An island of division

An island of division

Cuban leader's presentation shows passions high

By Frank Moraga fmoraga@venturacountystar.com
June 16, 2006

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — The sights, sounds and aromas of Calle Ocho
quickly reveal to the casual visitor that they are in the heart of the
Cuban community in Miami.

Everywhere can be seen the colorfully painted bodegas, cigar shops and
other businesses that make up this area known as Little Havana.

The sound of salsa music can be heard blaring from passing cars and the
rich aroma of Cuban food emanates from the local restaurants.

The passion of the Cuban community can also be easily found in the
region. Just a mention of Fidel Castro and communism is enough to bring
emotions to the surface nearly 50 years after the Cuban Revolution.

Even a satellite-TV talk by one of the leaders of the Cuban government
is enough to bring out protesters who are demanding more press freedom
on the island nation; the release of dozens of Cuban journalists from
prison; and the end of a government that views all reporters who do not
follow the party line as agents for the U.S.

So was the scene Wednesday when Ricardo Alarcón, president of Cuba's
National Assembly of People Power, spoke to hundreds of journalists at
the National Association of Hispanic Journalists annual convention, held
this year in Fort Lauderdale.

Courtesy of CNN's bureau in Havana, Alarcón's larger-than-life image was
beamed onto the screen on the stage at the Broward Center for the
Performing Arts.

Journalists arriving by bus were greeted by a dozen or so anti-Castro
protesters who handed out fliers denouncing the lack of freedom on the
island.

One contained the images of 24 people with the caption: "Cuba — Second
largest number of jailed journalists in the world."

The flier also contained the skeletal image of Cuban journalist
Guillermo Fariñas Hernández, who is on a hunger strike seeking to
persuade the Castro regime to allow unrestricted access to the Internet
from his home so he can fulfill his duties as an independent reporter.

Inside the center, Alarcón politely and matter-of-factly talked about
the need of the Cuban government to restrict these journalists who are
not so secretly working for the U.S. government in its ongoing
propaganda campaign.

Alarcón fielded questions delivered by Mirta Ojito, a New York Times
contributor and herself a member of the Muriel Boat Lift that brought
Cuban exiles to the shores of Florida in the 1980s.

Politely but firmly, Ojito pressed on with her questions about the
arrest and imprisonment of the Cuban journalists, many facing prison
time ranging from 15 to 25 years.

Alarcón just as adamantly defended his government's effort to fight the
political pressure exerted by the U.S. government.

"Those reports are fairly inaccurate," he said. "They have not been
tried and convicted because they are expressing different views of the
government ¿. For the last 47 years, Cuba has been subjected to an
ongoing CIA propaganda campaign. Cuba has the right to protect its
independence."

These are not true journalists, Alarcón said, only members of entities
trying to bring down Castro's regime.

Alarcón also answered questions on the health of Castro and succession
plans, the impact of the ongoing U.S. economic embargo and the
expectations of Cuban exiles who want to return to the island and
reclaim their wealth and property.

Alarcón denied reports that Castro is suffering from Alzheimer's or
Parkinson's disease.

In fact, he said, the Cuban president is in excellent health and the
Cuban constitution allows for the assembly to pick a successor. That
person could be Castro's brother, Raul, and even Alarcón's name has been
mentioned.

While the U.S. embargo is ineffective because the country is now getting
more goods from China and Venezuela, it is still preventing the nation
from receiving goods from Europe because those governments face ongoing
pressure from the United States, he said.

Finally, those exiles expecting to come back home to reclaim their
status are in for a surprise, he said: They will never be allowed to
come back to destabilize the government.

In the end, Ojita politely thanked Alarcón for presenting his
government's point of view and the reporters in the room politely
applauded Alarcón for making the effort to speak to them.

Meanwhile, outside, the organized group of Cuban protesters had quickly
packed up their signs and pamphlets since the television cameras were
gone, ready for another day and another protest.

So goes life for Florida's Cuban community that is divided from Cuba by
more than just 90 miles of ocean, but separated by years of political,
economic and social conflict.

In other words, just another day in paradise.

— Frank Moraga is The Star's director of diversity and general manager
of Mi Estrella, The Star's bilingual weekly newspaper. He can be reached
at fmoraga@venturacountystar.com.

http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/opinion_columnists/article/0,1375,VCS_223_4778140,00.html