ICLEP, una organización que protege a periodistas independientes cubanos
El Instituto Cubano de Libertad de Expresión y Prensa (ICLEP),
coordinado por los ex prisioneros de la Primavera Negra Normando
Hernández y Ricardo González, trabaja hoy por la libertad del reportero
Yeri Curbelo.
Luis Felipe Rojas/ Martinoticias.com
febrero 27, 2015
La solidaridad humana, cuando se apoya en pequeños detalles, tiene largo
alcance. Así lo tienen muy claro dos ex presos políticos cubanos de la
conocida Causa de los 75: Se trata de Normando Hernández y Ricardo
González que desde la Dirección General del Instituto Cubano de Libertad
de Expresión y Prensa (ICLEP) y la Dirección de Proyectos de esa
organización han iniciado una campaña a favor de Yeri Curbelo, reportero
de Palenque Visión ahora detenido en Cuba.
Yeri Curbelo está detenido desde el 19 de febrero en una unidad policial
de Guantánamo, en espera de ingresar a prisión bajo un cambio de medida
cautelar que lo lleva de la prisión domicialiaria al internamiento, para
cumplir dos de los tres años de condena a que fue sentenciado bajo el
cargo de "desacato", impuesto por el Tribunal Provincial de Guantánamo
en febrero de 2014.
Curbelo Aguilera ha descrito en sus reportajes para Palenque Visión la
vida de los habitantes del municipio Caimanera, en Guantánamo: Las
vicisitudes de los pescadores, la carencia de alimentos o la memoria de
aquellos que han caído intentando cruzar "la frontera de la muerte",
desde los campos minados que mantiene el régimen cubano frente a la Base
Militar de Estados Unidos en esa provincia oriental de Cuba.
"Solidaridad entre colegas"
A partir de la noticia y las declaraciones de familiares de Curbelo y
activistas de Derechos Humanos que lo conocen, el ICLEP con sede en
Miami, inició una campaña de concientización con personalidades y
organismos internacionales interesados en las violaciones a la libertad
de expresión en diversas partes del mundo.
Normando Hernández es un periodista independiente cubano que fue
condenado en 2003 a 25 años de cárcel, acusado de "Actos contra la
soberanía nacional y la Seguridad del Estado", comprendidos en la
tristemente célebre Ley 88 o "Ley Mordaza".
"En estos momentos estamos desarrollando un curso de capacitación y
asesoría a todos los periodistas y quienes no lo son y que trabajan con
el ICLEP en las seis provincias donde hemos conformado ya nuestra red de
medios de comunicación. Y también tenemos este programa dentro del cual
cae Yeri (Curbelo), que es preocuparnos por todas aquellas personas que
por ejercer sus derechos, inalienables, como es el de la libertad de
expresión y prensa, son represaliados o caen en desgracia por las
arbitrariedades del régimen gubernamental de los hermanos Castro",
señaló Hernández.
Normando dijo a Martí Noticias que gracias a que cuentan con el apoyo de
personalidades influyentes en instituciones dedicadas a velar por la
libertad de expresión, pueden ahora lanzar esta campaña, y agregó los
nombres de Carlos Lauria, por el Comité para la Protección de los
Periodistas (CPJ, siglas en inglés), Helen Darbishire, directora
ejecutiva de Access Info Europe, así como la Sociedad Interamericana de
Prensa (SIP) y otros más.
Normando Hernández asegura que todo es "para tratar de llamar la
atención y tratar de hacer una campaña internacional a favor de Yeri".
Finalmente, Hernández trazó un paralelo entre su causa de 2003 y lo que
ahora hacen por su colega: "La experiencia que tenemos de lo sufrido
dentro de Cuba y la que tenemos de lo que se puede hacer desde afuera la
estamos combinando para ser más efectivos a favor de las personas que
dentro de Cuba ejercen sus derechos", concluyó.
Ricardo González Alfonso fue condenado a 20 años en la Primavera Negra
de 2003, por eso hoy no descansa cada vez que tiene a mano un caso de
violación a los derechos de los comunicadores en Cuba y otras regiones.
Desde su exilio en España trabaja por coordinar esta campaña con Yeri
Curbelo.
Apelan a diferentes organizaciones como Amnistía Internacional (AI), la
Asociación por la Paz Continental (ASOPAZCO) y Open Society, explicó
González Alfonso, quien fuera corresponsal de Reporteros sin Fronteras
en la isla, antes de ser encarcelado.
González Alfonso hizo hincapié en avisar "a todos los comunicadores
cubanos, que cuando sufran unas medidas graves de represión, como lo es
la prisión, no estarán solos, porque el ICLEP estará para apoyarlos en
cualquier momento", indicó.
El ICLEP realiza y distribuye dentro de la isla seis boletines o
revistas de noticias e información para intentar romper la censura de
los medios de información. Sus contactos en Cuba son a través del
periodista independiente Raúl Risco, al teléfono (53)52452317 y pueden
escribir al correo electrónico institutocubano@gamil.com.
Source: ICLEP, una organización que protege a periodistas independientes
cubanos -
http://www.martinoticias.com/content/iclep-se-solidariza-con-reportero-detenido-en-cuba-/87646.html
Sunday, March 1, 2015
La UNPACU denuncia el arresto de 20 activistas en Palma Soriano
La UNPACU denuncia el arresto de 20 activistas en Palma Soriano
AGENCIAS | Palma Soriano | 27 Feb 2015 - 9:46 pm.
La organización informa que los opositores fueron asaltados cuando
realizaban una reunión y que fueron golpeados.
