A world war is unleashed upon terrorism. Civil liberties fall by the wayside in the United States, and U.S troops are being dropped off in jungles and steppes all over the globe. Have our leaders thought about the streets of Miami?
George Bush Sr. arranged a 1991 pardon for Orlando Bosch who, with Luis Posada, bombed a Cubana Airplane leaving Barbados on Oct. 6, 1976. 73 people died. Otto Reich, the State Department’s chief current Latin American honcho arranged for Bosch’s subsequent release from a Venezuelan jail. Bosch, the "killer pediatrician"(in Granma’s words) now lives in Miami. The media there value his wisdom on toughness. He is quoted in the Miami News Times of December 21, 2001: " When they attack this guy [Osama Ben Laden] some innocents will be killed". He brags about sending explosives to Cuba.
Rudolfo Frometa poisoned cattle and burned Cuban cane fields in the early sixties for Alpha 66, a U.S. based terrorist group. In 1994, the US Coast Guard caught him in a boat heading for Cuba filled with guns and ammunition. No charges were filed. But something had to be done later that year when he bought Stinger antiaircraft rockets, anti-tank rockets, and a rocket launcher from an undercover FBI agent. He later gained an early release from jail on the condition that he not stray far from Miami. But in 1999 he was boasting to the Miami media that his "F-4 Commando" group was bombing buses, trains, cigar factories in Cuba and a year later burning down taxi and bus terminals.
Luis Posada now lives in a Panamanian jail because of a plot two years ago to kill Fidel Castro. After his Barbados airliner caper and an escape from a Venezuelan jail Miami terrorist groups put him on their pay role to allow him to help out the CIA in Central America. A New York Times article identifies him as the plotter and paymaster for a series of hotel bombings in Cuba in 1999.
In the early 1960’s, Operation Mongoose carried out US government sponsored assassination attempts of Cuban leaders, sabotage campaigns against Cuban agriculture and factories, and airplane deliveries of guns and propaganda material. In the 1970’s, operatives of the rightwing Cuban National Movement bombed both a New York theater and the offices of the Center for Cuban Studies. That group took part in the assassination of the exiled Chilean diplomat Orlando Letelier and his assistant, U.S. citizen Ronni Moffett. Those accused were released after pleading guilty to the crime. .
Eulalio Negrin of Miami called for reconciliation in the 1970,s and was murdered. Carlos Muniz, an operator of charter flights to Cuba, was killed in Puerto Rico. Emilio Milian, a Miami radio talk show host with tendencies toward tolerance, had his legs blown off.
The Cubans were first in line after September 11, 2001 to join in on Washington’s condemnation of terrorism, an anomalous situation in view of Cuba still being listed by the United States as a terrorist nation. (Basque rebels have ended up in Cuba, as have U.S. political prisoners such as Assada Shakur.)
Perhaps those who make up lists, not being navigation experts, are confused about currents in the waters between Florida and Cuba. In fact, terrorism flows south from Miami rather than north from Cuba.
Four months ago five Cuban citizens accused of infiltrating private Miami counter-revolutionary organizations were convicted by a Miami court for spying and sentenced to long prison terms, two of them for life. There was never a question of them spying on the U.S. government itself. The prisoners have received support worldwide, and massive protests against the trial outcome take place regularly in Cuba.
In 1995, the Brothers to the Rescue began to fly over Cuban territory, usually dropping propaganda material, and other Florida based organizations were persisting in sending arms to Cuba and engaging in sabotage. The Cuban government accused Washington of turning a blind eye to these activities. Cuba acted in self -defense, and sent agents to Florida to infiltrate groups of Cuban counter-revolutionaries. One of those convicted, having joined the Brothers to the Rescue, tipped off the Cuban government about upcoming flights on February 24, 1996. The Cuban airforce shot down two airplanes, killing two pilots. His penalty: two life sentences.
Prior to the trial, the defendants were subjected to episodes of allegedly illegal search and entry and to 17 months of solitary confinement. After the sentencing they were sent to separate prisons throughout the United States, far from their families.
Impartial observers agree that the prisoners have demonstrated poise, eloquence, and dignity and a remarkable constancy in standing up for their principles and purposes. The trial outcome and the excesses of both prosecutors and jailers testify to Washington’s subservience to the rightwing Florida Cubans.
