NationStates Jolt Archive

The E U to review Cuba sanctions in June 2006, but they have started already to talk about this issue, but the E U will do nothing.

MEPs call for tougher line on Cuba
03.02.2006 - 10:18 CET | By Teresa Küchler

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament believes that the EU-Cuba diplomacy project has failed, and urges for a tougher Brussels stance on the commmunist regime in Havana.

MEPs on Thursday (2 February) adopted a resolution denouncing the lack of respect for human rights on Cuba.

The resolution, adopted with 560 votes in favour and 30 against, states that so far the political dialogue with Cuba has not led to greater freedom on the island or improved bilateral relations, and says EU member states should "act accordingly".

MEPs condemn the increase in the number of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, and the ban on the "Women in White"- mothers, wives and sisters to imprisoned - from travelling to the European Parliament to receive the human rights Sakharov prize in December.

"Scores of independent journalists, peaceful dissidents and upholders of human rights are still being held in jail in subhuman conditions," the parliament resolution says.

MEPs during the debate ahead of the vote stated that it was particularly unacceptable and shocking that some of the political prisoners are not receiving the help they need and are in very poor medical condition.

"These facts deceive the aspirations to improve relations between Cuba and the EU," MEPs stated, adding that repression in Cuba is worsening, despite a recent attempt by the EU to boost diplomatic ties with Cuban president Fidel Castro.

In January 2005, the EU tried to normalize relations with Havana, without abandoning the objectives previously set in the so-called Common Position on Cuba: peaceful democratisation, promotion of basic rights and freedoms and improvement in living conditions of all Cubans.

But the hope of a more open attitude from the Castro regime side has apparently not been fulfilled, MEPs argued, saying that on the contrary, the human rights situation has deteriorated.

During 2005, Cuba did not release a single political prisoner and the number of prisoners grew, according to the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, a dissident group.

German communist MEP Willy Meyer, one of the minority voices that spoke against the condemnatory resolution on Thursday, defended Cuba on grounds of the regime’s solidarity with poor countries and its social achievements, arguing that the EU should not run errands for the US.

Also the Spanish socialist MEP Miguel Angel Martinez, member of the group Friends of Cuba, defended Cuba.

Mr Martinez said the resolution was flawed and lacking in reference to Guantanamo (US prison camp in a US military base on Cuba), "the worst violation of human rights on the island," he said.

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January 22, 2006 latimes.com : World News

THE WORLD
West Fails to Sway Cuba on Rights
Neither the tough U.S. stance nor the friendly dialogue and gestures by Europe and Canada have led Castro to ease up on the island's dissidents.

By Carol J. Williams, Times Staff Writer


MIAMI — Canada and Spain invest in oil exploration and beachfront hotels. The United States imposes an economic embargo. Eastern European nations offer up their own success in throwing off communism. Latin America's leftist leaders, meanwhile, take a collective none-of-our-business posture.

Divergent as they may be, all of these strategies for improving human rights in Cuba have one thing in common: their failure to compel President Fidel Castro to relent on his repression of those who oppose his unraveling revolution.

In his annual assessment of the human rights situation issued this month, Oswaldo Paya, Cuba's most famous dissident and one of the few not in prison, laments that 2005 marked a return to "the darkest days of intolerance and restriction."

More than 70 Cubans pushing for democratic reforms remain jailed nearly three years after a crackdown on political dissent. Most Western nations united in protest over the harsh sentences meted out in April 2003, and the international community remains deeply fractured in its pursuit of freedom and democracy for Cubans.

After the crackdown, the European Union's 25 member states formed a rare alliance with Washington to embrace what was left of the dissident movement in Cuba. They invited activists to diplomatic receptions at embassies in Havana, which spurred angry Cuban officials to boycott. The two-year tiff came to be known as the "Canape Wars."

In a recent assessment of its Cuba policy, the European Union concluded that its decision last spring to resume diplomatic contacts with the island's communist leadership had resulted in "no improvements" in the plight of democracy activists.

"Actually, we see some setbacks, with some very harsh measures by the regime against internal dissidence," said Juan Jose Buitrago, Spain's political counselor for Latin America in Washington.

Despite that conclusion, Buitrago said neither Madrid nor the broader EU was likely to reverse the June decision to resume official contacts with Havana. "Dialogue is essential at this time," Buitrago said. "We think after Castro, if we want to have a peaceful and legal transition in Cuba, we need to support those who are in favor of change. We don't think it's intelligent or wise to pressure or threaten the current regime."

Buitrago denied that economic interests were driving Madrid's pro-engagement policy. Spanish companies are the biggest foreign investors in Cuba's thriving tourism industry.

"Spain and Cuba have very strong traditional, cultural, actually familial relations," he said.

The EU's Eastern European members, which have adopted a more aggressive approach for supporting democratic forces on the island, have provoked a number of diplomatic confrontations in recent months.

In December, Cuba expelled two journalists, a Pole and a Swiss, who had met with foes of Castro. A few days later, it deported two Spanish human rights activists who had filmed a discussion with the Ladies in White, a group of wives and mothers of jailed opposition leaders that had just been awarded the 2005 Sakharov Prize for human rights work. Havana authorities also refused to let the women travel to Strasbourg, France, to accept the award.

Earlier last year, the Cuban government detained European Parliament members in their Havana hotel to prevent them from contacting Castro opponents and infuriated the Prague government by breaking up the Oct. 28 celebration in Havana of the Czech Republic's National Day. Angered that Cuban opposition figures were invited to the event, officials in Havana forced a hotel to cancel the party at the last minute.

Since then, Czech leaders, including democracy icon and former President Vaclav Havel, have been pushing their EU colleagues to take a tougher stance against Cuba.

"I keep asking the EU … where is the result of the so-called soft approach to Cuba? Where is that better cultivation of the Cuba regime? Nowhere!" fumed Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda in a TV interview in late November.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Vit Kolar says the Czech government uses every opportunity on the world stage to urge Cuba to "harmonize respect for human rights with international standards."

A Czech diplomat, speaking on condition he not be identified, said Cuba was one of the most contentious issues within the EU. The Prague government, he said, has aligned with Germany, the Netherlands and several other states to continue working with Castro opponents to foster democratic change on the island.

"We don't intend to tone it down at all," the diplomat said.

Washington's hard line against Castro has long distanced the United States from most of the world, as demonstrated each year by overwhelming U.N. votes urging an end to the U.S. economic embargo. In November's 182-4 vote, only Israel, the Marshall Islands and Palau took the U.S. side.

The United States has tightened sanctions against Cuba in each of the last two years, demanding payment in advance for sales of food exempted from the embargo and limiting Cuban Americans' visits to their homeland to once every three years.

