Despite crackdown in Cuba, senators push to lift travel ban *** WASHINGTON (AFP) - A group of US senators introduced legislation to lift a ban prohibiting Americans from traveling to Cuba, undeterred by the recent crackdown on dissidents in the Communist island. "After 43 years, it ought to be clear to everyone that the embargo has failed to weaken (Cuban President Fidel) Castro," said Senator Max Baucus of Montana, the main sponsor of "The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act."
"A better approach is to reach out to the Cuban people. Ending the travel ban is the best way to do this," said Baucus, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee. Other senators who are co-sponsoring the legislation include senators Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Larry Craig of Idaho, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Mike Enzi of Wyoming, Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, and Mark Dayton of Minnesota. ***
Castro to Speak at Huge May Day Rally - 900 Union Leaders From Around World*** HAVANA - Hundreds of thousands of Cubans poured into the country's main plaza Thursday for a May Day celebration that aimed to defend the island's socialist system against criticism from abroad. "We workers are gathered here to tell the American empire that we are not afraid, in spite of their lies," Jose Rego, a 66-year-old gardener in a straw hat, said shortly before the ceremony began at Havana's Plaza of the Revolution. Waving a poster of a young Fidel Castro in one hand and a red, white and blue Cuban flag in the other, Rego declared: "The Cuban people know how to defend the just cause of the working class."
Cheers erupted as Castro, wearing his typical olive green uniform and cap, arrived and took his place alongside other communist leaders. The Cuban president was to speak later Thursday. "Long live May Day! Long live socialism! Long live Fidel!" declared Pedro Ross, secretary-general of the Cuban Workers Confederation, as the event began. Organizers said 1 million people were expected at the Havana rally, including more than 900 union leaders from around the world - 160 of them from the United States. Smaller gatherings were being held in other Cuban cities. ***