>Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit > >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 13 June 2000 23:00 > > >*ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF MASSIVE CHILDREN'S MARCH FOR ELIAN >*FIDEL CASTRO PRAISES CHILDREN'S MARCH >*SCHOOLMATES OF ELIAN GONZALEZ SEND MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT CASTRO >*CHINESE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES VISITING CUBAN DELEGATION >*DEATH OF SYRIAN LEADER HAFEZ AL ASSAD A LOSS TO THE ARAB CAUSE >*CUBA AND ZAMBIA TO RENEW MEDICAL COOPERATION ACCORD >*MEXICAN TOUR OPERATORS VISITING JARDINES DEL REY TOUR RESORT >*Viewpoint: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CUBAN CHILDREN MARCH FOR ELIAN'S RETURN > > >*ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF MASSIVE CHILDREN'S MARCH FOR ELIAN > >Havana, June 13 (RHC) --In related news, another televised round table >discussion on the situation surrounding Elian Gonzalez was aired live this >evening on Cuban television and radio. Tuesday's program dealt with the >impressive march Monday of around 200 thousand school children, called the >pioneers, which lasted over two hours. > >The march culminated at the recently constructed Anti-Imperialist Tribune in >front of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana. The main theme touched upon >during the roundtable dealt with the international repercussions of the >march, specifically the mass media's treatment of demonstrations in Cuba. > >Members of the panel pointed out that the mass media has insisted on >emphasizing the fact that the marches have been organized by the government, >implying a sense of governmental coercion accounting for such high turnouts. >But, said the participants, this tainted view of popular mobilizations on >the island fails to take into account the rich history of unity between the >government and the people, expressed through the mass organizations, in >which the revolution and the populace are viewed as two sides of the same >coin. > >While pointing out that anyone who wishes to stay home can opt not to >participate without fear of reprisals from the government, the panelists >recalled that international media outlets are only accustomed to the >coverage of massive street protests when those protests are against the >government. > > >*FIDEL CASTRO PRAISES CHILDREN'S MARCH > >Havana, June 13 (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro praised Monday's march >of more than 200,000 children past the U.S. Interests Section, calling it >"much more than we expected." Speaking with reporters about the historic >demonstration, the Cuban leader emphasized that the action was "well >organized" and "broke all predictions." > >Calling the march "one of the most memorable of our lives," the leader of >the Cuban Revolution noted that hundreds of thousands of grade school and >junior high students took part in the unprecedented, massive march. > >In related news, international reaction to the march continues to come in. >Major television and radio news media covered the children's march and many >reporters stated that they were impressed with the massive turn out. >Newspapers saround the world carried stories and photos of the >demonstration, considered to be one of the largest so far in the struggle to >demand the release of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez. > >The march of young children streteched for several kilometers down Havana's >sea-side drive, known as the Malecon. Monday's demonstration past the U.S. >Interests Section and the rally held directly in front of the building that >houses Washington's representatives in Havana lasted for nearly three hours. > > >*SCHOOLMATES OF ELIAN GONZALEZ SEND MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT CASTRO > >Cardenas, June 13(RHC)-Grade-school children from the Marcelo Salado Primary >School in the central city of Cardenas -Elian Gonzalez' school- have sent a >message to Cuban President Fidel Castro. In the letter, schoolmates of Elian >Gonzalez thank the Cuban leader for giving them the opportunity to >participate in the patriotic demonstration, demanding the immediate release >and return to Cuba of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez. > >The grade-school pioneers expressed that they are ready go to the United >States to support Elian and his father. They also stated that they are >willing to march here, in Cuba, as many time as necessary to condemn >Washington's anti-Cuba laws. Moreover, they condemned the constant maneuvers >by the Miami-based Cuba-American Mafia to delay Elian's return to the >island, where he belongs with his father and grandparents. They added that >they are also willing to postpone their vacations to make up for missed >school days, due to their participation in patriotic demonstrations for >Elian's return. > >In the letter, signed by the 978 students, Elian's schoolmates sent warm >regards to President Fidel Castro, expressing their hope to see the Cuban >leader again soon. > > >*CHINESE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES VISITING CUBAN DELEGATION > >Beijing, June 13(RHC)- Renowned Cuban scientist, Concepcion Campa, was >officially greeted on Tuesday by Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Li Langing. > >Dr. Campa, who is also the President and General Director of Havana's Finlay >Medical Institute, arrived in China on Sunday for an official visit at the >invitation of the Chinese Communist Party. Both dignitaries discussed the >use of traditional medicine, and the strengthening of bilateral cooperation >in that area. > >The Chinese leader took the opportunity to express his appreciation to the >Cuban government, and people, for the warm welcome he received on the island >during the South Summit. > > >*DEATH