Cuba

[Richard Bos <Richard.Bos@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear All,

What the hell is going on in the US with regards to Cuba. Just about
every country in the world is protesting about the United States bullying
attitude. Even John Major has spoken out about the US government threats
to non-US businessmen trading with Cuba.

I liked Louis P's first part of a series on Cuba, and I am looking
forward to the rest of it. Maybe it will explain some of this.

CUBA SUPPORTERS DEFY GOV'T PROBE

By Dianne Mathiowetz
Buffalo, N.Y.

The Rev. Lucius Walker said outside the federal court
building in Buffalo, N.Y., July 12 that his Pastors for
Peace organization would continue to refuse to turn
documents over to a federal grand jury.

"We would never do that," Walker declared, "even if I have
to go to jail, or our organization is closed."

The federal government has issued a subpoena for a variety
of financial and internal records from the Interreligious
Foundation for Community Organization's project, Pastors for
Peace. It is convening a grand jury to look for evidence of
alleged illegal activities regarding the group's Friendship
Caravans delivering humanitarian aid to Cuba.

IFCO/Pastors for Peace calls this investigation "a
government witch hunt" aimed at intimidating groups in the
United States that oppose the 35-year-long blockade of Cuba.

Walker's comments came outside a hearing before Western
District Federal Judge Richard Arcara of Buffalo, N.Y., the
site of border crossings by Friendship caravans.

Several media outlets petitioned Judge Arcara to open the
hearing to reporters and the public in light of IFCO charges
that the government illegally wiretapped and spied on the
group.

In a peculiarly circular argument, U.S. Attorney Patrick
NeMoyer told Judge Arcara the hearing on illegal spying
should be kept closed because the government does not want
the investigation to be known. Arcara agreed to bar
reporters and the public from the sessions.

The judge's ruling to keep the hearings on the issue of
illegal wiretapping secret will be appealed.

For the past five years, Pastors for Peace has mobilized
tens of thousands of people to contribute to and participate
in the U.S.-Cuba Friendshipments that have delivered over
1,000 tons of humanitarian supplies to Cuba.

When the U.S. Treasury Department seized 400 computers
>from the most recent Friendshipment, Pastors for Peace
turned this into an international issue. Walker and four
others carried out a 94-day hunger strike demanding the
Treasury Department release the computers for use in a
medical information network for Cuban hospitals and clinics.

In reaction to this struggle, Mexico and Norway each sent
400 computers to Cuba. Finally the Treasury Department was
forced to release those it had seized.



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--
Best wishes,

Richard.



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