CUBA'S DANGEROUS SUMMER

The twist came in Castro's concluding diatribe. If U.S. diplomats continue ''violations of our sovereignty,'' he may back out of U.S.-Cuba immigration accords and even close the U.S. Interests Section in Havana. Either move would only deepen the misery for Cuba's people -- not that their suffering has ever concerned Castro.

Under the accords -- which ended the last rafter exodus in 1994 -- the regime accepts Cubans who have been interdicted by U.S. cutters at sea, and the United States provides 20,000 visas annually to Cubans who wish to come here.

Breaking the accords and unleashing an uncontrolled exodus could easily backfire. President Bush isn't Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton. Indeed, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush warned that his brother's administration would react strongly to such an exodus, which would be considered ``an act of aggression.''

o It could send ships to cordon off South Florida, block boats from going to pick up Cubans and interdict Cubans attempting to enter U.S. waters.

The first measure would wreak economic disaster. The regime is already desperately short of hard currency. Its two biggest revenue sources, tourism and remittances, already are down because of the recession. Per-capita sugar production is approaching the lowest levels since the 1890s independence war.

Venezuela has cut off cheap oil shipments, and no other country wants to lend the regime money because it has stiffed so many. Castro has alienated even once-close allies such as Mexico and Canada.

Combine economic desperation with a drastic cut in the steady outflow of disaffected Cubans, and the conditions are ripe for an internal explosion. Imagine the hot Caribbean summer, power outages, food shortages, increasingly repressive crackdowns. In 1965, 1980 and 1993, Castro relieved pressure by allowing Cubans to take to the seas. [End Excerpt] -Full article at "Source" LINK.

Lawmakers Preserve Cuba's Socialism *** HAVANA (AP) - Cuban lawmakers voted unanimously to make socialism an ``irrevocable'' part of the constitution in an effort to ensure the nation will remain socialist long after Fidel Castro is gone. More than 500 members of Cuba's unicameral National Assembly voted late Wednesday to declare that ``capitalism will never return again'' to the Caribbean island. Deputies' names were called out in alphabetical order and each one stood up and shouted ``Si!'' into a microphone. Of Cuba's 578 deputies, 559 were present and all voted affirmatively. Deputies grew emotional and almost giddy during the tally, eventually applauding loudly after each vote. When the final vote had been declared unanimous, the deputies first stood stoically at attention for the Cuban national anthem, then held hands and swayed back in forth as they sang the socialist anthem, ``Internationale.'' Castro presided over the session and afterward personally greeted many of the lawmakers in the assembly. ***

Cuba Plans To Reduce Petroleum Imports*** "For June through October it is necessary to have better control and a decrease in the import of combustibles for the generation of electricity," the government said in a statement carried by the official Cuban Communist Party newspaper, Granma. But the article did not give details of how the imports would be reduced. Granma also said the Castro government is now lowering prices on flashlights and what it called "other emergency lighting" so Cubans could save on using electricity at home.***

Castro's Gov't Warns of Trafficking *** HAVANA (AP) - Facing persistent rumors that an exodus from Cuba is imminent, Fidel Castro's government warned Wednesday that anyone caught sailing here to retrieve people would be tried for migrant trafficking. The U.S. Coast Guard in Miami warned that Cubans could put themselves in danger if they try to illegally enter the United States by sea. "The Florida Straits is a dangerous, rough area to navigate, especially in overcrowded or unseaworthy vessels," the U.S. Coast Guard said in a Wednesday release. "Migrants rescued at sea will be expeditiously repatriated back to Cuba according to current procedures," it added. Rumors began circulating here last week that beginning Thursday private boats would start arriving from Florida and wait just outside the 12-mile limit that marks Cuban waters to pick up Cubans wanting to leave. Such rumors are common on both sides of the Florida Straits every summer, but have been especially persistent this year amid a worsening economic situation on the island and recent statements by Castro that some have interpreted as veiled threats of an exodus.***

Fidel Castro - Cuba

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