Cubans Crash Bus Into Mexican Embassy & Seek Asylum - Anothe

[Capitalist]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...ican_embassy_17 (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020228/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cuba_mexican_embassy_17)

http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news?p...%22&n=10&c=news (http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news?p=%22fidel+castro%22&n=10&c=news)

[Capitalist]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...ba_asylum_dc_16 (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020228/wl_nm/cuba_asylum_dc_16)

[Supermodel]

Indeed, 21 Cubans want to take a trip to Mexico.

[PunkRawker677]

the mexican president said that the people where not interested in political asylum. He said they showed no interest in it. Go to MSNBC, its there, im not gonna go look.. how many criminals take little trips to california and never return? and canada? how bout the ones in Europe? hmmm...

[poncho]

To blame Fidel Castro for departing from the norms of democracy in organizing the defense of Cuba's democratic right to national sovereignty is not only unjust, it is a way of evading the real issues and covering up and excusing the worst enemies of Cuban democracy. Those that wish to return the nation to imperialist rule. Here is another prime example of criminal traitors broadcasting false statements to get a few more innocent Cubans looking as they are trying to excape.

Pure propaganda lie's to rally the people of the United States to strengthan there hate against the sovereign government of Cuba in the name of false democracy.

If the American people had the truth they would see that the Cuban people where at war to maintain the fundemental cornerstone of democratic rights, that of self determination.

[Guest]

In cuba, Radio Marti broadcasting constantly tells the cuban people that in america, they can buy pounds of steak for just 75 cents, and a new car for a couple hundred dollars..

why does radio marti exist? who are they to go spreading propaganda in a country we have no relations with? fuck radio marti!

[TheDerminator]

I wonder if this is going to give Mexican's an idea.

I mean they could crash a bus into the US embassy and seek asylum from Mexican poverty!

It could start a big craze, all around the world, in poor countries!

Maybe write to a bus driver's union and start organising, or write a letter to the local newspaper!

Stand up for your right's!

Seek asylum from poverty!

Headline: US most popular country in the world; proved by bus crashing craze!

Resistance is Futile!

derminated

[Capitalist]

Bus Unions are illegal in Cuba.

Cubans do not have the right to assembly without government permission.

I find it very hypocritical for someone to state that Jose Marti is one-sided propaganda. What about the "Grandma" - the only legal newspaper (Communist Government Newspaper) allowed in Communist Cuba.

Freedom of Speech/Press is totally banned in Cuba. You CAN NOT speak or write any newspaper/media without government consent.

I also find it very odd that 100s of Castro supporters (which I admit Castro has many ignorant supporters within Cuba) had to use sticks and force to prevent the Non-Castro Cubans from seeking refuge in the Embassy.

The point is clear - there are many people within Cuba that do not support Castro - yet are forced to live under his tyranny.

And again - trying to spin this arguement into an another Anti American Arguement is not going to prove your point that Communist Cuba is an oppresive form of government.

The facts are clear -

The Cuban People were not free under Batista.

The Cuban People are not free under Castro.

Castro is definitely WAY worse than Batista.

[peaccenicked]

The Politics of Corruption, 1902-1953

Instability and Intervention, 1902-1924
Tomás Estrada Palma first elected Cuban president in 1901
Took office May 1902 as Americans left
Government scandal ridden:
Elections to Congress were fraudulent and violent (1904)
1905, Estrada was revolted with fraud system and no opposition
Liberal Party, under José Miguel Gómez, staged revolt, summer 1906
Estrada, unable to control it called for American intervention
American intervention; occurred under William Howard Taft
Charles Magoon, a Minnesotan judge was appointed head of provisional American government
Power was divided between parties
Institutionalised corruption
Standing army way created
National Consciousness and rebellion against foreign control decreased
Due to corruption, which elite wanted to keep
Liberal Party won presidential elections 1908
US withdrew April 1st 1909
Re-established lottery, legalised cockfighting
Conservatives now under General Menocal won 1912 &1916
Continued corruption: amassed $40m in two terms
Closely linked to American Economic interest, after having managed American sugar farm
Liberals rebelled again, against Menocal’s re-election, in 1917
US wouldn’t permit disturbance and intervened
Remained until 1923
Liberal Alfredo Zayas won presidency 1920
Crash of sugar prices brought economic problems
US General Enoc Crowder sent to Cuba as special representative Jan. 1921
In effect ruled Cuba until 1923
Became Ambassador after that
American in tight control
Every time, violence was threatened US intervened and restored order
During minor black rebellion 1912 in Oriente Province
As the losers of presidential elections staged or threatened rebellions four times from 1902 to 1924 (1908, 1917, 1919, 1921)
Þ Tried to prevent property loss