La policía detuvo y golpeó a 20 opositores en la localidad de Palma
Soriano, provincia de Santiago, según informó este viernes la Unión
Patriótica de Cuba (UNPACU).
"El jueves en Palma Soriano fuerzas especiales penetraron violentamente
en la vivienda de Geordanis Muñoz, sacaron a golpes a 20 activistas de
la UNPACU y detuvieron también a tres vecinos que protestaron por el
arbitrario y abusivo proceder contra pacíficos defensores de los
derechos humanos", denunciaron en un comunicado.
La UNPACU señaló que "los 20 activistas detenidos desarrollaban, junto a
otros 16 miembros, su reunión semanal cuando las fuerzas represivas
irrumpieron en el hogar del coordinador de la célula 'Pedro Meurice'".
"Además de golpear y arrestar a la mayoría de los presentes, destruyeron
parte de los escasos bienes de la familia", indicaron, detallando que
"rompieron el televisor con el marcado fin de evitar que se sigan
pasando, a un número creciente de vecinos, los audiovisuales de la
UNPACU", informa Europa Press.
Al parecer, "las mujeres fueron liberadas poco después en la misma
ciudad, mientras que los hombres terminaron abandonados en horas de la
noche en lugares a más de 20 kilómetros y apartados de toda vía
transitada". "Todos fueron golpeados", afirmaron.
La UNPACU destacó que "al regresar a Palma Soriano, en una demostración
de valor y firmeza, los activistas, junto a varios vecinos,
protagonizaron una protesta pública en la calle donde habían sido
reprimidos por la tarde".
Estas breves detenciones se suman a la ola represiva de la última
semana. El jueves tres disidentes fueron detenidos en La Habana y el
martes otros 30 fueron arrestados. "El lunes también se reportaron
detenciones contra activistas que planeaban rendir homenaje al
prisionero de conciencia Orlando Zapata Tamayo, muerto hace cinco años
después de larga huelga de hambre y torturas", añadió la UNPACU.
Además, entre el sábado y el domingo "ocurrieron más de 220 detenciones
de activistas de la UNPACU, las Damas de Blanco y de otras
organizaciones pro democráticas en varias provincias".
"El creciente número de detenciones, golpizas, actos vandálicos y otras
acciones represivas que violan el derecho a la libertad de expresión,
reunión y manifestación pacífica, demuestran que el régimen castrista no
tiene la más mínima voluntad de mejorar su pésimo historial en materia
de Derechos Humanos", añadió.
Source: La UNPACU denuncia el arresto de 20 activistas en Palma Soriano
| Diario de Cuba -
http://www.diariodecuba.com/derechos-humanos/1425069998_13129.html
AGENCIAS | Palma Soriano | 27 Feb 2015 - 9:46 pm.
La organización informa que los opositores fueron asaltados cuando
realizaban una reunión y que fueron golpeados.
La policía detuvo y golpeó a 20 opositores en la localidad de Palma
Soriano, provincia de Santiago, según informó este viernes la Unión
Patriótica de Cuba (UNPACU).
"El jueves en Palma Soriano fuerzas especiales penetraron violentamente
en la vivienda de Geordanis Muñoz, sacaron a golpes a 20 activistas de
la UNPACU y detuvieron también a tres vecinos que protestaron por el
arbitrario y abusivo proceder contra pacíficos defensores de los
derechos humanos", denunciaron en un comunicado.
La UNPACU señaló que "los 20 activistas detenidos desarrollaban, junto a
otros 16 miembros, su reunión semanal cuando las fuerzas represivas
irrumpieron en el hogar del coordinador de la célula 'Pedro Meurice'".
"Además de golpear y arrestar a la mayoría de los presentes, destruyeron
parte de los escasos bienes de la familia", indicaron, detallando que
"rompieron el televisor con el marcado fin de evitar que se sigan
pasando, a un número creciente de vecinos, los audiovisuales de la
UNPACU", informa Europa Press.
Al parecer, "las mujeres fueron liberadas poco después en la misma
ciudad, mientras que los hombres terminaron abandonados en horas de la
noche en lugares a más de 20 kilómetros y apartados de toda vía
transitada". "Todos fueron golpeados", afirmaron.
La UNPACU destacó que "al regresar a Palma Soriano, en una demostración
de valor y firmeza, los activistas, junto a varios vecinos,
protagonizaron una protesta pública en la calle donde habían sido
reprimidos por la tarde".
Estas breves detenciones se suman a la ola represiva de la última
semana. El jueves tres disidentes fueron detenidos en La Habana y el
martes otros 30 fueron arrestados. "El lunes también se reportaron
detenciones contra activistas que planeaban rendir homenaje al
prisionero de conciencia Orlando Zapata Tamayo, muerto hace cinco años
después de larga huelga de hambre y torturas", añadió la UNPACU.
Además, entre el sábado y el domingo "ocurrieron más de 220 detenciones
de activistas de la UNPACU, las Damas de Blanco y de otras
organizaciones pro democráticas en varias provincias".
"El creciente número de detenciones, golpizas, actos vandálicos y otras
acciones represivas que violan el derecho a la libertad de expresión,
reunión y manifestación pacífica, demuestran que el régimen castrista no
tiene la más mínima voluntad de mejorar su pésimo historial en materia
de Derechos Humanos", añadió.
