Cubans March in Favor of Socialism Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit A couple of mainstream news reports on the big marches BBC Online - June 12, 2002 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_2041000/2041022.stm Cubans march in favour of socialism Defying US pressure for democratic reforms, President Fidel Castro has led hundreds of thousands of Cubans onto the streets to back a constitutional amendment setting in stone his country's socialist system. Surrounded by security men and other top communist leaders Mr Castro led the way along the Havana seafront and past the US diplomatic mission. The BBC's correspondent in Havana, Daniel Schweimler, says the protest is the latest incident in an increasingly bitter attack against Washington's policy towards Cuba. The move comes a month after dissidents on the island presented a petition, known as the Varela Project, to the National Assembly calling for greater civil liberties. On a visit to Havana in May the former US president, Jimmy Carter highlighted the petition, which most Cubans had never heard of, and added his voice to the call for greater freedom. No policy change US President George Bush, speaking to Cuban Americans in Miami shortly afterwards, then reiterated his demand for greater democracy before Washington would consider easing its 40-year trade embargo and travel ban to the island. Our correspondent says the huge rally is Mr Castro's response to that pressure, basically saying that there will be no change because the Cuban people do not want change. He led a million or so flag-waving marchers along the Havana seafront, whilst schools and work places were closed for the day to enable more to gather in provincial capitals and towns across the country. He called the rally earlier in the week to back a constitutional amendment that would declare Cuba's socialist system to be "untouchable", a state of workers, organised with all, and for the good of all. Wearing his traditional olive green uniform and cap Mr Castro waved a small Cuban flag himself as the massive crowd marched towards the US mission. "Come on, comrades! Everyone will participate in the great march against the lies of Mr W!" one man shouted into a megaphone, a reference to the US president. Organisers submitted more than 11,000 signatures to Cuba's National Assembly on 10 May, demanding a referendum on civil liberties. Our correspondent says the tone of Mr Castro's attacks against Washington has increased in bitterness - with him comparing some aspects of the US policy towards Cuba to those in Nazi Germany. And that although some of his fellow Cubans join his protests with enthusiasm, others are pressured by the authorities into attending to present a united front against increasing demands for change. Dissidents dismissed Observers say the mobilisation was also in response to the proposed referendum, known as the Varela Project. * Miami Herald - June 13, 2002 http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/3457693.htm> Castro delivers message: Long live socialism by Nancy San Martin Leading a march of hundreds of thousands of people along Havana's waterfront, Fidel Castro on Wednesday resoundingly rejected the possibility of a political opening within Cuba, dashing the hopes of dissidents encouraged by the recent visit of former President Jimmy Carter and the success of a grass-roots petition drive. Castro had called for massive marches in cities across the island to show support for his ''untouchable'' one-party socialist system. The mobilization appeared to be a response to a petition, known as the Varela Project, offered by activists a month ago to oblige the government to submit political issues to a public vote, a first for Cuba in four decades. The petition -- despite government opposition -- was turned in with more than 11,000 signatures. Most Cubans learned about it when Carter openly praised the project in a nationwide speech last month and urged the government to allow political activity in support of democratic change. Carter's polite reception by Castro and the opposition's ability to mobilize a petition drive gave rise to optimism that the aging leader of the Cuban Revolution might be ready to adopt a more flexible political stance. DEFINITIVE ANSWER But on Wednesday, the Cuban government, led by Castro, delivered an unmistakable reply: No way! Castro blamed ''rude measures'' proposed by President Bush during speeches in Washington and Miami last month that the Cuban government says were encouraged by the `Miami terrorist mob.'' ''Long live socialism! Down with the lies!'' Castro shouted during the Havana march. He was referring to Bush's speeches on May 20, Cuba's Independence Day, in which the president promised not to lift American trade and travel restrictions until Cuba holds competitive elections and undertakes other democratic changes. Even though rallies have become a standard tactic used by Castro to condemn the United States, this one appeared to have slammed shut any possibility for a referendum asking voters if they favor civil liberties, such as freedom of speech and assembly, the right to own a business, an electoral overhaul and amnesty for political prisoners. Also, on Monday, leaders of organizations proposed their own constitutional amendment to ratify as ''untouchable'' the one-party socialist system currently in place. Castro has said nothing publicly about the Varela Project. Still, the amendment proposal was delivered to the National Assembly exactly one month after Cuban activists turned in their petition on the political changes. Dissidents described the rallies as a ''classic tool used by totalitarian regimes,'' to instill their will upon the population, said Regis Iglesias, a Varela Project coordinator in Havana. ''The government is using the Bush speech as an excuse to avoid democratic reform,'' Iglesias said. `They won't even dare to acknowledge that this is their response to our referendum.'' Analysts said this week's events were Castro's attempt to nullify the Varela Project. The amendment seeks to maintain Cuba's economic, social and political foundations -- precisely what the Varela Project aims to change. The amendment, if approved as expected, would `ratify that economic, political and diplomatic relations with any other State will never be negotiated under aggression, threat or pressure from a foreign power.'' The Cuban government has accused the United States, and the U.S. Interests Section in Havana in particular, of orchestrating the Varela campaign. The proposed constitutional amendment also accuses Bush and Cuban Americans in Miami of aspiring to `overthrow the Cuban political system and destroy the work of the Revolution.'' ''Typical hard-line Castro response,'' is how Vicki Huddleston, chief of the Interests Section, characterized Wednesday's events. `Nobody really thought there would be a referendum, but we had hoped . . . [Castro] doesn't even want to give it a platform.'' Huddleston said Castro was using Bush's speech in Miami because `he doesn't even want to mention Project Varela.'' ECONOMIC EMBARGO Bush has said the economic embargo against Cuba would not be lifted until Havana holds ''certifiably free and fair'' elections and undertakes other democratic changes. Wednesday's rallies were a culmination of protests in various cities in eastern Cuba during the past three weeks where Castro has railed against U.S. policy toward Cuba. Surrounded by security men and other top communist officials, Castro walked about one mile along the Malecón coastal boulevard that leads to the U.S. Interests Section. The Havana event coincided with about 800 marches around the island. TV broadcasts showed millions of people joining in the protests. Meanwhile, Varela organizers vowed to continue to fight for the project, saying `what's untouchable is liberty.'' This report was supplemented with material from The Associated Press. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytact-06.13.02-06:34:00-31030