Cuban nationalism revived in last two years of Zayas administration
Consequence of Cuban sugar
This was due to foreign domination and monoculture
Students started by attacking inept and corrupt professors
Demonstrated for university reforms in 1922
Þ Students henceforth played important role in Cuban politics

Machado 1925 — 1933
Gerardo Machado y Morales, nationalist candidate for the liberal party became president in 1924
Although nationalistic close ties with America as he had worked for them
Began term well:
Ambitious program of public works
Attempted to institute program to control sugar prices (especially for small and medium sized companies
Encouraged agricultural diversity by imposing high taxes on rice etc.
Merit system for public bureaucracy
Established new technical and commercial schools
Wanted to reform prostitute laws in Havana
Þ Very popular, hardly faced opposition for two years

However, he was quite tyrannical
Political assassinations increased dramatically
Wave of strikes in 1925 put down brutally by police force
Most prominent Cuban Communist murdered in Mexican exile (1929)
Secured re-election by outlawing main rival, Carlos Mendieta (1928)
Þ Ruled with iron grip over Cuba until 1930

Increasing harsh economic situation was underlined by political unrest
General strike failed May 1930
Killing of student leader was followed by large demonstrations (Sept)
Firing of teachers and closing of University was answer
Mendita led last and unsuccessful attempt of old politicians to recapture power (August 31)
New, moderate alternative, the ABC, to the radical student unions developed for young middle class and intellectuals
This was answered by tighter censorship and increased terror from his secret police, Porra
USA became increasingly worried with terror threatening US institutions
April 1933, Pres. Roosevelt dispatched Sumner Wells to negotiate
Unsuccessful negotiations due to
Disunited opposition not being able to agree on pos.
Machado not wanting to compromise
Bus driver’s strike developed into general strike that paralysed the city
Machado massacred several demonstrators
Machado lost the support of Wells and the army
Þ Machado resigned on August 12th and fled to exile

The Revolution of 1933
Provisional government under Carlos Manuel de Cespedes could not stop escalating violence
Group of army sergeants and the Student Directory overthrew government on September 4th 1933.
Fulgencio Batista was a part of this overthrow.
The new government:
New junta had no political backing & views differed in regime.
Army wanted to defend new one power
Students sought genuine reforms
Power was handed over to Dr. Ramón Grau San Martín
Well known physician and opponent of Machado
Antonio Guiteras Holmes, student leader, & Batista also part of gov.
The government produced flurry of decrees:
Deleted the Platt Amendment
Eight —hour working day for labour
Established a labour department
Set an end to import of cheap labour from other Caribbean islands
Increased availability of higher education
Redistribution of land to peasants
Give women the vote
Eliminate usury (wucher)
Þ The government was however caught in a dilemma:
The left was dissatisfied due to lack of scope and depth of reforms
The Right opposed all reforms
Alienated Americans by suspending loan repayments and nationalising two American mills
Þ USA government did not recognize Grau government
The coalition disintegrated:
ABC thought Grau to radical and did not cooperate with him
Lost support of the extreme members of Student Directory
Communists attacked him as "petty bourgeois"
Wells persistently falsified documents and misrepresented the prov. Gov.
Allied with Batista
Was withdrawn Nov. 1933
The new US ambassador to Cuba was Jefferson Caffery:
formed new government with Batista as economic and politcal situation worsened
Grau was forced out of office in January 1934 and fled to exile
Was replaced by Carlos Mendieta
The Era of Batista, 1934-44
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar led Cuba first through puppet presidents (1934-40) and as president (1940-44)
Sergeant-stenographer
Son of a Sugar worker
Batista was alienated from ‘respectable’ elements of the upper and middle classes
However, he was extremely popular with mass of people
Presided over mild reform program
Some effort to redistribute land
Moved openly leftward in 1937 and supported labour unions and communists
The Auténtico Interlude 1944-1952
Batista allowed election for constituent assembly that Grau (Auténtico party) won
Constitution was liberal with protection of labour and limitations on the right of property
Batista won the presidential elections in 1940
He observed law that a president should not succeed himself
Grau defeated Batista’s candidate.
Grau became president in 1944
Although some reforms were initiated his period in government was dominated by violence and corruption
Heavily criticised, especially from Eddie Chibás from 1947
Eddie Chibás was charismatic populist leader
Former Auténticos member
Disillusioned and formed his own Cuban Peoples (Ortodoxo) party
Featured mild program of social reforms
Þ Became serious threat to Auténtico party

