A ‘Green Light’ to ‘Crush Civil Society’

A 'Green Light' to 'Crush Civil Society'
by JAY NORDLINGER June 1, 2015 7:57 AM

My "Oslo Journal" reports from the Oslo Freedom Forum, and Part I
features a conversation with Berta Soler. She is the leader of the
Ladies in White, the human-rights group in Cuba. It would be hard to
overstate how demoralized the Cuban democracy movement is, after
President Obama's opening to the dictatorship in December.

Really, that "opening" is more like an embrace. Obama required zero
reform or loosening from the Castros. In fact, they have increased their
oppression since December.

Obama has just removed the Cuban government from the State Department's
list of terror sponsors. John Boehner, the speaker of the House, said,
"The Obama administration has handed the Castro regime a significant
political win in return for nothing." Yes.

To Berta Soler, I quoted something that Oscar Biscet, her fellow
democracy champion, said after Obama made his big announcement in
December: "I feel as though I have been abandoned on the battlefield."

And this is what Berta told me: "The European Union, the USA, Pope
Francis — they have turned their backs on us." Obama promised that his
new policy would empower civil society in Cuba. "But we are seeing that
what he has done is give a green light to the Cuban government to crush
civil society."

The Ladies in White have the broken bones — the recently broken bones —
to prove it. I wonder whether anyone in the Obama administration cares.
I really do.

Source: A 'Green Light' to 'Crush Civil Society' | National Review
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http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/419143/green-light-crush-civil-society-jay-nordlinger