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Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 04:53:00 -0400 (EDT)
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Subject: [CubaNews] NY Transfer's RHC News Update-24 Sept 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 24 September 2001
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*CUBAN EXPERTS AGREE THAT WORLD PEACE IS HANGING ON A STRING
*ARAB COMMUNITY IN CUBA CALLS FOR PEACE
*RICARDO ALARCON: MOVEMENT TOWARD CARIBBEAN INTEGRATION GROWS
*GOVERNOR GENERAL OF JAMAICA ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL
*RIGOBERTA MENCHU SAYS THERE CAN BE NO PEACE WITHOUT JUSTICE
*KOFI ANNAN SAYS ONLY UN CAN LEGITIMATELY WAGE CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERROR
*US PROMISES TO SHARE ITS EVIDENCE, BUT WITH WHOM, AND HOW MUCH UNKNOWN
*JEWISH VICTIMS OF TERRORISM IN ARGENTINA SPEAK OUT AGAINST VENGEANCE
*MEDIA FOCUS ON MILITARY CHALLENGE OF ATTACKING TALIBAN ON ITS TERRITORY
*Viewpoint: IN THE LAND OF "ETERNAL SPRING" THE ANGELS ARE HUNGRY
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*CUBAN EXPERTS AGREE THAT WORLD PEACE IS HANGING ON A STRING
Havana, September 24 (RHC)--Cuban journalists and experts examined
the current international situation during a special roundtable
discussion Sunday evening. Broadcast live on Cuban radio and
television, the program took a look at Washington's military build-up
in the wake of the recent tragic events in New York and Washington.
Randy Alonso, the roundtable's moderator, set the stage for the
discussion by quoting Condolezza Rice -- Washington's National
Security Advisor. During a Sunday morning talk show, Rice stated that
the U.S. does not need to consult with the United Nations before
taking military action. Alonso said that the U.S. official admitted
that Washington wants to overthrow the Taliban government in
Afghanistan.
A journalist with the weekly newspaper Trabajadores, Lazaro Barredo,
commented that the statements by Rice demonstrate that Washington
plans to become the new master of the world. Barredo noted that the
U.S. media is stirring up a climate of hate and revenge --
psychologically preparing the American people for war.
During the special televised roundtable discussion, it was reported
that manuals regarding the use of pesticides have allegedly surfaced
-- giving rise to sensationalist speculation that chemical attacks
were being planned.
Cuban journalists said that despite the war hysteria that is gripping
the United States -- making it easier for Washington to make its
moves -- there is growing opposition inside the U.S. to the impending
military attacks. It was noted that major demonstrations are planned
for next Saturday, the 29th, in Washington, DC and San Francisco,
California. Organizers say that protesters will demonstrate this
weekend against the war and against racism.
*ARAB COMMUNITY IN CUBA CALLS FOR PEACE
Havana, September 24 (RHC)--The Arab community in Cuba has
reiterated its condemnation of recent terrorist attacks in the United
States, at the same time calling on Washington to stop its
preparations for war and work for peace.
Speaking with reporters in Havana, Alfredo Derechi, president of the
Arab Union of Cuba, said that military actions will not stop
international terrorism and affirmed that the events of September
11th were the result of Washington's abuses against Arab and other
countries around the world.
The head of the Arab Union in Havana said that the terrorist actions
in New York and Washington were brutal, adding that no one can
support them. He emphasized that while terrorism must be condemned
and eradicated, no one wants war and no one wants more suffering.
*RICARDO ALARCON: MOVEMENT TOWARD CARIBBEAN INTEGRATION GROWS
Havana, September 24 (RHC)--Cuban Parliament President Ricardo
Alarc�n has affirmed that there is an increasing consciousness about
the importance of Caribbean integration. Upon his return from Belize
this weekend, the Cuban legislative leader told reporters that he was
greatly impressed by the growing movement toward regional integration
and unity.
Ricardo Alarc�n led the Cuban delegation to the official ceremony
celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Central American country's
independence. Belize -- formally known as British Honduras -- gained
its independence from Britain on September 21, 1981.
During his brief stay in Belmopan, the capital, the president of
Cuba's Parliament met with a number of regional leaders, including
Said Musa, the prime minister of Belize.
Alarc�n told journalists in Havana that he felt encouraged by the
expressions of regional unity aired during his meetings with area
leaders. He said he is confident that relations between small nations
will continue to increase because there is a growing awareness of the
dangers of neo-liberal globalization. He noted that there are already
signs of greater economic and trade cooperation throughout the
Caribbean.