Eddie Chibás opposed Auténtico candidate Carlos Prío Socorrás in 1948 election.
Prío won the election as he had the advantage of thriving economy and control of electorate system
The corruption and violence continued
High sugar prices concealed mismanagement
Chíbas was leading candidate for ‘52 election as Batista returned from retirement
Chíbas committed suicide on a radio programme in August 1951
To awake Cuban public to extent of political corruption
Batista staged coup with help of low officers before the election, in March 1952
Cuban public, already disillusioned, did not protest
The Return of Batista as Dictator, 1952-1959
Like contemporaries he found it more difficult second time than first.
New, incorrupt type of revolutionaries presented threat.
Several groups, including the Auténticos, were plotting
Fidel Castro staged first, unsuccessful coup on July 26th 1953:
He, his troops and students attacked Moncada army barracks
Castro failed and was imprisoned

[Capitalist]

Peacenicked, why must you bore everyone with the history of Cuba.

You don't think I know the history of Cuba, Castro, Batista, & Prio?

I like how you conviently ignored the unsucessful Democratic/Urban Revolution.

Or the Hubert Matos (Democratic Rebel) Trial by Che Guevara & Fidel Castro.

You need to start looking at Cuba Today!

and see how worthless life is for the average Cuban living under Castro's Tyranny

[peaccenicked]

Capitalist is a bully.
he keeps on saying the same thing and listens to no one.

[Guest]

"and see how worthless life is for the average Cuban living under Castro's Tyranny "

listen asshole.. you dumb stupid ignorant peice of shit..
every single family member of mine lives in Cuba except my father, and he wishes he could back, thanks to the U$, he cannot.

their lives are not worthless, in Cuba, family and community are worth more than the dollar, so theyre lives are worth 10times more than any of you greedy stupid capitalists. so shut the fuck up and dont talk about life in cuba, ive lived there, and everyone i am close to lives there, so shut your fucking mouth..

in another post you said that cubans go around with american flags.. more bullshit propaganda.. in all the times i have been to cuba, i never saw one person wave an american flag, although my nine year old cousin at the time, took a shirt i had with an american flag and burned it.. so fuck your stupid ass remarks..

sorry for the profanity everyone.. this guy just makes me really really mad!

[Capitalist]

The Guest is lying

It is so obvious that he is the one lying.

Funny you seem to be the ONLY person from Cuba with internet access.

1. - You are either lying

Or

2. - You and your family are members of the 1% Communist Party and therfore probably from the Imperialistic Soviet Union.

To have freedom in Cuba - one must be a member of the oppressive communist party.

I am Cuban

You are a Communist Invader of my Country.

I doubt seriously you are Native Cuban.

More like Che Guevara (A communist Argentine invader)

Real Cubans love Cuba and the USA.

Cubans love the USA!!!

I hope that makes everyone mad - because it is the truth. More Cubans love the USA.

The Soviet Union were the Imperialists.

Not the USA (The USA provided jobs, an economy, and fought for our Independence from Spain)

perhaps you can also make up another lie that can explain why so many Cubans risk their lives each year across shark infested waters to come to Miami Florida.

Perhaps you can also make up another lie that explains why so many Cubans (approx. 1/5) live in exile.

Perhaps you can explain your family history a little better so we can see the holes in your arguement and lie.

And why YOU are the ONLY CUBAN with internet access.

You are not Cuban

My bet is that the guest and his family are originally from the former Soviet Union.

[Moskitto]

I actually did an IP trace on the guest. I'm fairly sure I know if he is in Cuba or not.

[PunkRawker677]

i didnt say i was in cuba.. i am the guest, and i was at my fathers house, and i didnt have my password there..
i said i was CUBAN.. and have been to cuba many times, and most of my family is there..

read... read... read...

and noone in cuba goes around waving american flags.. im sure anyone who has been to cuba can honestly back that up...

[PunkRawker677]

and about your claim that no one has internet access in cuba is also bullshit.. it is true that VERY FEW people have internet access, and i wont deny that.. but there are people in cuba, who are not part of the communist party, who have internet access..

and if you read.. i was never talking about if the cubans love or hate castro or the US.. i was telling you that

1. Cubans lives are NOT worthless just cause they dont have alot of money

and

2. Cubans do not go around with american flags..

once again..
read

[poncho]

Info Cominicaciones transmision De Datos-Internet:This is the new card you can buy in Cuba for net access, anybody can buy it.... The Universities all have net in the libraries.

