A group of jailed Cuban political dissidents has expressed support for
an upcoming concert for peace by Colombian singer Juanes in Havana.
News of the concert provoked criticism among Cuban exiles in Miami who
said it would help the Cuban government.
Some even branded Juanes, who lives in Miami, as a traitor.
But in a letter, the dissidents said they welcomed the idea of such a
concert as a means to help promote reconciliation among all Cubans.
Juanes is perhaps best known internationally for his massive hits such
as Camisa Negra or Black Shirt.
But in recent weeks, he has been in the news not for his music but over
his plans to hold a Peace Without Borders concert in Cuba, similar to
one he held last year on the Colombian border with Venezuela.
The aim of the event, set for 20 September, Juanes says, is to use music
to ease political tensions.
But, the reaction to the news among some Cuban exiles in Miami has been
anything but relaxed, reports BBC Americas analyst Emilio San Pedro.
Embargo
Many in the community called Juanes - who has been living Miami for the
last 10 years - a traitor, and they held protests at which copies of his
hit songs like Camisa Negra were destroyed.
Juanes said he had even received threats.
Now more than 20 of Cuba's best-known political dissidents, in prison
since 2003, issued a message welcoming Juanes's plans.
"We believe this concert ...is a great opportunity to advance
reconciliation between all Cubans and to leave behind the hatreds that
for many years has poisoned our homeland," they said.
Their call is unlikely to quell the anger among those in the exile
community in Miami who see the concert as another step towards the
lifting of the decades-old US embargo on Cuba - something they
vehemently oppose.
Juanes himself says he is determined to press on with his concert which
he says will not be performed for the Cuban authorities but to send a
message of peace and tolerance.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/8235629.stm
Published: 2009/09/03 10:29:09 GMT
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