Canada, meanwhile, purchases more than $500 million in goods from Cuba annually, receives more than $1 billion in joint-venture revenue from oil, tourism and mining, and is Cuba's biggest tourism client, with 500,000 annual visitors. The Ottawa government remains committed to maintaining diplomatic and social contacts with Havana.

"That works better than cutting ties," said Rejean Beaulieu, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Canada nonetheless interacts with opposition groups and has co-sponsored efforts to censure Cuba at the annual U.N. human rights gathering in Geneva.

Mutually beneficial trade and strengthening leftist rule, as well as long-standing taboos on intruding on another nation's domestic policies, have led most Latin American states to stay mum on the subject of Cuba's internal repressions. Only Argentina, the birthplace of co-revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, has challenged Castro, with a stream of objections to Havana's refusal to let a prominent doctor visit her emigre son in Argentina in late 2004.

Leftist Latin American leaders have stood by Castro.

"We have excellent relations with Cuba," said Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez, who described U.S. policy toward the island as "obsessive."

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The EU will do nothing.

A one nation embargo cannot work, but guess what, trade, tourists and diplomatic relations have not worked either.

Cuba trades with the European Union Nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, China and others.

While Cuba does not sell products to the USA it buys hundreds of millions of $ Dollars worth of goods from the USA each year on a
pay as you buy cash basis.

The only thing left of the so-called embargo is a lack of American tourists and American loans and credits, while Cuba receives loans and credits from

other nations of which it owes billions of $ Dollars worth to those nations.

Over two million tourists visit Cuba each year, mostly Europeans, Canadians, Latin Americans including Cuban Americans visiting thier relatives.

Native Cubans are not allowed to stay in thier own nations hotels with hard currency money or thier own Cuban Pesos thier national currency.

Yet thier cuban overseas living relatives are allowed to stay in those hotels and eat in restaurants for tourists only and the rulling privileged governing elite.

All this trade, tourists, and diplomatic relations have not changed the dictatorship ways of how the Cuban government treats its own people.

The EU should break all economic, political and social relations with Cuba provided the USA does the same,
also Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Mexico
should do the same.

The Cuban government needs, hard currency money, trade, tourists and diplomatic relations to stay as a dictatorship government.

But the EU will do nothing.

I doubt Europe will do anything about it, but I would certainly approve of US-style sanctions. Mind you, it's not like the US has sanctions against Cuba because of human-rights violations.

I also think Canada is hypocritical for keeping up relations with Cuba, but any politician who suggested cutting off relations with Cuba would be hugely unpopular. Canadians like their cheap vacations there.

There are a lot worse places than Cuba, and they are great friends of the West. This whole issue is one big hypocritical piece of shit.

Plus, if you wanna help the people on the ground, give them access to quality goods and services. Helps people a lot more than an embargo.

There are a lot worse places than Cuba, and they are great friends of the West. This whole issue is one big hypocritical piece of shit.

Plus, if you wanna help the people on the ground, give them access to quality goods and services. Helps people a lot more than an embargo.

To all,
If we the real nations, leaders and people of the world want to help the people of Cuba the dictatorship government of over 47 years and counting that keeps them without the access to quality goods and services despite trading with so many nations, even trading on a limited basis with the USA should be put to an end.

To all,
If we the real nations, leaders and people of the world want to help the people of Cuba the dictatorship government of over 47 years and counting that keeps them without the access to quality goods and services despite trading with so many nations, even trading on a limited basis with the USA should be put to an end.
I told you before, you and your community don't have the credibility because you have a vested interest if Castro's government was to fall.

Things in Cuba are not as bad as right-wing nutjobs from the McCarthy era are telling you. Sinuhue's report of life there is not the first one I've heard that paints a different picture.

I for one will not stand for these people's lives to be destroyed just because some rich people have ideological disagreements.

To all, so I guess according to Neu Leonstein, is ok for Fidel Castro to be dictator of Cuba for life, and for his successors as well.

Lets just give them access to quality goods and services,
but lets keep them under a dictatorship government for life.

Never mind that the Castro dictatorship limits and regulates the economic, political and social life of Cubans unlike anything in our own nations of origin on this site.

I told you before, you and your community don't have the credibility because you have a vested interest if Castro's government was to fall.

Things in Cuba are not as bad as right-wing nutjobs from the McCarthy era are telling you. Smunkee's report of life there is not the first one I've heard that paints a different picture.

I for one will not stand for these people's lives to be destroyed just because some rich people have ideological disagreements.

Read Against All Hope by Armando Valladares or Fidel: Hollywood's Favorite Tyrant by Humberto Fontova or In the Lion’s Den by Nina Shea or The Black Book of Communism or Blessed by Thunder by Flor Fernandez Barrios.

Read Against All Hope by Armando Valladares or Fidel: Hollywood's Favorite Tyrant by Humberto Fontova or In the Lion’s Den by Nina Shea or The Black Book of Communism or Blessed by Thunder by Flor Fernandez Barrios.

No. Make your argument without telling us we're misinformed and we should go to the library.

Cuba, yes free government provided education and healthcare.

All the vale of the quality goods and services produced in Cuba, for export and traded with so many nations.

Are distributed by the Cuban government, through stores, hotels, restaurants, hospitals for tourists only and now for poor foreigners financed by Hugo Chavez of Venezuela with Venezuelan oil money.

And guess what, the average Cuban is allowed by the Cuban government to buy most of their goods and services distributed by the Cuban government through hard currency stores, with hard currency money sent by Cuban Americans to thier relatives because even though most support a so-called embargo that hardly exsists any more they care about thier relatives on the island, and send them care packages, hard currency money, letters and phone calls because the Cuban government gives them and the people of Cuba no choice.

And most survive by hard currency money and the illegal extenive black market.

Would we want to live in a nation like Cuba, would we want our nation of origin to be like Cuba?

Castro will remain dictator until his old ass dies. However, why not help the people there? Give them trade relations, it's a waiting game, but at least the Cuban people will be able to live better.

My posts are not rants, they are my views and as a native born Cuban my facts.

The Cuban government forces Cuban Americans to send thier relatives hard currency money which the Cuban government forces the average Cuban to trade it to the government for Cuban Convertible Pesos which they use to buy most of thier basic need prouducts in hard currency stores.

Also most Cubans rely on the extensive illegal black market.

While the Cuban governing elite receive special passes to the tourist, restaurants, hospitals reserved for tourists.

Does anyone believe Fidel Castro and his high government people would be denied entry into a hotel, restaurant or hospital reserved for tourists only?

If that is not a government mafia what is?

To all, so I guess according to Neu Leonstein, is ok for Fidel Castro to be dictator of Cuba for life, and for his successors as well.

Lets just give them access to quality goods and services,
but lets keep them under a dictatorship government for life.

