> >Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit > >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 26 June 2000 23:00 > > >*ELIAN'S KIDNAPPERS TAKE THEIR CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT >*CUBAN ROUNDTABLE: THE US JUSTICE SYSTEM >*REMAINS OF 6 MEMBERS OF CHE'S GUERRILLA GROUP IN BOLIVIA REPATRIATED >*CONGRESS ON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY WINDS UP IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL >*EXPOCARIBE 2000 COMES TO A SUCCESSFUL CLOSE IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA >*BRAZILIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS CUBA >*CUBA INCREASES OIL PRODUCTION THIS YEAR >*GERMAN FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTES TO NATIONAL PARK IN GUANTANAMO >*FIDEL'S LETTER TO THE HOLGUIN DEMONSTRATION >*Viewpoint: RIGHT WING MANEUVERS IN CONGRESS AGAINST FOOD, MEDICINE SALES > > . > >*ELIAN'S KIDNAPPERS TAKE THEIR CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT > >Washington, June 26 (RHC)-- Attorneys representing the kidnappers of >six-year-old Elian Gonzalez in Miami have appealed to the Supreme Court. The >appeal for a political asylum hearing comes just 48 hours before a court >order expires, prohibiting the boy from leaving the United States. At the >same time, attorneys for the Miami kidnappers have requested that the order >be extended until the Supreme Court decides whether or not to review the >case and issues a decision. > >On Friday, June 23rd, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta refused >to hear the case. The full panel of 12 judges unanimously ruled that Elian >Gonzalez and his father could leave the U.S. and return to Cuba on >Wednesday, June 28th, if the Supreme Court does not issue an emergency >interdict. Supreme Court Judge Anthony M. Kennedy now has to decide if the >prohibition will be extended. Kennedy, the Supreme Court judge in charge of >examining cases from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (involving the states >of Florida, Alabama and Georgia), could rule on his own or take it to the >rest of the Court's judges. > >Regarding the appeal for a political asylum hearing, at least four of the >nine judges on the Supreme Court must agree to hear the case. Observers >believe that the Miami kidnappers are hoping that their appeal is too close >for a decision to be made before the Supreme Court recesses at the end of >this month. The nine-member Court resumes its sessions on October 2nd. > >According to Prensa Latina News Agency, based in the Cuban capital, this >latest maneuver by the kidnapper's attorneys before the highest court in the >land is a last-ditch effort to keep Elian Gonzalez in the United States, >against the wishes of his father. > > . > >*CUBAN ROUNDTABLE: THE US JUSTICE SYSTEM > >Havana, June 26 (RHC)-- A roundtable discussion was broadcast live on Cuban >radio and television Monday night. The panel -- made up of journalists and >experts in international law -- examined Monday afternoon's appeal to the >Supreme Court by the Miami kidnappers of Elian Gonzalez, as well as the lack >of justice for people of color and the poor in the United States. > >Panelists analyzed last Thursday's execution of African-American death row >prisoner Shaka Sankofa -- agreeing that the 36-year-old man was put to death >in the U.S. state of Texas, despite evidence showing that he was innocent of >murder charges. Noting that the case of Shaka Sankofa was a product of >political structures designed to deny Blacks and other minorities political >power, the participants in the roundtable discussion addressed the basic >tenets of U.S. culture: individualism, consumerism and racism. > >Several of the panelists looked at the disparity in conditions between >Blacks and whites in the United States. A statistical analysis of Black and >white mortality rates demonstrates that whites live an average of eight >years longer than Blacks -- attributing this to an inferior socio-economic >level and poor access to health care within the African-American community. >It was also noted that African-Americans have the highest mortality rate of >any minority in the industrialized world. > >The discussion on Black America then moved into the areas of imprisonment >and the death penalty, both of which are disproportionately biased against >minorities. The panel put forth the idea that, by incarcerating Blacks, the >dominant culture is able to marginalize them politically. An alarming >statistic used to exemplify this point shows that by the year 2005, >one-third of voting-age Blacks in the United States will have lost their >right to vote due to their rapid rate of imprisonment. > >Another theme brought up by the panel on Monday's roundtable dealt with the >U.S. economic blockade against Cuba and congressional efforts to lift >certain aspects of the blockade. One measure, proposed by Senator >Christopher Dodd from Connecticut, would have created a commission to >analyze U.S. foreign policy towards Cuba. It was pointed out that Dodd's >proposal was defeated last week by the Republican-controlled Senate. > >Proposed legislation designed to lift the ban on the sale of food and >medicine to Cuba is still being debated in the Congress. According to the >panelists, representatives on Capitol Hill have placed several conditions on >even considering passing