Havana and Madrid reach agreement over Carromero

Ángel Carromero

Ángel Carromero, a Spanish politician, who was sentenced to four years in prison in Bayamo, Cuba,  for his involvement in a car crash that killed two other individuals, will be transferred to Spain to serve the remainder of his punishment.

At the time of the accident, Carromero was driving and over speeding on an unpaved section of an eastern Cuba road causing the car to slam into a tree. Two locals who were travelling in the back seat lost their lives in the crash.

Carromero, together with Swedish politician Jens Aron Modig, had travelled to Cuba to deliver money to ‘dissidents’ inside the island and to help them set up a youth organization against the government.

“Today we authorized the transfer to Spain of Ángel Carromero so he can complete here the sentence imposed by the Cuba judicial authorities”, said on Friday Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz at a news conference in Madrid.

Negotiations were under way between the governments of Cuba and Spain to accommodate Carromero’s desire to finish his sentence in his country of origin. 

Who are the Cuban Five?

The Cuban Five are Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, Ramón Labañino Salazar, Rene González Sehwerert, Antonio Guerrero Rodríguez and Fernando González Llort. They are sons, husbands, brothers, poets, pilots, college graduates and artists. Three of the Cuban Five were born in Cuba and two were born in the United States. Also three of them fought in Angola, during the war against apartheid. They are currently serving long prison sentences in the United States.

Since 1959, Cuba has been subjected to threats, sanctions, invasions, sabotage, and violent attacks on its soil, resulting in 3,478 deaths and another 2,099 wounded. It has thus developed vigilance against foreign attacks.

In 1976, 73 people died when a bomb exploded aboard a commercial Cuban airliner, destroying the plane in mid-air.  The masterminds behind the attack were two men of Cuban-origin, Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada Carriles, former CIA operatives who currently live in Miami.

In the early 90s, following the fall of the Soviet Union, Cuba was trying to establish a tourism industry. Soon after, the right-wing exile groups in Miami started a violent campaign targeting tourist hotels and resorts, buses, airports and other facilities to discourage foreigners from visiting the island nation. In 1997, as part of that campaign, a bomb exploded in the lobby of Havana’s Hotel Copacabana, killing Fabio DeCelmo, an Italian tourist.  The Cuban authorities arrested Raul Ernesto Cruz Leon, a native of El Salvador who confessed to having been paid thousands of dollars by anti-Castro exile groups based in Miami to plant the bomb..

Due to the lack of response from the FBI to stop such attacks, Cuba sent the Cuban Five to Miami to monitor the organizations perpetrating these acts of violence. The idea was to gather information about similar acts that were in the planning stages in order to derail them before they were carried out. The Five were able to establish evidence implicating specific Miami exile groups and individuals in the attacks.

In 1998 President Fidel Castro sent a personal emissary to Washington to deliver a hand-written note to President Bill Clinton, asking that the United States indict and prosecute those who committed crimes against Cuba. In his letter to Clinton among other things Castro said, “If you really want to do so, you can put a stop to this new form of terrorism. It is impossible to stop this terrorism without United States involvement . . . Unless it is stopped now, in the future any country could be victimized by this new terrorism.” President Castro’s personal emissary was none other than Gabriel García Márquez, the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. At the time President Clinton was out of town and after waiting for him for several days, García Márquez finally met with White House Chief of Staff Mac McLarty on May 6, 1998 and gave him the letter.

In the wake of the Garcia Marquez visit, the United States sent an FBI team to Havana a month later to discuss collaboration with Cuba on stopping acts of aggression emanating from Miami. At the meeting Cuba handed over 64 files containing the results of its investigation into 31 different terrorist acts and plans against the island in the decade of the 90s. The Cuban government enclosed details of operations against Cuba, including photographs of the explosives used.

Cuba then waited for the FBI to start arresting the architects of these operations, but instead, on September 12, 1998, it arrested the Cuban Five; the very men who had come to Miami to monitor the activities of the violent Miami exile groups.

After their arrest, the Five spent 17 months in solitary confinement cells. The trial took place in Miami and lasted 7 months. They were charged with 26 counts of violating the federal laws of the United States. 24 of those charges were relatively minor and technical offenses, such as the use of false names and failure to register as foreign agents.

The Cuban Five were sentenced to maximum prison terms. Gerardo Hernandez received a double life sentence and Antonio Guerrero and Ramon Labañino receive life sentences. The remaining two, Fernando Gonzalez and René Gonzalez, received 19 and 15 years respectively.

