El secretario de Comercio discute por videoconferencia con diez
representantes de organizaciones juveniles cubanas
16/12/2010
ID: 137928
Date: 2008-01-18 16:13:00
Origin: 08HAVANA66
Source: US Interests Section Havana
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Dunno:
Destination: VZCZCXYZ0003
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2017
TAGS: CU, PGOV, PHUM, PINR, PREL
SUBJECT: COMSEC DISCUSSES FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY WITH CUBAN
YOUTH
Classified By: COM: Michael E. Parmly: For reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (C) SUMMARY: On 14 January Commerce Secretary
Gutierrez spoke by video conference with 10 representatives
of Cuban youth organizations. The participants discussed
their desires for democracy and freedom. They also spoke
about the prospects of achieving a democratic transition in
Cuba and the image of the United States. Four current
university students who were expected to participate in the
conference never appeared at the US Interest Section in
Havana for reasons that are yet to be discovered. One of the
participants stated that after the event State Security
officials questioned him about his participation in the
conference. End Summary.
2. (C) SECCOM Gutierrez engaged in a dialogue with XXXXXXXXXXXX
Four
university students, whose participation was coordinated by
Raul Capote Hernandez, never appeared. USINT is still trying
to discover the reason why they did not show up.
3. (C) The participants spoke of their desire for freedom
and democracy as well as the Cuban people's wish for
improvements in their standard of living. XXXXXXXXXXXX described the
farcical atmosphere of a meeting in his neighborhood where
government officials in the runup to the elections scheduled
for January 20 instructed people that they could mark up the
ballot in any way they choose and it would be counted unless
they wrote something like "Down with Fidel" on it. The
participants would like to have real options in a range of
things from the candidates in elections to the food they can
purchase.
4. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX ,however, made it clear that
dissidents can't speak for the entire Cuban people. In a
subsequent discussion with POL officer, she elaborated that
it would be a mistake to underestimate the effectiveness of
GOC propaganda and the support the government has especially
in poor communities and with some groups of University
students. During the conference, 19 year old XXXXXXXXXXXX
described how it is clear that senior state security
officials are well aware of how they are manipulating
information, but many of the young security agents actually
believe that dissidents are potential terrorists. Denia told
POL officer that many people, especially outside Havana, are
convinced that dissidents are being paid to plot terrorist
acts and sabotage. XXXXXXXXXXXX
5. (C) In the conference, XXXXXXXXXXXX responded to
questions about the attitude of the Cuban people toward the
United States. She stated that years ago people tended to
view both the government and the people of the United States
as hostile towards Cuba. However, she now feels that even
those who are suspicious of the Bush Administration, tend to
have much more positive feelings toward the American people.
She credits this to increased contact with actual Americans.
Some participants mentioned the confusion over the role of
the Committee for Assistance to a Free Cuba (CAFC). They
alluded to the GOC's propaganda campaign and a notorious
billboard that reads "Plan Bush: No More Morning Kiss" with a
drawing of a mother not allowed to kiss her children as they
head off for school. XXXXXXXXXXXX reiterated to Pol
officer that even if GOC propaganda seems preposterous, it is
effective with large segments of the population which have
with little access to alternative information.
6. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX also stated that often university
students are afraid to speak to them although there is
widespread support for the petition drive organized XXXXXXXXXXXX
to demand the opening
of private universities. She said that now almost all of the
organization's contact with university students is through
third parties. She spoke of how after widespread protests in
September, university students in XXXXXXXXXXXX felt
emboldened because they achieved some improvements in their
living conditions. However, protest activity has died down
because students are afraid of expulsion. She indicated that
there is still widespread discontent on campus on account of
the dilapidated dormitories, the poor food, and the presence
of many unqualified professors. A particular sore spot is
the considerably better food and lodging provided to the
foreign students. She said that Cuban students are not even
allowed to visit the dormitories of foreign students. XXXXXXXXXXXX
often points out that the regime is well
aware that all of the significant revolutions in Cuban
history started with student movements and that the GOC keeps
a close watch on what happens in the universities.
6. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX stated that on 15 January two plainclothes
agents from state security came to his Havana home and said
that they knew he had participated in a video conference with
SECCOM and wanted the names of the other participants. XXXXXXXXXXXX
stated that he was told to appear in court on 21 January but
will not do so unless he receives an official written
citation. All of the other participants state that after the
video conference they have not been contacted to the police
or GOC officials. XXXXXXXXXXXX said that she expects
that all the members of her group will be detained as soon as
they arrive back XXXXXXXXXXXX.
PARMLY
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