"I prefer a million critical voices
before the silence of the dictatorships."
Dilma Rousseff
Choosing the time for a presidential visit can be an exceedingly thankless task in this so unpredictable and changeable world. When the date of the visit of a head of state is placed on the agenda, announced, and reconciled with the hosts, life commonly offers up the unexpected. The government palaces don't control chance, nor anticipate the surprising events that strain the arrival of a dignitary. Dilma Rousseff knows this well. Her presence in Havana was coordinated for weeks and was even preceded by that of the foreign minister, Antonio de Aguiar Patriota. Everything seemed neatly tied up: a fast timeframe, efficient, protocol, focused on economic themes, ending with her boarding her flight to Haiti. But something complicated it.
Several days before the Brazilian economist and politician landed at Jose Marti Airport, a young Cuban died after a prolonged hunger strike. The official media threw itself into presenting him as a common criminal, although he had been arrested at an opposition march through the streets of Contramaestre. The radicalized discourse of power and the political temperature reached those levels where our rulers perform so well. In that context, the recently concluded Conference of the Cuban Communist Party became more an act of reaffirmation than of change, a statement of unity rather than an opening. Many who were waiting for an announcement of political transformations of great significance, realized that the event was, instead, the ultimate lost opportunity for the generation in power. One day after its closure, Raul Castro -- General Secretary of the only permitted party -- received Dilma Rousseff, the former guerrilla who today leads a country with diverse political forces and a highly critical press.
Dilma's Cuban agenda includes inspecting the construction work at the Port of Mariel and the possible granting of new bank credits. Brazil is our second largest trading partner in Latin America, but it's not just a question of resources. The Raul regime also has the urge, at this time, to be legitimized by other presidents in the region. So there will be smiles, handshakes, commitments to "eternal friendship" and photos, lots of photos. The civic activists, for their part, will attempt a meeting with the woman who was tortured and imprisoned during a military government, though there is little chance that she will receive them. Dilma Rousseff will converse with Raul Castro; she will be very close to him at exactly this delicate juncture in which chance has placed her. We hope she will not miss the opportunity and will comport herself consistent with the clamor for democracy, instead of opting for a complicit silence before a dictatorship.
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Note: I will not know until Friday, Feb. 3, whether the Cuban authorities will finally allow me to travel for the presentation of the documentary "Cuba-Honduras Connection" in Jequie, Bahia, in Brazil. Thanks in advance to all who have done something so that I might make it to Brazil. Special thanks to Sen. Eduardo Suplicy, to the filmmaker Dado Galvao, to @xeniantunes, and to other Brazilian citizens.
Conexão Cuba Honduras -- trailer
Follow Yoani Sanchez on Twitter: www.twitter.com/yoanifromcuba
REUTERS: Cuba says U.S. climbs to 5th leading trade partner-HAVANA | Thu Aug 14, 2008
(Reuters) - The United States ranked among communist Cuba’s top five trading partners for the first time in 2007 despite the decades-old U.S. trade embargo, as U.S. agriculture sales increased by $100 million. Trade data for 2007 posted on the Web site of Cuba’s National Statistics Office (www.one.cu) placed the United States fifth at $582 million, compared with $484 million in 2006, including shipping costs.
The United States, which began selling food to Cuba in 2002 under an amendment to the embargo, placed seventh in 2006 and 2005.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/08/14/us-cuba-usa-trade-idUSN1447847620080814
On the topic of the article, there is no human rights issue in Cuba as the routine lying of so-called 'dissidents' clearly shows. Yet another accusation, that of the case of Wilman Villar, slowly unravels to displays the truth for all to see. The lies of people like Sánchez are now being clearly exposed, even by the wife of the deceased, as the layers of propaganda are slowly peeled away.
Should Sánchez be allowed to visit Brazil? As Rousseff said, that is a question for Cuba - for those best placed to judge - to answer. The only favors Sánchez should expect are from her Western handlers, those willing to defend the obscenity of capitalism, of which there appear to be many.
Glimmers of Hope for the Most Repressed: Burma, which has ranked alongside North Korea as one of the world’s most closed societies, experienced what many hope will become a major political opening. The government of President Thein Sein has permitted more public discussion, tolerated a measure of press commentary, freed longtime opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and cleared the path for her party’s participation in elections. Another country that endured decades of brutal misrule, Libya, now has the potential for significant gains thanks to the overthrow of al-Qadhafi. Cuba, also one of the world’s most repressive countries, experienced a small improvement linked to the limited reduction of economic restrictions by the government of Raúl Castro. Unlike in Burma, however, Cuba underwent no political liberalization.
An additional 8 countries and territories received scores that were slightly above those of the worst-ranked countries, with ratings of 6,7 or 7,6 for political rights and civil liberties: Belarus, Burma, Chad, China, Cuba, Laos, Libya, and South Ossetia.
FREEDOM STATUS : Cuba Not Free
Political Rights score = 7 ( 1 being best & 10 worst)
Civil Liberty Score = 6 ( 1 being best & 10 worst)
http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2012
Brazilian Government must defend the rights of Yoani Sánchez, Cuban blogger and all other dissidents, journalists and human rights activists The news that Brazil has issued a visa for Yoani Sánchez, the Cuban blogger and human rights activist, to visit the country for a film festival is an important step in recognising her right to freedom of movement. The Cuban authorities must now grant her permission to travel to Brazil to attend the screening of a documentary by Brazilian documentary-maker Dado Galvão in Jequié, Bahia State, on 10 February. The film features the story of Yoani Sánchez and other bloggers.
Amnesty International is calling on the Brazilian government to intervene with the Cuban authorities so that Yoani Sanchez is given permission to travel freely to and from Cuba. On 20 January 2012 Amnesty International wrote to Brazil’s Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota, calling on the Brazilian government to intervene in this case and to discuss human rights violations in Cuba.
Dilma Rousseff will be visiting Cuba on 31 January 2012. Amnesty International urges her to raise Yoeni Sánchez’ case with the Cuban authorities as well as the issue of freedom of expression, association, assembly and movement which is of serious concern.
CLICK LINK FOR ENTIRE STATEMENT!
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR19/002/2012/en/3f10ee75-6bab-43d8-8b14-2f6d5fadb379/amr190022012en.pdf