In August 2005, the 11^th Circuit three-judge panel unanimously overturned all the “Cuban Five’s” convictions and ordered a new trial citing it was impossible for the Cuban Five to receive a fair trial in Miami due to various Cuban exile groups and paramilitary camps that operate in the Miami area.

Three retired Generals and a retired Admiral of the United States army testified at the trial that the “Cuban Five” were not a threat to the United States National Security.

On May 27, 2005, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions found the detention of the “Cuban Five” to be in “contravention of article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”, and requested that the United States Government adopt the necessary steps to remedy the situation, in conformity with the principles stated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales directly intervened on the U.S. governments’ behalf to set aside the 11^th Circuit three judge panel opinions.

In June 2008, the 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the guilty verdict and the panel ratified the sentences of Rene Gonzalez and Gerardo Hernandez.  In the cases of Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, and Fernando Gonzalez, they were sent back for re-sentencing in the same court that convicted them in Miami.

Amnesty International has condemned the inhuman treatment of the “Cuban Five”, by the United States refusal and/or severe limitation of visas for family visitations since 1998.

Adriana Perez, wife of Gerardo Hernandez and Olga Salanueva, wife of Rene Gonzalez have been denied entry visas by the US government to visit their husbands in US prisons.

In March 2009, 12 Amicus Curiae were presented before the US Supreme Court in support of the Cuban Five, including 10 Nobel Prize winners, intellectuals, members of Parliaments and organizations from all over the world.

On June 15, 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court announced without explanation its decision not to review the case of the Cuban Five.

On October 13, 2009, Antonio Guerrero was resentenced to 21 years and 10 months, and on December 2009 Ramon Labañino was resentenced to 30 years while Fernando Gonzalez was resentenced to 17 years.

On June 14^th, 2010, the Cuban Five legal team filed a Habeas Corpus before the Federal Court of Miami.

On October 13, Amnesty International issued a Press Release that Seeks Review of Case of the “Cuban Five”

Source: thecuban5.org

CUANDO PIENSO EN LOS CINCO

Los Cinco Héroes cubanos prisioneros de EE.UU.

Cuando pienso en Los Cinco

veo una bala surcando el tiempo

Dos Ríos, 19 de Mayo,

Martí cayendo y una carta inconclusa

a Manuel Mercado:

“En silencio ha tenido que ser y como indirectamente,

porque hay cosas que para lograrlas han de andar ocultas “

Cuando pienso en Los Cinco

veo a Fidel entrando en La Habana

con los sueños del Apóstol como resguardo

en medio del júbilo popular.

Cuando pienso en Los Cinco

veo caer la cartilla de alfabetizar de Manuel Ascunce

asesinado por las bandas, La Coubre explotando

y una invasión derrotada.

Cuando pienso en Los Cinco

veo madres llorando a sus hijos

un avión explotar en pleno vuelo

y una enfermedad, como el odio

de muerte preñada.

Cuando pienso en Los Cinco

veo la necesidad, en nuestra historia

de muchos Cinco

otros Albertos de Maisinicú

para defender la vida y la esperanza

la risa del niño, el amor de la muchacha

los sueños revolucionarios

de alcanzar toda la justicia y la paz.

Cuando pienso en Los Cinco

veo la resistencia y el coraje de mi pueblo

con deseos de tocar el futuro

de construir y ser solidarios.

Pero veo también a un Imperio

empeñado en todo lo contrario

junto a otros cubanos.

Por eso, cuando pienso en Los Cinco

siempre regreso a Martí y a sus palabras:

"En el mundo ha de haber cierta cantidad de luz,

como ha de haber cierta cantidad de decoro.

Cuando hay muchos hombres sin decoro,

hay siempre otros que tienen en sí

el decoro de muchos hombres."

René, Tony, Ramón, Gerardo y Fernándo

Volverán!

------

José Conde

Berlín, 15 mayo 2012

Martianos-Hermes-Cubainformación-Cubasolidarida

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cuba

Last May 14, 2012, United States Supreme Court denied to the Cuban company Cubaexport the possibility to defend its right to renew the registry of the prestigious brand Havana Club before the United States Patents and Trademark Office, hindered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury, to provide the Cuban commercial entity the license to renew the trademark registered in that country since 1976 to 2006.

Such denial was issued under the protection of Section 211 of Omnibus Appropriations Act sanctioned by the United States Congress  at the end of 1998, prohibiting the recognition and renovations of trademarks associated to properties nationalized by the Cuban Government, as a result of the maneuvers of Miami´s anti-Cuban mafia  and its allies in Congress, in retribution to the huge financial contributions these receive from Bacardi Company, real promoter of these actions against Cubaexport, aimed at seizing the trademarks and market of a genuinely Cuban rum.

