Odds and ends
- From Germany’s Der Spiegel (in English), an interesting account of a German delegation “exploring the dictatorship's willingness to make concessions to the EU.”
- A Cuban writer traveling in Portugal, Leonardo Padura, says that April’s meeting of the artists’ and writers’ union (UNEAC) will be important because it will propose policy changes to the government. He referred to the 1.3 million citizen opinions reportedly collected in the debate promoted by Raul Castro last year. “It has to be seen to what point the State is interested in those structural changes being really deep and essential and not simply a bit of makeup.” More at Cuaderno de Cuba.
- It’s unanimous: in a statement, the students, faculty, and workforce of the Universidad de Ciencias Informaticas express their “profound indignation” about the way their meeting with Alarcon has been portrayed as “a scene of public discontent of the Cuban people with the Revolution and its leaders.” H/T: Penultimos Dias.
Phil,
ReplyDeleteIt’s unanimous: in a statement, the students, faculty, and workforce of the Universidad de Ciencias Informaticas express their “profound indignation” about the way their meeting with Alarcon has been portrayed as “a scene of public discontent of the Cuban people with the Revolution and its leaders.”
Now Phil, as a sharp and knowledgeable observer of the Cuban situation, did you expect anything less than that from the UIC folks? Why should this declaration come as a surprise to anyone familar with Cuba?
Who said it was a surprise?
ReplyDeleteThe Cuban territory in Guantanamo that for 100 years and so has been used by the US under an agreement that hurts Cuban integrity should be given back to Cuban rule. That is obvious and I hope that even those fiercely anticastrist agree with this. I just hope so but if that were not your case, be ready to stay in the losers’ side for the rest of your life time.
ReplyDeleteThe point is that there is now a convergence of circumstances building up a unique opportunity.
1- The US prison in Guantanamo Bay for suspect of terrorism with poor or none legal guarantees has arise repulsion all over the world.
2- Obama as a likely president of US.
3- The formal end of the revolutionary cycle in Cuba with Fidel being somehow "marginalized" from power in favor of reformists.
I consider that a wise interplay of these factors could end up in a US-Cuba agreement about transferring that territory to Cuba jurisdiction in lets say, 2025. I think this will be on the table in eventual US-Cuba negotiation.
Der Spiegel knows what's up.
ReplyDeleteLook you have to listen to Ciencias informaticas, . . you can't just dismiss their views as "WHAT WOULD THEY SAY"
from my extensive relationships with REAL cubans (livign in Cuba) i have to say that most are asi. They want change and more freedom, but most still do (unfortunately) support the revolution. This is fact. . go to Cuba - you'll find out.. Talk to a real and typical Cuban. Again, they desperately want freedom, but they don't see Fidel as the devil - most in fact admire him (instead blaming US for their 30+ years of troubles).