Never mind that the Castro dictatorship limits and regulates the economic, political and social life of Cubans unlike anything in our own nations of origin on this site.
Oh yes, because cutting off all relations will surely ensure the destruction of his regime instead of solidifying it and the future of Cuba as a permanently dictatorial state.

The Us Trades With Cuba.. Wtf Does It Matter

Is the EU contemplating sanctions against Saudi Arabia? What about sanctions against other countries that have political prisoners, like the USA?

My posts are not rants, they are my views and as a native born Cuban my facts.

The Cuban government forces Cuban Americans to send thier relatives hard currency money which the Cuban government forces the average Cuban to trade it to the government for Cuban Convertible Pesos which they use to buy most of thier basic need prouducts in hard currency stores.

Also most Cubans rely on the extensive illegal black market.

While the Cuban governing elite receive special passes to the tourist, restaurants, hospitals reserved for tourists.

Does anyone believe Fidel Castro and his high government people would be denied entry into a hotel, restaurant or hospital reserved for tourists only?

If that is not a government mafia what is?

Your specious claims concerning hotels have already been refuted in Sinuhue's informative thread, i.e. Cubans are allowed but the majority can not afford it. Now, do you believe that the USA elite would be denied entry to hotels that their countrymen could not afford?

Castro will remain dictator until his old ass dies. However, why not help the people there? Give them trade relations, it's a waiting game, but at least the Cuban people will be able to live better.

Good point Neo Kervoskia, but as I point out Cuba trades with the European Union Nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, China, and others.

And on a limited basis with the USA, Cuba buys hundreds of millions of $ Dollars worth from the USA a year.

European and Canadian, and Mexican businesses
invest in Cuba with the Cuban government exporting a part of the production, reserving part of the production for the hotels, restaurants, hospitals for tourists only and the rest for the people.

Why do many Cubans have to ask their Cuban relatives to send them hard currency money and rely on the extensive illegal black market to get by if they are so well off with all that trade and relations?

Foreign companys that invest in Cuba with the Cuban government as a partner dividing the profits as agreed, pay hard currency money per worker to the Cuban governmet, the Cuban government pays the workers in Cuban pesos, hires and fires the workers through a government agency under thier own rules and regulations.

And the Cuban workers have to buy most of thier basic need prouducts in government hard currency stores, with hard currency money sent by Cuban Americans to thier relatives on the island.

If that is not a government mafia what is?

Would we want to live in a nation like Cuba, would we want to live in a nation like Cuba?

You know, when I went to Cuba, there were many products that could be purchased only in USian currency. These were all luxury goods. Cubans were allowed to shop there. Prices were similar to prices in Canada, where I live. Stores that sold only to Cubans had all the basic goods you need, at about 2% of the price.

Cubans do not need to have money sent to them to survive. They do not need the black market.

Cubans use the black market and other means to get luxury goods.

If the European Union enacts sanctions against Cuba, they should follow up with sanctions against the United States, which in the past few years has committed worse atrocities than Castro ever did, and without the slightest shame or hesitation.

But wanting a share of the spoils does not mean that you are truly against the conquest, and accordingly the older imperial powers, with the possible exception of Spain, seem to be following the typical paths of solidarity with the butchers who rule (or try to rule) the world.

Cuba already has trade relations with the European Union Nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, China and others.

And limited trade relations with the USA.

One would think Cuba is already a paradise island with all that trade.

Cuba already has trade relations with the European Union Nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, China and others.

And limited trade relations with the USA.

One would think Cuba is already a paradise island with all that trade.

Haiti also has trade relations with all these countries. Is it a paradise?

You know, when I went to Cuba, there were many products that could be purchased only in USian currency. These were all luxury goods. Cubans were allowed to shop there. Prices were similar to prices in Canada, where I live. Stores that sold only to Cubans had all the basic goods you need, at about 2% of the price.

Cubans do not need to have money sent to them to survive. They do not need the black market.

Cubans use the black market and other means to get luxury goods.

I used to live in Cuba and went through all that I descrive, please tell that to my family still in Cuba.

I used to live in Cuba and went through all that I descrive, please tell that to my family still in Cuba.

Entonces cuenteme donde viviste, y cuanto años has vivido con los gringos. Mira, yo he viajado por Mexico, Chile, Peru y Cuba y de todos esos paises Cuba tenia menos pobreza y corrupcion que los otros. Y no me vas a decir que Castro es peor en terminos de derechos humanos que Pinochet?

Haiti also has trade relations with all these countries. Is it a paradise?

The problems of Haiti and Cuba are not the fault of a US embargo that hardly exsists anymore, the fault is the governments of Haiti and Cuba.

End the Cuban dictatorship now, so Cubans can live better now.

The problems of Haiti and Cuba are not the fault of a US embargo that hardly exsists anymore, the fault is the governments of Haiti and Cuba.

Haiti has never suffered from a US embargo, to my knowledge. Perhaps in the early years, when the white men ruling this country were afraid that the heroic example of Haiti's slave rebellion would be imitated across the region.

Rather, it suffered from a series of US-sponsored terror regimes.

It is true I have been away for the island for some time now, but I still have family in Cuba, I am from Camaguey Cuba, before I die, I would like to see Cuba free.

The problems of Haiti and Cuba are not the fault of a US embargo that hardly exsists anymore, the fault is the governments of Haiti and Cuba.

End the Cuban dictatorship now, so Cubans can live better now.

I agree with you that many of the problems afflicting Latin America are not solely to be blamed on foreign governments. It is definitely up to local governments to solve these problems, and I agree that the effect of the embargo has been reduced by trade with other nations. However, I would like to point out that if the USA imposed a similar embargo on Mexico, or even Canada, its economy would quickly fall apart. Now, this thing with the EU could be disastrous for the Cuban people if the EU also imposed trade sanctions, and I doubt that it would have the desired effect of removing Castro from power.

It is true, I have been away from the island for some time but I still have family in Cuba, before I die, I would like to see Cuba free.

It is true I have been away for the island for some time now, but I still have family in Cuba, I am from Camaguey Cuba, before I die, I would like to see Cuba free.

While our politics are divergently opposed, I can understand this sentiment. I have lived in Canada for most of my life, and only recently was I able to walk the streets of my birth country after it finally was free from a dictatorship. It was beautiful, a gift of god.

I still think that after Fidel Castro dies in power, some changes might occur, but some economic, political and social sanctions will be needed on Castros successors to change things for the better.

If we give up all leverage up now, then Cuba becomes a collective dictatorship that wil not want to change much.

While our politics are divergently opposed, I can understand this sentiment. I have lived in Canada for most of my life, and only recently was I able to walk the streets of my birth country after it finally was free from a dictatorship. It was beautiful, a gift of god.

Thank you for that comment, I am not a bad guy, soy buena onda.

