_
From: NY Transfer News <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 23:17:17 -0400 (EDT)
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [CubaNews] RHC News Update-04 April 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 04 April 2001
.
*CUBA TAKES THE MASK OFF FREEDOM HOUSE BEFORE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
*40TH ANNIVERSARY OF JOSE MARTI PIONEERS CHILDREN'S ORGANIZATION
*"GRANMA" EXAMINES THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN REVOLUTIONARY CUBA
*U.S. BLOCKADE FAILS TO ISOLATE CUBAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
*INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION MEETING EXPLORES INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
*URUGUAYANS ASK GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT CUBA IN UN RIGHTS COMMISSION VOTE
*CUBA PERFORMS ITS 100th HEART TRANSPLANT
*THOUSANDS OF CHINESE TAKE TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST U.S. ARROGANCE
*ARGENTINE JUDGE WANTS TO QUESTION FORMER CHILEAN SECRET POLICE AGENT
*U.S. BEGINS JOINT MILITARY MANEUVERS WITH PARAGUAY, ARGENTINA
*Viewpont: CUBA'S YOUTH ARE THE REVOLUTION'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT
.
*CUBA TAKES THE MASK OFF FREEDOM HOUSE BEFORE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Geneva, April 4 (RHC)--Cuba's delegation at the United Nations Human Rights
Commission in Geneva has unveiled the true objectives and activities of the
U.S.-based organization Freedom House.
Speaking before the 57th Session of the UN Commission, a member of the Cuban
delegation, Juan Fernandez, said that the so-called non-governmental
organization is actually doing the work of the U.S. government and its
Central Intelligence Agency. Fernandez said Freedom House could easily be
called "Langley House."
Fernandez revealed that since its creation in 1941, Freedom House never
raised a finger to fight against the racist apartheid system in South Africa
nor has it raised an objection to the aggressions and violations of human
rights committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.
The Cuban delegate pointed out that Freedom House recently financed
subversive activities by two Czech citizens in Cuba and then criticized
Havana when they were arrested for violating the island's laws. Before being
released, the two Czech citizens admitted having violated Cuban laws and
pointed to Freedom House as their sponsoring organization -- paying their
travel expenses and giving them lists of people to see and provide with
money and resources.
*40TH ANNIVERSARY OF JOSE MARTI PIONEERS CHILDREN'S ORGANIZATION
Havana, April 4 (RHC)--Cubans across the island are celebrating the 40th
anniversary of the Jose Marti Pioneers Children's Organization.
The main celebration was held in the Jose Marti Anti-Imperialist Tribune on
Havana's Malecon seaside drive, featuring a concert by the popular musical
group Moncada and a performance by the La Comenita children's theater
troupe.
The activity, which was aired live on Cuban television, featured 9,000
children celebrating their special day. Other activities were held honoring
the 39th anniversary of the Young Communist League, which is also
commemorated on April 4th. Forty students placed a floral wreath at the Jose
Marti Memorial in Havana's Revolution Plaza, and more than 100 computer
youth clubs were inaugurated across the island.
The celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the Jose Marti Children's
Organization and the 39th anniversary of the Young Communist League wind up
Wednesday night with a traditional ceremony in which special recognition is
given to outstanding young workers, students and military personnel for
their contribution to the country's defense, social-economic and
scientific-technical advancement.
*"GRANMA" EXAMINES THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN REVOLUTIONARY CUBA
Havana, April 4 (RHC)--The Cuban daily newspaper Granma published an article
Wednesday dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Jose Marti Pioneers
Children's Organization, and the 39th birthday of the Young Communist
League, the UJC.
Stressing that without children or young people there is no revolution, the
article points out that all of the country's leading athletes, writers,
artists, scientists and journalists who are under the age of 50 participated
in the Jose Marti Children's Organization when they were growing up.
A generation of members of the Jose Marti Pioneers Children's Organization
and the Young Communist League have participated in international missions
as soldiers, doctors, teachers and technicians in the most remote areas of
the planet.
The article highlights the enthusiastic participation of Cuban children and
teenagers in the battle of ideas begun over the issue of Elian Gonzalez, who
was illegally retained by ultra right-wing elements in Miami. This new
generation, made up of millions of children and adolescents, concludes the
newspaper, continues the example of the island's founders and can proclaim
itself the "generation of the battle of ideas."
*U.S. BLOCKADE FAILS TO ISOLATE CUBAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Havana, April 4 (RHC)--Washington's aggressive policy against Cuba has
failed, according to the President of Cuba's National Bank, Francisco
Soberon. The statement came at a press conference at the 105th
Inter-Parliamentary Meeting currently underway in the Cuban capital.
