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Cuba: Citizens Still Denied Internet Access; U.S. To Allow Cell Phone Shipments to Those Under Castro's Regime

by PEP | May 21, 2008 at 08:49 am

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Update: "The White House’s announcement that it will allow Cuban-Americans to send cell phones to Cuban nationals became an immediate flashpoint in South Florida, where Democrats are challenging a trio of Cuban-American House Republicans." Source: The Hill.

No one is yet sure if the Cuban regime will allow their citizens to receive the cell phones from relatives and friends in the U.S. President Raul Castro, following the path laid down by Fidel Castro, continues to restrict Cuban citizens' access to the internet.

Original story follows.

This is a monumental step for Cubanos, if their regime allows it. Thousands of Cuban emigres and their families in the U.S., especially in the Miami area, are eagerly awaiting the chance for cellphone contact with relatives.

And, the idea that Cuban people haven't been able to purchase even the simplest of goods, such as toasters, is amazing.

President Bush announced Wednesday that Americans soon will be allowed to send cell phones to Cubans - a move that he hopes will push the communist regime to increase freedom of expression for Cuban citizens.
Addressing recent changes in Cuba, Bush said, "Cubans are now allowed to purchase mobile phones, DVD players and computers and they have been told that they will be able to purchase toasters and other basic appliances in 2010."

"If the Cuban regime is serious about improving life for the Cuban people, it will take steps necessary to make these changes meaningful," Bush said at the White House as he marked Cuba's 106th anniversary of independence this week.

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PEP

at 05:22 on May 22nd, 2008

Cuba's blocking of the internet for ordinary citizens doesn't receive much attention at all, although stories on restrictions in other countries get wide coverage and activist outrage. Here's the official government postion: ""Cuba is not concerned with the individual connection of its citizens to the Internet,"

I wonder if it isn't because Fidel Castro, Raul Castro, and the myth of Che Guevera, noble freedom fighter, are such icons for leftists that they can't bear to touch this continuing assault on normal personal freedoms.

Rhonda J Mangus

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 14:27 on May 22nd, 2008

PEP, I viewed an older Chicago Tribune article (dated September 14, 2007), written by Tribune correspondent, Michael Martinez. I found the article "Cubans wonder where their web access went" noteworthy as it points to the US as a possible problem. Quoted from the article, which can be viewed here: http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y07/sep07/20e8.htm, "many problems stem from poor infrastructure created by a U.S. policy preventing Cuba from accessing undersea high-speed cables as close as 12 miles from Havana, in addition to an American trade embargo on computer software and hardware." The article also points out that Cuba and Venezula are apparently developing undersea cables to be completed in 2009.

Now, President Bush marked the 106th Anniversary of Cuba's independence and "allows" American-Cubans to send cell-phones to Cuban Nationals under the guise that "he hopes will push the communist regime to increase freedom of expression for Cuban Citizens." Interesting stuff, Pep! Very interesting!