While our politics are divergently opposed, I can understand this sentiment. I have lived in Canada for most of my life, and only recently was I able to walk the streets of my birth country after it finally was free from a dictatorship. It was beautiful, a gift of god.

Thank you for that comment, I am not a bad guy, soy buena onda.

Thank you for that comment, I am not a bad guy, soy buena onda.

Cuba is not perfect, but I think that in the latter half of the 20th century, it was one of the best and most free countries in Latin America. Now that the political landscape is changing, I hope that the Cuban goverment can loosen up and start to get rid of their seige mentality.

Cuba also needs voices like you to criticise and question. I think we both want to see some of the same things, except I believe that Cuba is on its way and needs more international support, while you believe a different strategy is called for.

The Cuban American feeling, most Cuban Americans think most of the world hates them and that they are alone against a dictatorship government of over 47 years and counting, trust me, this is a very strong feeling in the Cuban American community.

That is why most Cuban Americans, think, feel and act the way they do.

Those crazy Cuban Americans like myself.

The Cuban American feeling, most Cuban Americans think most of the world hates them, dosent care and that they are alone against a dictatorship government of over 47 years and counting, trust me, this is a very strong feeling in the Cuban American community.

That is why most Cuban Americans, think, feel and act the way they do.

Those crazy Cuban Americans like myself.

The Cuban American feeling, most Cuban Americans think most of the world hates them, dosent care and that they are alone against a dictatorship government of over 47 years and counting, trust me, this is a very strong feeling in the Cuban American community.

That is why most Cuban Americans, think, feel and act the way they do.

Those crazy Cuban Americans like myself.

Do you think it would soften the animosity in the Cuban American community if travel and trade between Cuba and the USA were opened up entirely?

Do you think it would soften the animosity in the Cuban American community if travel and trade between Cuba and the USA were opened up entirely?

Good question?

My point and that of many Cubans who support a real embargo of all the nations I mention to end the dictatorship government for good now.

Think that more American tourists with $ Dollars and the European tourists with Euros will help fidel Castro keep himself in power and his successors in power.

My point is trade, tourists and diplomatic relations have not worked either to change the dictatorship ways of the Cuban government.

There are other Cuban Americans in the minority who say,
trade, tourists and diplomatic relations will change Cuba,
but we who believe the opposite dont see that now happen
dont see that.

Because Cuba trades and has tourists with The European Union Nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, China and others including the USA on a limited cash basis.

And Fidel Castro and his successors do not want to open up the political or economic process, the Cuban dictatorship has not changed its ways because it does not want to, it dosent change out of the goodness of its heart.

Right now Fidel and Raul are putting army generals in control of government ministrys.

Good Question.

the EU can afford to play gallant defender of human rights by joining sanctions on cuba, after all, the only major exportgoods are cigars and sugarcane/rum, however with the ongoing antismokingagenda spurned by mounting healthcare costs that wheigh on the nationalized healthcare systems in europe on one hand and the recently increased pressure on sugarfarmers in the EU on the other hand neither exportgood is particulary appealing. the only achor left is the tourismindustry, that has a stake in cuba, but that alone wont be enough to convince the europeans that they cant do without cuba.
with the chicoms it is a whole other story, we cant afford to lose that market, regardless of how many countries they occupy or threaten, how many they massacre or put into reeducation camps.

Gift-of-god and others, Pinochet was a dictator that did alot of the same things as Fidel no doubt about it.

But at least Pinochet allowed a referandum for whatever reason to save his own skin, which he lost and respected, and it allowed Chile to reform itself, and today has a moderate socialist president.

Does anyone believe Fidel Castro will allow a referandum in Cuba or his successors, without outside presures.

Fidel wont do it, but his successors wont do it unless they have economic, political and social presures.

To all, am I making any sense here, or am I loco?

the EU can afford to play gallant defender of human rights by joining sanctions on cuba, after all, the only major exportgoods are cigars and sugarcane/rum, however with the ongoing antismokingagenda spurned by mounting healthcare costs that wheigh on the nationalized healthcare systems in europe on one hand and the recently increased pressure on sugarfarmers in the EU on the other hand neither exportgood is particulary appealing. the only achor left is the tourismindustry, that has a stake in cuba, but that alone wont be enough to convince the europeans that they cant do without cuba.
with the chicoms it is a whole other story, we cant afford to lose that market, regardless of how many countries they occupy or threaten, how many they massacre or put into reeducation camps.

When the government falls the US and Europe can move in,
Cuba needs them more than the US and Europe, they will be invited in by a more democratic government.

No dictatorship no problem.

So called western democracy for the nations on this site that I have mentioned but communist dictatorship as practised but not the way it should be for Cuba.

No wonder Cuban Americans have the Cuban American feeling I talk about.

The results of the poll the E U will do nothing and I would do nothing.

No wonder Fidel does whatever he wants, insults every European leader and hispanic Latin American leaders who call Cuban Americans thier hispanic brothers and then say Fidel, Fidel, Fidel.

That is way the Cuban American feeling is very strong in the Cuban American Community.

47 years and counting, how can I make it more clear.

My posts are not rants, they are facts as seen through the eyes of most Cuban Americans.

Am I a loco crazy native Cuban, now Cuban American?

Am I a loco crazy native Cuban, now Cuban American?
If you keep asking that, I think you might be.

If you keep asking that, I think you might be.

Thank you for your post.

Even if you dont agree with me, am I making any sense or not on logical grounds which can be subjective?

I respect all posts as their views, but I defend my positions without insulting or calling other nations names, not that you did.

Even if you dont agree with me, am I making any sense or not on logical grounds which can be subjective?
From your point of view, you make sense.

But the view I have of the Cuban American lobby (don't know much about the people themselves) is not a very good one. Started by loyalists to Batista's regime and rich people who lost their casinos, they've been pushing aggression for decades now - not because of some genuine concern, but to get them back into power.

As I said, although Cuba may not be democratic, and the conditions in some jails are decidedly below par, it's not that bad a place. There is IMHO no real urgent need to do something, and certainly not to do the whole embargo/tough rhetoric trip.

There are far worse places on this planet than Cuba, and rather than manufacture problems we can then not deal with, I'd rather sort out the real problems first. Like North Korea. Or Uzbekistan.

To all, so I guess according to Neu Leonstein, is ok for Fidel Castro to be dictator of Cuba for life, and for his successors as well.

Lets just give them access to quality goods and services,
but lets keep them under a dictatorship government for life.

Never mind that the Castro dictatorship limits and regulates the economic, political and social life of Cubans unlike anything in our own nations of origin on this site.

It regulates that much because its communism. Thats what communism is SUPPOSED to do.

It regulates that much because its communism. Thats what communism is SUPPOSED to do.

And that is part of the problem, there are no personal freedoms.

Some would say as practiced, not the way it should be.

That is why the Cuban government is a dictatorship government, and should receive no support from others.

