OUR OPINION: HANG TOUGH UNTIL CASTRO EASES GRIP ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Posted on Thu, Jun. 19, 2008
Ever since Raúl Castro took the reins of power in Cuba, there has been a
big stir about ''changes'' on the island. Mind you, Cubans are merely
getting what the state had no right to deny them in the first place,
such as owning computers and cellphones. But so far, Cuba has not
changed the shameful way it treats political dissidents and human rights
activists. Until it does, European leaders rushing to kiss and make up
with the Castro brothers should put their budding romance on hold.
Diplomatic sanctions
Led by the Spanish government of Socialist Party Prime Minister José
Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, EU leaders meeting in Brussels are being pushed
into lifting the diplomatic sanctions imposed on Cuba after the
crackdown on political activity in March of 1972. Curiously, these
sanctions are not even in effect, having been suspended -- prematurely,
we believe -- in 2005 in an effort to induce the Castro government to
treat its citizens better. Fat chance.
A report on human rights in Cuba that covers the first five months of
2008 shows that, whether it's Fidel or Raúl Castro at the helm, there is
no political opening in Cuba to speak of and no reason to expect one
anytime soon. Prepared by several European NGOs (nongovernment
organizations), the report describes a continuing campaign of political
repression and bullying that is typical of the Cuban police state.
This includes the harassment of prominent human rights figures; the
arrest of scores of individuals, many on vague ''anti-government''
charges, with the ensuing secret trials and jail terms for some; and the
usual detentions, interrogations and intimidation aimed at stifling dissent.
This isn't change. It is more of the same, with the only difference
being that Raúl Castro's cosmetic reforms have given Cuba's allies a
pretext for claiming that it is time to drop diplomatic sanctions in
order to encourage further improvements. EU leaders should not be
misled, and especially German Chancellor Angela Merkel, at whose behest
the debate over Cuba was postponed for a few days in order for her
government to make a more informed decision.
No rights, reforms
She and others should listen to leaders of the Czech Republic, who want
political progress before Cuba is rewarded. Another thoughtful voice
belongs to Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who has noted that Cuba
does not seem interested in forging closer ties with the Europeans
because that would entail talks on rights and reforms.
The last time EU leaders asked for a dialogue with Cuba, the door was
slammed in their faces. At a minimum, they should wait until there is
genuine human rights progress, such as a liberation of political
prisoners, before offering Cuba diplomatic carrots.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/575475.html
No comments:
Post a Comment