D_Bokk
21st May 2005, 05:09
BBC NEWS
Cuba dissidents hold rare rally
Around 200 Cuban dissidents are holding a public meeting in Havana in defiance of a ban on political opposition.
The BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Havana says there is no sign of a major police presence, and the authorities have not acted directly to stop the meeting.
US diplomat in Cuba James Cason played a video message from President Bush that praised the dissidents for coming out of the "shadow of repression".
But Cuba has expelled several European politicians who had planned to attend.
Czech Senator Karel Schwarzenberg and German MP Arnold Vaatz were seized by police and driven to Havana airport.
The European Commission has described Thursday's expulsions as unacceptable.
Two Polish MEPs were refused entry to Cuba earlier in the week.
And at least two journalists, from Poland and Italy, were detained by the Cuban authorities ahead of the meeting.
Unprecedented meeting
The two-day meeting, organised by the Assembly for the Promotion of Civil Society in Cuba, is hoping to promote democracy in the Communist state.
It began with a rendition of the national anthem and shouts of "liberty".
It is taking place in a garden outside one of the organisers' homes.
The delegates began by calling for the release of all political prisoners in Cuba.
President Bush praised the participants in the video message played to the meeting from a laptop computer of Mr Cason.
"We will not rest. We will keep the pressure on until the Cuban people enjoy the same freedom in Havana that they have in America," Mr Bush said.
Our correspondent says that, although the numbers fall short of the 500 once predicted to turn up, the organisers are justified in describing the meeting as unprecedented in revolutionary Cuba.
"This is a triumph for all the opposition," said chief organiser Martha Beatriz Roque.
'Big fraud'
However, some moderate dissidents see the gathering as a huge mistake, he says, and believe it could be used as justification for a clampdown.
The most notable absentee is Oswaldo Paya, of the Christian Liberation Movement.
In a communique issued on Thursday, Mr Paya refused to attend the event, which he said was "a big fraud against the opposition".
He accused Ms Roque of working with the Cuban security forces and obtaining the support of hardline exile groups in Miami, a factor which he said the Cuban authorities could use against the opposition in future.
Other dissidents had failed to appear, apparently because they feared arrest, AP news agency said.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4567393.stm
Published: 2005/05/20 23:42:46 GMT
© BBC MMV
Cuba dissidents hold rare rally
Around 200 Cuban dissidents are holding a public meeting in Havana in defiance of a ban on political opposition.
The BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Havana says there is no sign of a major police presence, and the authorities have not acted directly to stop the meeting.
US diplomat in Cuba James Cason played a video message from President Bush that praised the dissidents for coming out of the "shadow of repression".
But Cuba has expelled several European politicians who had planned to attend.
Czech Senator Karel Schwarzenberg and German MP Arnold Vaatz were seized by police and driven to Havana airport.
The European Commission has described Thursday's expulsions as unacceptable.
Two Polish MEPs were refused entry to Cuba earlier in the week.
And at least two journalists, from Poland and Italy, were detained by the Cuban authorities ahead of the meeting.
Unprecedented meeting
The two-day meeting, organised by the Assembly for the Promotion of Civil Society in Cuba, is hoping to promote democracy in the Communist state.
It began with a rendition of the national anthem and shouts of "liberty".
It is taking place in a garden outside one of the organisers' homes.
The delegates began by calling for the release of all political prisoners in Cuba.
President Bush praised the participants in the video message played to the meeting from a laptop computer of Mr Cason.
"We will not rest. We will keep the pressure on until the Cuban people enjoy the same freedom in Havana that they have in America," Mr Bush said.
Our correspondent says that, although the numbers fall short of the 500 once predicted to turn up, the organisers are justified in describing the meeting as unprecedented in revolutionary Cuba.
"This is a triumph for all the opposition," said chief organiser Martha Beatriz Roque.
'Big fraud'
However, some moderate dissidents see the gathering as a huge mistake, he says, and believe it could be used as justification for a clampdown.
The most notable absentee is Oswaldo Paya, of the Christian Liberation Movement.
In a communique issued on Thursday, Mr Paya refused to attend the event, which he said was "a big fraud against the opposition".
He accused Ms Roque of working with the Cuban security forces and obtaining the support of hardline exile groups in Miami, a factor which he said the Cuban authorities could use against the opposition in future.
Other dissidents had failed to appear, apparently because they feared arrest, AP news agency said.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4567393.stm
Published: 2005/05/20 23:42:46 GMT
© BBC MMV