Viewing from February 2009

House passes bill easing Cuba travel restrictions

Campaign News | Wednesday, 25 February 2009

From the Miami HeraldThe U.S. House of Representatives passed a huge spending bill Wednesday that tweaked U.S-Cuba policy, making it easier for Cuban-Americans to get away with illegally traveling to the communist country.The bill -- which faces a rocky path in the Senate -- discontinues funding for enforcement of violations ... read more

Press Release: Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) UK tour

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 24 February 2009

Representative of world’s largest national women’s organisation available for interviews from 10 March – 5 April 2009 While Cuba celebrates 50 years of its the revolution in 2009, 2010 will mark the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC). Next month a delegation from the FMC tours ... read more

Noam Chomsky on the Cuban embargo and “democracy promotion”

Campaign News | Monday, 23 February 2009

What They Say:“After 47 years? the unilateral embargo on Cuba has failed to achieve its stated purpose of ‘bringing democracy to the Cuban people’”.Republican Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), in his introduction to a report on Cuba by his senior staffer, Carl Meacham.What They Mean:Lugar carefully says “stated purpose.” He is ... read more

'US embargo on Cuba a failure'

Campaign News | Sunday, 22 February 2009

Top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations committee says the US should re-evaluate its 'ineffective' policy of economic embargo on Cuba.In a letter accompanying a report set for release on Monday, Sen. Richard Lugar said the policy of shunning the communist nation by imposing a strict trade embargo has failed ... read more

Largest ever number of Supreme Court briefs submitted on behalf of the Miami 5

Campaign News | Friday, 20 February 2009

UK input significant in worldwide pressure urging the US Supreme Court to review the convictions of the FiveMonday 6 March 2009As part of a worldwide effort for justice for the Miami Five 129 MPs, MSPs, MEPs and other prominent political and legal figures have added their names to an appeal ... read more

More than 100 UK parliamentarians call for Miami 5 retrial

Campaign News | Friday, 20 February 2009

The case of the Miami 5 reaches a critical point this month, as they submit their appeal for a new trial to the US Supreme Court.The Cuba Solidarity Campaign, Unite the Union, UNISON, the TUC and the Trade Union Labour Organisation (TULO) launched an urgent the appeal for parliamentarians to ... read more

Minister says he would like US policy change

Campaign News | Friday, 20 February 2009

Mary Minihan writes in the Irish TimesTHE MINISTER for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, has said he would like to see a change in US policy towards Cuba.Speaking during an official visit to the island, the Minister said “an evolution in policy” would be a good thing, according to a transcript ... read more

Court acquits officials involved in terrorists release

Campaign News | Friday, 20 February 2009

A Panamanian court acquitted three former government officials that had been accused of abuse of authority in the release, five years ago, of four terrorists, including the infamous Luis Posada Carriles.According to Granma news daily, the court in Panama City ruled in favor of Arnulfo Escalona, former Minister of Government ... read more

Irish Foreign Minister begins official visit

Campaign News | Wednesday, 18 February 2009

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has begun a two-day official visit to Cuba.It is the first official visit by an Irish Government minister to Havana.Mr Martin arrives in Havana as the country continues to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution and the coming to power of Fidel ... read more

Chilean president says Fidel Castro doing well

Campaign News | Friday, 13 February 2009

By Nelson Acosta and Esteban Israel for ReutersFormer Cuban leader Fidel Castro met on Thursday with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who said he was active and in good condition, further easing recent speculation over his health.Bachelet said they chatted for 1 1/2 hours and that Castro, 82, peppered her with ... read more

Cuba condemns xenophobia at UN Human Rights Council

Campaign News | Tuesday, 3 February 2009

During the opening day of the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva, Cuba called for a stronger commitment against xenophobia and racism.Several countries from the South, including Cuba and Algeria, asked Berlin for a stronger commitment to neutralize xenophobia and racism, mistreatment of immigrants, and propaganda by ... read more

Cuba ratifies enforced disappearance convention

Campaign News | Tuesday, 3 February 2009

In what constitutes a new gesture of cooperation by Cuba with UN human rights mechanisms, the Caribbean nation ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.According to the Prensa Latina news agency, the delivery of the ratification instrument of this new treaty was made by ... read more

Cuban athletes visit UK

Campaign News | Monday, 2 February 2009

January saw the visit to London of 16 young Cuban athletes and 4 teachers from the Deportiva Giraldo Cordaba Cardin Sports College in near Havana.The athletes were hosted by Hercules Wimbledon Athletics Club, and the trip supported by the Merton branch of the NUT. The group was visiting on a ... read more