2008 March 18th Activities

People in Need

 

As in past years, PIN will build a symbolic Cuban prison cell on the Square of the Republic in the centre of the Czech capital, on Tuesday, March 18, 2008,and distinguished Czech personalities, symbolically dressed in prisoner’s clothes, will ‘serve time‘ for each of the Cuban political prisoners. In the evening a march from the cell will take place similar to marches carried out by the Women in White in Havana. Together participants will move towards the nearby St Havel‘s church on Havel’s square (Havelském náměstí) where a mass will be served for the prisoners and their families.

PONTIS and People in Peril

On March 17, the Pontis Foundation and People in Peril are going to organize a public event at the 5th anniversary of the massive crackdown of Cuban civil society. Taking Damas de blanco who march trough the streets of Havana every Sunday as an example, a solidary march in the streets of Bratislava will be organized for the support of Ladies in white.  It will lead from Namestie Slobody (the Freedom Square) to  A4 zero space club, where a new movie about Damas de blanco by Ivana Milosevic will be screened.  Several Slovak celebrities pledged their support to the event.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide

On March 1st, Christian Solidarity Worldwide initiated a campaign of prayer and protest focused on Cuba's political prisoners and the lack of religious freedom in Cuba's prisons in particular.  The Cuban government systematically violates the religious rights of political prisoners, in contravention of the UN Standard Minimum Rules on the Treatment of Prisoners, by arbitrarily denying them access to clergy, confiscating bibles and other religious literature and materials (including rosaries), and prohibiting them from attending religious services.  These policies appear to be aimed specifically at political prisoners who are openly Christian (both Catholic and Protestant).   More information is available on CSWs website along with a downloadable version of the entire report.

International Society for Human Rights

International Society for Human Rights

On March 18, members of the ISHR demonstrated in Berlin in front of the Cuban Embassy. Among them were members of the Movement for the Liberation of Cuba, Cuba-Democratic Future, and ’s largest student organization, the Christian Democratic Student Group, which is aligned with the Christian Democratic Union Party.

These activists wanted the German public to become aware of the political prisoners in and the destiny that awaits them. Particularly important are the victims of March 18, 2003, who were arrested and imprisoned five years ago because of their human rights work.
 

Romania joins the chain of solidarity event in Europe

Pontis Foundation with the cooperation of the Center for International Studies based in Bucharest organizes a public event at the 5th anniversary of the massive crackdown of the civil society in Cuba.  The event will take place in the Institute for Social Dialogue in the centre of Bucharest on Wednesday, March 19, at 5 pm. The goal of the event is to raise the awareness of Romanian public about the situation in Cuba in 2003 (massive repression) and in 2008, introduce the main opposition leaders and inform the participants about the situation of human rights on the island. Moreover, the experience of Slovakia (NGOs and government) will be shared.

At the event, the movie Cuba Libre: El Mayor Deseo will be screened, followed by a public discussion, and a small reception. This event is organized as a part of Pontis’ advocacy project in CEE countries.

KIC (Christian Democratic International Center) and SILC (Swedish International Liberal Centre)  


KIC and SILC arranged a seminar in the Swedish Parlament, which was open to the public, to draw attention to the anniversary of the Black Spring in 2003. The programme included:

Minister of EU Affairs Cecilia Malmström (liberal) speaking about the importance of showing solidarity with the political prisoners of Cuba.  Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson (liberal-conservative) discussing the current situation in Cuba.  State Secretary Jakob Forssmed (Christian democrat) giving a presentation about the democracy movement in Cuba. Maeliz Orrego Rodriguez, from SILC, talked about some of the released prisoners that now live in Spain and shows taped interview. Eniel Bosch, vice president of the association Misceláneas de Cuba spoke about the information monopoly in Cuba. The event finished with a screening of the short film the Dissidents, which provides more background about the Black Spring.




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2010-07-29 / AFP - Agence France-Presse

Cuba weighs expanding small private businesses

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) -- Cuba's lawmakers on Wednesday mulled legalizing more small private businesses, perhaps expanding a limited program to include farm and food industries in the economically struggling communist nation, state media said.

Committees in the National Assembly were reviewing potential measures ahead of a keenly awaited address on Sunday by President Raul Castro.

The Cuban president, 79, is expected to outline social and economic policies, possibly including some significant changes.

In a country in which 95 percent of the economy is state-run, inefficiency is rampant and wages are woefully low, Cubans' hopes are running high that some change is coming to allow some economic opening in the Americas' only one-party communist regime.

Castro three months ago gave a green light for a test-run privatization of barber and beauty shops.       ...more

2010-07-29 / AP Wire Service

Paralyzed Cuban political prisoner headed to US

HAVANA — A recently freed Cuban political prisoner was preparing to board his Wednesday flight to the U.S from Havana's airport.

Ariel Sigler, 44 and paralyzed from the waist down, was released to his home in Matanzas province in June as part of a deal between Cuba's government and the island's Roman Catholic Church.

He obtained a U.S. visa quickly, and subsequently was given permission to leave the island by Cuban authorities.

Sigler was expected to board a special charter flight to Miami soon, without any relatives accompanying him.

"I'm going, looking to regain my health," he told reporters at the airport. "When I arrive in Miami ... they are waiting for me and will take me to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where I hope to regain my strength."

Sigler said he eventually planned to return to Cuba "because this government's days are numbered."       ...more


2010-07-29 / Nick Amies (Deutsche Welle)

Rebellious Spain stands firm in pursuit of change to EU Cuba policy

How does one solve a problem like Cuba? Even the United States, which has had a very clear Cuba policy for the past 50 years, finds it increasingly difficult to understand the real motives behind the contradictory actions and words coming from the regime in Havana. The political climate seems to change daily; strong hints of democratic reform and the upholding of human rights are often followed by a return to bellicose anti-capitalist statements and crackdowns.

Despite the ambiguous nature of Cuba's current international persona, the US position remains clear. Since April 2009, President Barack Obama has been implementing a less strict policy toward Cuba and has stated that he is open to dialogue with Havana. Some economic sanctions and travel restrictions have since been eased but the trade embargo, which has stood since 1960, will only end when Cuba shows real political change.

If only the European Union's stance was as clearly defined. Until recently, it looked as though it was. But in the last few months, divisions have started to appear and the bedrock on which Europe's Cuba policy is built has started to show some cracks.         ...more


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