Since 1995, Cubaexport, together with French company Pernod Ricards, distributor of rum Havana Club, has defended its right to register such renowned trademark, which was supported by the decision of the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Panel that ruled against the United States and requested the elimination of such Section, considered illegal.

The Government of the United States is completely responsible of this situation. During the judicial process  that has arrived to its unjust end, OFAC argued that it would not issue the license needed by the spurious Section 211, that would permitted the renovation of Havana Club trademark in that country, because the Department of State had requested no to do so because this would not correspond with the United States´ policy toward Cuba.

This action constitutes a serious violation of the compromises of the United States on the Industrial Property, which obligates it to protect the trademarks of Cuban companies and institutions. This dispute and other processes against Cuban patents and trademarks in US Courts have evidenced the complicity of the United States Government in the plundering of Cuban rights and trademarks.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs demands to the Government of the United States to immediately issue the license so the Cuban entity is able to renew Havana Club trademark.

Cuba has invariably respected, without discrimination, the obligations contracted through the international judicial instruments referring to the Industrial Property, which have guaranteed that more than five thousand US trademarks and patents benefit and continue benefiting from their registry in our country.

Should the United States Government do nothing, it will be the sole responsible for the plundering of Havana Club trademark from his legitimate owner, Cubaexport company, and the negative consequences that could derive from this fact  for the reciprocal protection of the Industrial Property.

Havana, May 17, 2012

From Toronto with love Happy Mother's Day

Palestinian mother

We wish a very happy day to all mothers around the world. To all Cuban mothers that work and resist and contribute to a new a future inside the country and those working in other latitudes contributing to the betterment of human beings.

Particularly we salute those mothers who live under oppression, occupation, and are marginalized. Many of these women see how their children die of curable diseases or raise them with no access to basic services such as education and health care. Others see their children killed by occupiers. To all of you, the hope that a better world is not only certain but close.

CNN interviews Josefina Vidal, head of the North American division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Josefina Vidal, Minrex, Cuba

Transcription of Interview with Josefina Vidal, head of North American division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by CNN´s Anchor Wolf Blitzer May 10, 2012

Wolf Blitzer: Josefina Vidal is joining us from Havana. She´s the head of the North American affairs at the Cuban Foreign Ministry. Are you prepared to tell us what you want in exchange for the release of Alan Gross

Josefina Vidal: Wolf, thank you for having me in your program.

We have conveyed to the US Government our willingness to have a dialogue to try to solve all our problems and to normalize relations between our two countries.

In this specific case, we have made clear to the US Government, as you´ve said, that we are ready to have a negotiation in order to try to find a solution, a humanitarian solution, to Mr. Gross case on a reciprocal basis. We´re not advancing any specific formula, it has to be disccused with the US Government because the US Government has a direct responsiblity for the situation of Mr. Alan Gross.

But, again, we have been waiting for a response on the side of the US Government on this specific matter.

WB: So, there are no active discussion or negotiation under way right now between the Cuban government and the US government to try to free Alan Gross?

Josefina Vidal: We have conveyed to the US side that we are ready to sit down to talk and to have a negotiation on this matter. And, as I mentioned already to you, we have been waiting for a response. We are ready to do that.

WB: Is there, from your perspective, is there a linkeage between the release of Alan Gross and the release of what´s called the Cuban Five?

JV: Again, we are not advancing a specific solution, a specific formula. It has to be discussed among us. But definitively, Cuba has legitimate concerns, humanitrarian concerns related to the situation of the Cuban Five.

WB: What do you say in response to what the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, told CNN?

You know, Mr Gross was not working in Cuba as a volunteer, aid worker. He was detained in Cuba because of conducting a well-financed program by the US Goverment aimed at provoking changes in Cuba, attempting against Cuba´s constitutional order. So, Mr. Gross, when he was detained he was a professional under the contract by the US Government trying to implement this program financed by some US agencies.

WB: What evidences do you have that he was doing that?

He was convicted for violating Cuban laws, attempting agaisnt Cuba´s constitutional order, it´s not just a crime in Cuba, it´s also a crime in the United States and in many other countries. And this is the reason why he was convicted, for attempting against our independence, against our constitutional order.

WB: Mr. Gross told me that when he brought all the equipment in, the people at the airport, the authorities saw the equipment, and they said “you have to pay duties, a 100%”, you don´t want to pay a 100%, so, they just said “pay a hundred dollars and you can bring the equipments in”, they inspected all the cell-phones, and all of the satellites phones, whatever he was bringing in and allowed him to bring it in to the country, as a result he says he does not undertand why he was arrested?

