SO great was the pressure against the U.S. blockade of Cuba that, on the day that Raúl categorically declared that our country would not enter the OAS, the secretary of that discredited institution began to prepare the ground for Cuba’s participation in a possible future Summit of the Americas. His prescription is to repeal the resolution that decided the island’s expulsion, for ideological reasons. Such an argument is truly laughable, when important countries like China and Vietnam, which the current world cannot do without, are led by Communist Parties that were created on the same ideological bases.
Historical facts demonstrate the hegemonic policies of the United States in our region and the repugnant role of the OAS as an odious instrument of that powerful country.
Insulza’s formula is to erase the criminal agreement from the map. Raúl declared in Cumaná that Cuba would never rejoin the OAS. Using an immortal phrase of Martí he affirmed that, first: "the sea of the South will join with the sea of the North, and a serpent will be born from the egg of an eagle."
On that same occasion, in response to a supposed gesture from Obama, who offered to talk with Cuba on democracy and human rights, he [Raúl] replied that the government of Cuba was disposed to discuss any issue on the basis of the most absolute respect for the equality and sovereignty of both countries. Our people are perfectly well aware of the significance and dignity of those words.
Among Obama’s public demands is the release of those sentenced to imprisonment on account of their traitorous services to the United States which, has been attacking and blockading our homeland throughout half a century.
Raúl declared that Cuba was prepared to exercise clemency if the United States would receive them and release the five Cuban anti-terrorist heroes.
However, both the government of the United States and the gusanera (traitors in self-imposed exile) within and outside of Cuba have reacted with all kinds of arrogance.
The AP and some other news agencies have insinuated divisions in the heart of the revolutionary leadership.
According to AP, "A leading human rights activist says most of Cuba's 200 or more political prisoners would rather serve out long terms on the island than be part of an exchange for five communist agents imprisoned in the U.S., as Cuban President Raul Castro has suggested.
"It's nearly unanimous among the prisoners that they not be exchanged for military men arrested red-handed in espionage activities in the United States," said the agency, invoking the head of the ill-named Cuban Commission for Human Rights and Reconciliation. One would have to see whom they are now describing with that concept. Pope John Paul II did not distinguish between political and common prisoners when he visited Cuba and asked for clemency for a number of them. In reality, most of the people labeled common prisoners in the United States are – as a rule – the poorest and most discriminated against.
"But Obama – the AP goes on to say – could suffer serious political fallout if he agreed to swap the so-called Cuban Five — communist agents who were convicted of espionage in Miami in 2001. The ringleader was implicated in the death of four exiles killed when Cuban military fighters shot their planes down off the island's coast in 1996." Does that cable by any chance constitute a threat to the president of the United States?
The presumed mercenary leader was a member of a micro-faction, he came from the youth wing of the old Communist Party and later joined the new Party created by the Revolution. When we saw the need to differ with the USSR over the incorrect decision to negotiate an agreement with the United States on the October [Missile] Crisis without prior consultation with our country, the subject became an enemy of the Revolution. He served the superpower throughout the entire Bush mandate. Now he is affording himself the luxury of being an instrument for threatening Obama.
The AP does not say one word about the life sentences handed down in rigged trials to the five heroes, the lies elaborated with the complicity of the authorities, the cruel treatment that they have received, and many other facts related to the case. Those are the calumnies published in much of the world media.
When the health of any one of the mercenaries required it, the government of Cuba has never failed to exercise clemency, without the United States demanding it.
On the other hand, the government of Cuba has never practiced torture; that is a fact acknowledged by the world. The president of Cuba cannot order the assassination of an opponent. Has the new president of the United States condemned that odious practice? If he does so, believe me that I will not hesitate in acknowledging the impression of sincerity that he initially gave all of us.
Tomorrow we are meeting again with Daniel. In less time than the hours he had to wait in the LACSA plane in Port of Spain under the intense heat of the Tropics, the Cuban aircraft will transport him to his beloved homeland.