Source: La UNPACU denuncia el arresto de 20 activistas en Palma Soriano
| Diario de Cuba -
http://www.diariodecuba.com/derechos-humanos/1425069998_13129.html
US could reopen embassy in Cuba within weeks
US could reopen embassy in Cuba within weeks
By Jo Biddle
Washington (AFP) - The United States and Cuba said they made progress
Friday in talks on restoring diplomatic ties and Washington could reopen
its Havana embassy before a key April summit if differences are overcome.
After a second round of historic meetings, negotiators from both
countries appeared optimistic about the road ahead, but cautioned there
were still outstanding issues to resolve in order to restore diplomatic
ties frozen for half a century.
"Today was productive and encouraging. In open, honest and sometimes
challenging...conversation we addressed the requirements of each side
and the differences we identified in our first discussion in Havana a
month ago," said top US diplomat for Latin America, Roberta Jacobson.
"And we made meaningful progress in resolving them," she said,
cautioning that "serious disagreements remain."
The head of the Cuban delegation, Josefina Vidal, at a press conference
at the State Department, also said she believed progress had been made.
But she renewed a call for Havana to be removed from the US blacklist of
state sponsors of terrorism and urged that provisions be found to enable
Cuba's interests section in Washington to have access to the US banking
system.
Vidal stressed that while it was "not a precondition" that Havana be
removed from the blacklist in order to restore diplomatic relations, it
should happen before ties can be renewed.
"It would be very difficult to explain that Cuba and the United States
have established normal diplomatic relations when Cuba is kept on this
list that we believe we have never belonged to," she said.
Secretary of State John Kerry earlier rebuffed communist Cuba's demand
to have the designation -- in place since 1982 -- lifted immediately,
saying the current review would run its course.
"The state-sponsored terrorism designation is a separate process, it is
not a negotiation," Kerry said.
"And that evaluation will be made appropriately and nothing will be done
with respect to the list until the evaluation is completed."
Friday's talks were only the second between the Cold War foes since
President Barack Obama and Cuba's President Raul Castro surprised the
world in December with their decision to restore ties after more than a
half century of enmity.
The hope is that within the coming months both nations will agree to
reopen embassies in each other's capitals and appoint full-fledged
ambassadors.
- Permanent contact -
An initial round of talks in Havana last month -- the highest level
since US-Cuban relations were severed in 1961 -- broke the ice but ended
with little sign of a breakthrough.
Obama is due to attend the Summit of the Americas in Panama on April
10-11, which Cuba will also be at for the first time.
"I do think that we can get this done in time for the Summit of the
Americas," Jacobson said, when asked if the embassies could be reopened
by then, but she stressed much depended on whether "we can get things
done in time."
Washington has insisted that its diplomats and embassy be granted full
powers under the Vienna Convention to operate freely, including meeting
with Cuban dissidents.
Although no new date for the next round of talks has been set, Vidal
said the two delegations had promised to be in "permanent" contact.
Jacobson revealed that more diplomatic exchanges were planned --
including a first US-Cuba human rights dialogue, due to be held sometime
in late March.
Next week two separate Cuban teams will visit Washington to discuss
human trafficking and civil aviation, and then early next month a US
delegation will travel to Havana to work on greater Internet
connectivity "to better support access to information for the Cuban people."
Obama has called on the US Congress to lift the decades-old biting
economic embargo of Cuba.
But some lawmakers -- as well as parts of the Cuban dissident community
-- remain wary of the diplomatic demarche, arguing Obama has failed to
secure guarantees about progress on human rights on the island.
Source: US could reopen embassy in Cuba within weeks - Yahoo News -
http://news.yahoo.com/us-cuba-resume-normalization-talks-152623534.html;_ylt=AwrBEiTYpPFUxUcANCDQtDMD
By Jo Biddle
Washington (AFP) - The United States and Cuba said they made progress
Friday in talks on restoring diplomatic ties and Washington could reopen
its Havana embassy before a key April summit if differences are overcome.
After a second round of historic meetings, negotiators from both
countries appeared optimistic about the road ahead, but cautioned there
were still outstanding issues to resolve in order to restore diplomatic
ties frozen for half a century.
"Today was productive and encouraging. In open, honest and sometimes
challenging...conversation we addressed the requirements of each side
and the differences we identified in our first discussion in Havana a
month ago," said top US diplomat for Latin America, Roberta Jacobson.
"And we made meaningful progress in resolving them," she said,
cautioning that "serious disagreements remain."
The head of the Cuban delegation, Josefina Vidal, at a press conference
at the State Department, also said she believed progress had been made.
But she renewed a call for Havana to be removed from the US blacklist of
state sponsors of terrorism and urged that provisions be found to enable
Cuba's interests section in Washington to have access to the US banking
system.
Vidal stressed that while it was "not a precondition" that Havana be
removed from the blacklist in order to restore diplomatic relations, it
should happen before ties can be renewed.
"It would be very difficult to explain that Cuba and the United States
have established normal diplomatic relations when Cuba is kept on this
list that we believe we have never belonged to," she said.
Secretary of State John Kerry earlier rebuffed communist Cuba's demand
to have the designation -- in place since 1982 -- lifted immediately,
saying the current review would run its course.
"The state-sponsored terrorism designation is a separate process, it is
not a negotiation," Kerry said.
"And that evaluation will be made appropriately and nothing will be done
with respect to the list until the evaluation is completed."
Friday's talks were only the second between the Cold War foes since
President Barack Obama and Cuba's President Raul Castro surprised the
world in December with their decision to restore ties after more than a
half century of enmity.
The hope is that within the coming months both nations will agree to
reopen embassies in each other's capitals and appoint full-fledged
ambassadors.
