From: John Clancy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
subject: Radio Havana March 10/11. Cuba's enemies have fewer options
RHC Weekend-10/11 March 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 10/11 March 2001
.
*NEW EVIDENCE LINKS MIAMI MAFIA AND POSADA CARRILES TO ILLEGAL ARMS
TRADE
*ARGENTINA PRESSURES OTHER COUNTRIES TO VOTE AGAINST CUBA ON HUMAN
RIGHTS
*CUBA TAKES THE LEAD IN CONFRONTING DRUG-TRAFFICKING
*RICARDO ALARCON ARRIVES IN BAGHDAD
*PERU FORMALLY CHARGES FUJIMORI WITH MURDER
*ZAPATISTAS TO STAY IN MEXICO CITY UNTIL CONGRESS VOTES ON INDIGENOUS
RIGHTS
*COLOMBIA REJECTS REBEL PROPOSAL FOR 5-YEAR FOREIGN-DEBT MORATORIUM
*Viewpoint: CUBA'S ENEMIES HAVE FEWER AND FEWER OPTIONS
.
*NEW EVIDENCE LINKS MIAMI MAFIA AND POSADA CARRILES TO ILLEGAL ARMS
TRADE
San Salvador, March 10 (RHC)-- Police in El Salvador have uncovered
an illegal weapons trafficking network, closely linked to
international terrorist Luis Posada Carriles.
Authorities in San Salvador are investigating an automobile shop that
took out a license to export more than 240,000 cartridges and
ammunition from Spain last December. It was revealed that the client
-- Luis Posada Carriles -- never picked up his shipment, due to the
fact that he was arrested in Panama the month before. Posada Carriles
along with three other terrorists are being charged with planning the
assassination of Cuban President Fidel Castro in November during the
10th Ibero-American Summit in Panama City.
Observers note that the Salvadoran Academy of National Security was
listed as one of the recipients of the ammunition -- which was
apparently a front operation for Posada Carriles and his connections
in the Miami-based Cuban-American National Foundation.
*ARGENTINA PRESSURES OTHER COUNTRIES TO VOTE AGAINST CUBA ON HUMAN
RIGHTS
Buenos Aires, March 10 (RHC)-- The Argentinean government is
pressuring other countries of the region to vote against Cuba during
an upcoming session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
According to the Secretary General of the Argentinean Communist
Party, Patricio Echegaray, the administration of President Fernando
de la Rua is not only planning to vote in favor of the U.S.-sponsored
anti-Cuba resolution, but is actively trying to convince other Latin
American countries to do likewise.
The head of Argentina's Communist Party, in an interview published by
the weekly news magazine "Propuesta," stated that -- in his words --
"everything indicates that the Argentinean government is working to
push other countries to take the same pro-U.S. line against Cuba in
Geneva." Echegaray added that Buenos Aires is falling behind
Washington, right in step with the new Bush administration's efforts
to carry out a more aggressive policy against the Cuban Revolution --
particularly given the ties Bush has with the Cuban-American mafia in
Miami.
Calling on other Left and progressive forces in his country to join
the battle to defend Cuba, the Argentinean political leader noted
that the efforts to accuse Havana of supposed human rights violations
will be waged on all fronts. The secretary general of Argentina's
Communist Party said that Buenos Aires will not only attempt to
tarnish Cuba's name during the UN Human Rights Commission session
next month, but will also try to defend Washington's Plan Colombia.
Patricio Echegaray affirmed that the administration of Argentinean
President Fernando de la Rua is a strong supporter of an inter-
American force -- led by the U.S. military.
The interview with the head of Argentina's Communist Party,
published in the weekly "Propuesta," ended with the quote: "To vote
with the United States against Cuba is to vote against Latin America
and the very interests of the Argentinean people."
*CUBA TAKES THE LEAD IN CONFRONTING DRUG-TRAFFICKING
Havana, March 10 (RHC)-- Cuba has assumed its responsibility in the
fight against drug-trafficking -- confiscating nearly 12 tons and
arresting a number of foreigners involved in smuggling operations
during the year 2000.
