Miami Cubans Praise US Efforts for Democracy in Cuba

Miami Cubans Praise US Efforts for Democracy in Cuba
By Lisa Ferdinando
Miami
11 July 2006

Many people in Miami's Cuban community are praising Washington's
continued efforts to promote democracy in Cuba. This comes after
President Bush's Monday approval of a new, multi-million-dollar program
to support freedom and democracy in Cuba, after decades of Communist rule.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced the efforts Monday, with
the release of the second report of the bipartisan Commission for
Assistance to a Free Cuba.

The new American commitment includes a two-year, $80 million program to
end what Secretary Rice called the information blockade in Cuba, and
also to support efforts to one day transition to democracy on the island.

The announcement comes about a month before Cuban President Fidel Castro
turns 80. The Communist dictator came to power in 1959. His brother,
Raul, is his chosen successor.

Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcón was quoted in Cuban state-run
media last week as saying the draft of the commission's report
reinforced what he called an American plan to annex the island.

In Miami, some in the city's large Cuban community welcomed the
announcement in Washington.

Alfredo Mesa, the executive director of the Cuban American National
Foundation, says the efforts show there is a clear commitment to bring a
transition to democracy in Cuba. But he says the efforts for change
cannot just come from outside the island.

"The decisions for a transition to democracy in Cuba have to take place
in Cuba by Cubans," said Mesa.

He also says those who want political change in Cuba must act with those
who would be part of the transition.

"Opposition leaders and dissident leaders and even people who work in
the government today that can be in a position tomorrow to bring a
peaceful democratic transition in Cuba are the ones who need to be
guiding us in how we can help them," added Mesa.

Maria Vazquez owns a shop in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood. She
praised the Bush administration's effort for political change in Cuba.
She says Cuban freedom is the goal.

"We want a free Cuba," she said. "We want a free Cuba with elections,
where both the people inside the island and ourselves who have been
refugees for almost 47 years be able to vote in a democratic way."

At the InterAmerican Campus of Miami Dade College, one student says,
although there are some positive aspects to life on the island, they are
far outweighed by the negative.

"There are advantages and disadvantages, they have free education for
everybody and health care, but they also have problems with the food and
how they get basic stuff for everybody," said the student.

The United States imposed an economic embargo against Cuba more than
four decades ago. The student says she believes American pressure on the
island is influencing the people of Cuba - but not the government.

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