Many people in the Brunswick, Maine area have worked hard recently to set up a sister city relationship with the beautiful city of Trinidad, on Cuba’s southern coast. Four of them just came back from a trip there. They entered into agreements with Trinidad officials that have just about finalized a sister city relationship between the two cities.
Already exchanges are being planned between poets, artists, dramatists, and health workers. The United Nations has identified Trinidad as a "World Heritage Site".
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People from Brunswick visit Trinidad:
On February 14, 2002 four members of the Brunswick-Trinidad Sister City Association traveled to Havana, Cuba, to participate in the second annual United States-Cuba Sister-City Association Conference. Over the course of two days, the delegation met with similar groups from throughout the United States and heard discussions by Cuban government officials. In all, there were 150 representatives from 17 states and 33 cities involved in developing sister -city relationships with cities and regions in Cuba.
The delegates visited the Latin American School of Medical Sciences where they met with several US medical students studying there through scholarships provided by the Cuban government. Later, while touring a new school for social workers, they attended a symposium that included President Fidel Castro. Film director Oliver Stone was also in attendance.
While in Havana, the Brunswick contingent walked through Old Havana, visiting farmers' markets, cemeteries, bus stops, restaurants, and some of Havana's architectural gems.
Next on the schedule for the travelers was a six hour drive to our future Cuban sister city, Trinidad, a colonial jewel. There we met with officials of the local government whose warmth, generosity and sense of humor touched our hearts and made us feel at home. They took us to their own favorite places in Trinidad, including some fine restaurants and shared many stories about their own lives and families. We visited local health care facilities, the historical district, the coastal community, the House of Culture, and a new hotel. Taking time out of their busy schedules to show us their city, all the time attentive to our special desires, they gave every indication of looking forward to their sister-city association with Brunswick with an eagerness equal to our own.
We believe that our historic journey represents the beginning of a long
and fruitful relationship between the Town of Brunswick and the Municipality
of Trinidad. The next step entails a member of the Brunswick Town Council
visiting Trinidad in order to sign and formalize an official agreement
between the two partners. Once the document is signed, cultural exchanges
will begin
in earnest.
The continued progress of this project is the result of hard work and high hopes on the part of many people in the Brunswick area.
A group of 13 Maine health workers – nurses, physicians, therapists
– plus teachers, visited Eastern Cuba for a week starting April 14. They
visited hospitals, clinics and centers for people with disabilities. The
group visited schools from the elementary level to universities. The purpose
of the study tour was to look at the fate of egalitarian ideals in conditions
of social services being delivered in an environment of scarcity.
The Maine travelers also visited historical sites and attended cultural events in the cities of Holguin and Santiago de Cuba where their activities were centered. The trips had been organized and directed by Common Ground Education and Travel Services of Cambridge, Massachusetts in conjunction with representatives of Amistur, a Cuban tourist agency.
Three days prior to the departure date, Common Ground separated itself from the Maine delegation. A Treasury Department representative had called that agency and threatened it with possible loss of licensure, alleging that there were no valid "researchers" in the Maine group. One has to be engaged in research to be able to travel to Cuba under a general license. The result was a legal limbo, and 12 people, originally part of the group, withdrew. Those who did make the trip did so with considerable uncertainty as to their legal status.
Unfortunately, the Maine people who did not travel to Cuba have lost their $450 non-refundable airfare. Some of the people who recruited them for the trip are going to try to reimburse them, as there was no way of predicting the behavior of our own government. Financial help from our readers for this purpose will be welcome.
The travelers returned enthusiastic about their experience and about what they had learned. The next Let Cuba Live newsletter hopefully will contain some of their reports. Crossing the border into Maine, the returning delegation experienced no interference from Customs officials.
The tactic of directly challenging the US blockade of Cuba at
international borders remains an important element of the campaign by Let
Cuba Live to educate the public about the cruelty and illegality of the
embargo against Cuba. The support and solidarity of sister organizations
in Canada are crucial to our work. Included here are greetings from two
Quebec- based groups with whom Let Cuba Live has collaborated closely over
many years.
From Sean O'Donoghue - Caravane d'Amitié Québec-Cuba
The crossing of the border at Philipsburgh, Quebec into Vermont on February
2nd 1994 launched the third Friendshipment of humanitarian aid sent to
Cuba by Pastors' for Peace. Our newly established organization, the Caravane
d'Amitié Québec-Cuba participated in that crossing. Since
then we have joined our friends from the United States in many other cross-border
projects in support of Cuba. The last occasion was the crossing at Coburn
Gore, Maine, in July and August, 2001, when we worked with Let Cuba Live
of Maine.
