientras el Presidente Bush hace declaraciones en la ONU, los verdugos de la dictadura salen corriendo de la sala de la ONU como RATAS al no querer escuchar LA VERDAD

Cubanology, "A Cuban-American and Patriotism in America"

Reports: Castro’s Health Deteriorating - THE TYRANT's END IS NEAR- THE CUBAN PEOPLE CELEBRATE

POR FIN LIBRE...LA LIBERTAD DE CUBA SE ACERCA MAS CADA DIA

LOS QUE MUY PRONTO COLGARAN DE UN ARBOL HABANERO

LOS QUE MUY PRONTO COLGARAN DE UN ARBOL HABANERO

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT: The Sinking of the "13 De Marzo" Tugboat on 13 July 1994

LOS ASESINOS CASTRISTAS SERAN JUZGADOS POR ESTA MASACRE

EL NUEVO MAMBI....CUBA SERA LIBRE

EL ASESINO DEL PUEBLO CUBANO SE LE ACERCA SU CITA CON el diablo

LOS PRODUCTOS DE LA CUBA LIBRE, DE LA CUBA DE ANTES DEL ASESINO CASTRO

TU CITA CON EL diablo SE AVESINA

CINCO MIEMBROS DEL PARTIDO RADICAL ITALIANO PARTICIPARON EL DOMINGO EN MARCHA CON LAS DAMAS DE BLANCO

MUERE UN GIGANTE EN LA LUCHA POR LA LIBERTAD DE CUBA AGUSTIN TAMARGO

LLAMADO URGENTE PARA TODOS LOS DISIDENTES

Décimas de Cuba

En torno al café

Exposing the Real Che Guevara: And the Useful Idiots Who Idolize Him*GET THIS BOOK