It has been written in some media reports, Mr Gross misled US, Cuban authorities about the kind of equipment he was introducing into the country without the proper authorities and he also misled members of the Cuban Jewish community about the purpose of his trips to Cuba and what he was doing in Cuba.

WB: Alan Gross says his 90 years old dying mother from cancer in Texas right now, she can´t travel, she can´t get in an airplane, he would like to spend two weeks and he promises he would come back to Cuba if you let him say goodbye to his mother. What´s wrong with that?

JV: In the case of Alan Gross, he started to serve his prison term three years ago and the conditions under he is now does not allow him to go outside of Cuba.

WB: Even for humanitarian reasons to visit his 90-year old mother who has cancer and is dying, are you open at all to let him say goodbye to her?

In the case of Mr. Gross, we have guaranteed for him a good treatment as he himself has told you. He is in good shape. He receives specialized medical treatment, balanced meals. He receives visits, regular consular access and visits by friends, by religious and political leaders from the US and other countries and we have facilitated for their families and friends all the visits they have requested so far.

WB: What do you think of President Obama and his efforts inthe past three and a half years to reach out and try to improve the relations between the United States and Cuba?

This is our position. I mean, for many years the Cuban government have conveyed to the US side our willingness to have a comprehensive political dialogue with the United States to solve all our historical problems and to move on in order to have a productive, beneficial relationship for the benefit of our both peoples. And this is our position, we have reiterated that to the US government and we are continuing willing to have the possibility to see that future for our two countries.

WB: Is there any dialogue under way right now between your government and the Obama administration?

We have had talks in the last two, three years. As soon as the new president, President Obama took office, some level of official dialogue that suffered a lot during the previous administrations, was reestablished. We have had our bi-annual Migration Talks and we have conveyed in those meetings the position I’ve just described to you about Cuba’s willingness – for the best of our two countries – to find a civilized modus vivendi with the United States.

WB: Are you hopeful, are you optimistic that relationship will improve over the next few months?

We are always hopeful. We have been waiting for that moment for more than 50 years, but we are still strong believers that this future is possible for the good and the benefit of the US, of Cuba, of both our mutual national interests and for our peoples.

WB: Based on my conversations with very US high officials, Mrs Vidal, I can tell you that if you were to make a gesture and release Alan Gross who served already two and a half years, that would go a long way in setting the stage to improve US Cuba relationship.

In that regard, I have to be honest with you, Wolf, and tell you that we see this statement as a new pretext by the US side in order not to move on our bilateral relationship. We have seen all over our history that any time one pretext disappears, there is another one ready at hand in order to try to justify not normalizing relations with Cuba.

WB: It sounds like a relatively easy situation for you to test the United Startes, send Alan Gross home, and see what happens, is there not improvement, what is your loss?

JV: As I mentioned you in the beginning of our interview, this is something that Cuba cannot do unilaterally because there is a responsibility by the United States government for the situation of Mr. Alan Gross, so this is a topic, this is a matter, an issue that has to be discussed directly between Cuba and the United States in order to look for a solution.

WB: And you´re saying United States is not ready to discuss Alan Gross´situation with Cuba? Is that what you say?

We have been waiting for a response and a reaction by the United States government to what we have conveyed about our willingness to sit down to have a conversation and to initiate a negotiation on that matter.

WB: Josefina, thank you very much for joining us.

JV: It is my pleasure, Wolf. Thank you.

CNN continues lying to the world about Allan Gross and Cuba

Cuban Interest Section in Washington

Ambassador Jorge A Bolaños´ Letter to CNN Anchor Wolf Blitzer

May 5, 2012

Wolf Blitzer
The Situation Room
CNN America, Inc.
820 First Street NE
8th Floor
Washington D.C. 20002-4243

Dear Mr. Blitzer:

In connection with your conversation with Mr. Alan Gross, broadcasted on May 4, 2012 in "The Situation Room", I'm writing to request that my government's positions on the case be equally made known. These are:

1.  The Cuban government has conveyed to the U.S. government Cuba's willingness to find a humanitarian solution on reciprocal basis to the case of Mr. Gross.

2.  Mr. Gross was not convicted for helping Cuban Jewish to connect to the Internet. All Cuban synagogues have Internet; they had Internet before Mr. Gross came to Cuba.

3.  Mr. Gross violated Cuban laws by implementing a U.S. government program aimed at attempting against Cuba's constitutional order. The undercover activities of Mr. Gross in Cuba constitute crimes in many countries, including in the United States.

