Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Castro's Opponents in Cuba Down but Not Out - "I've never felt so much solidarity in the streets."
yahoo.com news ^ | April 23, 2003 | Anthony Boadle , Reuters

Posted on 04/23/2003 12:59:44 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

HAVANA (Reuters) - Opponents of President Fidel Castro said on Wednesday that mass arrests and infiltration by government spies knocked them to their knees, but they expect to rise again on growing discontent with Cuba's crumbling communist state.

Dissidents who survived the worst wave of repression in Cuba in decades said their fragile organizations were decapitated by the round-up of 75 leading dissidents, activists and independent journalists a month ago.

"The dissident movement is practically paralyzed," said Vladimiro Roca, who was freed last year after four years in jail for criticizing Castro's economic policies.

"It was a really big blow, but there are enough dissidents out of jail. We are regrouping," the son of a founding father of Cuba's ruling Communist Party told Reuters.

Roca said it would take months before disabled dissident groups could raise their heads again.

Western diplomats in Havana wonder whether Cuba's small and divided opposition groups will be able to regain momentum after so many were given severe prison terms of up to 28 years.

The crackdown dealt a devastating blow to a nascent opposition movement that had raised its voice last year calling for democratic reforms to the one-party state while enjoying a rare period of official tolerance.

Particularly shocking was the number of undercover security agents who surfaced at the trials as witnesses to reveal that they had been posing as dissidents, in some case for decades.

"The damage to the dissidents is enormous. I don't know how they will recover now," said a European ambassador.

"Who can they trust now, after it turns out that even leading figures were agents for 10 years?" the diplomat added.

CASTRO LOSES FRIENDS

The jailings, followed by the firing squad executions this month of three men who hijacked a Havana commuter ferry in a bid to reach the United States, brought an outpouring of international criticism, and lost Castro some close friends.

Communist parties in Italy, France and Portugal criticized the repression and Portuguese Nobel prize winning writer Jose Saramago declared that his friendship with Castro had ended because the right to dissent had been suppressed in Cuba.

The Cuban government said the executions were necessary to stop illegal migration to Florida encouraged by Washington.

Havana maintained the jailed dissidents had committed treason by conspiring with diplomats of its longtime foe the United States, where the Bush administration has stepped up support for Castro's opponents who have received U.S.-funded computers, digital cameras and short-wave radios.

Diplomats and dissidents said the crackdown was prompted by discontent over economic hardship and the first nationwide opposition movement, the Varela Project signature drive.

"The arrests and trials were meant to stop the dissidents capitalizing on the growing discontent," a European diplomat said. "There are many reasons Cubans are unhappy: transport, food, lack of horizons. The government's alarm bells went off."

Cuba's economy has never recovered fully from the collapse of Soviet communism. Foreign investment has dropped to a trickle due to bureaucracy, and tourism, the Caribbean island's main source of foreign currency, slumped last year.

FEW PROSPECTS OF CHANGE

Puffing on a cigar before his computer sent from the United States, veteran rights activist Elizardo Sanchez said the dissident movement was born locally, not in the United States.

"They cut the grass, but the grass will grow again because the economic crisis continues to feed popular discontent," he said. "I've never felt so much solidarity in the streets."

More than half of the jailed dissidents were local organizers of the Varela Project, whose leader Oswaldo Paya won the European Union's Sakharov human rights prize last year.

"This wave of terror is an attempt to kill the chances of peaceful change in Cuba, but we will continue seeking peaceful reforms," Paya said.

Diplomatic observers with years in Havana said Castro could not tolerate criticism of his socialist society born of a 1959 guerrilla revolution and was determined to see it outlast him.

But they said the 76-year-old leader was making it hard for his political successors to stay in control.

"These repressive steps are gradually undermining his government's legitimacy, making any succession difficult," a South American diplomat said.

"Each day there is more despair among Cubans because of the lack of future perspectives," he said.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Cuba; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: castro; castrowatch; communism; cuba
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

Cuban President Fidel (AFP/File/Adalberto Roque)

Castro: Bush is "stupid" - Cuban Crackdown Deepens Strains With U.S.

1 posted on 04/23/2003 12:59:44 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
Castro shows himself to be the dictator he is and nary a peep from the left. Apparently the Hollywood gliteratti and assorted left wing anti-war crowd seriously believe that George Bush is a greater threat to free speech than Fidel Castro.
2 posted on 04/23/2003 1:07:12 PM PDT by The Great RJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Great RJ
There is no embargo. The rest of the world is free to trade with Castro and get stiffed for the check.
3 posted on 04/23/2003 1:15:30 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks
There is no embargo. The rest of the world is free to trade with Castro and get stiffed for the check.

Bump!

4 posted on 04/23/2003 1:23:14 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: The Great RJ
Apparently the Hollywood gliteratti and assorted left wing anti-war crowd seriously believe that George Bush is a greater threat to free speech than Fidel Castro.