According to data released at a meeting of the National Drug
Commission, held in Havana on Friday, Cuban authorities have
intercepted boats in territorial waters and arrested 170 foreign
citizens -- from 28 different countries -- charging them with drug-
trafficking. Of the 170 cases, 128 have been found guilty of illegal
smuggling and the others are still awaiting trial.
Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage was on hand for the meeting, which
examined the work of the island's authorities in the area of drug
interdiction over the past 12 months. Reports were presented on
Cuba's anti-drug operations since 1966, with a special emphasis on
recent operations. Also delivering reports were Cuba's Minister of
Justice Roberto Diaz and the Executive Secretary of the National Drug
Commission, Jorge Reyes.
It was pointed out that the main enemy is foreign inspired -- noting
that domestic drug consumption is almost insignificant. While there
have been recent cases of Cuban nationals involved, the cases
constitute an isolated phenomenon. Nevertheless, authorities stated
that there are new efforts underway to step up anti-drug work,
particularly among youth. Those efforts are being undertaken with the
collaboration of Cuba's mass organizations, notably the neighborhood
Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, the CDR.
Additional work in the area of international cooperation is also
being undertaken by Havana. It was pointed out that Cuba has signed
anti-drug treaties and agreements with 28 different countries and
taken part in bilateral meetings with Venezuela, Italy, Portugal and
the Bahamas. Last year, Cuba adopted an agreement with
representatives of the United Nations to work together in the fight
against illegal drug-smuggling operations.
*RICARDO ALARCON ARRIVES IN BAGHDAD
Baghdad, March 10 (RHC)-- Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon
is in the Iraqi capital, as part of a tour of Middle East and Arab
nations.
Upon his arrival in Baghdad, Alarcon told reporters that Cuba
strongly condemns the recent bombings by the United States and
Britain -- considering the attacks part of a series of criminal
actions carried out against Iraq over the past ten years.
During his visit to the Arab nation, the Cuban Parliament president
will meet with high-ranking Iraqi officials and examine ways to
develop bilateral cooperation in different fields.
*PERU FORMALLY CHARGES FUJIMORI WITH MURDER
Lima, March 10 (RHC)-- Judicial authorities in Peru have formally
charged former President Alberto Fujimori with murder, and he could
be tried in Japan -- where he is currently in self-exile.
According to Peruvian Justice Minister Diego Garcia, the former
president has been accused of extra judicial executions during a
military assault against the Japanese embassy in Lima nearly four
years ago.
In the attack, 14 members of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement
were killed, along with one of the 72 hostages taken by the rebel
commando. The same charges have also been brought against fugitive
former national security chief Vladimiro Montesinos and former head
of the joint chiefs of staff, General Nicolas de Bari Hermoza Rios.
Earlier this week, authorities in Peru announced that they would
exhume the bodies of the 14 rebels to verify whether they were killed
in combat or were summarily executed. Family members of the rebels
have petitioned the courts to find out exactly what happened in April
1997 when the military stormed the Japanese embassy. Ordered by then-
President Alberto Fujimori, the elite force entered the compound
through several tunnels dug under the residence of the Japanese
ambassador to Lima.
According to the Peruvian minister of justice, one of the hostages
and a former Japanese diplomat -- Hidetaka Ogura -- saw three rebels
taken alive. Ogura first published his eye-witness report in
December, and has now decided to cooperate with Peruvian authorities
in the investigation.
Fujimori and the military commando always maintained that the 14 were
killed resisting the attack, but new evidence may show otherwise. The
head of Peru's justice ministry said that the charges are serious
enough that any court in the world could put on trial the former
president and those directly responsible for summarily executing the
rebels -- including the courts of Japan. Peru and Japan are
signatories of an international treaty - along with the European
Union - that allows signatory nations to initiate trial proceedings
in such cases.
