·
Reuters: Cuban foreign ministry official Josefina Vidal says Cuba has proposed
talks with the United States about the Alan Gross case, but “up to this
moment we have not received a response.”
“Therefore,” she adds, “it is clear that it is not Cuba, but the United
States that is not showing interest in this case.” The State Department responded with a
statement that rejects the idea of talks with Cuba and instead demands a “humanitarian
gesture to release Mr. Gross.” Sorry,
Alan.
·
With the
release of prisoner Jorge Vasquez Chaviano, Martha Beatriz Roque and fellow
hunger strikers have ended their hunger strikes. Roque’s condition had grown precarious (AP). Tracey Eaton noted the demands of all the hunger strikers
and linked to his interview with Roque.
·
Here are
two Reuters stories on recently reported economic statistics in Cuba; on agricultural
production and employment. The data comes from the National Statistics
Office’s annual report, the 2011
edition of which is being released one chapter at a time.
·
BBC Mundo: As Cuba’s legislative elections approach, many are more attuned to
the potential impact of elections in Venezuela and the United States.
2 comments:
Time is fast running out for Raul and
his fast and furious comrades. I sense some simmering amongst the citizens of Cuba and it appears that
the so called changes aren't enough.
Regarding Mr. Gross and his dilemma,
I would hope those of the Jewish faith would politically come to his rescue and demand action for either negotiations and or release. It's tragic that this is being played royally by the
American Cuban lobby in two very important states. As a voter, I'm
sitting this one out since Obama
seems to have reneged on his pledge to change the archaic policy this country has had in place for over forty years. A pledge he promised to do four years ago.
What possible interest could the Cuban voters have in the election of the delegates to the provincial and national assemblies?
The candidates for these posts are selected by the leadership of the Communist party at these levels on the basis of one candidate for each position and the voters merely rubber stamp them.
The Cuban voters do not elect their provincial and national delegates and have no control over them or over the provincial and national government.
The reason they are more interested in Venezuelan and US elections is that the results are not known ahead of time and that these elections could have a direct effect on their lives.
National elections are just a formality, a fig leaf that is used to claim that the citizenry elects their government and that the Cuban government is democratic.
In reality the government figures select and appoint ahead of time who are going to be the provincial and national delegates.
This is just sheer hypocrisy on a monumental scale.
I have never heard of a single case of a deputy voting against a government proposal at either level.
They do not do so because they know very well that if they would do so they would not be "re-elected" the next time around.
Cantaclaro
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