Cuba: human rights abuses, inequalities, etc.

[The Sloth]

Several questions....

From wikipedia, how accurate is the following? Does anyone have sources to refute this information?


The Castro regime has frequently been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including torture, arbitrary imprisonment, unfair trials, and extra-judicial executions. Many argue that several thousand unjustified deaths have occurred under Castro's decades-long rule. Several Cubans have been labeled "counterrevolutionaries," "fascists," or "CIA operatives" and imprisoned in extremely poor conditions without trial; some have been summarily executed. The level of political control in Cuba has relaxed somewhat since the USSR's collapse, but several people still view Castro as presiding over a totalitarian state.

Groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also criticize the censorship, the lack of press freedom in Cuba, the lack of civil rights, the outlawing of political opposition groups and unions, and the lack of free and democratic elections.

Justifying his actions, Castro sees this as an appropriate response to his claims that the United States is continuing to engage in covert activities against Cuba using spies and mercenaries, a so-far unsubstantiated claim, and that most if not all critical human rights activists are in fact American agents. In Operation Mongoose during the early '60s, the CIA is known to have participated in various forms of covert economic sabotage in an attempt to oust Castro, including attempting partial destruction of the country's vital sugar crop and setting up explosives at certain factories. During the same time frame, the CIA is also known to have established an "enemy of the enemy" relationship with the Mafia in assassination attempts on Castro; in contrast to the ousted General Batista, Castro's government cracked down severely on organized crime, depriving some notorious mobsters of millions of dollars. There is controversy over whether President John F. Kennedy was fully aware of the "dirty tricks" the CIA was employing in its attempts to overthrow Castro at the time, as the agency's accountability standards were not as strict as they are today. However, much of these events occurred during the early '60s, and there is no evidence suggesting that the U.S. is currently engaged in a subversion campaign against Cuba.

Citing previous U.S. hostility, supporters of Castro thus portray opposition to his regime as illegitimate, and the result of an ongoing conspiracy fostered solely by Cuban exiles with ties to the United States or the CIA. Many Castro supporters thus feel that Castro's often harsh measures are justified to prevent the United States from presumably installing a puppet leader in his place. Castro's opposition, though, maintains that he uses the United States as an excuse to justify his continuing political control.

The United States government maintains the continuing U.S. foreign policy goal in regards to Cuba is to bring democracy to the nation. The Cuban-immigrant population of the US state of Florida, which holds considerable political clout in U.S. electoral politics, has significant influence in U.S. relations with Cuba.

Supporters also contend that Cuba's human rights record is substantially better than that of many other former governments in the Caribbean or Latin America, particularly those that were ruled by U.S.-backed anti-Communist military regimes during the widespread guerrilla warfare of the 1970s and 1980s. In particular, they argue the human rights record and quality of life in Cuba is better than under his predecessor, Fulgencio Batista, who was unpopular and resented by Castro and his supporters as subservient to American interests, though Washington withdrew support of him in the wake of Castro's revolution. Critics point out that Cuba is the only Latin American country to have not democratized in a post-Cold War environment.

Also...

Can I have specific examples of terrorism and attacks against the Cuban people by foreign governments, including the U.S. and those aided by the U.S. ?

Also...

Does Fidel Castro live as a wealthy individual -- i.e., are the claims about his "mansions" merely rumors?

How steep are the social inequalities?

Is there are a heavily privileged class in Cuba?

[fuerzasocialista]

Some parts of this article are indeed accurate. Some are not


The Castro regime has frequently been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including torture, arbitrary imprisonment, unfair trials, and extra-judicial executions. Many argue that several thousand unjustified deaths have occurred under Castro's decades-long rule.

This stems from the trials that were held immediatley after the revolution triumphed. Many people who were functionaries in the Batista government who chose to stay were brought to trial and then executed as enemies of the state who partook in the oppressive acts that lead to the need for social change and revolution in Cuba. Cuba had been the victim of puppet governments installed by the US since its "independence" in 1898 where it was all but annexed by the US the way Puerto Rico was. It was never really truley independent and Batista had full support of the US government and of the organized crime factor.



Groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also criticize the censorship, the lack of press freedom in Cuba, the lack of civil rights, the outlawing of political opposition groups and unions, and the lack of free and democratic elections.


The Cuban government gives you as a Cuban the basic necessities: Food (although rations are not what they used to be but in many other countries you don't even get rations), Shelter(the government gives you your own home and you cannot be evicted), free education (until a PhD), and free healthcare. What is not tolerated is actions against the revolution by "dissidents" who receive money from the US to publish what they want to read and hear. Free speech is almost and impossible right to exercise while you have a country so close to you that basically has been trying to foil your every attempt at sovereignty and economical gain with propagnda and an embargo. Elections are held in Cuba and are carried out by secret ballot. The reason why Castro's position as president is still verified is because he is still very popular despite what the worms in Miami and throughout the world say. They day the Cubans in Cuba do not want him anymore will be the day he is toppled.