As you know I could go on and on, and I already have.

according to the poll results 47 years and counting of dictatorship government in Cuba and most of the world dosent care.

The E U will do nothing and I would do nothing.

Viva Cuba libre, no dictatorship, no problem.

Your specious claims concerning hotels have already been refuted in Sinuhue's informative thread, i.e. Cubans are allowed but the majority can not afford it. Now, do you believe that the USA elite would be denied entry to hotels that their countrymen could not afford?

Gift of God, When a family member of mine from Cuba now Cuban American went to Cuba just two years ago, he rented a car passed a nice hotel on the beach with his family who live in Cuba, they wanted to stay there a night or two and they were not able too, my family member did not stay because he could not enjoy it with his family members.

A family member of mine living in Cuba sent me a picture through the mail of a nice hotel, saying look how nice but I am not allowed to stay there.

A Cuban Citizen I forget his name at the moment, had the courage to officially ask the Cuban national assembly to pass a law allowing Cubans to stay in their own nations hotels with thier own national currency, the national assembly has not taken up the legislation nor respond back to him either way.

Thank you for your post.

To all, political dissident Oswaldo Paya and others collected over 10,000 and then over 20,000 pettion signitures from Cuban citizens asking for a referandum on political, economic and social reforms.

Fidel Castro's answer a government run pettition to amend the Cuban constitution to declare the economic, political and social system of cuba Ireversable.

Which according to the Cuban government was signed and approved by over 98 percent of eligible Cuban citizens.

The Cuban national assembley that meets twice a year or when convened by President Fidel Castro or Ricardo Alarcon
president of the assembly approved the amendment 100 percent for and o percent against.

According to the Cuban government in a one party state al
elections are won by the government with over 98 or 99 percent of all eligible voters.

In a nation that needs an emigration agreement with the USA of over 20,000 visas a year.

and thousands of Cubans each year leave on boats, rafts, floating trucks and taxis across 90 miles of shark infested waters.

Including some of my own family members.

Gift-of-god and others, Pinochet was a dictator that did alot of the same things as Fidel no doubt about it. La Habana, you of course know my views on this topic, so I won't restate them, but I do have to object to your comparison here. Fidel and Pinochet? Only on the flimsiest of premises could you possibly compare the two...perhaps using comparisons like, 'they are both men who speak Spanish, and have both been called dictators'. That is where the resemblence stops.

La Habana, you of course know my views on this topic, so I won't restate them, but I do have to object to your comparison here. Fidel and Pinochet? Only on the flimsiest of premises could you possibly compare the two...perhaps using comparisons like, 'they are both men who speak Spanish, and have both been called dictators'. That is where the resemblence stops.

Sinuhue I think you would have to agree with me that at least Dictator Augusto Pinochet for whatever reasons to save his own skin allowed a referendum, which he lost and respected forced or otherwise, and it allowed Chile to reform itself and today has a moderate socialist women President, that is awesome.

I will not defend Dictator Augusto Pinochet for his crimes, Please dont defend Dictator for life Fidel Castro of Cuba for his crimes.

Does anyone here believe that Dictator Fidel Castro of Cuba would ever allow a referendum on his rule?

Or even a referendum on political, economic, and social reforms?

There is no such thing as a benevolent dictator, they are all dictators, yes including Fulgencio Batista.

I will not defend the crimes of Dictators, Augusto Pinochet,
Fidel Castro or Fulgencio Batista, they all are responsible for crimes of power.

Do you really need to call him "Dictator Fidel Castro" in every utterance? Can't you just follow common practice and say "Castro"?

Do you really need to call him "Dictator Fidel Castro" in every utterance? Can't you just follow common practice and say "Castro"?

I cannot call Dictator for life Fidel castro of Cuba anything other than a dictator.

The most I am willing to do is to call him President Dictator for life Fidel Castro of Cuba to be politically correct.

Dictators are Dictators.

I Capitalize only certain words to make them stand out as they deserve.

On the capitalization subject, sometimes there are certain words that one would want to Capitalize to make them stand out more, even though officially they are not supposed to be.

For exsample European Union Nations, is much nicer than
European Union nations.

I agree every word is excesive.

I cannot call Dictator for life Fidel castro of Cuba anything other than a dictator.

The most I am willing to do is to call him President Dictator for life Fidel Castro of Cuba to be politically correct.

Dictators are Dictators.

I Capitalize only certain words to make them stand out as they deserve.

On the capitalization subject, sometimes there are certain words that one would want to Capitalize to make them stand out more, even though officially they are not supposed to be.

For exsample European Union Nations, is much nicer than
European Union nations.

I agree every word is excesive.

Just say "Castro". It's less intrusive to what you're writing. No one here is going to forget who he is.

I think the world dosent Care that Fidel Castro is a dictator of over 47 years and counting, and the reason is not the so-called American embargo that hardly exsists anymore it is his anti American rethoric. That is why most governments support him, president Bush or no President Bush, it is just his anti Americanism.

But all those same nations when they need help they all always cry America.

I think the world dosent Care that Fidel Castro is a dictator of over 47 years and counting, and the reason is not the so-called American embargo that hardly exsists anymore it is his anti American rethoric. That is why most governments support him, president Bush or no President Bush, it is just his anti Americanism.

But all those same nations when they need help they all always cry America.

To be honest, the Cuban embargo has always been rather half-assed. It is based on an ideological difference that the powers that be didn't really ever care about to begin with. Castro is benign to American interests. He talks smack but hasn't provoked them since the Cuban Missile Crisis.

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament believes that the EU-Cuba diplomacy project has failed, and urges for a tougher Brussels stance on the commmunist regime in Havana.

In January 2005, the EU tried to normalize relations with Havana, without abandoning the objectives previously set in the so-called Common Position on Cuba: peaceful democratisation, promotion of basic rights and freedoms and improvement in living conditions of all Cubans.

In a recent assessment of its Cuba policy, the European Union concluded that its decision last spring to resume diplomatic contacts with the island's communist leadership had resulted in "no improvements" in the plight of democracy activists.

Despite that conclusion, Buitrago said neither Madrid nor the broader EU was likely to reverse the June decision to resume official contacts with Havana. "Dialogue is essential at this time," Buitrago said. "We think after Castro, if we want to have a peaceful and legal transition in Cuba, we need to support those who are in favor of change. We don't think it's intelligent or wise to pressure
or threaten the current regime."

Since then, Czech leaders, including democracy icon and former President Vaclav Havel, have been pushing their EU colleagues to take a tougher stance against Cuba.

"I keep asking the EU … where is the result of the so-called soft approach to Cuba? Where is that better cultivation of the Cuba regime? Nowhere!" fumed Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda in a TV interview in late November
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What will the E U do?
What should the E U do?
What can the E U do?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trade, tourists, diplomatic relations and dialogue have not workedto change the dictatorship ways of how the Cuban government treats its own people.