In spite of the U.S. blockade, the Cuba's banks maintain relations with some
500 financial institutions in 122 countries, Soberon said adding that
despite fluctuating prices of imports and exports, Cuba is absent from the
long list of nations that have for years experienced financial crises.
The President of the Cuban National Bank admitted, however, that oil prices
on the international market have had a negative impact on the island's
economy.
*INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION MEETING EXPLORES INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
Havana, April 4 (RHC)--Cuban President Fidel Castro is scheduled to speak
during the 105th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting underway in Havana's
International Convention Center. More than 1,500 delegates from over 120
countries are participating in the conference.
The Inter-Parliamentary meeting continued on Wednesday with discussions
focused on the fight against all forms of international terrorism, an issue
raised by Cuba.
The delegates also debated topics related to education and culture and their
importance in human development, as well as human rights and the current
situation in the Middle East.
Another session is scheduled on Wednesday with representatives of the
Conference on Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean.
*URUGUAYANS ASK GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT CUBA IN UN RIGHTS COMMISSION VOTE
Havana, April 4 (RHC)--Some 120 academic, scientific and cultural
personalities have called on Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle and the
Parliament to abstain from voting against Cuba in the United Nations Human
Rights Commission currently underway in Geneva.
In an open letter published Wednesday, Uruguayan writers, religious leaders,
labor leaders and elected officials said that the South American country
must not go along with U.S.-sponsored maneuvers ostensibly introduced by the
Czech Republic and Poland against Cuba in Geneva.
The letter states that Uruguay, like Cuba, is a Latin American country and
that the two nations are linked historically from the times of Cuba's
National Hero Jose Marti in the 19th century.
The document points out that the U.N. Human Rights Commission is again
debating the right of the Cuban people to live in peace, without foreign
intervention.
The open letter adds that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights must not
be manipulated by using it to sanction a country that has been blockaded,
attacked, and criticized for adopting measures to defend itself.
*CUBA PERFORMS ITS 100th HEART TRANSPLANT
Havana, April 4 (RHC)--Cuba has performed one hundred heart transplants with
a 90 per cent survival rate during the first year and a 30 per cent rate
after 14 years.
The most recent heart transplant was performed on a 45-year-old man on March
24th in Havana's Almeijeiras Hospital.
Heart specialist Dr. Noel Gonzalez said that heart transplants began in Cuba
in December of 1985. He added that the number of operations dropped in the
l990's due to the island's economic crisis, but revived in late 2000.
Dr. Gonzalez added that Cuba has very good conditions to continue its heart
transplant program and he characterized the Almeijeiras Hospital heart
transplant staff as excellent.
*THOUSANDS OF CHINESE TAKE TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST U.S. ARROGANCE
Beijing, April 4 (RHC)--Thousands of Chinese citizens have taken to the
streets in numerous cities around the country to protest Washington's
arrogance for flying a sophisticated spy plane into its territorial
airspace. The plane, with 24 U.S. military aboard, made an unauthorized
emergency landing Sunday on the Chinese island of Hainan.
According to the Beijing newspaper "The People's Daily," hundreds of
students and professors demonstrated on the campus of the University of
Sanya, the capital of Hainan. Protesters painted anti-U.S. slogans on the
walls of the university expressing their anger over Washington's refusal to
apologize for the incident.
On Wednesday, just before leaving Beijing for a two-week official visit to
several Latin American countries, Chinese President Jiang Zemin reiterated
his call for Washington to put an end once and for all to spy missions over
Chinese territory. The Chinese president begins his tour in Chile, and will
also visit Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Brazil and Cuba.
For its part, the White House has stated that the United States has no
intention of apologizing and insists that the crew and plane be returned
immediately.
Chinese authorities allowed U.S. diplomats to meet with the crew members of
the spy plane on Tuesday, but there have been no new moves that would
indicate the military personnel from the ill-fated flight will be released
any time soon.
*ARGENTINE JUDGE WANTS TO QUESTION FORMER CHILEAN SECRET POLICE AGENT
Santiago de Chile, April 4 (RHC)--An Argentine judge has requested that the
United States government allow her to question a former secret police agent
from Chile, now residing in Miami. Judge Maria Servini de Cubria issued the
formal request to interrogate Armando Fernandez Larios, a former DINA agent
implicated 25 years ago in the car bomb murder of Chilean diplomat Orlando
Letelier.