The Caravane d'amitié Quebec-Cuba consists of 7 members elected
by a General Assembly that meets once every year. We have two purposes:
to inform Quebecers as to the dire situation created by the U.S. blockade
against Cuba and to send material aid to Cuba. We rent a building where
materials are collected, sorted, and packed. We collect medical supplies,
computers and bicycles, all of it donated by individuals, unions, and other
institutions.
We have been establishing links with Cuban institutions for collaboration
on specific projects. For example, we are sending 70 computers to Holguin,
Cuba, for use in the library and administrative network of the V.I. Lenin
provincial hospital. The computers are adapted to the specific needs of
users in Cuba with whom we are in constant communication. Close working
relationships like this make for efficiency and reduce the installation
costs in Cuba.
We are also campaigning for the U.S. government to return to Let Cuba
Live the humanitarian supplies seized at Colburn Gore, Maine. The material
needs to be sent on to Cuba. We have circulated a letter now signed by
hundreds of people that will be sent to Ms. Deborah McCarthy, Consul of
the United States of America, in Montreal. We were particularly gratified
that delegates to a recent labor union congress signed on to the letter.
We value the friendship and solidarity of people we meet in the course
of our work in support of Cuba. We especially look forward to continuing
work with our friends in New England and in Maine and look forward to participating
with them in future activities.
From Michael Walsh - Association Quebecoise des Amis de Cuba
The main mission of the Association is to combat disinformation from the media about Cuba. We monitor radio and television broadcasts and scan print media for news segments that deliberately distort the reality of Cuba. Whenever possible, we respond to this unfair reporting with letters, editorials and commentary.
We also work in solidarity with the five Cuban patriots who recently were sentenced as spies to long jail terms in the United States. We have sent funds to Miami to help to pay for food and lodging for family members who came to the United States for the trials.
We travel in April to Bayamo, Cuba with 20-25 Quebec students who will spend time with Cuban students in their own schools. This annual project began in 1997. We work closely with Caravane d'Amitie Quebec - Cuba to send supplies to Cuba. Recently the Association sent 70 reconditioned bicycles and many boxes of medical supplies to Cuba. In recent months we have joined with other Quebec groups in protest marches against U.S. aggression, including that against Cuba.
In preparing this article, Steve Burke used information supplied
by Mavis Anderson, a member of the Latin America Working Group, Washington,
D.C.
Congress is working on new legislation relating to the U.S. economic
embargo against Cuba. On February 13, 2002, the Senate passed a farm bill
that contains changes relating to the sale of food and medicine.
An earlier law passed in 2001 allows U.S. agricultural products and
medicine to be sold to Cuba. However, it prohibits U.S. banks and sellers
from providing credit to Cuban buyers. This year's farm bill does contain
language that would permit U.S. banks to finance the sale of food and medicine
to Cuba. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 58 to 40. Unfortunately
the House version of the agricultural bill contains nothing specific about
the Cuban embargo, and the fate of the Senate version will have to wait
for reconciliation through a conference committee. For Cuba -specific language
to remain in the Senate version, therefore, is by no means a certainty.
Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) has worked long and hard to end restrictions
affecting travel to Cuba. A hearing was held on February 11, 2002 by the
Treasury and General Government Appropriations subcommittee of which he
is a member. The hearing focused on the licensing and enforcement practices
of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which is the Treasury Department
section in charge of licensing procedures for travel to Cuba and punishment
for infractions. Sen. Dorgan expressed concern about an increase in the
number of fines levied against travelers, denials of travel licenses, and
procedural delays.
Ironically the Bush administration is stepping up enforcement of the
travel ban to Cuba just when public opinion and congressional inclinations
are lining up in opposition to the travel restrictions. Last July, the
House passed legislation to end enforcement of the travel ban to Cuba by
a margin of 240-186. In the wake of September 11, however, the legislation
failed to become law.
Three panels of witnesses appeared before the Hearing. The first consisted
of three people who traveled to Cuba and who, later on, were subjected
to fines of $7500. The owner of a travel company licensed to send trips
to Cuba complained in his testimony that his loss of license was arbitrary
and unfair. Nancy Chang, a lawyer with the Center for Constitutional Rights
in New York City, testified about her experiences representing travelers
subjected to civil penalties.
Sen. Dorgan is said to be confident about bringing the travel ban to
a vote in the Senate this year.