Was it an Embarrassing Decision?

The European Union eliminated sanctions against the Raul Castro regime, but with strong conditions with regards to human rights.

However, the exiled Cuban opposition groups consider the European Union’s decision to eliminate diplomatic sanctions imposed on the Castro regime in 2003 does not correspond to the repressive reality that Cubans live and is actually in response to the Spanish government’s diplomatic work in favor of the oldest totalitarian dictatorship in the American Continent.

The opposition groups consider it embarrassing for the Rodriguez Zapatero government to lend services of this nature to the dictatorial regime of the Castro brothers, while thousand of people are assaulted, arrested and incarcerated in subhuman conditions daily and arbitrarily for expressing their ideas and demanding universally recognized rights. A government that utilizes torture and intimidation as a systematic means of maintaining its power can not be legitimized by the world’s democratic governments.

What would the Spanish Socialists, who are in power today, have thought of a democratic government in the 70’s, just before Franco’s death, when repression in Spain was intensifying, is said government had dedicated its diplomacy to diminishing diplomatic and political pressure against the Franco dictatorship?

NO CHANGE

The exiled opposition agree with the internal opposition forces that affirm that Cuba under the Raul Castro regime has made no real changes which could lead to urgent transformation political, economic and social realms which the Cuban nation needs and awaits.

The exiled opposition is thankful for the solidarity expressed by the Swedish and Czech Republic governments and others that defended the right of the Cuban people to live freely and democratically. The were able to include a series of conditions directed at the Castro regime which call for the unconditional release of political prisoners and respect to human rights on the island, as well as calling for the regime to abide by two international conventions recently signed regarding civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

COSTA RICA

Notwithstanding, Costa Rica seems to be on its way to establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba. There is no official information, only versions supplied by functionaries who are tied to foreign affairs. At TicosLand we ask ourselves, does it go against our democratic and pacifist principles to establish diplomatic relations with a totalitarian dictatorship? Well, Costa Rica broke off relations with Taiwan in order to establish relations with China. It would not be the first time our government has acted contrary to what it preaches.

Tags: Costa Rica, Cuba, Cuban Exiles, Fidel Castro, Raul Castro, ticosland