4.  During his visits to Cuba, Mr. Gross never told the people he contacted that he was working for the U.S. government. He is not an activist who came to Cuba to assist the Cuban people; he is a professional paid for by the U.S. government. Mr. Alan Gross is in good physical conditions, he receives specialized medical care, balanced meals, regular consular access, visits by friends and political and religious personalities. He has had visits by his wife and he maintains systematic and stable communication with his family. The cases of Rene Gonzalez and Alan Gross are very different. Rene served his sentence to the last day, and he remains in the U.S. against his will, away from his family. The decision by a Florida federal judge to allow Rene to travel to Cuba is in line with the conditions imposed for Rene's supervised release, which allow his traveling to Cuba, following authorization by the probation officer or the court. His wife Olga is not even allowed to visit him during his term of supervised release.

5.  The Cuban government has facilitated all visits by family members, friends, religious figures and political personalities that have requested access to Mr. Gross. These conditions are very different from the cruel regime of solitary confinement that has been arbitrarily meted out against the Cuban Five: Gerardo, Ramon, Antonio, Fernando and even Rene. They have strict restrictions against giving interviews to the U.S. press.

6.  The Five have been almost 14 years in U.S. prisons, for gathering information on terrorist groups conducting attacks against Cuba from the U.S. Such information helped save lives in both countries. The Five were not in the possession of government secrets nor did they attempt against the U.S. security.

7.  Contacts by the Five with their families have faced obstacles and two of them, Gerardo and Rene have not been visited by their wives, Adriana and Olga. Gerardo's mother died while he was in prison, and the mothers and fathers of the other four are very old. Gerardo and his wife have not been able to conceive a child.

Sincerely,
Jorge A. Bolaños Suárez
Chief of the Cuban Interests Section
Washington DC 

United States Cuba Relations: The Freedom of Alan Gross and the Cuban Five

[The following can take place in the future…with some courage, leadership, political will, and love.]

THE WHITE HOUSE
EAST ROOM

STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND PRESIDENTIAL PRESS CONFERENCE ON DEVELOPMENTS WITH CUBA

THE PRESIDENT [joined by the Secretary of State and several Cuban American individuals at the podium]

Good morning. I have an announcement about our relations with Cuba and several important developments to share with you and the American people. A little more than one hour ago, a U.S. government jet left Havana, Cuba bound for Washington DC carrying American Alan Gross who has been freed by the Government of Cuba. I spoke with Mr. Gross by telephone and told him we were glad that he is finally coming home. He is being brought home accompanied by the U.S. Special Envoy to Cuba and the Chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana. I know his wife and family are finally relieved that his imprisonment is over and shortly, the Gross family will be reunited. I want to thank the hard work of our diplomats and the Secretary of State for a job well done and what I have been told were long and oftentimes difficult negotiations. I spoke with Cuban leader Raul Castro and told him these were important steps forward and more needs to be taken on both sides. The cause of Mr. Gross’ imprisonment, a well intended, but ill advised and failed program to support democracy in Cuba has been suspended indefinitely. If we are going to be a positive and constructive influence for democracy in Cuba, it must be through other ways.

Similarly, I want to announce that I have exercised my authority as President of the United States to pardon five Cuban nationals, Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, Fernando González, and René González, each who were convicted of several crimes here back in 2001. As we speak now, they are on a private plane headed to Havana to be returned to their families. I have made this decision after personally reviewing the files and case histories of these five men, discussing this matter with individuals with differing views as well as having heard from numerous world leaders on this case. I have determined that it is in the best interests of the United States that these men be returned to Cuba and end this ongoing controversy once and for all. There can be no real improvement of relations between both countries without a resolution of the human issues that have been present on both sides. Clearly Alan Gross’ imprisonment and the imprisonment of these five Cubans here in the U.S. were stumbling blocks that made any significant progress unlikely.

I know this decision will not sit well with some folks in Miami, FL and Union City, NJ.  However, I have to point out that these steps being taken are supported by an overwhelming number of Americans and Cuban Americans, who want to see an end to the failed policies we have with Cuba as well as our position of an imposed hostility towards Cuba. This has not achieved anything constructive between our two countries in more than fifty years. We also have to recognize and acknowledge that the entire Latin American community of nations disagreed with us concerning our policies with Cuba. If we are going to improve our relations with our neighbors, we cannot ignore the feedback we have been given on this issue multiple times and most recently at the Summit of the Americas in April, 2012.

In addition, I am pleased to announce that Cuba released a number of political prisoners still held in their jails. These men and women will be allowed to remain in their country and will not be exiled to Spain or the United States. In the community of nations and human society, pluralism of ideas exists. So do political views and dissension. Every society must tolerate differing views. Human existence and thinking is not monolithic. The nature of government should have a foundation in its structure to permit the expression of differing views and an accountable system of government to the people who give it their power.