- Permanent contact -
An initial round of talks in Havana last month -- the highest level
since US-Cuban relations were severed in 1961 -- broke the ice but ended
with little sign of a breakthrough.
Obama is due to attend the Summit of the Americas in Panama on April
10-11, which Cuba will also be at for the first time.
"I do think that we can get this done in time for the Summit of the
Americas," Jacobson said, when asked if the embassies could be reopened
by then, but she stressed much depended on whether "we can get things
done in time."
Washington has insisted that its diplomats and embassy be granted full
powers under the Vienna Convention to operate freely, including meeting
with Cuban dissidents.
Although no new date for the next round of talks has been set, Vidal
said the two delegations had promised to be in "permanent" contact.
Jacobson revealed that more diplomatic exchanges were planned --
including a first US-Cuba human rights dialogue, due to be held sometime
in late March.
Next week two separate Cuban teams will visit Washington to discuss
human trafficking and civil aviation, and then early next month a US
delegation will travel to Havana to work on greater Internet
connectivity "to better support access to information for the Cuban people."
Obama has called on the US Congress to lift the decades-old biting
economic embargo of Cuba.
But some lawmakers -- as well as parts of the Cuban dissident community
-- remain wary of the diplomatic demarche, arguing Obama has failed to
secure guarantees about progress on human rights on the island.
Source: US could reopen embassy in Cuba within weeks - Yahoo News -
http://news.yahoo.com/us-cuba-resume-normalization-talks-152623534.html;_ylt=AwrBEiTYpPFUxUcANCDQtDMD
EU and Cuba to restart talks after cultural dispute
EU and Cuba to restart talks after cultural dispute
BY ROBIN EMMOTT
BRUSSELS Fri Feb 27, 2015 1:30pm EST
(Reuters) - Cuba and the European Union will hold a third round of talks
in Havana next week aimed at increasing trade, investment and political
dialogue after overcoming a dispute that delayed the negotiations, an EU
official said on Friday.
The round on Wednesday and Thursday follows normalization talks this
week between Cuba and the United States, was due to take place in January.
It was postponed because Havana was upset over a cultural event
organized by the EU in Washington in March last year.
The EU is already Cuba's top foreign investor. EU officials say the
proposed accord would give Brussels a bigger role in Havana's
market-oriented reforms, position EU companies for Cuba's transition to
a more open economy and allow the Europe to press for political freedoms
on the Communist-ruled island.
EU officials suspect that Havana may not have felt ready for a third
round last year because they were due to discuss human rights, which is
always a sensitive topic for Cuba, a one-party state that represses
dissent and controls the media.
"We will only go when they feel they are ready to receive us," said an
EU official on condition of anonymity.
It was unclear how ready Havana is now willing to discuss human rights
this time but the EU official said Cuba is aware that the issue is an
essential demand for Europe.
"That has been accepted by our Cuban counterparts. The Cuban side has
been aware that these issues will have to be integrated into the
agreement," the official said.
The EU and Cuba began the negotiations in April last year to improve
relations, part of a significant deepening of ties since the bloc lifted
diplomatic sanctions in 2008.
The talks remain delicate. People involved in preparing the talks told
Reuters last year that Cuba was upset by an exhibition of photos of Cuba
by a Lithuanian artist that had Havana's backing.
The exhibition was shown in Washington but Cuba did not approve of some
of the people who attended its inauguration there, sources said.
Human rights remain the biggest stumbling block for an EU-Cuba accord.
Diplomats say any serious violation of human rights during negotiations
would also interrupt the talks.
EU officials say the recent rapprochment in ties with the U.S.
government, Cuba's longtime foe that has kept an embargo against the
Caribbean island since 1962, have not had any direct impact on the talks.
"It is too early to say how it will play into our negotiating process,"
the EU official said, referring to the decision on Dec. 17 by the United
States and Cuba to work to normalize relations severed 54 years ago.
(Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Source: EU and Cuba to restart talks after cultural dispute | Reuters -
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/27/us-eu-cuba-idUSKBN0LV28J20150227
BY ROBIN EMMOTT
BRUSSELS Fri Feb 27, 2015 1:30pm EST
(Reuters) - Cuba and the European Union will hold a third round of talks
in Havana next week aimed at increasing trade, investment and political
dialogue after overcoming a dispute that delayed the negotiations, an EU
official said on Friday.
The round on Wednesday and Thursday follows normalization talks this
week between Cuba and the United States, was due to take place in January.
It was postponed because Havana was upset over a cultural event
organized by the EU in Washington in March last year.
The EU is already Cuba's top foreign investor. EU officials say the
proposed accord would give Brussels a bigger role in Havana's
market-oriented reforms, position EU companies for Cuba's transition to
a more open economy and allow the Europe to press for political freedoms
on the Communist-ruled island.
EU officials suspect that Havana may not have felt ready for a third
round last year because they were due to discuss human rights, which is
always a sensitive topic for Cuba, a one-party state that represses
dissent and controls the media.
"We will only go when they feel they are ready to receive us," said an
EU official on condition of anonymity.
It was unclear how ready Havana is now willing to discuss human rights
this time but the EU official said Cuba is aware that the issue is an
essential demand for Europe.
"That has been accepted by our Cuban counterparts. The Cuban side has
been aware that these issues will have to be integrated into the
agreement," the official said.
The EU and Cuba began the negotiations in April last year to improve
relations, part of a significant deepening of ties since the bloc lifted
diplomatic sanctions in 2008.
The talks remain delicate. People involved in preparing the talks told
Reuters last year that Cuba was upset by an exhibition of photos of Cuba
by a Lithuanian artist that had Havana's backing.
