Fw: [ANSWER]: Statement supporting Cuba against Bush's attacks - Initiated by A.N.S.W.E.R.

["Nello Margiotta" <animarg@tin.it>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "A.N.S.W.E.R." <answer.general@action-mail.org>
To: <answer.general@action-mail.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2003 3:00 AM
Subject: [ANSWER]: Statement supporting Cuba against Bush's attacks -
Initiated by A.N.S.W.E.R.


> STATEMENT SUPPORTING CUBA AGAINST BUSH'S ATTACKS
> - Initiated by the International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition -
>
> We invite you to sign this statement in solidarity with
> the people of Cuba. To add your name, go to
> http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/cuba/sign.html
>
> STOP BUSH'S NEW AGGRESSION AGAINST CUBA
>
> We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, view
> with great concern the intensifying campaign of subversion
> and aggression against Cuba, directed by the U.S.
> government.
>
> We in the U.S. progressive and anti-war movement recognize
> our obligation to expose and organize against the Bush
> administration's plans to overthrow the government of
> Cuba. Under the rubric of the "war against terrorism" the
> Bush administration has aggressively embarked on a
> campaign to carry out the overturn of governments that
> seek to maintain independent control over their own land
> and resources. At stake in Cuba are the considerable
> social and economic gains of the people made in spite of
> overwhelming opposition from the government representing
> the most powerful country in the world.
>
> On April 7, James Cason, chief of the U.S. Interests
> Section in Havana and the top U.S. diplomat in Cuba,
> declared, "all of our allies agree that their policy goal
> in Cuba is, ultimately, the same as ours: the rapid and
> peaceful transition to a democratic government
> characterized by strong support for human rights and an
> open market economy." He stated on the same day, "the
> Administration's top priority is to promote a rapid,
> peaceful transition."
>
> Coming from a U.S. government representative, the meaning
> is clear: "transition" translates to overthrow.
>
> In the wake of the war on Iraq, there is no corner of the
> world that is safe today from U.S. aggression. This is
> especially the case for Cuba, part of whose national
> territory remains under U.S. military occupation. U.S.
> diplomats have warned Cuba, along with Iran, Syria and
> North Korea, to "learn the lessons of Iraq."
>
> Over the past 43 years Cuba has suffered the loss of 3,478
> of its citizens from numerous acts of terrorism,
> invasions, assassinations, assassination attempts,
> biological warfare and blockade. The government of one
> country has perpetrated these illegal acts against Cuba:
> the government of the United States.
>
> The United States government has imposed an economic and
> political blockade on the island nation for more than 40
> years, causing $70 billion damage to Cuba's economy, and
> inflicting unnecessary suffering on the most vulnerable in
> Cuban society. The U.S. military has continued to maintain
> and expand its naval base at Guantanamo Bay, a legacy of
> colonialism. Today, hundreds of people -- including
> children under the age of 16 years -- are being imprisoned
> and interrogated by the U.S. at Guantanamo with no
> recourse whatsoever to due process.
>
> Recently, a coordinated campaign of aggressions and
> foreign subversion against Cuba has been revealed,
> indicating the U.S. may be setting the stage for a renewed
> confrontation with Cuba.
>
> The trial of the 75 Cuban individuals arrested in March
> uncovered the directing role of the U.S. Interests Section
> in guiding, financing, and organizing subversive actions
> against the Cuban government. The U.S. Agency for
> International Development (USAID) has funneled some $20
> million in support to anti-government organizations in
> Cuba as a part of this counter-revolutionary campaign.
> After the popular revolution that overthrew the
> U.S.-backed dictatorship of Batista in 1959, the U.S.
> government has resorted to invasion, nuclear threats,
> biological and chemical attacks, assassination attempts
> and murders, C.I.A. financed and organized "opposition,"
> and economic destabilization. For forty years the
> overthrow of the Cuban government has been a priority for
> U.S. policy makers. The Bush administration's goal is to
> carry out regime change and replace the Cuban government
> with a puppet regime. It is a testament to the popular
> support of the Cuban government and its ability to stand
> up and confront U.S. aggression that the people of Cuba
> have successfully repelled overt and covert attempts to
> recolonize their country.
>
> Over the past seven months, a series of seven armed
> airplane and boat hijackings have occurred in Cuba -- an
> exceptionally high number in such a short time. The
> hijackings have together endangered the lives of hundreds
> of people. Thus far, the Justice Department has failed to
> prosecute any of the hijackers who arrived in the U.S.
> Despite having committed the terrorist crime of air
> piracy, several have been released on bail.
>
> At the same time, the U.S. Interests Section has virtually
> stopped granting visas to Cubans applying for admission to
> the United States. Under the 1995 U.S.-Cuba Migratory
> Agreement, the U.S. agreed to grant 20,000 entry visas to
> the U.S. annually. The purpose of the 1995 agreement was
> to assure a safe, legal and orderly immigration process.
>
> However, from October 2002 to Feb. 2003, the first five
> months of the accord's calendar year, only 505 visas were
> granted to Cubans wishing to enter the U.S. This fact must
> be understood in conjunction with the Cuban Adjustment Act
> (CAA) of 1966, a law which uniquely accords Cuban
> immigrants the right to U.S. residency and financial
> assistance if they set foot on U.S. soil. Cutting off
> legal channels for immigration while the CAA remains in
> effect, serves as open invitation to Cubans to immigrate
> illegally to the U.S. Non-prosecution of even those
> individuals who hijack planes to get to the U.S., means
> that the U.S. government is openly encouraging the most
> dangerous forms of terrorism against Cuba.
>
> As a fact of international law, which recognizes the
> rights of states to defend their sovereignty, Cuba is
> exercising its legal right and responsibility to defend
> and protect its people against foreign government
> subversion, terrorism, and other forms of U.S. aggression.
>
> In light of these developments, and understanding the real
> dangers that Cuba faces from the U.S. government:
>
> 1) We demand that the Bush Administration cease and desist
> from the current campaign of attacks on the Cuban people
> and government.
>
> 2) We call on the U.S. government to end its blockade
> against Cuba, to lift restrictions on travel, and to end
> its ongoing multi-faceted war against the Cuban
> government.
>
> 3) We further call upon the Bush Administration to free
> the five Cubans who are imprisoned in the U.S. for trying
> to stop Miami-based terrorism against their people.
>
> - Initiated by the International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition -
>
> To add your name to this statement in solidarity with the
> people of Cuba, go to
> http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/cuba/sign.html
>
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