I also want to announce that a team of FBI agents and special aircraft are in Havana, Cuba right now to take into custody a number of American fugitives, who have been arrested by the Government of Cuba to be extradited back to the United States to face long overdue justice here at home. It is also time to restore a further degree of normalcy between our two countries and that means that Cuba is no longer a safe haven for fugitives from American justice in the future. We still have a long way to go to improve relations between both countries and I remain committed to engaging in a genuine dialogue with Cuba.

There will be further developments to share with you soon on that front. However, this is a moment right now to celebrate for the Gross family. Now I want to open up for some questions.

PRESS REPORTER 1: Mr. President, right now some people in Miami are deploring this announcement and condemning the pardon of the Cuban Five. The State Department had said on numerous occasions in the past that there would be no quid pro quo. How is this action not a quid pro quo?

THE PRESIDENT: Good question. The freedom of Mr. Gross and the Five may appear like a quid pro quo, but a fundamental change has occurred. I have decided that as President of the United States, the flawed and failed policies that my predecessors since JFK and I have followed must be brought to a conclusion. A whole host of human beings have been caught in this tortured web of U.S. Cuba relations over many decades.  Lives have been lost and there has been much suffering on both sides. There was this thinking among some here that we should not engage the Cubans until Alan Gross was freed first.  However,  Gross was in trouble for following our programs in a foreign country where it is a crime to do what he was doing and he was languishing in a Cuban jail feeling abandoned by his government.  I think we had been viewing this crisis inflexibly, instead of seeing the opportunity that exists to change the overall course and direction of the bilateral relationship.   The overriding issue facing both countries is how do we reset a strained relationship? The only way to reset the relationship is to first provide immediate relief for all the people and families on the front lines caught in the web on both sides.  I think you see from the combination of efforts being announced today, that this is hardly a quid pro quo.

PRESS REPORTER 2: What about the impact of this decision on electoral politics sir? You realize this alienates your party from a significant political voting and financial bloc in Florida?

THE PRESIDENT: Lets be clear, the voting bloc you refer to, did not support my election and while my party may have received some financial support from that bloc, none of this changes our commitment and responsibility to act what it is in the best strategic and national interests of the United States and even the entire region of Latin America–  among which are an ending to the failed policies we have with Cuba.

PRESS REPORTER 3: Isn’t this a capitulation then to a dictatorship on our doorstep off the coast of Florida?

THE PRESIDENT: Respectfully, the policies we have had with Cuba have empowered the very form and exercise of government authority we have been complaining about for more than fifty years. Ironically, while we object over the leadership and political system in Cuba, we conduct normal trade and relations with a number of countries whose political systems and government exercise of power we take exception to. And when it comes to dictatorship, lets not forget our own history with the region. How many dictators have we supported or empowered in Latin America in the 20th century? I am determined that our country commence a new beginning with the region and that means a fundamental respect for our neighbors, even those we disagree with. What I learned from speaking with leaders in Latin America and from summits and visits we have had is this – Latin America wants partnership with the United States in an environment of mutual benefit and respect. We want to find ways we can build upon that so that our entire hemisphere is stronger economically and most importantly, at peace.  We offered to work with the Cuban government on the current energy exploration going on in the Gulf and to collaborate on a number of public health and scientific matters. 

PRESS REPORTER 4: Will you be meeting Mr. Gross and his family anytime soon?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. After Mr. Gross has had some time to be with his family and recover, I plan to invite him and his family to the White House for a private visit.

PRESS REPORTER 5: You said you spoke with Cuban leader Raul Castro. Can you share with us what your exchange was?

THE PRESIDENT: We agreed that it was time to take steps to improve the relationship between both countries and that it was critical to resolve the immediate issues of Gross, the Cuban Five, political prisoners, and American fugitives in Cuba. In addition, we shared ideas, suggestions, and steps each country could take to improve its relations with its citizens. I think there will be more on that later and leave it to Mr. Castro and other Cuban leaders to address steps the Cuban government is taking to improve its relationship with their own people on the island and living abroad.  For example, Cubans will now be able to travel freely to and from their country without undue burden.

During our diplomatic discussions, we raised these points with each other. In the end, Mr. Castro invited me to visit with him in Havana in what I believe will be a historic visit. I accepted the invitation. I think you have to reflect on the historical significance of President Nixon’s visit to China and what that led to. Now is the time for a sitting American President to go to Cuba. More on that later.