The exhibition was shown in Washington but Cuba did not approve of some
of the people who attended its inauguration there, sources said.
Human rights remain the biggest stumbling block for an EU-Cuba accord.
Diplomats say any serious violation of human rights during negotiations
would also interrupt the talks.
EU officials say the recent rapprochment in ties with the U.S.
government, Cuba's longtime foe that has kept an embargo against the
Caribbean island since 1962, have not had any direct impact on the talks.
"It is too early to say how it will play into our negotiating process,"
the EU official said, referring to the decision on Dec. 17 by the United
States and Cuba to work to normalize relations severed 54 years ago.
(Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Source: EU and Cuba to restart talks after cultural dispute | Reuters -
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/27/us-eu-cuba-idUSKBN0LV28J20150227
FIU conference focuses on race in Cuba
FIU conference focuses on race in Cuba
BY NORA GAMEZ TORRES NGAMEZTORRES@ELNUEVOHERALD.COM
02/27/2015 11:20 PM 02/27/2015 11:20 PM
Cuba's political future, the impact of renewed relations between the
United States and Cuba and its new policies towards the island, were the
focus of some of the discussions held on the first day of the 10th
annual Conference of Cuban and Cuban American Studies in Florida
International University.
A panel, which made up by FIU experts discussing the consequences of the
December 17th announcement in regards to diplomatic and financial
relations between the U.S and Cuba, seemed to generate great interest.
Professor Marifeli Perez-Stable's opening statement was: "Cuba is a
dictatorship." She focused on criticizing what she considers the
"weaknesses" of the Cuban government. Among them she mentioned its
"arrogance of power" and the fact that "Cuban leaders really don't know
what the people think, its ideology is more repressive and less
inclusive as time goes on, and that's a terrible weakness."
She added: "Human rights can't have a 'but' in front of them, they don't
belong to any government, you either respect them or plaster them."
Perez-Stable, who is also the sociologist of FIU's Department of Global
and Sociocultural Studies, highlighted the varying opinions within the
Cuban opposition in regards to the restoration of relations with the
U.S. but warned that national politics shouldn't interfere with these.
Dario Moreno centered on analyzing the impact of Barack Obama's
announcement and what it meant for Florida election politics. According
to Moreno, the President has benefited from the Hispanic non-Cuban vote
and "the idea is that any vote that he loses because of his policy
towards Cuba, can be won within other Hispanic groups, because of the
topic of immigration."
Moreno noted that this was only "a bet".
Professor Marcos A. Kernel, on the other hand, assured that from a
banker's point of view, "we won't see big changes until the embargo is
lifted" and that the measures announced make some transactions easier to
make but others are still observed.
"I don't think that the banks are going to create credit lines to
provide them to Cuba so easily," said Kernel.
Frank Mora, director of the Latin American and Caribbean Center at FIU,
formed part of Obama's cabinet during his first term. He said that "some
people overestimate the role that the Vatican played in the
negotiations" which ran for 18 months.
According to Mora, the Vatican communicated with each side to promote
dialogue, but aside from that "didn't do much else."
He pinpointed Canada as having more of a protagonist role, hosting
several secret meetings, although he said that he considers negotiations
between the U.S. and Cuba took place "without much external influence."
In that panel as well as in another about ideology and reform in the era
of Raul Castro, philosopher and guest FIU professor, Alexis Jardines,
touched upon Cuba's financial motivations which are behind its
negotiations with its historic enemy. He noted that lifting the embargo
"would be the oh think that could save the country from collapsing."
Jardines things that the present government will resist the empowerment
if civic society and will attempt to "kidnap" this space and replace it
with "the organization of the masses" in the country. However, he
doesn't discard the "foreseeable construction of a fake opposition" or
even "bipartisanship among the loyals."
He also affirmed that "the potential to contest lies with the people,
not the opposition, the upstanding and middle class Cuban and those
people are more capitalist then internal dissidence."
However, Sebastian Arcos mentioned that small business owners who
operate on their own account have been extremely careful to not make any
political statement and referred to a list of "cosmetic reforms" created
to make the Cuban government appear as being "more tolerant". An example
of this is Mariela Castro's work with transvestites and transsexuals.
Arcos insisted that economic pressure being experienced by the current
government "has been left with no one to support it" and said that
"we're the ones running out of time, we're the ones who want to
recuperate our country."
The new voting law recently announced in Cuba's official press outlets
was also discussed although details are presently unknown. Several
panelists speculated that it could lead to an increased popularity
within the Communist Party of Cuba or the possibility of a
bipartisanship in which critical sectors could be defined as "loyal".
In the event's main session, organized by the Institute of Cuban
Studies, several investigations about the issue of race in the island
were presented.
Ada Ferrer, Historian at the University of New York, proposed a
rereading of Jose Antonio Aponte - a man condemned to be hung for
leading an abolitionist rebellion at the start of the 19th century. At
the same time, Alejandro de la Fuente, a professor at Harvard
University, analyzed the contributions of the Antillano Group and delved
into how forgotten it is in Cuba's cultural history.
Andrea Queely and Danielle Clealand, both professors at FIU, presented
some conclusions about their investigative efforts in Cuba about racial
prejudice and negro consciousness respectively.
Other panels involving similar topics included the development of the
racial problem since the time of civil rights movement in Cuba, social
integration, national identity, literature, cinema and dance, among others.
The conference concluded for the day with a welcome reception offered by
FIU president, Mark Rosenberg, in which he paid homage to Cuban Academic
Carmelo Mesa Lago.
The conference will continue to run until Saturday.