Fernandez Larios is currently living in Miami, after cutting a deal with the
U.S. government and providing testimony that was used to convict others
involved in the Letelier case. The former Chilean foreign minister and
Socialist leader, who served under the administration of Salvador Allende,
was killed on the streets of Washington, DC in September 1976.
Argentine courts are investigating a similar car bomb murder, carried out
two years earlier in Buenos Aires. General Carlos Prats, who headed the
Chilean armed forces under Allende's the Popular Unity government, was
living in exile in Argentina following the bloody 1973 military coup that
overthrew Chile's constitutionally elected government. In September 1974,
Prats and his wife were killed when a bomb, placed under their car, exploded
on the streets of the Argentine capital.
Judge Maria Servini de Cubria wants to question the former DINA agent, who
has admitted to being involved in the Letelier murder, in the hope his
testimony will shed new light on the Prats assassination case. Observers say
that Fernandez Larios is living comfortably in Miami, untouched by Chilean
judicial authorities who are currently investigating the Caravan of Death
case. U.S. courts gave the former secret police agent blanket immunity from
prosecution for his cooperation with authorities regarding Letelier's
assassination.
While Washington's special immunity for Fernandez Larios protects him from
crimes he committed in the U.S. and Chile, the so-called witness protection
program does not extend to Argentina. Judicial officials in Buenos Aires
believe they can make a good case to compel the former agent of Pinochet's
dictatorship to answer questions in the still-unsolved murder of Carlos
Prats and his wife.
*U.S. BEGINS JOINT MILITARY MANEUVERS WITH PARAGUAY, ARGENTINA
Asuncion, April 4 (RHC)--Nearly 400 U.S. soldiers are carrying out joint
military maneuvers in the northern Paraguayan department of Concepcion.
Prensa Latina News Agency reports that the maneuvers, dubbed "Nuevos
Horizontes" or "New Horizons," involve some 400 Paraguayan and an
undetermined number of Argentine military personnel.
The participation of Paraguayan troops with their U.S. army counterparts has
generated strong criticism in Asuncion, the capital, where opposition
lawmakers are complaining that the joint military maneuvers were initiated
without the approval of the country's congress. Paraguayan legislation calls
for the specific authorization of foreign military personnel on national
territory.
The joint U.S.-Paraguayan-Argentine operation will run though the end of
June, at a cost of more than 13 million dollars. The maneuvers have been
carried out by troops from Washington and Buenos Aires since October of last
year, but this is the first time that Paraguayan troops have been invited to
participate. And this is the first time that such military exercises have
been carried out inside Paraguay.
Opposition politicians and political observers point out that the social and
economic needs of the area are being ignored while war games are being
played without the permission and, in some cases without the knowledge, of
local residents.
The staging area for New Horizons consists of the Paraguayan districts of
Loreto, Horqueta and Concepcion in the northern part of the country, as well
as the northeastern Argentine province of Misiones.
*Viewpont: CUBA'S YOUTH ARE THE REVOLUTION'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT
Children have always been the Cuban Revolution's number-one priority. Anyone
visiting Cuba for the first time is struck by the affection and care
lavished on the island's youngest citizens by families, friends, strangers
and institutions.
Since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, measures have been
adopted to attend to the health, education and recreation of children. This
is in sharp contrast to the way the island's youngest lived before that
time, when it was commonplace to see children living in the streets
abandoned by their families and society, as is the case today in many of
Latin America's largest cities.
However, when the people take control of society, children's welfare becomes
a focus. It becomes obvious that it is the younger generation that will be
leading the country, and that the healthier, more loved and better educated
they are, the better the future will be for everyone.
If we were to list all the institutions and services for children created by
the Revolution, and discuss them, it would take hours to examine all their
programs, their mistakes and their triumphs. But today, as Cubans celebrate
the 40th anniversary of the Pioneers Children's organization, one only has
to look at the island's youth to see the Cuban Revolution's greatest
achievement.
For the third time, a Pioneers Congress will be held in Cuba, in which
children elected by their peers will speak their minds. Once again they will
demonstrate that they are perfectly capable of speaking for themselves and
for everyone. Cubans have much to be proud of this April 4th, not the least
of which is the youth who will inherit the leadership of this country.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
=================================================================
NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems
Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us
339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012
http://www.blythe.org e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
=================================================================
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/03IJGA/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/xrOVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->
_________________________________________________
KOMINFORM
P.O. Box 66
00841 Helsinki
Phone +358-40-7177941
Fax +358-9-7591081
http://www.kominf.pp.fi
General class struggle news:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Geopolitical news:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
__________________________________________________