While I can agree with some of the counter arguments on logical grounds which can be subjective, like the following statement.

We need to support those who are in favor of change.

I still feel that after Castro dies in power, his successors might make some changes out of need, but it will still take economic, political and social presures for real changes to occur, they wil not make changes they do not feel they have to.

Alright already, you don't like Castro. We get it.

Finally the corrupted EU has seen sense. Cuba is as guilty of being communist as George Bush is of being smart. After WW1 the US didn't want to be the worlds policeman. Now I can see why.

Cuba is a beautiful country. Japan is the only major capitalist country that talks to Cuba, sice it has a deal Sugar for Computers, Cars, etc.

Cuba is not another American state. It's an independent country.

Gift of God, When a family member of mine from Cuba now Cuban American went to Cuba just two years ago, he rented a car passed a nice hotel on the beach with his family who live in Cuba, they wanted to stay there a night or two and they were not able too, my family member did not stay because he could not enjoy it with his family members.

A family member of mine living in Cuba sent me a picture through the mail of a nice hotel, saying look how nice but I am not allowed to stay there.

A Cuban Citizen I forget his name at the moment, had the courage to officially ask the Cuban national assembly to pass a law allowing Cubans to stay in their own nations hotels with thier own national currency, the national assembly has not taken up the legislation nor respond back to him either way.

Thank you for your post.

To paraphrase Sinuhue, in an attempt to curb prostitution, Cubans can not stay with non-Cubans in hotels. Cubans, by themselves, can do so if they can afford it.

I hope that clarifies the situation.

Gift-of-god and others, Pinochet was a dictator that did alot of the same things as Fidel no doubt about it.

But at least Pinochet allowed a referandum for whatever reason to save his own skin, which he lost and respected, and it allowed Chile to reform itself, and today has a moderate socialist president.

Does anyone believe Fidel Castro will allow a referandum in Cuba or his successors, without outside presures.

Fidel wont do it, but his successors wont do it unless they have economic, political and social presures.

To all, am I making any sense here, or am I loco?

The Cuban situation is radically different from the Chilean situation. First of all, Pinochet was fighting a losing battle against political unrest in his own country as the vast majority of Chileans wanted him either out of office or dead.

To quote a Cuban I met:'We put Castro in power,and if we wanted to, we could take him out.' (He actually said this in spanish, and he said it between mouthfuls of rum, etc.)

To me that sounds like Castro is in power at the suffrance of the people.

Also, Castro may well feel that allowing such a referendum would endanger Cuban society because the USA may rig the results and use that as leverage to install a puppet government. Such a government would be seen as imperialist by the Cuban people, in my opinion.

By the way, you are making sense in this post, but this obsession with Castro does seem a bit neurotic. That's okay though, you're buena onda.:)

One last note: do ou know what Salvador Allende had in his hands when Pinochet's soldiers shot him? A submachine gun that was given to him by his friend, Fidel Castro.

Hasta la victoria siempre.

To paraphrase Sinuhue, in an attempt to curb prostitution, Cubans can not stay with non-Cubans in hotels. Cubans, by themselves, can do so if they can afford it.

I hope that clarifies the situation.

So I guess you would like it if you could not stay in the hotels and restaurants of your native nation of origin to control prostitution because they are reserved for tourists
and the governing privileged elite.

Cubans cannot stay in their own nations hotels with thier visiting relatives if they can afford it or not because the Cuban government does not allow it.

I guess many of you find that fair and good.

I think it was Oswaldo Paya who presented the legislation to the Cuban national assembly to allow it,, and it has been ignored.

I have to go now and send the government mobs against the political dissident protestors in my democrati nation, and return later to check on my thread..

These well paid incompetent, greedy government officials are costing me $ a fortune.

Viva Cuba, and Fidel

Cubans cannot stay in their own nations hotels with thier visiting relatives if they can afford it or not because the Cuban government does not allow it.


What the government does not allow is for Cubans to stay in hotels with foreigners...they can not share the same rooms. Your relatives, though Cuban by birth, are foreigners. Did your family offer to pay for the rooms of your Cuban relatives? Because otherwise, they could not have afforded it.

Stop lying about this supposed legal segregation of Cubans from 'their nation's hotels'. Many, many hotels are available to Cubans, at affordable prices...such as the Hotel Playa Giron where I recently stayed. I couldn't have a Cuban staying in my room (not overnight anyway), but Cubans made up the majority of patrons...staying together. If a Cuban could afford to stay at one of the five star hotels in Havana, they would be allowed to. You are hiding the facts and confusing 'can't afford it' with 'being forbidden it'. Most latin americans can not stay at 'their nation's hotels' either...because they can't afford it.

So I guess you would like it if you could not stay in the hotels and restaurants of your native nation of origin to control prostitution because they are reserved for tourists
and the governing privileged elite.

I don't know how to respond to this. Are you asking me if this is a good law? The answer is no. I think prostitution should be completely legal, but that is a tangent.
By the way, I can't stay in restaurants anywhere in the world.:D
I think I'm having trouble parsing the sentence. They are not controlling prostitution because they are reserved for tourists. They are 'reserved for tourists' because it curbs prostitution. Also, they are not reserved for tourists.

Cubans cannot stay in their own nations hotels with thier visiting relatives if they can afford it or not because the Cuban government does not allow it.

Right. At least that what I understood from Sinuhue's thread.

I guess many of you find that fair and good.

No. I find it odd and bureaucratic and kinda dumb actually.

I think it was Oswaldo Paya who presented the legislation to the Cuban national assembly to allow it,, and it has been ignored.

Okay.

Stop lying about this supposed legal segregation of Cubans from 'their nation's hotels'.

Sinuhue, I don't believe he is lying. I think he may just be referring to the way things used to be. That was my experience also when I was there 15 years ago. Granted, things have probably changed drastically since then. Cuban citizens may not be segregated anymore. But once upon a time they were, and that's where the "myth" is coming from.

As I said in the other thread, I and a group of my friends got thrown out of a hotel in Havana in 1991 because the hotel employee THOUGHT we were native Cubans. He didn't ask questions, he just chucked us out. When we produced US passports, we were treated entirely differently. (I honestly thought the guy was going to faint.)

For the sake of the Cuban people I'm glad things have changed, if they have. That, however, doesn't make La Habana's personal experience or mine somehow less valid than yours, and it doesn't mean that we are lying. I assure you I am not.

ON TOPIC: The embargos against Cuba need to go away. The people, who (as opposed to Castro) are the real victims, deserve better treatment from the international community.