"Not the USA (The USA provided jobs, an economy, and fought for our Independence from Spain)"

This statement gave me a good laugh, ever read a history book!!!!!!

"Perhaps you can also make up another lie that explains why so many Cubans (approx. 1/5) live in exile."

Proves that criminal exiles can and do breed like rabbits.

Interesting I know a cuban girl that left to meet her American boyfriend in Poland a couple of weeks ago. Why did they meet there? Well he got caught travelling to Cuba by U.S. customs, nextime he will face $50,000 fine and or prison. After spending $15,000 on a two week vacation, she is home in Cuba.....Another Canadian friend married a Cuban girl is begging him to move with her back to Cuba. She hates the government here for taking half her paycheck in taxes and not doing anything for her, like in Cuba......... Both girls use the net, the first to talk to her boyfriend and the other to talk to her sister.

"My bet is that the guest and his family are originally from the former Soviet Union."

Funny but there is not many former Russians living in Cuba, you do see the odd blonde blue eyed person,but more are former Americans.

But than again I'm a liar who has never been to Cuba and who never watched the Soprano's season opener last year in a hotel bar on satalite. It cost me, had to buy 8 Cuban citizens drinks to turn the channel from CNN, the only one that worked for the hotel was the bartender. Oh yeah, I'm a liar that has never been to Cuba.......

[Moskitto]

I didn't think you were in Cuba unless you were connecting through a proxy server where I located you.

Just needed more ratification.

[peaccenicked]

From the Latter rain page, too long and boring for a dalek.
The most often railed accusations toward Castro are that he has taken away the rights of people, such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly and that he is a dictator. If the Cuban people were to be allowed the dignity of self-determination, these things would be in place but the fact is that American aggression has placed this small country of Cuba in a state of isolation and seige, one false move could mean the destruction of a way of life that is properly Cuban. The church failed in its mission to provide for the poor and denounce oppression and it was unfortunately left up to a dictatorial element to remedy the void. Much progress has been made toward religion but that is for the fact that The Roman Catholics have come closer to the Christian mandate of providing for the poor herself, the acceptance of liberation theology in the Latin American Church for example. The evangelical church in Latin America is generally made up of the right wing faction without the preferential option for the poor and may never come to the place where it can be trusted in politics. Church unity is not something that can be legislated but when the christian right comes in a form that promotes death squads, military intervention, right wing excesses and economic exploitation, it is a false religion and the totalitarian regime of a weak country can only suppress it out of self preservation. It is a sad state of the church when conservative Protestants are feared as a demon force for the poor rather than bearers of a divine message. When the freedom of the press, assembly and speech are allowed the license to run free with a demon force that tries to kill the life of the freedom that is already in place, restraint is likely the only alternative. This pits the bad with the bad instead of good triumphing over evil.

[Capitalist]

Let us get back to the subject of Cubans seeking refuge in the Mexican Embassy.

Mexico has rejected the 21 Cuban Dissidents from the embassy and back into the hands of Communist Cuba.

Nobody knows where they are or what Cuba has done to these 21 men that crashed the bus through the Embassy Gates.

My guess - they are good as dead.

Typical Example of what happens to Cubans that protest against Fidel Castro & his communist government.

"American Boyfriend in Poland"

Poncho, forget the history book - you need to pick up a newspaper and see what is going on TODAY.

Nobody in Cuba (Unless they are government officials or family of high ranking government) is allowed to travel outside the island - nor can they afford to do so.

Anyone who desires to return to Cuba is either

1. - A tourist

or

2. - A Government/Communist High Ranking Official or family.

or

3. An exiled Cuban seeking to return home.

Seek the truth - Read the Newspaper - And Read a REAL HISTORY BOOK - not one-sided Communist Propaganda.

[peaccenicked]

Name a newspaper that you think tells the truth.
Why are you afraid to name one?

[Moskitto]

there aren't any newspapers that tell the truth.

Even our local rag lies. I mean A.Sharp never finished 5th at the national championships, even excluding the Irish.

[poncho]

"Nobody in Cuba (Unless they are government officials or family of high ranking government) is allowed to travel outside the island - nor can they afford to do so.

