U.S. Enraged as Cuba Returned to U.N. Rights Body***In Washington, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters: "Cuba does not deserve a seat on the Human Rights Commission. Cuba deserves to be investigated by the Human Rights Commission." In the last month, the Cuban authorities have rounded up 75 dissidents and imprisoned them for terms of up to 28 years. As part of the crackdown, Cuba also executed three men who hijacked a ferry in a failed bid to reach the United States.
"Having Cuba serve again on the Human Rights Commission is like putting Al Capone in charge of bank security," Fleischer said. "It is an inappropriate action that does not serve the cause of human rights in Cuba or at the United Nations." Cuba's U.N. ambassador, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, accused the United States of executing minors and the mentally retarded people and abusing the rights of Afghan fighters long confined without charges in a U.S. base on Cuban territory.***
Maryland Calls Off Trade Mission to Cuba - Finally *** The Pride of Baltimore II, a replica of a Baltimore clipper, was to bring the Maryland delegation to Havana on May 24. But the organization that runs the state-owned ship announced Tuesday that it also was dropping Cuba from its itinerary. "While we are committed to expanding the market for Maryland's agricultural products, Gov. (Robert) Ehrlich and I share the Bush administration's serious concerns about making this visit to Cuba at this time," said Agriculture Secretary Lewis R. Riley. ***