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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
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 Sat May 21, 2005 2:07 am Anti-Castro Dissidents Rally in Cuba |
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Anti-Castro Dissidents Rally in Cuba
Friday, May 20, 2005
HAVANA � With shouts of "Freedom" and the singing of the Cuban national anthem, more than 200 people on Friday opened a rare opposition assembly in communist Cuba, uninterrupted by authorities despite the expulsion of European lawmakers, journalists and others who planned to attend.
Martha Beatriz Roque (search), the meeting's lead organizer and a former political prisoner who attempted a similar gathering nine years ago, called it "a point of departure" for future work.
"There will be a before and after for May 20 in Cuba," Roque said, claiming it was the first such gathering in Fidel Castro's (search) 46 years of communist rule. "This is a triumph for all the opposition."
Several years in the planning, the general meeting of the Assembly for the Promotion of Civil Society (search) was aimed at bringing together diverse opposition groups to discuss promotion of a Western-style democracy in Cuba.
It was marred by infighting among some of the opposition groups and the expulsion of several foreigners from the country, but organizers said it was a victory that the two-day meeting began without interruption from the government.
"This is a really nice surprise," said the veteran activist Vladimiro Roca. "My predictions were not realized. I didn't think the government would allow it to happen."
A planned 1996 meeting of the now-defunct Concilio Cubano was canceled after about 50 members were rounded up beforehand. The day the convention was to be held, Cuban MiGs off the island's coast shot down two American civilian planes carrying four members of the exile group Brothers to the Rescue, plunging the countries into political crisis.
Seated in rows of plastic chairs bought with donations from exile groups, the delegates cheered as organizers played an audiotaped message from President Bush.
"I have a message to those assembling today to protest in Cuba: As you struggled for the freedom of your country, the American people stand with you," Bush said in his traditional May 20 speech recognizing Cuban Independence Day.
"Viva Bush" or "Long Live Bush," some delegates shouted in contrast with cries heard earlier in the meeting of "Abajo Fidel" or "Down with Fidel."
Cuba on Thursday expelled two European lawmakers who had planned to attend the gathering and refused entry to two others earlier this week. Six Poles � three journalists, a human rights worker and two students � were being expelled from the country on Friday, the Polish Foreign Ministry said in Warsaw.
Two former Spanish senators, Isabel San Baldomero and Rosa Lopez Garnica, also were told to leave Cuba, Spain's conservative Popular Party said Friday. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos denounced the expulsions as "unacceptable."
Also barred from entering the country this week was a representative of the powerful Miami exile lobby, the Cuban American National Foundation.
"This is typical behavior of a totalitarian state," said Czech Senator Karel Schwarzenberg, one of the lawmakers police took to the airport Thursday afternoon.
In Rome, Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini summoned the Cuban ambassador for clarification on the reported detention of Francesco Battistini, a journalist with Italy's daily Corriere della Sera. Battistini was expected back in Italy on the first available flight.
Cuba typically detains, and often expels, international journalists working on the island without government approval.
"These actions demonstrate the Cuban government's fear of Cubans who assert their rights and underline the need for change," U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in Washington.
Organizers, who had predicted about 500 people would show up for the meeting, which was held in the back yard of veteran dissident Felix Bonne, seemed satisfied with a turnout closer to 200.
A little more than half were delegates from opposition groups around the island. The rest were organizers, international journalists, diplomats and other guests.
"This is an exercise in grass roots democracy," said James Cason, chief of the U.S. Interests Section. Castro accuses the American mission of bankrolling the opposition on the island � a charge that Washington denies.
"This is about Cubans discussing, in their own country, their own future," Cason said.
Cuban authorities have not directly commented on the meeting.
The event also revealed divisions within the dissident movement itself. The Christian Liberation Movement, led by internationally known dissident Oswaldo Paya, refused to attend but told Associated Press Television News his decision was not based on rivalry "but a distrust of where these people come from."
"They don't represent the majority of the opposition, or even the most important groups," said Paya, lead organizer of the Varela Project democracy effort. "It's a smoke screen."
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Sat May 21, 2005 11:07 am |
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Wow. This is grest news.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Sat May 21, 2005 11:13 am |
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Yeah, it is. Too bad we can't do more outwardly to help them. There goes the US, invading another country again, 
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sat May 21, 2005 1:08 pm |
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God forbid we give aide to the rebels in a communist nation! 
Great news.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sat May 21, 2005 3:17 pm |
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| Theresa wrote: | | Yeah, it is. Too bad we can't do more outwardly to help them. There goes the US, invading another country again, |
Yeah I suppose the whole trade embargo that is making all the people over there live like millionairs isn't plenty. 
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Sat May 21, 2005 3:22 pm |
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| Dirt wrote: | | Theresa wrote: | | Yeah, it is. Too bad we can't do more outwardly to help them. There goes the US, invading another country again, |
Yeah I suppose the whole trade embargo that is making all the people over there live like millionairs isn't plenty. |
Oh Lord. Whats with the idiots who actually blame the US for the poverty of Cuba? The Trade Embargo was put in place for a good reason. No offense, but you obviously don't know anything about this subject.