Source: FIU conference focuses on race in Cuba | Miami Herald Miami
Herald -
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article11413571.html
BY NORA GAMEZ TORRES NGAMEZTORRES@ELNUEVOHERALD.COM
02/27/2015 11:20 PM 02/27/2015 11:20 PM
Cuba's political future, the impact of renewed relations between the
United States and Cuba and its new policies towards the island, were the
focus of some of the discussions held on the first day of the 10th
annual Conference of Cuban and Cuban American Studies in Florida
International University.
A panel, which made up by FIU experts discussing the consequences of the
December 17th announcement in regards to diplomatic and financial
relations between the U.S and Cuba, seemed to generate great interest.
Professor Marifeli Perez-Stable's opening statement was: "Cuba is a
dictatorship." She focused on criticizing what she considers the
"weaknesses" of the Cuban government. Among them she mentioned its
"arrogance of power" and the fact that "Cuban leaders really don't know
what the people think, its ideology is more repressive and less
inclusive as time goes on, and that's a terrible weakness."
She added: "Human rights can't have a 'but' in front of them, they don't
belong to any government, you either respect them or plaster them."
Perez-Stable, who is also the sociologist of FIU's Department of Global
and Sociocultural Studies, highlighted the varying opinions within the
Cuban opposition in regards to the restoration of relations with the
U.S. but warned that national politics shouldn't interfere with these.
Dario Moreno centered on analyzing the impact of Barack Obama's
announcement and what it meant for Florida election politics. According
to Moreno, the President has benefited from the Hispanic non-Cuban vote
and "the idea is that any vote that he loses because of his policy
towards Cuba, can be won within other Hispanic groups, because of the
topic of immigration."
Moreno noted that this was only "a bet".
Professor Marcos A. Kernel, on the other hand, assured that from a
banker's point of view, "we won't see big changes until the embargo is
lifted" and that the measures announced make some transactions easier to
make but others are still observed.
"I don't think that the banks are going to create credit lines to
provide them to Cuba so easily," said Kernel.
Frank Mora, director of the Latin American and Caribbean Center at FIU,
formed part of Obama's cabinet during his first term. He said that "some
people overestimate the role that the Vatican played in the
negotiations" which ran for 18 months.
According to Mora, the Vatican communicated with each side to promote
dialogue, but aside from that "didn't do much else."
He pinpointed Canada as having more of a protagonist role, hosting
several secret meetings, although he said that he considers negotiations
between the U.S. and Cuba took place "without much external influence."
In that panel as well as in another about ideology and reform in the era
of Raul Castro, philosopher and guest FIU professor, Alexis Jardines,
touched upon Cuba's financial motivations which are behind its
negotiations with its historic enemy. He noted that lifting the embargo
"would be the oh think that could save the country from collapsing."
Jardines things that the present government will resist the empowerment
if civic society and will attempt to "kidnap" this space and replace it
with "the organization of the masses" in the country. However, he
doesn't discard the "foreseeable construction of a fake opposition" or
even "bipartisanship among the loyals."
He also affirmed that "the potential to contest lies with the people,
not the opposition, the upstanding and middle class Cuban and those
people are more capitalist then internal dissidence."
However, Sebastian Arcos mentioned that small business owners who
operate on their own account have been extremely careful to not make any
political statement and referred to a list of "cosmetic reforms" created
to make the Cuban government appear as being "more tolerant". An example
of this is Mariela Castro's work with transvestites and transsexuals.
Arcos insisted that economic pressure being experienced by the current
government "has been left with no one to support it" and said that
"we're the ones running out of time, we're the ones who want to
recuperate our country."
The new voting law recently announced in Cuba's official press outlets
was also discussed although details are presently unknown. Several
panelists speculated that it could lead to an increased popularity
within the Communist Party of Cuba or the possibility of a
bipartisanship in which critical sectors could be defined as "loyal".
In the event's main session, organized by the Institute of Cuban
Studies, several investigations about the issue of race in the island
were presented.
Ada Ferrer, Historian at the University of New York, proposed a
rereading of Jose Antonio Aponte - a man condemned to be hung for
leading an abolitionist rebellion at the start of the 19th century. At
the same time, Alejandro de la Fuente, a professor at Harvard
University, analyzed the contributions of the Antillano Group and delved
into how forgotten it is in Cuba's cultural history.
Andrea Queely and Danielle Clealand, both professors at FIU, presented
some conclusions about their investigative efforts in Cuba about racial
prejudice and negro consciousness respectively.
Other panels involving similar topics included the development of the
racial problem since the time of civil rights movement in Cuba, social
integration, national identity, literature, cinema and dance, among others.
The conference concluded for the day with a welcome reception offered by
FIU president, Mark Rosenberg, in which he paid homage to Cuban Academic
Carmelo Mesa Lago.
The conference will continue to run until Saturday.
Source: FIU conference focuses on race in Cuba | Miami Herald Miami
Herald -
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article11413571.html
US, Cuba cite progress on restoring diplomatic ties
US, Cuba cite progress on restoring diplomatic ties
BY BRADLEY KLAPPER ASSOCIATED PRESS
02/27/2015 9:39 PM 02/27/2015 9:39 PM
WASHINGTON
The United States and Cuba claimed progress Friday toward ending a
half-century diplomatic freeze, suggesting they could clear some of the
biggest obstacles to their new relationship within weeks.
After Friday's talks in Washington, the second round of U.S.-Cuban
discussions in the last month, diplomats of both countries spoke
positively about fulfilling the promise made by Presidents Barack Obama
and Raul Castro in December to restore embassies in each other's capitals.
