Posted on 08/13/2003 10:59:16 AM PDT by The Bronze Titan
What are we to make of Eloy Gutiérrez-Menoyo's decision to remain in Cuba? To answer that, we first have to figure out what it was: A reverse defection? A re-defection? A courageous anti-Castro act? The act of a secret Castro collaborator?
Gutiérrez-Menoyo's wife, Gladys, says that it's the act of a Cuban patriot who wants to reconcile Cubans abroad and on the island. ''He still wants to achieve the revolution that he fought for many years ago,'' she says. I spoke with her last Thursday at the Gutiérrez-Menoyos' home in Southwest Miami-Dade.
She was flanked on the couch by their three sons -- Miguel, Alex and Carlos, ages 9, 11 and 13 respectively. They say that they learned that Gutiérrez-Menoyo would remain in Cuba only when they got to José Martí Airport after a 17-day vacation.
Gutiérrez-Menoyo has lived in exile here for the last 17 years and led a moderate group called Cambio Cubano (Cuban Change). He hasn't always been a moderate. After leading his own guerrilla movement to topple Batista (and arriving in Havana before Fidel Castro), Gutiérrez-Menoyo turned against Castro and fled the island. In Miami, he co-founded Alpha 66 and, with three others, sneaked into Cuba in 1964 hoping to start a rural uprising. He was caught, convicted and sentenced to death. He spent 22 years in prison before the Castro regime released him at the urging of Spain's prime minister.
His decision now to stay in Cuba and work for ''legal opposition space'' was generally greeted with skepticism by Cuban dissidents there and scorn by Cuban exiles here. The latter suspect that he's staying with the sufferance of the government, even of Castro personally. Gutiérrez-Menoyo met with Castro in 1995 and asked for permission to open an office of Cambio Cubano, but evidently he didn't get it.
Now he's doing it with or without Castro's approval. If it's without, he soon may join the 75 political activists, dissidents and journalists who were imprisoned five months ago.
Give Gutiérrez-Menoyo this: He's there working for democratic reforms while other anti-Castro, pro-democracy activists are here. He says that he can be more effective in bringing about change in Cuba there than here, and he's probably right -- if he's allowed to speak and work freely. It's doubtful that Castro would let him, but Gutiérrez-Menoyo might be allowed to operate at the level of dissidents such as Osvaldo Payá or Elizardo Sánchez Santacruz.
THE `EVIL INDUSTRY'
For four decades there has been a lot of bluster in Miami about bringing down Castro spoken from radio studios and living rooms. Radio commentator Francisco Aruca refers to this as the ''evil industry,'' an appellation that carries more sting than it probably deserves.
Still, Gutiérrez-Menoyo has demonstrated that he has no use for that industry or for U.S. government help. ''I'm independent,'' he said. ''I'm not manipulated by the (U.S.) Interests Section.'' We'll soon see if he's manipulated by Castro.
His decision to stay in Cuba couldn't come at a more difficult time for the Bush administration. Its Cuba policy is in disarray -- or, more accurately, it isn't configured to deal with current realities. Even Gov. Jeb Bush has said so publicly. ''It's just not right,'' the governor told The Herald, referring to sending Cuban refugees back to negotiated prison sentences.
The White House was worried enough to dispatch presidential advisor Otto Reich to Miami to get disgruntled Cuban exiles back on the GOP reservation.
It will take more than calming words from Reich, who managed to put his foot in his mouth. He trotted out a cockamamie theory about the Castro regime's sending out balseros to force the Coast Guard to return them, to roil Cuban Americans.
ALLEGIANCE TO THE GOP
The extent to which it's already roiled is reflected in the extraordinary letter sent to the president on Monday by 13 South Florida GOP state representatives. In language that's courteous but direct, they tell the president to match his actions to his rhetoric on Cuba or risk losing Cuban-American votes next year.
A similar letter went to the White House last week from directors of the Cuban American National Foundation, which threatens to cut off its checks as well as its votes.
Meaningful change is unlikely in Cuba. But meaningful change is happening among Cuban Americans and their traditional allegiance to the GOP. The day may have arrived when it takes more to win their vote than coming to town and repeating that mantra, ``¡Cuba, sí; Castro, no!''
This is a lie. What follows is the actual text of the letter. I challenge this "reporter" to find a threat of votes and funding anywhere therein.
Dear President Bush,
It is with deep regret that wee, the undersigned Directors, Trustees and Associates of the Cuban American National Foundation, write to you to express our disappointement at the Administration's present Cuba policy. We write as your friends to ensure a successful Cuba policy.
When you were a candidate for President and again in Miami in May of 2002, we heard words from you that gave us great expectations that the Cuba policy would soon lead to a free and democratic Cuba. Unfortunately, the Administration's Cuba policy has not been significantly different than that of the prior Administration.
Today, we are no nearer to a free Cuba. The wet-foot/dry-foot policy is still in effect. Recently, the Administration returned 12 Cubans to a dictator who denies basic due process of law and moreover a priori negotiated with the dictator their prison sentences. Radio and TV Marti still do not reach the Cuban people in a meaningful way. Castro has not yet been indicted for the murder of the four Brothers to the Rescue pilots, three of them U.S. citizens, all four Florida residents. The dissident movement in Cuba has not received the promised assistance from the U.S. government. They fight bravely, but alone and in impoverished conditions.
Mr. President, we need a Cuba policy that respects the human rights of the Cuban people and leads to a free Cuba. Please, understand that we have a high personal regard for you and for your outstanding leadership of this great neation. Cuban Americans have been responsible, engaged citizens and have strongly supported you. Notwithstanding, it is our responsibility to advance the cause of a free Cuba and therefore, respectfully request the enactment of an effective Cuba policy that will bring an end to the suffering of the Cuban people.
We know that one day soon, with your help, Cuba will return to what it used to be, a free and independent nation and a strong friend and ally of the United States of America.
God bless you and your family.
Very truly yours,
It sounds more like he is collaborating with Castro: he pretends to be a democracy advocate, and Castro lets him speak, and the hope is that the world won't pay so much attention to Castro's political prisoners.
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