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Obama's speech to the Cuban American National Foundation was a disappointment.
By Charles.S.Perera
Barack Obama made a faux pas in his speech to the Cuban American National Foundation, or was it ? His speech did not inspire those who expect change of attitude of the American Administration towards developing countries, if and when Barack Obama is appointed as the President of USA. According to what he said in his speech, it would be the continuation of the same American system that we had been used to under Bush, Reagan or even Kennedy.
Perhaps the speech was earmarked to please the Cuban Americans to win their vote, but what he has stated in his speech is not the whole truth. He said, "……..Throughout my entire life, there has been injustice in Cuba. Never, in my lifetime, have the people of Cuba known freedom. Never, in the lives of two generations of Cubans, have the people of Cuba known democracy. This is the terrible and tragic status quo that we have known for half a century – of elections that are anything but free or fair; of dissidents locked away in dark prison cells for the crime of speaking the truth. I won't stand for this injustice, you won't stand for this injustice, and together we will stand up for freedom in Cuba. "
This is the American view of Cuba. This is what he may have heard of from the previous American Administrations. America wants all the countries to follow their system of government, their system of democracy. America would not stand for any thing else. That is why the American administration is unpopular. If Obama does not change his attitude, his becoming the President of America will change nothing. It will be the same old wine in the same old bottle.
It is America with its commercial embargo, severely condemned by the National Assembly of the UN, and despite its resolution 56/9 of the 27th of November 2001, that has hampered Cuba's progressive development. America has thwarted the every aspect of development of Cuba, such as research on health, education and culture.
Despite the embargo imposed on Cuba by USA, and in spite of the world opinion against it, demonstrated by votes in the UN since 1992, Cuba has progressed in many fields of social welfare activities. Their Medical System is highly advanced, and Cuba generously imparts their knowledge to developing countries without any conditions attached to such aid and assistance. It is America which has violated the human rights of Cuba to exist as an independent nation.
The cause of liberty Obama says he will never ever compromise, cannot be achieved by threatening to continue the commercial embargo against Cuba, or by forcing the Cuban government to change its chosen system of governance. Cuba has the potential of development but the most cruel embargo set up by USA since 1962, and reinforced in 1992 has hindered the development of its potentials.
The Cuban Democracy Act has restrained the inflow of funds and goods to Cuba. Some of these restrictions are: "……i) the strict limitations of the transfers of foreign currencies by the families in exile, ii) the six-months ban to enter U.S. harbours of all ships that had anchored in a Cuban port, iii) sanctions against firms doing commerce with the island even though under the jurisdiction of a third state. The embargo was systematized by the Cuban Liberty and Democracy Solidarity Act ("Helms Burton Law") of March 1996, aimed to harden the "international" sanctions against Cuba. Its Title I generalizes the ban to import Cuban goods, demanding, for example, that exporters give proof that no Cuban sugar has been integrated in their products…….".
Obama says "….After eight years of the disastrous policies of George Bush, it is time to pursue direct diplomacy, with friend and foe alike, without preconditions. …" But what is this direct diplomacy Obama proposes ? Answer to that in his own words is, "….. only when we have an opportunity to advance the interests of the United States."
That is what it had always been, and even Allende's Socialist Chile was not allowed to exist for that very reason.
Obama says that his policy towards Cuba is guided by one word: Libertad. But that is the Libertad as understood by the Americans . But what is libertad understood by the people of Cuba ? If Obama wants to liberate Cuba it is not by interfering into the working of the Cuban government, or demanding the change of the system government, but by allowing Cuba to exist as a free Nation with its own political system, allowing it the right to import and export goods from or to wherever Cuba wants.
This Barack Obama, the hopeful USA President, who we expect will change the American System goes on to say , "……….I will maintain the embargo. It provides us with the leverage to present the regime with a clear choice: if you take significant steps toward democracy, beginning with the freeing of all political prisoners, we will take steps to begin normalizing relations. That's the way to bring about real change in Cuba – through strong, smart and principled diplomacy." He wants to play with the lives of men, women , and children in Cuba, and changes nothing of the existing American Administrative System.
The question of release of political prisoners, should not be made a condition to lift the embargo. To continue with the embargo is a violation of the human rights of the people of Cuba. It is violating the right of a country to exist as a sovereign state without being interfered into its internal affairs. America itself is not innocent with regard to prisoners. There is much to be said about Guantanmo detainees.
Obama does not stop with threatening Cuba, because he goes on to say, "……And we know that freedom across our hemisphere must go beyond elections. In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez is a democratically elected leader. But we also know that he does not govern democratically. He talks of the people, but his actions just serve his own power. Yet the Bush Administration's blustery condemnations and clumsy attempts to undermine Chavez have only strengthened his hand."
Barack Obama seems to want to impose American Democracy every where in the world. He should limit his proposals to speech, without converting them to action. His idea of direct diplomacy is a good idea , if he is ready to accept other sovereign states with democratically elected leaders, as they are without demanding them to change the political system to suit the American Administration.
America if it is to change and win popularity of the world nations should be more generous towards developing countries. It should extend its hand of friendship without considering the political colour of the countries, without the ulterior motive of changing the political systems. He should give back to UN its rightful place. UNO should be made the forum where any political decision affecting any member state is taken up. No country, should interfere into a member state of the UN without first consulting the UN.
These are the principles on which Barack Obama should prepare his government's policies. That would be a real change from what America had been so far.
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