*GOVERNOR GENERAL OF JAMAICA ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL
Havana, September 24 (RHC)--The Governor General of Jamaica, Sir
Howard Cooke, has arrived in Havana to begin an official three-day
visit to the island. The Jamaican official was invited by Cuban
President Fidel Castro.
According to this morning's edition of Granma, the visit of the
Governor General of Jamaica to Cuba represents a new phase in
relations between the two countries. It was noted that the ties of
friendship and cooperation between Cuba and Jamaica have historically
been excellent and will be further strengthened by this official
visit.
*RIGOBERTA MENCHU SAYS THERE CAN BE NO PEACE WITHOUT JUSTICE
Washington, September 24 (RHC)--Guatemalan Nobel Peace laureate
Rigoberta Menchu has expressed condemnation of the September 11th
terrorist attacks in the US and solidarity with the American people,
though deploring Washington's announced war on terrorism. In an open
letter to President George Bush, Menchu said there can be no peace
without justice, no justice without equity, no equity without
development, no development without democracy and no democracy
without respect for the identities and dignity of peoples and
cultures.
In today's world, said the Guatemalan indigenous leader, these values
and practices are very scarce, while their unequal distribution only
feeds the sensation of helplessness, desperation and hate. She said
the US's role in the current world order is far from being neutral,
adding that she had hoped to hear in George Bush's speech to the
nation last week a message of prudence, reflection and
self-criticism.
Menchu said she agreed with Bush about the uncertainty of the course
of this conflict, but that when he said its outcome is certain she
was invaded by the certainty of a new, gigantic and useless sacrifice
and a new colossal lie. The Nobel Peace laureate said that before
igniting the fire, the US President should think of a different type
of world leadership, in which it would not be necessary to triumph
but to convince, in which the human species can demonstrate that
during the past one thousand years it has gone beyond the
"eye-for-an-eye" premise that guided the justice of the uncivilized,
in which there would be no need for new crusades to learn to respect
those who have a different idea about God and his creation and in
which the fruits of progress are shared with solidarity.
*KOFI ANNAN SAYS ONLY UN CAN LEGITIMATELY WAGE CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERROR
New York, September 24 (RHC)--United Nations Secretary General Kofi
Annan has asserted that only the world body can legitimize a
long-term international campaign against terrorism. Annan was
speaking before a reduced session of the UN General Assembly in which
only ambassadors are participating as a result of the terrorist
attacks - with the exception of the presence of Russian Foreign
Minister Igor Ivanov.
The Secretary General warned against an indiscriminate response to
the attacks which, he said, could divide the international community.
He said any action should strengthen the ties between nations instead
of submitting them to new tensions, calling on Washington to refrain
from acting unilaterally.
The UN leader said no effort should be spared in bringing the authors
of the attacks to justice, but the effort, he added, should be
carried out in a clear and transparent manner that everyone can
understand and accept. He said the struggle against terrorism should
also not lead to the abandonment of development aid to poor
countries, stating that this objective is now even more urgent than
before.
*US PROMISES TO SHARE ITS EVIDENCE, BUT WITH WHOM, AND HOW MUCH UNKNOWN
Washington, September 24 (RHC)--Washington has promised to make
public evidence linking Osama Bin Laden to the terrorist attacks on
the United States in an effort to persuade the world, and
particularly Muslim nations, that a military response is justified.
It's not clear, however, how much information will be released and to
how many countries.
The George Bush administration reportedly sees the evidence as
crucial to the support of friendly Muslim countries -- Saudi Arabia,
Egypt, Jordan and Pakistan -- whose governments fear that punishing
military action by the United States against the terrorists will spur
widespread unrest. But Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday
that the majority of the evidence is considered top secret and only
part of it will be made public.
Washington's Persian Gulf allies have issued statements of total
support of Washington's efforts to find the authors of the terrorist
acts and bring them to justice, while refraining from offering
specific military assistance. News agencies have reported that the
evidence reaches from the southern tip of Manhattan to the foothills
of the Hundu Kush mountains of Afghanistan, tracing a group that
started out running material aid to the rebels fighting the Soviets
in Afghanistan in the 1980's and wound up declaring war on the United
States.