The U.S. even held out hope of clinching a deal in time for April's
summit of North and South American leaders, which Obama and Castro are
expected to attend, however unlikely that appeared.
"We made meaningful progress," Roberta Jacobson, the State Department's
senior envoy to Latin America, told reporters, calling the negotiations
"open, honest and sometimes challenging, but always respectful."
Her Cuban counterpart, Josefina Vidal, indicated she received assurances
that the U.S. would move on two of the biggest hurdles remaining: Cuba's
inclusion on the U.S. state sponsor of terrorism blacklist and its
inability to conduct normal banking operations in the United States. She
expressed confidence of progress on both priorities "within the
following weeks."
Cuba's 33-year status on the terrorism list appeared the biggest hurdle,
with Vidal saying the issue needed to be resolved if the Cold War foes
were to improve ties. Washington is reviewing the designation, which
stems from Havana's support decades ago for the Basque separatist group
ETA and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, Latin America's
oldest and strongest rebel group.
The U.S. has yet to make a decision, but all signs point toward Cuba
being taken off the list. American officials say they should make their
recommendation ahead of the six-month schedule set out by Obama in
December. And the administration has supported Cuba's hosting of peace
efforts between the FARC and Colombia's government.
At a news conference earlier Friday with Liberian President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf, Secretary of State John Kerry emphasized his
government's position that the discussions on re-establishing embassies
were technical and distinct from the U.S. legal examination of Cuba's
record on terrorism.
"That's one set of fairly normal negotiations with respect to movement
of diplomats, access, travel, different things," Kerry told reporters.
"The state sponsorship of terrorism designation is a separate process.
It is not a negotiation. It is an evaluation that is made under a very
strict set of requirements, congressionally mandated, and that has to be
pursued separately."
Cuba cannot get off the list immediately. If the State Department
recommends removal and Obama sends such a decision to Congress, the
communist country would only come off after a 45-day waiting period.
That makes it practically impossible for the embassies to be
reconstituted in Havana and Washington in time for the Summit of the
Americas in Panama, if Cuba sticks to its position.
The likelihood of prolonged talks on normalizing ties has dampened
somewhat the excitement generated when Obama and Castro announced they
were exchanging imprisoned spies and would chart a new course for
U.S.-Cuban relations.
Although the U.S. has eased some trade and travel restrictions, the
economic embargo on Cuba remains in force. Cuba still hasn't said
whether it will meet America's full demands for unfettered diplomatic
access on the island. And the same democracy and human rights concerns
that have long hampered the relationship remain.
Both sides are speaking of the embassies as a first step toward bridging
the historic divide between countries separated by only 90 miles.
But other efforts are afoot to improve cooperation. Jacobson and Vidal
spoke of U.S.-Cuban meetings in the coming weeks on human trafficking,
marine conservation, migration, civil aviation, Internet connectivity
and the always testy topic of human rights.
Source: US, Cuba cite progress on restoring diplomatic ties | Miami
Herald Miami Herald - http://www.miamiherald.com/news/article11336555.html
BY BRADLEY KLAPPER ASSOCIATED PRESS
02/27/2015 9:39 PM 02/27/2015 9:39 PM
WASHINGTON
The United States and Cuba claimed progress Friday toward ending a
half-century diplomatic freeze, suggesting they could clear some of the
biggest obstacles to their new relationship within weeks.
After Friday's talks in Washington, the second round of U.S.-Cuban
discussions in the last month, diplomats of both countries spoke
positively about fulfilling the promise made by Presidents Barack Obama
and Raul Castro in December to restore embassies in each other's capitals.
The U.S. even held out hope of clinching a deal in time for April's
summit of North and South American leaders, which Obama and Castro are
expected to attend, however unlikely that appeared.
"We made meaningful progress," Roberta Jacobson, the State Department's
senior envoy to Latin America, told reporters, calling the negotiations
"open, honest and sometimes challenging, but always respectful."
Her Cuban counterpart, Josefina Vidal, indicated she received assurances
that the U.S. would move on two of the biggest hurdles remaining: Cuba's
inclusion on the U.S. state sponsor of terrorism blacklist and its
inability to conduct normal banking operations in the United States. She
expressed confidence of progress on both priorities "within the
following weeks."
Cuba's 33-year status on the terrorism list appeared the biggest hurdle,
with Vidal saying the issue needed to be resolved if the Cold War foes
were to improve ties. Washington is reviewing the designation, which
stems from Havana's support decades ago for the Basque separatist group
ETA and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, Latin America's
oldest and strongest rebel group.
The U.S. has yet to make a decision, but all signs point toward Cuba
being taken off the list. American officials say they should make their
recommendation ahead of the six-month schedule set out by Obama in
December. And the administration has supported Cuba's hosting of peace
efforts between the FARC and Colombia's government.
At a news conference earlier Friday with Liberian President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf, Secretary of State John Kerry emphasized his
government's position that the discussions on re-establishing embassies
were technical and distinct from the U.S. legal examination of Cuba's
record on terrorism.
"That's one set of fairly normal negotiations with respect to movement
of diplomats, access, travel, different things," Kerry told reporters.
"The state sponsorship of terrorism designation is a separate process.
It is not a negotiation. It is an evaluation that is made under a very
strict set of requirements, congressionally mandated, and that has to be
pursued separately."
Cuba cannot get off the list immediately. If the State Department
recommends removal and Obama sends such a decision to Congress, the
communist country would only come off after a 45-day waiting period.