However, much of these events occurred during the early '60s, and there is no evidence suggesting that the U.S. is currently engaged in a subversion campaign against Cuba.

In June 2004, Bush signed into law a new form of economical aggression against Cuba that put a cap on the amount of money that Cubans living in the US could send their families back on the island, limiting the amount of time a Cuban could go to Cuba to see his family, limiting the amount of money a Cuban can spend in Cuba (if he is a US resident) and reinforcing that any US citizen caught traveling to Cuba will be punished to the full extent of the law. Not to mention the 40 plus year embargo that still is in effect which penalizes countries that do business with the US and also do business with Cuba. All these acts are a campaign of economical oppression against Cuba by the american government. Not to mention the liberty in which the worms in Miami can openly influence US politics and engage in Anti-Cuba measures like bombing hotels and factories in Cuba, spreading lies about the revolution, and even attempting to destabalize Socialist movements in other Latin American countries such as Venezuela where they have reached out to the opposition of Hugo Chavez.



Supporters also contend that Cuba's human rights record is substantially better than that of many other former governments in the Caribbean or Latin America, particularly those that were ruled by U.S.-backed anti-Communist military regimes during the widespread guerrilla warfare of the 1970s and 1980s. In particular, they argue the human rights record and quality of life in Cuba is better than under his predecessor, Fulgencio Batista, who was unpopular and resented by Castro and his supporters as subservient to American interests, though Washington withdrew support of him in the wake of Castro's revolution. Critics point out that Cuba is the only Latin American country to have not democratized in a post-Cold War environment.

Black Cubans had no rights and Cuba was very segregated at that time. The universities were shut down due to the high level of social awakening since many revolutionary activities came out of them. Many of the poor masses had no type of formal education. Cuba was being exploited by the criminal element of the US such as organized crime. All the mattered was who had the most $$$$$$.


Can I have specific examples of terrorism and attacks against the Cuban people by foreign governments, including the U.S. and those aided by the U.S. ?


The Miami worms have been carrying out covert operations in Cuba since the time of the fall of Batista. The Bay of Pigs is undoubtably the most memorable act of terrorism against Cuba to date. Miami is like a breeding ground for reactionaries. Groups like Alfa-66 (mostly made up of old Batista functionaries and supporters) comes to mind. As previously mentioned, hotels have been bombed in an effort to hurt tourism; cargo ships carrying supplies and goods have also been targets. Not to mention the numerable attempts of assasinations with cooperation from the CIA. The Most recent one was in Panama when Fidel went to participate in a pan-Latin American conference a few years back. The assasins were arrested before they could carry out their plot but were ultimately pardoned by the president of Panama (her name escapes me) before she left office. The dates I'm not too sure of.


Does Fidel Castro live as a wealthy individual -- i.e., are the claims about his "mansions" merely rumors?

They seem to be rumors. I have seen Fidel eat the same food that everyone else eats in video footage I have of him. I believe him to be genuine in his Socialist ideals. I also saw him trying to give Ted Turner a tour of Havana in a military jeep that kept breaking down every couple of minutes. I feel a person of wealth would have at least had a better working vehicle to tour one of the most richest men in America around the streets of Havana.


How steep are the social inequalities?

Is there are a heavily privileged class in Cuba?

From friends that have visited Cuba more times than they can count, everyone is in the same boat. Generally, people who are recognized as having artistic, athletic, and academic abilities seem to be held in higher esteem not only by the government, but by the people. However, I doubt they are "heavily" priviledged. The members of the Communist Party do not have that distinction either from what I am told and have read.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

www.sicubasi.org

check it

[Paradox]

The Castro regime has frequently been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including torture

Ok, I know about the trials and executions of batista's men, but what about the claims of torture? Other than this article, the only other time I've heard of torture claims were from the A&E Biography documentary of Fidel Castro. So are there any confirmed cases of torture? Since I've only heard claims of it a couple of times, if it did happen it doesn't seem like it was wide-spread. Any links that can elaborate on this? Thanks.

[Sabrina]

Can I have specific examples of terrorism and attacks against the Cuban people by foreign governments, including the U.S. and those aided by the U.S. ?


SUMMARY OF THE MAIN TERRORIST ACTIONS AGAINST CUBA (1990-2000)
http://www.canadiannetworkoncuba.ca/Documents/terror.shtml

Unfortunately I don't have the info after 2000, I haven't seen it posted, but I'm sure there's been a lot since 2000 also, sadly.