the bill: Cuba is denied credit; Cuba must pay for >all goods in cash; and Cuba cannot export any products to the United States. >It was emphasized that such restrictions make the lifting of the ban on the >sale of food and medicine a mere token gesture. > >The roundtable discussion was aired on Cuban television and the national >radio network, as well as the international shortwave frequencies of Radio >Havana Cuba. > > . > >*REMAINS OF 6 MEMBERS OF CHE'S GUERRILLA GROUP IN BOLIVIA REPATRIATED > >Havana, June 26 (RHC)-- The remains of another six internationalists who >fought alongside Che Guevara in Bolivia arrived in Cuba on Sunday. The >skeletal remains of three Cubans, two Bolivians and one Peruvian were >exhumed and identified by a team of Cuban and Argentinean forensic experts. >The specialists have been working for more than three years in the area of >the Bolivian jungle where Che and his internationalist guerrilla army >operated 33 years ago. > >Cubans Antonio Sanchez Diaz, Jose Maria Martinez Tamayo and Eliseo Reyes >Rodriguez; Bolivians Serapio Aquino Tudela and Casildo Condori Varga and >Peruvian Restituto Jose Cabrera Flores will be buried at the Ernesto Che >Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara, located in central Cuba. > >The remains of Che, along with 22 other internationalists, already lie at >rest in the Mausoleum. The addition of these recently discovered remains >brings the number of internationalists that have been exhumed and identified >to 29. > > . > >*CONGRESS ON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY WINDS UP IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL > >Havana, June 26 (RHC)-- The First National Congress on Child and Adolescence >Psychiatry, attended by experts from Europe and the Americas, wrapped at >Havana's ORTHOP Convention Center over the weekend. > >After one day of pre-congress courses and three days of memorable sessions, >delegates to the First National Congress on Child and Adolescence Psychiatry >left Cuba with the pledge to meet again in Havana in the year 2002, when the >first Pan-American Congress on the issue will be held. Among those attending >the closing ceremony were Cuban Health Ministry representative, Dr. >Guillermo Barrientos; the president of the event's organizing committee and >head of the National Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, Dr. Cristobal >Martinez; the President of the American Academy of Child and Adolescence >Psychiatry, Dr. Clarice Kestenbaum; and Dr. William Arroyo, a member of the >prestigious U.S. institution. > >In her closing speech, Dr. Kestenbaum thanked participants for giving her >the opportunity to come to Cuba for the second time. She said she was >extremely impressed with the island on her first visit and even more so this >time. And Dr. Kestenbaum said that many countries could learn from the work >Cuba is doing in psychological treatment. The president of the American >Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry concluded by saying that she >hoped the case of Elian Gonzalez "could be a bridge towards a better >understanding" between the United States and Cuba. > > . > >*EXPOCARIBE 2000 COMES TO A SUCCESSFUL CLOSE IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA > >Santiago de Cuba, June 26 (RHC)-- The 9th International Trade Fair >EXPOCARIBE 2000 concluded on Sunday in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba. >The event ended with a closing ceremony, awarding prizes to participating >companies and the fair's top products. > >The week-long forum, with the participation of 312 companies from 45 >countries and over 600 Cuban firms, sparked the interest of Caribbean, Latin >American, European and Asian business executives. > >In his closing speech, the president of Cuba's Chamber of Commerce, Hector >Manuel Perez, underscored the presence of renowned regional personalities, >including Colombian Vice President Gustavo Bell and Haiti's Trade and >Industry Minister, Gerald Jermain. > > . > >*BRAZILIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS CUBA > >Havana, June 26 (RHC)-- A delegation from the Brazilian chapter of the Latin >American Entrepreneurial Council is in Havana to foster bilateral commercial >relations between Cuba and Brazil. > >This is the first time a Brazilian mission from the regional organization >has visited the island. Delegation leader, Roberto Texeira, said the meeting >will be part of other efforts to expand bilateral relations between Brazil >and Cuba. > >On Monday morning, the 11-member delegation met with Marta Lomas, Cuba's >Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, who briefed >participants on issues related to the Cuban economy. Brazilian business >executives also met with Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage and other >government officials. > >The Latin American Entrepreneurial Council, which was founded 12 years ago, >is aimed at promoting Latin American integration. > > . > >*CUBA INCREASES OIL PRODUCTION THIS YEAR > >Havana, June 26 (RHC)-- Cuba will increase oil production this year while >moving ahead with off-shore drilling and oil extraction in the Gulf of >Mexico. Over the past eight years, the amount of oil extraction has >increased six times, amounting to 60,000 barrels a day. > >It is estimated that by the end of this year, some 70 percent of the >island's electricity and natural gas production will be made from domestic, >heavy oil. > >Basic Industry Ministry advisor, Manuel Marrero, announced that results on >an analysis of Cuba's exclusive drilling zone, located in the Gulf of >Mexico, will soon be announced. He explained that seismological studies, >which began last week, will soon reveal if there is crude to be extracted in >the area. > >According to the Cuban expert, there is a strong possibility that huge oil >reserves are present in the region. > > . > >*GERMAN FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTES TO NATIONAL PARK IN GUANTANAMO > >Guantanamo, June 26 (RHC)-- The German Foundation "Green Gold" -- an >organization that works for the conservation of tropical forests -- has >donated 100,000 dollars over the past several years to strengthen the >infrastructure of Cuba's Alejandro de Humboldt National Park in eastern >Guantanamo province. > >The park is located in the Cuchillas del Toa Reserve, considered to be the >most extensive and complex system of protected natural areas in Cuba and has >been proposed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. > >The densely-forested area is the largest ecological reserve within a >mountainous region and the most extensive biosphere reserve in the Antilles. >According to ecologists, the reserve is rich in endemic flora and fauna. > > . > >*FIDEL'S LETTER TO THE HOLGUIN DEMONSTRATION > >As I write these lines, I'm sure that today you will stage one of the most >honorable actions in the history of our Revolution on behalf of the entire >Cuban people. > >Yesterday's encouraging news, amid our 7-month struggle, in extremely >hostile and unfavorable circumstances against the injustice that has deeply >wounded us, will cause us to let down our guard. > >The judicial process should have never been carried out in the United >States, because under international law, the United States' own laws and >Cuban law, there is no jurisdiction. > >Risks still exist that must not be underestimated. If just one Supreme Court >justice agrees to impose another injunction against Elian's leaving, he and >his family could be forced to stay in the United States for months more. > >Miami's criminal Cuban-American mafia and their extreme right wing allies in >the United States still have power and the opportunity for more legal >maneuvering. > >They will not hesitate a single moment to use them because they have no >scuples about continuing to torture the victims of their hatred and thus >take revenge on the child, his family and his people. > >Not even when Elian and his brave father return to Cuba along with the rest >of their family and friends will we be able to rest. We have a sacred duty >to prevent the lives of many children, mothers and other Cuban citizens from >being devoured by the killer Cuban Adjustment Act. > >What's more, we still have the struggle against the Helms Burton and the >Torricelli Laws and the dozens of amendments passed by the US Congress aimed >at strangling our nation; the criminal blockade, the economic war, the >incessant policy of subversion and destabilization against a revolution that >was born over 130 years ago. A revolution by our people who, by making use >of our undeniable rights we have as an absolutely free and independent >nation, have managed to exist and deepen our roots at the cost of our own >blood, sacrifice and heroism. > >That we have sworn, and that we will do. > >We are also a profoundly internationalist people. In the most difficult days >of the struggle for the return of Elian, the support for our cause among the >US people increased to over 70 percent, which we cannot and will not forget. >Within that decisive and admirable support, 90 percent of African Americans >defended the rights of the boy and his father. > >Just 24 hours ago, they, as well as the majority of the American people, >received the terrible news that Shaka Sankofa, as he decided to call himself >after being condemned to death, was murdered. Our people were also shocked >and deeply saddened. The crime was indescribable. > >Despite the legal infractions attributed to Sankofa by his executioners with >great rancor and hatred, when he was an adolescent living in poverty, >marginalization and racial discrimination, when he was still a minor, he was >mercilessly condemned to death for an alleged homicide for which there was >no proof of his involvement. > >Everything they did to him went against all internationally accepted >doctrines and principles. The only evidence they were able to present was >the testimony of a person who was located nearly 40 feet away from the crime >which occurred at night. This witness was said have seen Sankofa's face for >a few seconds through the window of his car near the spot where the event >occurred. > >Various witnesses who could have proved the contrary were not called to >testify in a trial, in which Sankofa being poor, could not afford an >experienced defense attorney. > >Ballistic tests demonstrated that the bullets that killed the victim did not >match those of the weapon, that Sankofa's accusers claimed he had on him. >Some members of the jury that condemned Sankofa have asserted that if they >had learned of such circumstances and irregularities, they never would have >found him guilty. > >During Shaka Sankofa's long struggle to demonstrate his