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sat May 21, 2005 3:41 pm |
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Whoa, quick judgement, how American of you. It's only hurting the normal people, as Castro is still in pooooooower, by now it's safe to make that conclusion I dare say,
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Sat May 21, 2005 3:49 pm |
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| Dirt wrote: | | Whoa, quick judgement, how American of you. It's only hurting the normal people, as Castro is still in pooooooower, by now it's safe to make that conclusion I dare say, |
No the only thing thats hurting them is Castro making no move to stop the embargo. He is so stubborn that hes like "Fine. Keep it there." He won't take any steps to advance Cuba. If he was truly concerned about it, he would do more. The embargo wasn't meant to put him out of power either. 
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sat May 21, 2005 3:49 pm |
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So it's good for your cigarre trade, and what else?
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Sat May 21, 2005 3:51 pm |
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| Dirt wrote: | | So it's good for your cigarre trade, and what else? |
What?
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sat May 21, 2005 3:52 pm |
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I'm asking you what good it does,
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Sat May 21, 2005 4:01 pm |
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It doesn't reward a tyrant who kills his own people that try and think for themselves. The US embargo of Cuba is directed at its communist system and its supporters. The embargo has been most effective in the last few years due to the end of Russia's aid to Cuba. The embargo is not responsible for the hardships of Cuba's citizens and this is understood by the majority of Cubans. Cuba's land is very fertile and capable of nourishing its people. Castro is the person responsible for the Cubans not being able to eat fruits, vegetable, coffee, sugar and fish. fact is that coffee, sugar, salt, etc are unrelated to the embargo; yet, these and other nationally produced items are rationed by the government as a way to control the people of Cuba.
You're just Anti-American and trying to blame America for the World's troubles. Get over it.
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sat May 21, 2005 5:00 pm |
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Tss, all I'm asking is about this embargo and here you are blaming me for anti americaniiiiiiiisn (is that even a word? ) that's just plain old silly I say!
You know, some nations in the world actually gain something by trade. This might have been unheard of to you. And people need stuff like clothing too, or housing, or imagine that they might like a car! And all of that they can't get because their leader has beeeeeeef with the US. Home of the free not really letting other nations be free if you ask moi.
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Lord Borg
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Sat May 21, 2005 6:08 pm |
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Dirk, there are political reasons for the Embargo
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Sat May 21, 2005 7:04 pm |
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| Dirt wrote: | Tss, all I'm asking is about this embargo and here you are blaming me for anti americaniiiiiiiisn (is that even a word? ) that's just plain old silly I say!
You know, some nations in the world actually gain something by trade. This might have been unheard of to you. And people need stuff like clothing too, or housing, or imagine that they might like a car! And all of that they can't get because their leader has beeeeeeef with the US. Home of the free not really letting other nations be free if you ask moi. |
Thats the way the world works. Castro has plunged Cuba into poverty. Not the embargo. As I already stated, the embargo doesn't really affect their way of living, because they can get things from within the country. Its because of Castro's actions that the people suffer.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sat May 21, 2005 8:47 pm |
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| Founder wrote: | | Dirt wrote: | Tss, all I'm asking is about this embargo and here you are blaming me for anti americaniiiiiiiisn (is that even a word? ) that's just plain old silly I say!
You know, some nations in the world actually gain something by trade. This might have been unheard of to you. And people need stuff like clothing too, or housing, or imagine that they might like a car! And all of that they can't get because their leader has beeeeeeef with the US. Home of the free not really letting other nations be free if you ask moi. |
Thats the way the world works. Castro has plunged Cuba into poverty. Not the embargo. As I already stated, the embargo doesn't really affect their way of living, because they can get things from within the country. Its because of Castro's actions that the people suffer. |
You are right, and you should know more than anybody else here. Who in your family escaped Cuba? Parents?
And the embargo is just like the sanctions of Iraq--showing a message against the DICTATOR, NOT the people. It's like me to boycotting France--to show my dislike towards the GOVERNMENT, not the people.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sun May 22, 2005 12:23 am |
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And after aaaaaall this time it hasn't done any good, soooome people would consider changing tactics man
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Sun May 22, 2005 12:23 am |
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| Dirt wrote: | | And after aaaaaall this time it hasn't done any good, soooome people would consider changing tactics man |
That would only reward the government....
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sun May 22, 2005 1:04 am |
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well clearly then was chosen the wrong way, if you can't admit your mistakes it's kinda sad.
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Sun May 22, 2005 1:08 am |
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| Dirt wrote: | | well clearly then was chosen the wrong way, if you can't admit your mistakes it's kinda sad. |
What? You're not making any sense. This isn't a mistake. Castro is an ENEMY.
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sun May 22, 2005 1:12 am |
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Because he's a commie? That's soooooooo 1950ties
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sun May 22, 2005 1:14 am |
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| Dirt wrote: | | Because he's a commie? That's soooooooo 1950ties |
Not simply because he's a communist, but because he's a RUTHLESS, EVIL dictator! Do you not know ANYTHING about the oppressive Castro regime?
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sun May 22, 2005 1:17 am |
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Nope, I'm just argueing
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sun May 22, 2005 1:19 am |
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| Dirt wrote: | | Nope, I'm just argueing |
Well, don't argue if you're so ignorant as to not knowing anything about the situation!
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sun May 22, 2005 1:22 am |
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Gosh, it's just funnah
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