● Cardinal Jaime Ortega and bishops and clerics from all Cuba’s dioceses are in Rome for a week-long encounter with Pope Benedict XVI to discuss the state of the church in Cuba. Notimex report here, Cuban Colada’s summary in English here.
● Panama’s president is in Cuba; AP reports that an agreement on energy, plus discussions of health care and Cuban debt, are on the agenda.
● A story in Mexico’s El Universal, based on Mexican foreign ministry sources, adds to the rumor that Cuba will eliminate the tarjeta blanca exit permit requirement and make other changes in migration policy. It says the changes will be announced within two weeks, and that the Cuban policy changes will lead to signing of a migration accord between Mexico and Cuba to help reduce the flow of illegal immigration to Mexico. How the agreement would do that, the article doesn’t say.
Relations between Cuba and Panama have improved considerably since the end of the Moscoso administration.
ReplyDeleteA low point in the relations came when Panamanian Pres. Moscoso pardoned Luis Posada Carriles (and three other accomplices) in 2004, which also affected Venezuelan relations.
When Moscoso left Panama for Miami in 2005, she was lauded in a large ceremony organized by Unidad Cubana. Among the guests were the usual hard-liners, even members of Commandos F4.
Today, the Torrijos government is investigating whether Posada Carriles was released improperly by the Moscoso government, and has brought charges against six ex-officials who allowed it to happen.
An anti-corruption case found that these ex-officials allowed Posada Carriles to leave Panama illegally before the pardon was enacted in the Official Record.
http://www.pa-digital.com.pa/
archive/08152007/nation19_slim.html
Oh, and another thing. Luis Posada Carriles is being given a tribute this Friday, 8pm, at the Big Five Club.
ReplyDeleteOrganizers (Municipios de Cuba en el Exilio) expect all Cuban exiles to show up and praise this freedom fighter.
Luis Carriles is a murderer (and a zealot).
ReplyDeleteThe Posada Carriles case is a sad one indeed.
ReplyDeleteWhile one can certainly support attacks on military targets, etc - the shameless bombing of an airliner full of innocent athletes did nothing for the cause of Cuban freedom, ended promising lives and tainted the very cause he believed he was supposedly fighting for.
In my opinion, it cannot be forgiven. Hell, every time I hear the name it brings a sour taste to my mouth.
Anatasio