Sinuhue, I don't believe he is lying. I think he may just be referring to the way things used to be. That was my experience also when I was there 15 years ago. Granted, things have probably changed drastically since then. Cuban citizens may not be segregated anymore. But once upon a time they were, and that's where the "myth" is coming from. I'd like to see some evidence of legal segregation, even 15 years ago...as in hotels that would not allow any Cubans by law.

As I said in the other thread, I and a group of my friends got thrown out of a hotel in Havana in 1991 because the hotel employee THOUGHT we were native Cubans. He didn't ask questions, he just chucked us out. When we produced US passports, we were treated entirely differently. (I honestly thought the guy was going to faint.) Question: did you have a room there? I assume the guy didn't ask to see proof of that...but I think it's a reasonable assumption to assume that Cubans could not afford to be in the hotel, and therefore should not be there. Which is still different from saying they CAN'T be there. Nonetheless...I suspect with the large amounts of latinos now travelling to Cuba, people don't jump as easily to conclusions about nationality as they may once have:)...the Cuban girl we travelled with to Playa Giron passed as a Brasileña until she spoke.

For the sake of the Cuban people I'm glad things have changed, if they have. That, however, doesn't make La Habana's personal experience or mine somehow less valid than yours, and it doesn't mean that we are lying. I assure you I am not. I believe that La Habana is confusing the inability to afford to stay at these hotels with a legal ban forbidding Cubans from staying in the hotels. Again, if there was a law that DID prevent Cubans from staying at hotels, I would really like to see a link to it. Which I realise may be hard to come up with (assuming you are correct).

ON TOPIC: The embargos against Cuba need to go away. The people, who (as opposed to Castro) are the real victims, deserve better treatment from the international community.Agreed.

I'd like to see some evidence of legal segregation, even 15 years ago...as in hotels that would not allow any Cubans by law.

I agree with you a law would be hard to find. I'm not sure there would have been an official Cuban law. If there were, I doubt Castro would posted it on a web site.

However, the current Frommer's travel magazine has an article about the so-called Cuban "apartheid": Frommer's Cuba Article (http://www.frommers.com/destinations/cuba/3173020876.html)

I will grant you that a travel magazine is not the best possible source in a situation like this. Still, these guys are trying to sell tickets. They'd be more inclined to gloss something negative over than draw attention to it. And they thought it a significant enough issue to write an article about it, so... perhaps people do still experience it.

I'm glad to hear that it seems to be lessening, however. :)

I agree with you a law would be hard to find. I'm not sure there would have been an official Cuban law. If there were, I doubt Castro would posted it on a web site.

However, the current Frommer's travel magazine has an article about the so-called Cuban "apartheid": Frommer's Cuba Article (http://www.frommers.com/destinations/cuba/3173020876.html)

I will grant you that a travel magazine is not the best possible source in a situation like this. Still, these guys are trying to sell tickets. They'd be more inclined to gloss something negative over than draw attention to it. And they thought it a significant enough issue to write a dedicated article about it, so... perhaps people do still experience it.

I'm glad to hear that it seems to be lessening, however. :)
Wow. What a load of unadulterated bullshit. This book is from 2004? I'm speechless...and yet unsurprised. When looking for a travel book, I found that all the Lonely Planet guides to Cuba were sold, so I picked up this Moon Handbook (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1566915066/sr=8-5/qid=1139948576/ref=pd_bbs_5/104-4551044-2696740?%5Fencoding=UTF8) published in the US. I had to take it back. It was so incredibly vile, and anti-Cuban...I wondered why they even bothered? They even had this rant about how racist Cubans are because they call people 'negro'...not explaining that in Spanish, negro doesn't mean NEGRO as it does in English, but rather 'black'...and is used to describe people with black hair or eyes as well as people with black skin. Gag.

Back to the article you've provided. Wow. Armed guards prevent Cubans from going to the beaches of Varadero? FIRE THEM! Because the beach was FULL of Cubans! Yes, Varadero, Cayo Coco...Havana Vieja...these are set up as tourist areas, like ANY country sets up certain places as tourist areas. But the outright assertation that Cubans are forbidden to set foot in these places is staggering. I really suggest people do not buy this misleading...no, downright FALSE 'travel' guide.

You know what is even funnier? Varadero, the biggest resort town in Cuba, is made out to be so segregated from the 'real' Cuba. In fact, Varadero beach happens to be along a Cuban town. You step from your shoddy 'resort' hotel, onto the street, and boom! There you are...that one street right in front of the hotels is as 'glitzy' as it gets. One street beyond that, the houses begin, and they are just as run down-looking on the outside as any house in Cuba. Cubans walk freely throughout town...because they live there. No, they are not all employees of the hotels.

I agree with you a law would be hard to find. I'm not sure there would have been an official Cuban law.
I'm certain there would have been, were this a policy. Cubans are big on their laws. For example, one of the wackiest ones I encountered was the law that gives you a life sentence for killing a cow....literally more time than for killing a human. So, you can own a cow, you can milk it and sell the milk, hell, you can sell the cow, but you yourself can not kill it. The state must butcher the animal. Most cows in Cuba are kept for milk, and only killed when they are quite old (you'll be hard pressed to find any beef in Cuba, and if you do, you'd better have strong jaw muscles). Anyway, I can't imagine that if there were a law forbidding Cubans from tourist areas, that it would be an 'informal' thing. Not in Cuba.

I know I have been away from the island for a while,
and at the rate things are going fidel will die in power at the age of 100, and I will die before fidel without seeing Cuba free.

So according to some on this thread my family in cuba must be lying to me, now all of a sudden if I was still in Cuba, I could stay a few nights in a hotel for tourists only, my visiting Cuban American relatives, and the Cuban governing priveleged elite, when I could not stay before.

My family members who went to cuba and I have two that went a few months apart, must have lied to me when they said they could not stay in the hotels with thier cuban family.

My other family member in Cuba who sent me a picture of a nice luxury hotel must have lied to me when he said look how nice but I am not allowed to stay there.

Political dissident Oswaldo Paya, must be playing politics when he presented the legislation to the national assembly to allow Cubans to stay in their own nations hotels with thier own national currenc, no wonder the national assembly has not responded to him either way.

The average Cuban is allowed to stay in their own nations hotels with thier own national currency or better yet with hard currency money.

Now I know.

The victims of Fidel Castro deserve better treatment from Fidel castro not the international community.

Viva Cuba, and Fidel

You would not be allowed a home computer or a site like nationstates in Cuba to express, discuss, debate or share that view with others.

As I have posted before on other threads, I have relatives who have been balseros, rafters who leave Cuba on anything that floats, rafts, boats, floating trucks and taxis across 90 miles of shark infested waters.

Like the story of the two Cuban brothers who are doctors, relatives of mine, one doctor who came on a raft across 90 miles of shark infested waters, and today is working at a clinic doing as much doctor related work as possible, while studying english to become a fully licensed US doctor.