PRESS REPORTER 6: Mr. President, several hardline Cuban American members of Congress in both parties are outraged at these actions and say they will do everything they can to block your efforts. What do you say to them and the Congress?

THE PRESIDENT: I say to them as I have said again and again – represent the people of the United States, act in the best interests of the United States, and be consistent in the exercise of our foreign policy and defense of human rights around the world. Our hypocrisy with Cuba has cost us far more than we ever imagined. And if they choose to block the efforts to reset our relationship with Cuba and the hemisphere, they are going to discover that they are going to be isolated politically by their own colleagues and the people. They are respectfully, on the wrong side of history. I know for some of these Members, their interest regarding Cuba is deeply personal, family related, and even tied directly to the Cuban Revolution and Fidel Castro himself, who is even the uncle of one of the Congressmen. As we have learned from history repeatedly and through the conduct of international relations and diplomacy, personal agendas and vengeance make for bad foreign policy.  They cause wars and do not break the cycle of violence and destruction.  We have to find a better way. Our past policy behavior has been an exercise in failure and waste of more than one billion tax dollars over the years that have not yielded much. There was irrational and illogical resistance on the part of some towards resolving these issues.  It was somewhat strident until I personally became involved and exercised my authority. With regards to Alan Gross, I was not going to let that man languish in a Cuban jail anymore at the expense of an agenda of a few on Capitol Hill.

PRESS REPORTER 7: Certain elements of the Cuban American community in Florida feel completely betrayed by these actions. They lost the lives they once knew, their property in Cuba, and always held out hope that the United States would rally to them. Sir, they say you let Castro win now.

THE  PRESIDENT: I understand that Cuban Americans made incredible sacrifices at the time of the Cuban Revolution, the Peter Pan migration, Mariel boatlift, and the thousands who made the journey to America by raft with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. I want to say this to them – America welcomed you with open arms and gave you every preference and advantage under the law – no immigrant group today receives better treatment or gets to stay in the United States and adjust their status like a Cuban does. Talk about immigration reform…the Cuban American community is probably the most successful Hispanic immigrant group socially and economically. They transformed South Florida and even the American political and social landscape.  However, to expect that the United States was going to intervene militarily or continue to conduct a foreign policy that is to the detriment and harmful to our strategic and national interests, is unreasonable and no longer something we can afford to do.  I respect their voting and financial power.  However, there is a fundamental disagreement with the approach they support and their position is no longer supported by a majority of this nation or even the world community.

What I say to them is that given the legacy you have earned as a community, you have a tremendous capacity to positively influence the nation of your heritage. How can Cuban Americans be a real influence for good and change back in Cuba? Consider first that the economic power of Cuban Americans and Cubans living abroad are actually more than the entire nation of Cuba! Its time to use that power constructively to influence positive changes. Cuban Americans with relatives still in Cuba are an incredible lifeline of social and economic support and hope. I intend to extend that possibility to all Americans by expanding the travel licenses and passing legislation to permanently lift the travel ban. 

Cuba’s government, political system, and leadership will have to engage and deal with their own people. 
They have a lot of work ahead of them in the healing of a divided Cuban nation. One other thing I reminded Mr. Castro is that a great thing about elections is that the American President can only serve a total of eight years in office. Power rotates and circulates here and that is a hallmark of authentic democracy. No matter how great or important or indispensable a leader thinks he or she may be to their country, there is a time for service and then a time for retirement. And former leaders like former Presidents can still remain relevant to the discourse and future of their country. But as with any sovereign country, it is up to the people and their leadership to determine the exercise of that power. Mr. Castro remains to be judged for his actions and record by the Cuban people, but not America now.  Cuba is not threatening our security as a nation or pointing missiles at us as was the state of affairs in October, 1962.   Cuba is not harboring terrorists on the island.  Several hundred thousand Cuban Americans and Americans visit the island annually, without threat to their safety.  On the contrary, Cuba wants to trade with us and collaborate with us in the areas of science, healthcare, and education. So I have to rationally judge foremost by that criteria at this moment in history. Discussions were had about compensation for nationalized properties. We were reminded of the Cuban offer made to the Kennedy administration on the same issue at a meeting in Punta del Este, Uruguay. There will be further discussions about this. I want to move this issue forward so that those who did lose their properties can finally get compensated. They have been waiting for more than fifty years.

I think we have learned once more that we cannot impose ideals but must inspire and empower them by our actions. May the United States, Cuba, and other nations be inspired and empowered to work for the resolution of human conflict. America will continue to stand for democracy and human rights, not by imposition but by example and congruency of action. Thank you and that’s all for now. We will meet with you again soon when further developments are announced.

