Unions preasure EU to end Cuban sanctions

[cormacobear]

EU Asked to Abandon Aggressive Policies Against Cuba

More than 270 union leaders belonging to 65 organizations from 20 countries met in London over the weekend during the First European Trade Union Solidarity Conference with Cuba and Latin America.

The meeting was called by the British Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Solidarity with Cuba Campaign.

During the plenary sessions and seminars, several members from the Cuban delegation, headed by Pedro Ross Leal, general secretary of the Cuban Workers Federation (CTC) , denounced the real intentions of US president Bush’s Program for Transition in Cuba. They pointed to the double standards of the European Union and Parliament in their discriminatory and selective policy against Cuba that tacitly supports the interventionist plans of the US administration.

The conference also denounced the unjust imprisonment in the US of the Cuban Five and called for a general mobilization of solidarity to obtain their immediate freedom.

The general secretaries of the TUC and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Brendan Barber and John Monks respectively, called upon the European Union to establish a new and independent relation with Cuba, based on respect and the principles of free self-determination and the sovereignty of nations. At the same time, they noted the need for European labor unions to prioritize solidarity with Cuban and Latin American governments that, as is the case with Venezuela and Bolivia, represent a hope for all peoples including Europeans who are victims of neoliberal policies, today applied on a universal scale.

Several of the speakers, including Miguel Angel Martinez, the Spanish deputy to the European parliament, denounced the servility of the European Parliament and its political alignment with US policies.

At the conference, held at London City Hall, the city’s mayor Ken Livingston addressed the union representatives present emotionally speaking of Cuba’s social achievements and solidarity with all the oppressed peoples of the world.
source: http://www.periodico26.cu/english/news_cuba/eu022706.htm

[Seong]

That's fantastic! Sucked in, America will be pissed.

[Niall]

Originally posted by [email protected] 1 2006, 02:15 AM
EU Asked to Abandon Aggressive Policies Against Cuba

More than 270 union leaders belonging to 65 organizations from 20 countries met in London over the weekend during the First European Trade Union Solidarity Conference with Cuba and Latin America.

The meeting was called by the British Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Solidarity with Cuba Campaign.

During the plenary sessions and seminars, several members from the Cuban delegation, headed by Pedro Ross Leal, general secretary of the Cuban Workers Federation (CTC) , denounced the real intentions of US president Bush’s Program for Transition in Cuba. They pointed to the double standards of the European Union and Parliament in their discriminatory and selective policy against Cuba that tacitly supports the interventionist plans of the US administration.

The conference also denounced the unjust imprisonment in the US of the Cuban Five and called for a general mobilization of solidarity to obtain their immediate freedom.

The general secretaries of the TUC and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Brendan Barber and John Monks respectively, called upon the European Union to establish a new and independent relation with Cuba, based on respect and the principles of free self-determination and the sovereignty of nations. At the same time, they noted the need for European labor unions to prioritize solidarity with Cuban and Latin American governments that, as is the case with Venezuela and Bolivia, represent a hope for all peoples including Europeans who are victims of neoliberal policies, today applied on a universal scale.

Several of the speakers, including Miguel Angel Martinez, the Spanish deputy to the European parliament, denounced the servility of the European Parliament and its political alignment with US policies.

At the conference, held at London City Hall, the city’s mayor Ken Livingston addressed the union representatives present emotionally speaking of Cuba’s social achievements and solidarity with all the oppressed peoples of the world.
source: http://www.periodico26.cu/english/news_cuba/eu022706.htm
possibly a silly question, but the cuban 5?

[piet11111]

yeah finally some justice for cuba.

but the sanctions did have 1 beneficial effect because cuba is now the worlds largest exporter of biological food.

[Tekun]

Hard to fathom that the US would comply

The US's major argument for the embargo, is that Cuba is against "democracy", which really means it is against colonialism
And with the recent escapades by Mr George Bush, it seems like he is dedicated to bring about colonialism aka "democracy" to the world
Dropping the embargo would not only go against his "god sent mission" to bring democracy to the world
But it would be a complete reversal from what that ***** Condoleeza Rice has planned for Cuba in the immediate future, which is an overthrow of the Cuban gov

Bsides, when was the last time America followed or took the advice of a European organization :lol:

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

possibly a silly question, but the cuban 5?

"Who are the Cuban Five?

The Cuban Five are five Cuban men who are in U.S. prison, serving four life sentences and 75 years collectively, after being wrongly convicted in U.S. federal court in Miami, on June 8, 2001.

They are Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González.

