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Leader of the Cuban dissident group Ladies in White condemns normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations
Damas de Blanco (Spanish) ^ | December 23, 2014 | DiarioDeCuba.com

Posted on 12/31/2014 9:58:13 AM PST by Ebenezer

(English-language translation)

President Obama's measures are for the government, not for Cuba. He is mistaken if he thinks restoring relations is going to favor the island's people. There will be changes here when human rights are respected and the Castros no longer exist.

These measures will allow the Cuban government to strengthen, equip their repressive machine against the Cuban people, against civil society. We know that achieving freedom depends on us Cubans, but we want to count on moral support from governments.

We feel unprotected at this time, but with or without support, what is important is to maintain our struggle, seeking the freedom of the people of Cuba.

Until this time, we have been beaten and jailed men and women. We now believe that dead activists may appear in gutters.

Following Obama's and Raúl Castro's announcement, the Cuban government is laughing at civil society and more at people like us, the Ladies in White, who have asked for the embargo to stay in place and even that it be tightened. We are being mocked by State Security.

Anyway, it does not matter to us. What is only important is that, to change, Cuba depends on us, and we are going to continue.

We will show President Obama and also Pope Francis that Raúl Castro is not going to change. We will go to the streets and exercise our rights, and we will be, as always, women beaten and taken to jail.

Raúl Castro does not have the will to change his political position at all. What will increase in Cuba is the beating and jailing of activists.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Cuba; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: bertasoler; cuba; ladiesinwhite; obama

1 posted on 12/31/2014 9:58:13 AM PST by Ebenezer
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To: rrstar96

Tough sounding...hope they can achieve the goals.


2 posted on 12/31/2014 10:03:44 AM PST by Paul46360 (..)
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To: rrstar96

These Cuban-Americans will not forget the oppression of Castro’s regime because they still feel the pain of losing their loved ones who were ‘disappeared’ as political prisoners.


3 posted on 12/31/2014 10:06:26 AM PST by lee martell
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To: rrstar96

Good. Maybe they can convince Gloria Estefan and her hubby to quit kissing Obama’s butt too.


4 posted on 12/31/2014 10:09:22 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: lee martell

The Ladies in White are actually based in Cuba, so they know first-hand all about harassment, threats, physical violence, and prison, thanks to the Castro brothers and their goons.


5 posted on 12/31/2014 10:09:53 AM PST by Ebenezer (Strength and Honor!)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Dqban22

Because of the life this writer has led, and his routine responsibilities, he expressed the frustration far better than I am capable of doing. I have to remember that Popes, just like Presidents are transitory. This almost reads as some sort of business merger vs a change of custom and practice. Remember, the Vatican has an annual operating budget of more than $308. Million, but as recently as 2011, the Vatican showed annual expenses of $326.4. This was a few years back, but there may be some monetary incentive for the Pope to support this Cuba decision.


7 posted on 12/31/2014 11:39:09 AM PST by lee martell
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To: rrstar96

Simple fact you increase that which you reward. The Castros have no reason to treat the Cuban people any better. Now they will have more incentive to keep up the poor treatment.


8 posted on 12/31/2014 11:41:46 AM PST by Thales Miletus
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