 [The preceding was a fictionalized account of a possible scenario for the release of Alan Gross, the Cuban Five, and lays a prospective foundation for a resetting of U.S. Cuba relations.  It is dramatically presented this way to get the reader to visualize the possibility and potential outcomes of such a scenario.  Some will welcome this. Others fear this. Most hope for this. However, the time is now to think critically and creatively to resolve these issues while the men and their families who suffer each day due to the decisions of their governments, continue to wait for answers and freedom. This is one such scenario.  May peace and reconciliation of the Cuban and American peoples prevail. Why not?  – Tony Martinez - Editor]

Taken from: United States Cuba Policy & Business Blog

Anuncio que exige libertad de los Cinco en el Washington Post

En todo Washington DC y sus alrededores, los lectores del Washington Post abrirán la edición del lunes, 30 de abril para ver un mensaje dramático de una página completa exigiendo la libertad de los Cinco Cubanos, injustamente encarcelados en las prisiones de Estados Unidos desde hace casi 14 años.

El anuncio es un esfuerzo encabezado por el Comité Nacional para Liberar a los Cinco Cubanos y con el apoyo de más de 325 organizaciones e individuos que ayudaron para publicar el anuncio.

Los principales líderes políticos y las organizaciones de derechos humanos que se citan en el anuncio, incluyen: el teniente coronel Lawrence Wilkerson, ex jefe de Despacho del otrora secretario de Estado Colin Powell, el ex presidente de EE.UU. Jimmy Carter, el ex fiscal general de EE.UU. Ramsey Clark, Miguel D’Escoto, presidente de la Asamblea general de la ONU desde 2008 hasta 2011, Amnistía Internacional, Alice Walker, autora y Premio Pulitzer, 10 premios Nobel, y el Grupo de Trabajo de Naciones Unidas sobre Detenciones Arbitrarias.

La mala conducta del gobierno de EE.UU. en la persecución política de los Cinco se expone en el anuncio también. Desconocido por los Cinco Cubanos y su equipo de defensa durante el juicio, los periodistas de Miami estaban secretamente en la nómina del gobierno, mientras que demonizaban a los Cinco en los medios de comunicación, lo que “va al corazón de la condena injusta de los Cinco.”

Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González y René González fueron detenidos el 12 de septiembre de 1998 por el FBI, y se los sometió a un proceso en EE.UU. por motivos políticos que han sido condenados en todo el mundo. El juicio tuvo lugar en el medio ambiente virulentamente hostil de Miami, a pesar de la petición de la defensa para cambiar la sede.

A pesar que la alerta pública sobre los Cinco ha crecido desde su detención, su caso todavía está lejos de ser ampliamente conocido en los Estados Unidos.

“Cada centímetro de cobertura de los periódicos, cada minuto de la televisión y la radio sobre los Cinco Cubanos y su misión antiterrorista y la campaña por su libertad ha sido una lucha. Es por eso que decidimos sacar un anuncio de página completa en el Washington Post , para exigir que la clase política, desde el presidente Obama hasta los miembros del Congreso y el Departamento de Justicia, que corrijan esta terrible injusticia y liberen a los Cinco”, dijo Gloria La Riva, coordinadora del Comité Nacional. “Estamos profundamente agradecidos a tantas personas que ayudaron a que la publicación de este anuncio se haya hecho posible”.

El Comité Nacional publicó su primer anuncio de página completa en The New York Times el 3 de marzo de 2004, en lo que era hasta ese momento la mayor exposición del caso de los Cinco en los medios de comunicación. Desde entonces, ha publicado anuncios en otros, y llevado a cabo numerosas conferencias de prensa como parte de una estrategia de medios para romper el muro de silencio que rodea el caso.

The Post es el periódico más leído en Washington, DC, y el sexto periódico más grande del país. Su circulación impresa diaria es 545.345 y se estima que tiene unos 1.080.000 lectores diarios. Según la empresa Nielsen Ratings, es el periódico más leído en el Congreso, en el Poder Ejecutivo, y en Washington, y el único periódico que los líderes políticos en Washington leen en un día ajetreado.

“Difundir al pueblo de los EE.UU. sobre el injusto encarcelamiento de los Cinco Cubanos es la tarea más importante para ganar su liberación”, dijo el miembro del Comité Nacional Chris Banks.

Los recursos de hábeas corpus para Gerardo, Ramón, Fernando y Antonio se están llevando a cabo en el sur de la Florida, en el tribunal federal de distrito. El apoyo a las acciones, protestas y foros se multiplican en todos los continentes y a través de los Estados Unidos.

Tomado de Cubadebate