That makes it practically impossible for the embassies to be
reconstituted in Havana and Washington in time for the Summit of the
Americas in Panama, if Cuba sticks to its position.
The likelihood of prolonged talks on normalizing ties has dampened
somewhat the excitement generated when Obama and Castro announced they
were exchanging imprisoned spies and would chart a new course for
U.S.-Cuban relations.
Although the U.S. has eased some trade and travel restrictions, the
economic embargo on Cuba remains in force. Cuba still hasn't said
whether it will meet America's full demands for unfettered diplomatic
access on the island. And the same democracy and human rights concerns
that have long hampered the relationship remain.
Both sides are speaking of the embassies as a first step toward bridging
the historic divide between countries separated by only 90 miles.
But other efforts are afoot to improve cooperation. Jacobson and Vidal
spoke of U.S.-Cuban meetings in the coming weeks on human trafficking,
marine conservation, migration, civil aviation, Internet connectivity
and the always testy topic of human rights.
Source: US, Cuba cite progress on restoring diplomatic ties | Miami
Herald Miami Herald - http://www.miamiherald.com/news/article11336555.html
El gobernador de Nueva York viajará a Cuba en abril junto a una misión comercial
El gobernador de Nueva York viajará a Cuba en abril junto a una misión
comercial
AGENCIAS | Nueva York | 27 Feb 2015 - 12:40 pm.
Andrew Cuomo cree que la visita 'constituirá un gran paso' y 'ayudará a
abrir la puerta a nuevos mercados' para las empresas de su estado.
El gobernador de Nueva York, Andrew Cuomo, viajará el próximo 20 de
abril a Cuba al frente de una misión comercial, informa EFE.
"Esta misión constituirá un gran paso adelante en las relaciones de
nuestro estado con Cuba y nos ayudará a abrir la puerta a nuevos
mercados para las empresas de Nueva York", dijo Cuomo en un comunicado.
La oficina del gobernador precisó la fecha del viaje, que había
anunciado hace un mes junto al jefe de la Sección de Intereses de La
Habana en Washington, José Ramón Cabañas, quien calificó la visita de
"histórica".
"Como puerta de entrada a Estados Unidos, Nueva York siempre ha sido un
gran símbolo para el pueblo cubano (...) y nos encanta que Cuomo haya
aceptado ser el primer gobernador en liderar una misión comercial a
nuestra bonita Isla", dijo Cabañas.
La delegación, que buscará explorar nuevas oportunidades y avanzar en
intereses compartidos, incluirá a "funcionarios de gobierno y líderes
empresariales" de Nueva York.
La Casa Blanca anunció en diciembre pasado un acuerdo con el régimen de
Raúl Castro para el restablecimiento de las relaciones diplomáticas,
rotas desde 1961. Posteriormente, el presidente estadounidense, Barack
Obama, pidió al Congreso comenzar a trabajar por el fin del embargo.
Desde entonces, los departamentos del Comercio y el Tesoro han aprobado
algunas de las medidas que alivian las sanciones y que facilitan los
viajes y las relaciones comerciales entre ambos países.
Entre las medidas se incluye la posibilidad de usar tarjetas de crédito
estadounidenses en Cuba y que los bancos del país puedan crear cuentas
con instituciones financieras cubanas para facilitar las transacciones.
Source: El gobernador de Nueva York viajará a Cuba en abril junto a una
misión comercial | Diario de Cuba -
http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/1425037227_13118.html
comercial
AGENCIAS | Nueva York | 27 Feb 2015 - 12:40 pm.
Andrew Cuomo cree que la visita 'constituirá un gran paso' y 'ayudará a
abrir la puerta a nuevos mercados' para las empresas de su estado.
El gobernador de Nueva York, Andrew Cuomo, viajará el próximo 20 de
abril a Cuba al frente de una misión comercial, informa EFE.
"Esta misión constituirá un gran paso adelante en las relaciones de
nuestro estado con Cuba y nos ayudará a abrir la puerta a nuevos
mercados para las empresas de Nueva York", dijo Cuomo en un comunicado.
La oficina del gobernador precisó la fecha del viaje, que había
anunciado hace un mes junto al jefe de la Sección de Intereses de La
Habana en Washington, José Ramón Cabañas, quien calificó la visita de
"histórica".
"Como puerta de entrada a Estados Unidos, Nueva York siempre ha sido un
gran símbolo para el pueblo cubano (...) y nos encanta que Cuomo haya
aceptado ser el primer gobernador en liderar una misión comercial a
nuestra bonita Isla", dijo Cabañas.
La delegación, que buscará explorar nuevas oportunidades y avanzar en
intereses compartidos, incluirá a "funcionarios de gobierno y líderes
empresariales" de Nueva York.
La Casa Blanca anunció en diciembre pasado un acuerdo con el régimen de
Raúl Castro para el restablecimiento de las relaciones diplomáticas,
rotas desde 1961. Posteriormente, el presidente estadounidense, Barack
Obama, pidió al Congreso comenzar a trabajar por el fin del embargo.
Desde entonces, los departamentos del Comercio y el Tesoro han aprobado
algunas de las medidas que alivian las sanciones y que facilitan los
viajes y las relaciones comerciales entre ambos países.
Entre las medidas se incluye la posibilidad de usar tarjetas de crédito
estadounidenses en Cuba y que los bancos del país puedan crear cuentas
con instituciones financieras cubanas para facilitar las transacciones.
Source: El gobernador de Nueva York viajará a Cuba en abril junto a una
misión comercial | Diario de Cuba -
http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/1425037227_13118.html
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