The stupid fools believe Cubans are happy and without a care.

5 posted on 04/23/2003 1:24:11 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: *Castro Watch
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list
6 posted on 04/23/2003 1:41:13 PM PDT by Libertarianize the GOP (Ideas have consequences)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
Apparently the Hollywood gliteratti and assorted left wing anti-war crowd seriously believe that George Bush is a greater threat to free speech than Fidel Castro. The stupid fools believe Cubans are happy and without a care.

I disagree. I believe the Oliver Stone's and other liberals KNOW that the Cuban people are enslaved by a rapacious, wealthy socialist elite. They will of course lie about what they see, because this arrangement is a liberals orgasmic wet dream come true.

7 posted on 04/23/2003 1:46:28 PM PDT by friendly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
...Portuguese Nobel prize winning writer Jose Saramago declared that his friendship with Castro had ended because the right to dissent had been suppressed in Cuba.

Mr. Saramago is shocked--shocked!--to find that dissent is suppressed in Cuba.

8 posted on 04/23/2003 1:59:44 PM PDT by The Hon. Galahad Threepwood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
What I want to know is what part did CNN play in this? I read a story here on FR about the new office of CNN in Cuba being invited to a meeting of dissidents.

Suddenly, 75 of the dissidents are rounded up and punished. How many of that 75 were at the meeting with CNN? This is beginning to look like CNN is doing in Cuba exactly what they did in Iraq.
9 posted on 04/23/2003 2:50:21 PM PDT by CyberAnt ( America - You Are The Greatest!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CyberAnt
What I want to know is what part did CNN play in this? I read a story here on FR about the new office of CNN in Cuba being invited to a meeting of dissidents. Suddenly, 75 of the dissidents are rounded up and punished. How many of that 75 were at the meeting with CNN? This is beginning to look like CNN is doing in Cuba exactly what they did in Iraq.

EXCELLENT OBSERVATION!

It is BLATANTLY obvious that the local CNN Havana team are all agents of the Secret Police.

10 posted on 04/23/2003 3:08:46 PM PDT by friendly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks
There is no embargo. The rest of the world is free to trade with Castro and get stiffed for the check.

I wish we would take this clown more seriously, we should set up a Naval blockade and enforce the embargo.

11 posted on 04/23/2003 3:15:57 PM PDT by Brett66
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: friendly
Yes there are the, "I love a dictatorship" crowd. But there are way too many people who believe Cubans have great health care, education and a simple, happy life, free from social strife.
12 posted on 04/23/2003 3:20:42 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: The Hon. Galahad Threepwood
BS
13 posted on 04/23/2003 3:24:14 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: CyberAnt; Cincinatus' Wife
Follow up on your excellent observation:

I explored the CNN website carefully to find NOTHING about the Reign of Terror currntly underway in Cuba, not even international outrage.

I DID find a piece about how nice street thug Hugo Chavez is to his neighbor Columbia. And an angry piece about how the US is holding "teenagers" at Gitmo (a couple of 19 y.o al Queda terrorists).

CNN is the mouthpiece for every murdering dictator on the face of the earth.

14 posted on 04/23/2003 3:24:17 PM PDT by friendly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: friendly
Here's an example.

Texans tout trade on jaunt to Cuba - Shocked at poverty *** They had a chance to see the island's need for everything from rice to oil exploration equipment. But they also saw that many Cubans have little to spend. "I knew they were economically depressed. I just didn't realize it was this bad," said Gary McGehee, a lamb and goat farmer from Mertzon, near San Angelo.***

15 posted on 04/23/2003 3:24:33 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
bttt
16 posted on 04/23/2003 3:26:02 PM PDT by friendly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: CyberAnt
CNN and Castro have an understanding.

Arrested Cuban Dissidents Feel Betrayed by CNN.***The oppositionists are desperate for their activities, and their very existence, to be known. They are certainly unafraid to challenge the regime; but they would naturally like some reward for their courage.

There is no doubt that CNN filmed the protest; a network spokeswoman confirms as much. But, for reasons unknown, the network chose not to air the film, or to report on the matter at all. There was, however, a report from Cuba on CNN that day: It was about the return of Elian Gonzalez to Cuban society, where "he is a typical, happy-go-lucky schoolboy."

Many of the Cubans who participated in the November 23 protest were later rounded up at a religious gathering. They were beaten and jailed. ***

17 posted on 04/23/2003 3:27:04 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: friendly
Thanks for checking friendly. Your search confirmed what I suspected.
18 posted on 04/23/2003 3:27:58 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
I say we Liberate CUBA Next!!
19 posted on 04/23/2003 3:29:13 PM PDT by Delta 21 (GOD....Guns.....& Guts -- It takes all three to be FREE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Delta 21
Let's roll!!
20 posted on 04/23/2003 3:30:06 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson