An opening for Cuban freedom?

An opening for Cuban freedom?
Aug 18 2015 12:01 am

The re-opening of the America Embassy in Havana on Friday was a historic
occasion. So fittingly, Secretary of State John Kerry was there — as
were three U.S. Marines who took down the U.S. flag from our embassy 54
years ago — along with many Cuban dignitaries, including private
citizens friendly with the government.

Bands played "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "La Bayamesa," the stirring
Cuban national anthem with its words that to live in chains is to live
in shame.

But people in Castro Cuba struggling to keep the love of liberty sounded
in "La Bayamesa" alive were not invited to the ceremony by Secretary
Kerry. And many of them could not have attended.

Less than a week before the ceremony, 90 dissidents were arrested for
protesting the re-opening of the American embassy. A demonstration
organized in part by the Ladies in White — women whose husbands and
children had been arrested by the Cuba dictatorship for political
protests — was broken up by police.

Among those arrested was Angel Mora, a former political prisoner and
husband of Berta Soler, head of the Ladies in White. Mr. Mora and others
wore masks with the face of President Barack Obama. "It's his fault,
what is happening," he told a reporter for Agence France Presse. He said
that "the Cuban government has grown even bolder" in suppressing dissent
since the U.S. re-opened diplomatic relations with the Castro regime.

The State Department said some dissidents who are not yet in jail were
invited to a private party at the new ambassador's residence following
the official re-opening. Secretary Kerry said he would meet them there
and afterward have "an open, free walk" in Havana.

"I look forward to meeting whoever I meet and listening to them and
having, you know, whatever views come at me," Mr. Kerry said, apparently
oblivious of the tight control on speech imposed by Castro agents
monitoring his "free" walk and anyone who speaks to him. They were
trained, after all, by the notorious Stasi secret police of the
now-defunct Communist government of East Germany.

To Secretary Kerry's credit, though, in remarks broadcast on Cuban radio
and television he said, "We remain convinced the people of Cuba would be
best served by genuine democracy, where people are free to choose their
leaders, express their ideas, practice their faith; where the commitment
to economic and social justice is realized more fully; where
institutions are answerable to those they serve; and where civil society
is independent and allowed to flourish."

The remarks were rebroadcast and printed in Granma, the official
newspaper of the Castro government.

Cubans expressed surprise and support in interviews with foreign
journalists. Said one Cuban, "For us it's a drop of hope; it's something
we weren't expecting."

Further defending the opening of diplomatic relations with the Castro
regime, Kerry said, "We believe our engaging in direct diplomatic
relations with the Cuban government, being there, being able to interact
with the people of Cuba, will in fact, help the people of Cuba. It will
shed light on what is happening."

There is already plenty of light on what is happening in Cuba, thanks to
the Ladies in White and other promoters of real democracy.

What those brave groups need is constant support and frequent
reinforcement of their message.

The American opening to Cuba will be a major disappointment if it does
not lead in that direction by pressing the Cuban government to open the
road to freedom.

Source: An opening for Cuban freedom? - Post and Courier -
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150818/PC1002/150819423/1022/an-opening-for-cuban-freedom