*ZAPATISTAS TO STAY IN MEXICO CITY UNTIL CONGRESS VOTES ON INDIGENOUS
RIGHTS
Mexico City, March 10 (RHC)-- The Zapatista Caravan for Peace and
the Dignity of Indigenous Peoples will remain in the Mexican capital
until the Congress approves legislation on indigenous rights and
culture, says rebel commander Marcos. The 24 rebel commanders will
march into Mexico City tomorrow, Sunday, when tens of thousands are
expected to greet them along the route -- the same followed by
Emiliano Zapata in 1914.
Afterwards, the unarmed indigenous rebels will meet with members of
Congress and with President Vicente Fox. Mexico's ten million
indigenous are demanding that the country's Congress approve without
changes the San Andres Accords signed by the rebels and the
Congressional Chiapas Peace Commission in February 1996 -- but never
recognized by former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo.
The Mexican Congress, however, is reportedly divided over the issue
of indigenous autonomy. And the legislators will not begin their
ordinary period of sessions until March 15th, four days after the
Caravan's arrival. Meanwhile, numerous international personalities
are arriving in Mexico City, including former French First Lady
Danielle Mitterand and Portuguese Nobel Literature laureate Jose
Saramago.
*COLOMBIA REJECTS REBEL PROPOSAL FOR 5-YEAR FOREIGN-DEBT MORATORIUM
Bogotá, March 10 (RHC)-- Authorities in Colombia have rejected a
rebel proposal for a five year moratorium on payment of the country's
foreign debt interests. The proposal came Thursday during a meeting
between government and rebel peace negotiators and representatives of
the international community -- diplomats and ambassadors from 25
countries, along with the Vatican and the United Nations.
Rebel leaders said the moratorium would free up one-third of
Colombia's national budget currently earmarked for foreign debt
interest payments, and that the resources could be used for social
development programs. But Colombian Treasury Minister Juan Manuel
Santos said that while implementing the proposal would be ideal, it's
not practical -- calling it "utopian."
Colombian High Commissioner for Peace Camilo Gomez said the proposal
would be contrary to Colombia's tradition of honoring its financial
commitments. Observers are noting that the issue is just one of many
in which leftist rebels and the Colombian government are far from
seeing eye-to-eye.
*Viewpoint: CUBA'S ENEMIES HAVE FEWER AND FEWER OPTIONS
Washington's foreign policy will undoubtedly maintain its anti-
Cuba direction, however it will necessarily have to follow a more
realistic strategy than that proposed by the most reactionary forces
within the U.S. political spectrum.
Some anti-Cuba circles in the United States have dedicated
important resources to search for more sensationalist actions, such
as the recent setting up of a so-called Free Cuba Embassy in
Washington, DC. That move got a little attention, but couldn't even
move anyone from the Bush administration to attend the ribbon-cutting
ceremony.
The new U.S. administration is faced with serious difficulties, such
as increasing demands by big, agricultural industries to take part in
Cuba's steady and developing economy, based on increasing social
welfare and excellent relations with accredited partners who will not
easily give up their businesses on the island.
For Cuba's business partners, the island's economic atmosphere is
a safe and promising place to do business, showing solid development
and targeting national, social and economic improvement.
Meanwhile, the demands made by the Miami-based anti-Cuba circles are
still limited and have failed to take into account Cuba's slow but
steady movement toward a stronger position in its economic relations.
European companies, which have welcomed the island's increasingly
participation in the world economy and its serious economic and
financial commitments, have agreed that there's no need for alarm
since nothing could impede a possible diversification and development
of their business relations with Cuba.
Accordingly, Cuba maintains its financial commitments abroad with
a seriousness and normal development. Trade between the island and
foreign partners continues to flow without any major difficulty.
There is no obstacle thus far that indicates a reverse trend of
this development, no matter how daring U.S. threats can be, as a
result of Washington's close ties with reactionary and anti-Cuba
circles. There's not a whole lot for them to do, except perhaps a
military invasion of the island. But everyone knows that Cuba is
extremely well-prepared to defend itself and that possibility is
simply out of the question for the enemies of the Cuban Revolution.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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rhc-eng-28317 2001-Mar-11 17:26:18 " JC
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