In an extensive interview this weekend on NBC's "Meet the Press,"
Powell said that both he and the Pentagon were sensitive to the
warnings of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that a new generation of
militants could emerge from American military assaults
*JEWISH VICTIMS OF TERRORISM IN ARGENTINA SPEAK OUT AGAINST VENGEANCE
Buenos Aires, September 24 (RHC)--In Argentina, family members of
victims of terrorist attacks against Jews have expressed solidarity
with the American families of the September 11th victims, but have
issued a call to refrain from seeking vengeance. Argentines with
family members who perished in the 1992 bomb attack against the
Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and the 1994 attack against a Jewish
association, grouped in the organization Active Memory, condemned the
attacks in New York and Washington and called for restraint during
their weekly Monday protest in front of judicial headquarters in the
capital.
During the past 7 years, Active Memory has received support from some
legislators, human rights activists and diverse personalities from
Argentina's cultural scenario. Among the groups supporting Active
Memory is the Mothers of Mayo Plaza, which for more than 20 years has
been demanding information on the whereabouts of their forcibly
disappeared children during Argentina's 1976 to 1983 military
dictatorship.
Seven years after the terrorist bomb that destroyed a Jewish
association in Buenos Aires, trial proceedings were slated to begin
today against several members of the country's security forces.
*MEDIA FOCUS ON MILITARY CHALLENGE OF ATTACKING TALIBAN ON ITS TERRITORY
Miami, September 24 (RHC)--Some US media outlets continue focusing
on the military challenges for any nation planning to confront the
Taliban regime in its own territory. Margaret Coker, staff writer for
the "Palm Beach Post," published an article on Sunday entitled
"Afghan Army More Formidable Than It Appears," asserting that despite
their antiquated rifles, rag-tag uniforms and miserable rations, it
shouldn't be forgotten that the Taliban guerrilla fighters have
defeated superpowers in the past.
The article noted that Afghans have two centuries of practice routing
invaders thanks to their legendary grit and intimate knowledge of a
land where radios don't work deep in rugged valleys, where dust
storms clog engines and obscure vision and where narrow, high-walled
canyons leave men trapped and vulnerable to ambush. The "Palm Beach
Post" staff writer insisted that the superbly trained and equipped US
special forces have little experience with the martyr's zeal
possessed by fighters who occupy a nightmarish landscape of hidden
caves and deep ravines, making them almost invisible to warplanes and
reconnaissance satellites.
Though from a conventional military perspective the Taliban army
appears puny, wrote Coker, looks are deceiving, as, she added the
Soviet army discovered in the 1980s and the British army before them
in the 1840s. According to the article, Afghanistan's landscape is
made more dangerous by the fact that the country is studded with
thousands of anti-personnel land mines, perhaps more than in any
other country in the world -- adding that with no maps showing where
these mines are, in the heat of battle or retreat one wrong step
could be fatal.
*Viewpoint: IN THE LAND OF "ETERNAL SPRING" THE ANGELS ARE HUNGRY
A marvellous climate, in which practically everything can grow year
round, lush vegetation where the deforestation is hardly noticed and
abundant and varied fauna characterize Guatemala, known as the
Country of Eternal Spring.
However it is a paradise where the angels are hungry and malnourished
and lack the energy to live. Because, despite the fertility of its
soil and the relative abundance of corn, beans and fruits, chronic
poverty is sucking the life out of Guatemalan society.
But over-exploitation of land and lack of technology, financing, and
access to markets along with a sustained plunge in prices and the
non-existence of government programs to support small farmers, has
begun to claim victims.
It is not this year's drought that is killing the children of Camotan
and Jocotan, in eastern Guatemala. Last year's poor harvest not
responsible for the ten per cent of Guatemalan children who suffer
from some form of malnutrition.
These are problems that have accumulated over many years that have
created structural weaknesses that provoke an unjust society in which
a few have much and the great majority lack the most basic
necessities including the very food to keep them alive.
The 41 deaths from hunger and malnutrition reported over the last
month is just the tip of the iceberg, a tiny demonstration discovered
almost accidentally by the press; a drama that Guatemalans have been
experiencing for many years on some of the richest soil in the
Americas.
A recent report from the U.N. Children's Organization, UNICEF,
reveals that there are communities in Guatemala that have the same
level of hunger as in the African nation of Somalia. That is why,
though emergency aid is urgently needed now to save the most lives
possible, the real solution is to generate sustainable economic
development in the region. To create sources of work based on
Guatemalan resources. That is, put into effect the ancient Chinese
saying that when you see a hungry man, don't give him fish, teach him
how to use a fishing pole.
It is in this way that we can hope to stop more children from
suffering the same fate as 12-year-old Juanita Garcia, whose
cadaver-like image was captured forever by the press just hours
before she died, demonstrating for once and for all that in this
"paradise" the angels are dying of hunger.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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