OF SYRIAN LEADER HAFEZ AL ASSAD A LOSS TO THE ARAB CAUSE > >Havana, June 13 (RHC)-The death of Syrian President Hafez El Assad is "a >sensitive loss for the Arab cause," according to the Cuban daily Granma. The >Cuban newspaper highlighted what it called "the position of principles," of >the Syrian leader, to defend sovereignty and reject Israeli aggression. >Concerning relations between Cuba and the Arab country, Granma said that >Cuban internationalist servicemen fought hand in hand with Syria during the >1973 war in which Cuban doctors and medical personal also participated. >Granma recalled that Syria has always sided with Cuba in its struggle >against Washington's criminal blockade against the Caribbean island. Cuban >authorities declared a five day official mourning period to pay tribute to >Hafez El Assad. > > >*CUBA AND ZAMBIA TO RENEW MEDICAL COOPERATION ACCORD > >Lusaka, June 13 (RHC)-The Cuban and Zambian governments are currently >holding talks to renew a medical cooperation agreement. According to Zambian >Health Minister, David Mpamba, Zambia finds it ever more difficult to cover >the costs of the Cuban medical staff's stay, in the African country, as well >as their airfares. Currently 150 Cuban doctors are lending a hand to the >African nation which needs three or four times as many doctors as there are >today. The Director of the Cuban Foreign Ministry's Sub-saharan African >Affairs Department, Esther Armenteros, said in January that Cuban >authorities are willing to send more Cuban doctors to Zambia as long as the >government and people appreciate their service. Armenteros said that in >spite of the fact that Cuba's economy is not strong, the island will >continue to help Lusaka in the area of medicine. > > >*MEXICAN TOUR OPERATORS VISITING JARDINES DEL REY TOUR RESORT > >Ciego de Avila, June 13 (RHC)- Nearly 40 tour operators, journalists and >travel agents from Mexico are touring the Jardines del Rey tour resort off >the eastern province of Ciego de Avila. The tour comes on the heels of the >opening of direct flights from Mexico, to the resort, beginning in July. The >group of visitors was invited by the Spanish Hotel Chain Sol Melia. The >Mexican visit is aimed at taking a first hand look at the resort, promoting >it as an ideal site for children and high income tour segments, given the >quality and variety of services provided. The Spanish Group, Sol Melia, has >three hotels in Coco and the Guillermo Keys. Next month it will inaugurate >1100 rooms, in the same locations, to become one of the island's largest >hotel chains. Jardines del Rey has over 2 thousand hotel rooms, which will >be increased in July with the opening of the Melia Cayo Guillermo hotel, >along with the Laguna Azul facility in December. > > >*Viewpoint: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CUBAN CHILDREN MARCH FOR ELIAN'S RETURN > >On Monday, more than two hundred thousand school children marched along the >Malecon waterfront in Havana, past the U.S. Interest Section to demand the >return to Cuba of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez. After five months of >kidnapping in Miami by distant relatives closely tied to right-wing >anti-Cuba extremists, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno exhausted every >possible deadline and finally sent in federal agents to recover the child. >Elian was taken to the Andrews' Air Force Base in Bethesda, Maryland to meet >with his father, who had been in the United States for weeks, but had been >denied any contact with his son. Other members of their family, one of >Elian's teachers and some of his friends subsequently joined them, in an >attempt to make the boy feel at home. Another two months have already gone >by and Elian seems to have recovered from the stress and trauma of the >shipwreck, the loss of his mother, the lonely struggle for survival at sea, >and the life in Miami surrounded by a di! >! >stant and hysterical family who discredited the love of his father to whom >he should have quickly been returned. All this for money, for the huge media >coverage, for the well-paid front- page pictures. Elian had all this packed >into his life in less than four months, far too much for a six year-old. > >However, Elian now appears to be a different child from the grave, >sad-looking one we all saw while he lived in Miami, under the continuos >harrassment of sensationalist media and fanatical pro-right wing followers. >Once back with his father pictures published of their reunion show his >smiling, bright face and tender way of looking at Juan Miguel Gonzalez. >Both, father and son obviously love each other very much. This is why, >inspired by a father and a sons love, Cuban children from all over the >capital marched and sang waving their red and blue school scarfs in the air. >The first rows of the march were formed by the students of Elian's school in >Cardenas, in the province of Matanzas. Not one child was missing. The day >before, in a TV interview all confirmed their participation. Even the ones >who were sick at home, made themselves look and feel well enough to come to >the march in Havana and join in with more than two hundred thousand >children, marching for Elian. > >However, the battle is still not won. Unfortunately, there is still a long >process of absurd appeals the kidnappers in Miami intend to make good use of >to buy time. November will be the advent of a new President and new Attorney >General to take office at the begining of next year. As if the U.S. people >did not count. As if the Cuban people and all the people in the world that >respect justice and human feelings did not count and remain motionless >before such a crime. > >(c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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