But in the Castro Brothers' Workers Paradise, some animals are more equal than others...
In Cuba (
Via) this week,
three dozen Ladies in White were beaten and arrested for trying to attend Mass;
two dozen pro-democracy leaders were beaten and arrested for inquiring about a colleague's imprisonment; and
a dozen pastors were arrested for trying to distribute independent hurricane relief to victims in eastern Cuba.
So how does the State Department reward this surge in repression by the Castro's dictatorship?
By granting a U.S. visa to Raul Castro's grand-daughter to attend an art exhibit with her boyfriend in New York City.
That's right, according to the
Cafe Fuerte
blog, Vilma Rodríguez Castro, grand-daughter of Cuban dictator Raul
Castro, is in New York City this week attending the contemporary Latin
American art fair, PINTA 2012. She was accompanying her boyfriend,
Cuban artist Arlés del Río.
Witnesses spotted her last night wearing Chanel shoes, a Louis Vuitton
purse and a Rolex watch, as if it was the most natural thing in the
world.
Is this ignorance, irresponsibility or just policy malpractice by the State Department?
From
Amnesty International:
URGENT ACTION
Cuban Man Targeted for Government Criticism
Government critic Antonio Rodiles has been charged with “resisting
authority”. It is believed the charges may be used to punish and prevent
his peaceful criticism of Cuban government policies.
A coordinator of a civil society initiative calling on the government to
ratify international human rights treaties, Antonio Rodiles, has been
charged with “resisting authority” (resistencia). He has been placed in
pre-trial detention (prisión provisional), but no date has been set for
his trial.
Shortly after the arrest of the independent lawyer and journalist
Yaremis Flores on 7 November, Antonio Rodiles, his wife and several
other government critics went to the Department of State Security
headquarters, know as Section 21 (Sección 21) in the neighbourhood of
Marianao in Havana, to enquire after her whereabouts. Before they could
reach the building they were approached by 20 people, all plain-clothed,
as two officials from the Ministry of the Interior looked on. Antonio
Rodiles was reportedly knocked to the ground and pinned down by four
men. Several of the other activists were also manhandled and were forced
into a police vehicle and sent to various police stations around
Havana. All were released by 11 November, except Antonio Rodiles.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office (fiscalía) informed Antonio Rodiles’ wife
on 14 November that he was being charged with “resisting authority” but
a formal charge document has yet to be issued.
Antonio Rodiles is one of the coordinators of Citizen Demand for Another
Cuba (Demanda Ciudadana Por Otra Cuba), an initiative calling for Cuba
to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as
well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights, which the country signed in 2008. Amnesty International believes
the charges against him may be being used to punish and prevent his
peaceful activities as a government critic and is gathering further
information on his case and treatment.