innocence, no one >who knew him and supported him ever doubted that he was innocent and that >the punishment was a disgusting act of murder. Sankofa's energy, eloquence >and dignity in defending himself expressed that same idea. > >It is common knowledge in the United States and in the world, that Sankofa >was condemned to capital punishment and executed because he was black. > >To the crime of condemning him to death when he was underage, was added the >monstrous act of having confined him for 19 years on Death Row. But that >wasn't enough to mitigate the hatred felt by racists when a stay was granted >to clarify what obviously was a trial filled with irregularities and >arbitrary decisions. Any authority, with the slightest bit of compassion >would have done the same. > >Shaka Sankofa has shown to the world the bitter fruits of a social system in >which differences between the richest and the poorest are infinite, where >selfishness, individualism and consumerism and the generalized use of >firearms and violence reign as a philosophical foundation. > >What was admirable in that young man, poor, marginalized and black, and >perhaps that was why was condemned without the slightest evidence was how he >developed through that endless wait on death row. His impressive political >and social consciousness which he expressed at the moment of his execution. > >He did not walk meekly to the scaffold, as a lamb to slaughter. . He >physically resisted his execution to the end as he had promised he would. > >He spoke as a prophet. He called for the continuation of the struggle >against what he called the holocaust or genocide suffered by African >Americans. He called for the revindication of his innocence and he died as a >hero. > >In that way, oppression, exploitation, inequality and injustice create >people who, at the difficult moment of an unjust death, are able to >emotional move an empire and gain the admiration of all honest people in the >world. Could this perhaps, be a justification for mistakes committed by a >black, youth, poor, discriminated against and marginalized in the richest >country in the world? It is for us, not only a duty of gratitude, but also a >great internationalist commitment, to join in the energetic protest of >millions North Americans, black and white, Indian, Hispanic and all people >of color who are condemning this reprehensible ,racist application of >justice. > >These events convince us even more that the future belongs to our dreams of >equality and justice for all human beings. > >The people will triumph. > >Fidel Castro Ruz >June 24, 2000, 12:42 am > > . > >*Viewpoint > >RIGHT WING MANEUVERS IN CONGRESS AGAINST FOOD AND MEDICINE SALES > >Efforts by a group of U.S. congressional representatives to pass an >amendment to remove food and medicine from the blockade against Cuba is in >danger of being derailed. A small group in the House of Representatives -- >supported by the Miami-based, right wing Cuban-American National Foundation >-- is exerting its influence on Capitol Hill to block the amendment all >together or to at least impose conditions that would be make the legislation >ineffective. > >Some observers say that the amendment to exclude food and medicine from the >blockade against Cuba, along with other similar proposals, are merely a >humanitarian mask used to soften Washington's image of cruelty and >intolerance, both inside and outside the country. What U.S. officials call >an "embargo" is really an inhumane economic war aimed at forcing the Cuban >people to their knees by creating a devastating economic situation. > >The battle in the U.S. Congress has been sparked by important business >sectors, including pharmaceutical companies and agricultural producers, who >are tired of being shut out of such a geographically natural market. > >Among the conditions that the right wing congressional representatives hope >to impose on the amendment are a prohibition on extending commercial or >governmental credits to Cuba, immediate cash payments and a ban on exports >of other U.S. products to Cuba. It is obvious to anyone who is the least bit >informed in these matters, that a country aggressively blockaded for four >decades, unable to trade internationally in U.S. dollars and without access >to international credits because it is blocked from belonging to the >International Monetary Fund, would have a difficult time reaping any >benefits from the lifting of a ban on sales of food and medicine. > >If the U.S. Congress insists that Cuba take steps to do away with its >socialist system and the tremendous social achievements that the Cuban >people have struggled long and hard to attain, it is doubtful that we will >ever emerge from the impasse in relations between our two countries. > >(c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved. > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >Law Enforcement Professionals: SAVE ON LONG DISTANCE TODAY!!! >http://click.egroups.com/1/4170/0/_/30563/_/962119503/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >Cuba SI - Imperialism NO! >Information and discussion about Cuba. >Socialism or death! Patria o muerte! Venceremos! >http://www.egroups.com/group/cubasi > >Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Change Delivery Options: http://www.egroups.com/mygroups > > > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
