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Easy to forget sometimes, not everyone is happy with the status quo in Cuba. Story I thought might interest some of you.
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Simon Bolivar: Liberator of Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru & Venezuela.
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Prisons.
Really sad to read that article TBH.
I remember passing one of the prisons while in Cuba, and it did not look like the kind of place you would ever want to visit in this lifetime, or the next."Keep your eyes peeled, your arse up, head down, and your ear to the gound" WHISKY77 -
Blimey thats a bit drastic.. and the thing is whether its sad or not, i doubt the government over there will submit to his demands.
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Would any government submit to those kind of demands?Comment
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Same as you, Craig. On a state bus run from Havana to Trinidad, we passed a monstrous-looking concrete prison in the middle of the Cuban countryside that put the fear of God into us.Originally posted by whisky77 View PostComment
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Good to be reminded of these things. Sadly this kind of thing is happening all over the world. Sometimes as a result of government (using the term loosely sometimes), sometimes as a result of exploitation, often to suit those of us in "civilised" society.
Not to demean your comments Eggopp and Cigar Afficionado, I think the whole terrible sadness in these situations is exactly the point that this sacrifice will have no overall effect and be only a short term news story.
The guy involved here is a journalist, so we can assume he is an educated man. Can any of us possibly imagine the sheer despair that drives someone to this extreme to gain recognition for others, while knowing that the attempt will surely end in failure.
I don't know the details of the case but do find it incredibly sad. I often think we in the better off countries lead a very easy and sheltered life, and we need to think sometimes what goes on elsewhere, often to try and benefit us.
Some sobering thoughts.
Ps I'm not some kind of activist or human rights protester, but sometimes things need to be commented on and maybe some of these aforementioned groups have some of the right ideas and we're missing them.Comment
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if government caved in to a simple hunger strikes we'd all be screwed...Comment
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Agree 100%. However I think that if someone goes to these lengths perhaps further questions should be asked regarding their cause. I also think that in some cases/regimes some of these stands have made big changes, to the benefit of all.Originally posted by tupacboy View PostComment
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Interesting comments guys, I posted this because we try to focus on the positive side to Cuba & put our money on the line & buy their prodcuts, far better way to suppor them than giving to some charity. But just a couple of weeks ago I saw a news report mention thousands of Medical students trained by Cuba free of charge, taken in from all over the Caribean, South America, even North America, from poor communities. The Students only commitment has to be they will return when qualified to those communites, to put something back. A very noble & practical method of PR & humanitarin aid. This is what made this case so surprising to me, they are striking to get medical aid if Cuba, which is the one service that is worldy reconsied to be of a very high stand so a real shame they won't give the treatment that is available to political prisioners.
I know our governemnt still shackles female prisoners as they deliver & we are far from perfect but it does kind of besmerch the PR medical student story with me. I understand no Government should give into the demands of hunger strikers (Bobby Sands ect) but at least give them the treatment they require within the prison system, I am sure that would be possible, if there was the political will for it to happen.Simon Bolivar: Liberator of Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru & Venezuela.Comment
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I think while this country and the US are still regularly caught out using "torture" systems such as waterboarding it's a case of those who live in glass houses isn't it?Comment
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hey all,
just caught up with this thread! we are all aware of the 'political situation' in cuba, some agree, some don't!!! in cuba, some look to castro as being a saviour, some a tyrant! either way, these guys are in prison for a 'political crime', which hints that they did something against castro's 'regime' (for want of a better word)!!! they should be well aware, castro has been unshaken in his views in over 50 years in power! however, from reading my history, Raul is someone you don't mess with.........
at the moment, i'm reading jon lee anderson's 'che guevara: a revolutionary life' (for about the 6th time lol)!!! they are lucky, he'd have classed them as counter revolutionaries, subjected them to a revolutionary tribunal and had them executed!!!! and by all accounts, raul would do the same!!!!
alexComment
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quick bit of research, it seems there's more to this story:
the US are fully supporting the 'dissidents', cuban officials believe they are 'mercenaries' bankrolled by the US, amnesty international say they are 'prisoners of conscience', their family's say all they want is a better future for cuba etc etc
we all need to remember that our own governments have committed similar acts in the past to protect their interests! someone mentioned bobby sands, he represented and wanted political status for the republican prisoners who were committing acts of terrorism on a daily basis, thatcher said in a famous speech, 'crime is crime, and they are convicted criminal'!!! i don't agree with either, because politics in northern ireland is a little more complex than simply choosing a side and supporting them!
the US are far less lenient on those they class political dissidents, as is the UK!!! either way, we all have our opinions on the political side cuba.........it's a nation who stood defiant against the world for 50+ years and faced off all sorts of underhanded challeges by the US!!!
alexComment
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Totally agree Senor
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Maybe I'm wrong here. But the hunger striker isn't in prison and the Cuban medical profession appears to be offering him help which he is rejecting. He's making his protest and exercising a fair degree of defiance and free will, which for the moment the Cuban Government is going along with. Sooner or later however, Cuban doctors, who I'm sure are like all doctors, sworn to the Hippocratic Oath will have to step in, otherwise he's going to make himself very ill or kill himself.If you want to, you can.
And, if you can, you must!Comment
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hey tippex,
from what i've read, there's somewhere between 75 & 200 political prisoners who are in jail for anti government activity! they belong to an outlawed political party called the "Cuban Human Rights and National Reconciliation Commission" hat wishes to undermine the castro regime and improve human right conditions for cubans!!!
this particular hunger striker, who's had no less than 20 previous attempts (!!!???), is out in sympathy because of a previous hunger striker who died in prison protesting against the cuban government! this recent guy has, at the request of raul castro, been offered asylum in madrid, which he's refused!!!! he wants a better deal and medical care for 26 political prisoners!!!!
as expected, the US has been highly critical of the situation and used this chance to attack castro and his regime again! amnesty international have also been looking at the case!
the cuban government, for whatever reason, believe that these political dissidents are being bankrolled by the US to carry out acts of subversion and sedition!
read this article, it's pretty interesting:
all in all, it's a pretty interesting case!
alexComment
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