His younger brother in Cuba also a doctor, who wants to emigrate legally to the USA, or get into an overseas doctors program so he can defect when he can, he is even considering to leave Cuba on a raft, but his older brother in the USA is holding him back from this option because he dosent want his younger brother to take the same risk.

Well hear is another balsero story, but this one is on a boat, not as dramatic as coming on a raft but dangerous just the same.

Despite Cuba been such a paradise island they keep coming.

Posted on Wed, Feb. 08, 2006

IMMIGRATION
Landing on sandbar a break for migrants

Fifteen Cubans made it to shore in the Keys after a Coast Guard chase.

BY LUISA YANEZ AND OSCAR CORRALlyanez@MiamiHerald.com

In the latest Cuban migration drama, a ''go-fast'' boat trying to outrun U.S. authorities Tuesday slammed into a sandbar in the Florida Keys before migrants jumped onto dry land.

The boat carried 14 Cuban migrants -- 10 men, three women and one 17-year-old girl -- according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Jennifer Connors. The boat stopped north of Marathon at Duck Key near mile marker 64.

The group made it to dry land, practically guaranteeing they will qualify for U.S. residency. They were taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.

Two men, who took cover in the mangroves in an attempt to evade authorities, were taken into custody separately. Agency spokesman Zachary Mann said the two men, a Cuban national and a Georgia native, are suspected smugglers.

Mann did not release their names.

The drama began around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday off the Florida Keys after a Customs and Border Patrol jet spotted a boat traveling toward the Keys loaded with people, Mann said. About three hours later, another aircraft and two boats -- one from the Coast Guard, one from Customs and Border Patrol -- initiated a chase.

''The boat rammed and beached itself on a sandbar, and local authorities were called in to help,'' said Coast Guard Petty Officer James Judge.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said it was alerted and asked for help.

''We got a call from the Coast Guard that they were trying to intercept a boat and to go to Grassy Key,'' said Becky Herron, spokeswoman for the Monroe sheriff.

The Cubans were taken for processing to Pembroke Pines, Mann said.

One of the suspected smugglers was taken into custody in the early afternoon after trying to hide, Mann said. Another man was flushed out of the dense mangroves by Monroe County bloodhounds and taken into custody at about 5 p.m., Mann said.

Under the U.S. wet-foot, dry-foot policy, Cubans who make it to land are generally allowed to remain in the United States.

So according to some on this thread my family in cuba must be lying to me, now all of a sudden if I was still in Cuba, I could stay a few nights in a hotel for tourists only, my visiting Cuban American relatives, and the Cuban governing priveleged elite, when I could not stay before. Only if you miraculously had two months wages to spend on said hotel room. Which few, if any Cubans have. But yes...say you were living in Cuba, and your US relatives sent you money to blow on a hotel room (instead of more necessary items), then yes, you could stay. Only cost prevents any Cuban from staying in these resort hotels...and in the non-resort hotels (which I prefer), not even cost prevents them. Is your family lying? No...I think you are misunderstanding what they are saying.

My family members who went to cuba and I have two that went a few months apart, must have lied to me when they said they could not stay in the hotels with thier cuban family. Once again...your family from the US are foreigners. So no, they can not stay in rooms with your family who are still in Cuba. Again...did your family offer to pay for your Cuban family to stay in the rooms? Otherwise, as I've mentioned, the cost would have made that impossible...NOT some imaginary law forbidding it.

My other family member in Cuba who sent me a picture of a nice luxury hotel must have lied to me when he said look how nice but I am not allowed to stay there. We've covered this ground before.

Political dissident Oswaldo Paya, must be playing politics when he presented the legislation to the national assembly to allow Cubans to stay in their own nations hotels with thier own national currenc, no wonder the national assembly has not responded to him either way. Yeah, no wonder...because that would mean dropping the hotel rates down 26 times in order for Cubans to afford staying there...which oddly enough, is exactly what is done in the majority of hotels throughout Cuba that are NOT tourist 'resort' hotels. So, in the Hotel Playa Giron, my husband and I payed $45CUC a night. Cubans staying only paid $45MN. That's about $1.73CUC. The government is not going to drop the rates in the tourist hotels...they make a huge killing off them. Rather like the five start hotels in any US city is not going to start lowering the rates for low income USians. But there are many beautiful hotels along beautiful beaches in Cuba that Cubans can easily afford.

The average Cuban is allowed to stay in their own nations hotels with thier own national currency or better yet with hard currency money. Do you have any idea how silly it would be, to pay the minimum $75CUC for a resort hotel in Varadero with moneda nacional? It would be like paying for a refrigerator with pennies. So no, they won't accept the national money. But, convertible pesos, aptly named, can be got in exchange for the cuban pesos. Still...$75CUC is about $1950MN...the average monthly wage of a Cuban is $20CUC, or $520MN. Once again you see that an average Cuban can NOT afford these resort hotels...which are really not any nicer than the cheaper hotels...you know, like the one in Playa Giron where they pay less than $2CUC a night.

Now I know.
And yet I doubt you'll remember...but don't worry, I'll be here to remind you.

Hola Sinuhue, your response to my ironic, sarcastic, satire thread on post 75, whatever you want to call it, makes no sense.

Well enough on that subject.

I know who Sinuhue is on NS, I think I know who Gift-of-God is, but it is ok both are buena onda in their way.

Your are always welcomed to Telegram my NS nation on any subject.

Soy buena onda with a great sense of humor.

Adelante, Jorge Mas Canosa.

Hola Sinuhue, your response to my ironic, sarcastic, satire thread on post 75, whatever you want to call it, makes no sense.


What part exactly, makes no sense? I'm more than happy to clarify anything for you.

Edit: and what do you mean 'I know who Sinuhue is on NS'? You're not another one who thinks I might actually be Castro in disguise....are you?

I know who Sinuhue is on NS, I think I know who Gift-of-God is, but it is ok both are buena onda in their way.

I'm a little creeped out, but as you say, you are buena onda.

Adelante, Jorge Mas Canosa.

I had not heard of this man. Thanks for the tip.

http://cuban-exile.com/doc_051-075/doc0063.html

What part exactly, makes no sense? I'm more than happy to clarify anything for you.

Edit: and what do you mean 'I know who Sinuhue is on NS'? You're not another one who thinks I might actually be Castro in disguise....are you?

Come ON. We can see the straps on your beard.

I know I will probably get beat in the polls as I usually do.
My main reason for bringing this thread out again is to call attention to post 1. All these threads are all inter-related with thier own twists.

To back up my claims, of a dictatorship government that refuses to change through trade, European and foreign investments, diplomatic relations and dialogue.

To back up my claims of oppression against dissidents, political, economic and social, human rights abuses.

The political sanctions imposed by the EU are minor and petty to begin with.