Anyone who desires to return to Cuba is either

1. - A tourist

or

2. - A Government/Communist High Ranking Official or family.

or

3. An exiled Cuban seeking to return home.

Seek the truth - Read the Newspaper - And Read a REAL HISTORY BOOK - not one-sided Communist Propaganda. "

The guy's girlfriend is not nor anyone in her family connected or are members of the communist party. She left for two-weeks and returned to the island. Yes, it was her choice to do so.... The flipping exiles lie so much about the island to try and make it seem like its Alcatraz, when people like me say otherwise, "we are liars".....

I'm currently not in Cuba :( but I'll deffently post nextime I'm there...

[Capitalist]

And you are lying.

That is like saying that the average East/Communist German citizen could freely cross back and forth across the Berlin Wall prior to 1989.

Your claim is a total lie (I am totally convinced you are stretching the truth, or simply outright lying)

The fact remains that if average Cubans could easily climb aboard airplanes and leave their country - than they would not be climbing on homeade rafts and risking their lives across shark infested waters to come into Florida.

[STALINSOLDIERS]

dam capitalist guy why are you so intrested in cuba.....and why are you so hate in castro......i dont know much about cuba only about ussr..

[Moskitto]

Actually, Eastern Europeans could cross the Iron curtain during the cold war to some extent.

I know a Hungarian who has lived in the UK for a while but went back to Hungary in the 80s to visit his Aunt, and came back soon afterwards. I somehow think he would have been arrested had it been illegal.

[kingbee]

just another day in cuba? los angeles riots, countless maydays, vietnam demonstrations- just another day in the us!

[honest intellectual]

That's right capitalist, no one is happy in communism and if they say they are, they must be lying

[comrade MT]

To be honest with you all and myself I will tell you the truth and say that I would hate to live in a communist nation, whether it be cuba or the USSR and I am sure all other well-to-do people living in well-to-do countries would feel the same way. However, I am also sure that starving children in Tanzania, Kenya and other underdeveloped countries would love the oppurtunity to live in a place like cuba, where they can eat something other than rats and drink something other than urine, and as there are more people living in poverty than out of it I would sacrafice what I have for a better world.

From this, one should draw the inevitable conclusion that as the poor are a majority, the majority would be better of in an internationalist communist society.

The Worlds richest fith consume twice the wealth than the other five fiths put together.

[comrade MT]

"than the other four fiths"...sorry

[PunkRawker677]

"That's right capitalist, no one is happy in communism and if they say they are, they must be lying "

hes right... all the people i have met who loved communism compared to the ex-bastista goverment are liars! they are lieing because the goverment forced them too!! and wen my family used to come to visit from cuba, and couldnt wait to go home, they were liars!!

I must say capatilist, you have it all figured out.. i thank you for opening my eyes to how much people lie..

p.s. everything i am saying are lies, because capatilist doesnt believe me, so it would be best to obey the superiour intellect of capitalist and ignore this post.

[Capitalist]

I'm sure government officials may be happy.

If you do not need the following rights:

Freedom of speech
Freedom of assembly
Freedom of free enterprise and capitalism
Freedom to bear arms without joining the military or police
Freedom of media

You might be a happy communist.

If you enjoy the following:

eating stray dog or cat (none to be found anymore)
waiting in hour long lines for a bottle of milk
wearing used clothes
having a worthless paycheck
working for government, instead of yourself
mandatory military service
having to share a 2 room house with your spouse, parents, aunts, grandparents, and cousins
having your children sent to education camps for months at a time.

Then you might be a happy communist.

Wake up!!

Only the severely ignorant, hateful, or oppressive are happy with communism.

Capitalism/Democracy
Not
Communism
You can not be both. Communists are for BIG GOVERNMENT, WELFARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, BIG TAXES.

Capitalist are for little government - free, yet more responsible, society that does not rely on government for everything.

Democrats are for elected leadership - not self appointed leadership.

[Moskitto]

Capitalist you seem to think that luxery goods don't exist in communist countries. Explain then how Cubans Ledy Balciero, Leobaldo Pereira and Ibrahim Rojas managed to get Polish made Plastex Futura Stalight Racing Canoes (Extremely Rare) and managed to train in them long enough to represent Cuba at the olympics and win silver medals? Also how did Rojas and Pereira manage to get the new Olympia design and win a gold at the world championships. Such things aren't explained by the absence of luxury goods that seems to exist in Cuba.

[Capitalist]

Moskitto you are bright enough - not to make such a stupid comment.