The Five were falsely accused by the U.S. government of committing espionage conspiracy against the United States, and other related charges.

But the Five pointed out vigorously in their defense that they were involved in monitoring the actions of Miami-based terrorist groups, in order to prevent terrorist attacks on their country of Cuba.

The Five’s actions were never directed at the U.S. government. They never harmed anyone nor ever possessed nor used any weapons while in the United States.

The Cuban Five’s mission was to stop terrorism

For more than 40 years, anti-Cuba terrorist organizations based in Miami have engaged in countless terrorist activities against Cuba, and against anyone who advocates a normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba. More than 3,000 Cubans have died as a result of these terrorists’ attacks."

http://www.freethefive.org/

[metalero]

The cuban five are an example of dignity. They have been subdued to isolation in extreme conditions and illegal treatment in US high security prison, and some of them were not allowed to see their relatives for more than two years. Also this is a case where even the UN comission for human rights has spoken to bring justice for the cuban five and their relatives, yet we don't see any show of this on the media.

"Terrorist Miami groups like Comandos F4 and Brothers to the Rescue operate with complete impunity from within the United States to attack Cuba—with the knowledge and support of the FBI and CIA.

Therefore, Cuba made the careful and necessary decision to send the Five Cubans to Miami to monitor the terrorists. The Cuban Five infiltrated the terrorist organizations in Miami to inform Cuba of imminent attacks.

The aim of such a clandestine operation by the Cuban Five—at great personal risk—was to prevent criminal acts, and thus protect the lives of Cubans and other people.

But instead of arresting the terrorists, the FBI arrested the Cuban Five ANTI-terrorists on September 12, 1998. The Five were illegally held in solidarity confinement for 17 months in Miami jail.

The trial began in November 2000. With the seven-month trial based in Miami, a virtual witchhunt atmosphere existed. Defense attorneys’ motions for a change of venue were denied five times by the judge, although it was obvious that a fair trial was impossible in that city.

In a blow to justice, the Cuban Five were convicted June 8, 2001 and sentenced to four life terms and 75 years in December, 2001.

A victory in appeals, then a surprise reversal

On August 9, 2005, after seven years of unjust imprisonment, the Cuban Five won an unprecedented victory on appeal. A three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the convictions of the Cuban Five and ordered a new trial outside of Miami.

However, in an unexpected reversal on Oct. 31, the 11th Circuit Court agreed to hear the U.S. prosecutors’ appeal. Therefore the opinion overturning the Cuban Five’s convictions has been set aside while a new appeal is heard.

Your support is more important than ever

The year 2006 will be critical for the struggle to win freedom for the Cuban Five. The National Committee to Free the Cuban Five asks all people who believe in justice to join in this national campaign. "

http://www.10forthe5.org/_img/five/FreeTheCubanFive.jpg
www.freethefive.org

[Niall]

cheers for taking the time to educate me comrades

[Severian]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2006, 08:15 PM
EU Asked to Abandon Aggressive Policies Against Cuba
....
They pointed to the double standards of the European Union and Parliament in their discriminatory and selective policy against Cuba that tacitly supports the interventionist plans of the US administration.
So what is EU policy towards Cuba right now? That article oddly doesn't say, or make any concrete proposal to change it.

As far as I can tell, the diplomatic sanctions levied in 2003 are "temporarily suspended" at present.

As far as longer-term goals, a British government website (http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1100185723980) says "The UK, along with EU partners, shares the goal of a peaceful transition to a pluralist democracy in Cuba. EU Member States adopted a Common Position on Cuba on 2 December 1996. This states the EU's objective as being to encourage a process of transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, via constructive engagement with the Cuban Government."

This article from some Cuban opposition website looks at the EU's efforts to pressure Cuba. (http://www.netforcuba.org/News-EN/2005/Oct/News812.htm) Probably translated from Spanish or another language.

It seems the EU shares Washington's goals in Cuba, just not its tactics. Good cop to Washington's bad cop.


Several of the speakers, including Miguel Angel Martinez, the Spanish deputy to the European parliament, denounced the servility of the European Parliament and its political alignment with US policies.

See, this is wrong. The European ruling classes have their own reasons for wanting to bring down the Cuban revolution.

It promotes nationalism in these imperialist countries to pretend the problem is just US dominance. Which is to be expected of a parliamentary deputy, to be sure.

[bolshevik butcher]

Successful or not this event shows the increased class consciousness and militany of the Laitn American working class and that they are working in their own interetts. Solidarity with the working people of latin america! www.handsoffvenezuela.org