[ComradeChris]

Here's from a very conservative book actually called the Essential Militaria.

They list all the attempts of what is apprenamed Operation Mongoose. AKA The many unsuccessful attempts at assassinating and humiliating Castro by US agencies:


1. Hiring Mafia hit men to assassinate him.
2. Giving him a scuba-diving outfit infected with tuberculosis.
3. Booby-trapping a seashell that would explode if he lifted it from the seabed while diving.
4. Contaminating his favourite brand of cigars with the untraceable botulinium toxin.
5. Persuading him to write with a poisonous fountain pen.
6. Spiking his drinks with poison.
7. Shooting him with a sniper rifle.
8. Putting a chemical in his shoes that would make his beard fall out.
9. Operation Dirty Trick: A plot to blame Castro if the 1962 Mercury space flight carrying John Glenn crashed.
10. Operation Good Times: Faked photos of an obese Castro with two voluptuous women in a lavishly furnished room and a tableladen with fine food. The caption would read, "My ration is different."

So I guess number 1. proves that Zach de la Rocha isn't as much of a conspiracy nut as some would believe him to be.
Number 4. explains why he gave up smoking (is that even true; I heard it on this site?).
And honestly, I would find number 10. halarious. Mainly because it's so stupid, and it's obviously something that's on the Repukelicans minds.

[NoiseUnited]

I heard this story from a documentary from a former CIA agent. He said to discredit the Castro leadership they would sabotage the food supplies, because they wanted the people to overthrow their government. One case he specifically mentioned was bribing a truck driver delivering milk to take a little longer eating his lunch. While the truck driver was away, CIA operatives put cement into the milk that was for the school children. There's really no way to justify targeting children.

[October Revolution]

Bastards they'll do anything to try and get rid of Castro. Even if Castro is an evil tyrannical dictator (he certainly isn't) like Saddam, they shouldn't be targeting innocent children thats just wrong.

Becasue America knows it can't ever really hope to invade Cuba it is using ruthless tactics to turn the populous on Castro, they won't work.

Some of those assasination attempts just seem abit desperate to me. :ph34r:

[Wiesty]

about the terrorist attack question, not a direct attack on cuba but, america was planning on blowing something of theirs up and making it seem like the cubans did it in which in the end would give the american government and people more reason to hate cuba, thus a bigger war happening between them.

[bolshevik butcher]

I've heard lot's of stuff about Castro living a fabulously wealthy liestyle, is this true?

[Big Boss]

Not really. He is always using his military fatigues though I've seen him with other type of clothing which is cheap. I've seen him eating with children at schools and his car is always breaking down ( the car is an army jeep by the way). He is not living as a rich man I can tell you. The other thing is that the US goverment is hard to understand. For instance: They say they are fighting terrorism when they are the first ones to use terrorist tactics and the example is the kind of dirty war that they have been doing since the Cuban Revolution's success. Also, aiming attacks against children is highly cowardly and just plainly wrong. They are really desperate to attack children through their milk supply. Damn imperialist cappies! I hate the motherfuckers!!

[ComradeChris]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2005, 03:17 AM
I heard this story from a documentary from a former CIA agent. He said to discredit the Castro leadership they would sabotage the food supplies, because they wanted the people to overthrow their government. One case he specifically mentioned was bribing a truck driver delivering milk to take a little longer eating his lunch. While the truck driver was away, CIA operatives put cement into the milk that was for the school children. There's really no way to justify targeting children.
Goes to show you the US is no better than the terrorists who were "so evil" in attacking them.

[Big Boss]

Damn Right!!

[October Revolution]

Yeh it's a good counter argument to the twisted US view of them saving the world.

[ComradeChris]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2005, 03:17 AM
I heard this story from a documentary from a former CIA agent. He said to discredit the Castro leadership they would sabotage the food supplies, because they wanted the people to overthrow their government. One case he specifically mentioned was bribing a truck driver delivering milk to take a little longer eating his lunch. While the truck driver was away, CIA operatives put cement into the milk that was for the school children. There's really no way to justify targeting children.
Hey, do you know where I could find a source for this? I would like to use it in an argument against right-winged idiots.

[kingbee]

the cia also flew planes over cuba and poisoned crops, and also i'm sure cubana planes have been hijacked.

when people talk about excecuting dissidents- some cubans hijacked a boat, attempted to take it to america, and thus were excecuted on capture. while i do not agree with the death penalty, in america, and the western world, this act would be seen as an act of 'terror', and be dealt with just as harshly.