I don't really know who you are talking about, perhaps Cuban Sportsmen.

The Cuban government purchased these items for these people. Not everyone has access to these luxury items. Like I said only tourists & government officials have luxury items in communistic governments.

These sportsmen are treated like government officials because when the world view these people via media- they portrays a good image for Communist Cuba. They are basically propaganda - and propoganda and strong military is important to communistic/totalarian government. They will bare all expenses for propaganda necessities

[Moskitto]

Now that makes a bit more sense.

I shall check ICF regulations for discrepancies.

Ledy Balciero Kicks ass. He's world Record Holder for 200 and 500 metres, and can paddle 200m faster than most kayak paddlers.

[poncho]

People that are not part of the government can and do own items. Many own VCR's, DSS systems, playstations are abundant you cannot give a Nintendo away!

Shortages are not as bad as the U.S make it seem, sure you run into problems getting little things, like toothpaste, shampoo and other lifes little conveniences, but thats to be expected when you consider that the worlds biggest super power controls the waters around the island and they have them under a blockade..

The house I rented ran out of water for the shower (a day to fix)* and also forgot my razor, tooth-brush it took me two days to find those items. So tourists can and are affected with these nuiances that is Cuba.

So what if the government purchased stuff for athletes after-all America built a billion dollar training facility for its athletes free use.

Neighborhoods have private little rec centres that are pretty nice if you get a chance to slip inside one.

* My fault with the shower water, seems there is water storage tanks on the house roofs and I did'nt know about the pump to refill it. Also learned its cheaper to pay a Cuban to do your little convenience trips because they are charged alot less than tourists.

Cuban people can and do go to restraunts, bars and cafes inside, outside hotels. Guest rooms need permission from the front desk, just like America.

[Moskitto]

I heard in 1992 there was a nationwide shortage of toilet paper and all the libraries were raided.

Good point poncho, A few of my friends bought brand new boats from Hungary with money they mostly got from grants, I know someone else who's buying a boat with grant money as well, and these grants were from national and local authorities.

[poncho]

Another thing to ponder about American star athletes. Even if your a little kid, seems like none of them want to sign a couple of autographs anymore or even just say hello to a kid, unless it invovles publicity. Cuban "star's" are very approachable and friendly with people and tourists alike. Most seem almost embarrassed by the attention thrust apon them.

[Moskitto]

Ledy Balciero signs autographs apparantly.

But he could sign millions of autographs and not get any publicity or money, it's an amatuer sport that few care about.

[guerrillaradio]

Hmm...Poncho could you deny or confirm Capitalists' claims about human rights in Cuba (specifically free speech and free press). I think the right to have them is very important...

[poncho]

I will admit that I'm not familiar with what the media can or cannot write about, never bothered reading a Cuban newspaper. I was in a cafe with CNN playing in the background tuned to the spanish feed, so its not as bad as "some" make it out to be. People will talk about politics pretty openly but older people clam up when it come to criticising Fidel Castro and other government people.

Also admit that some individual rights are noticed to be lacking, but than again that may not be such a bad thing. Its actually necessary, I could elaborate but my words will be twisted so not worth the typing really.

Short eaxamples: For a foreigner to stay at a Cuban private residance you have to ask permission and get a permit. Only semi-enforced....If the police notice lots of foreigners staying at a house than it becomes a problem....

[PunkRawker677]

Poncho, that law is enforced by the US goverment. A non-family member cannot hold us citizens in there home or the american will be punished when they return. They also can only spend a certain allocated amount of money depending on how long they stay. I knew a german couple who where staying at a neighbor of my family's house in cuba, and no one had a problem with it. But, like everywhere, the goverment has to look into situations where numerous foreignors are being held in cuban homes.. just like the US

[poncho]

"I knew a german couple who where staying at a neighbor of my family's house in cuba, and no one had a problem with it."

Any foreign person must register to stay at a Cubans house. But its seldom enforced, unless the government finds out that the Cuban is renting the rooms as a business. Than its a minor problem you just buy a permit from the ministry of interior.

Another example: To combat prostitution if a tourist is dating a Cuban you must register the "relationship" with the government. Again this is seldom enforced. This also depends on the neighborhood (one of those things that will get twisted) Every "block" has people elected to the CDR (Committee For the Defense of the Revolution) The job of these people is basically a neighborhood watch on steroids. If you break a rule on a block with hardass CDR member, you may get into small problems. Akin to living next-door to a old lady who calls the police on you for every minor little annoyance you do......