[Marxism] ''Stunned', 'bold' wives of Cuban quislings confronted at 'silent protest'...

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=535&ncid=535&e=8&u=/ap/2005
0320/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cuba_crackdown_protests


Female Castro Supporters Break Up Protest
By VANESSA ARRINGTON, Associated Press Writer
HAVANA - With shouts of "Viva Fidel," female government supporters interrupted a
weekly silent protest on Sunday by the wives of political prisoners after church
services on the second anniversary of the crackdown that put 75 activists behind
bars.
No violence was reported and nobody was injured during the standoff between two
opposing groups of women Sunday afternoon after Palm Sunday Mass at the Santa
Rita Roman Catholic Church.
But tensions ran high during the unusual, noisy confrontation, prompting curious
neighbors to leave their homes and for cars along busy Fifth Avenue to slow down
for a better look.
It was the first such confrontation since the wives began the weekly protest 
shortly
after the March 2003 government crackdown that imprisoned their husbands. Cuba
accused the dissidents of working with the United States to undermine Fidel 
Castro
(news - web sites)'s government ? a charge the activists and Washington denied.
Over the last year, the dissidents' wives, known as the "Ladies in White," have
become increasingly bold, launching several candlelight vigils and public 
protests ?
practically unheard of in communist Cuba.
Some credit their pressure with leading to last year's release of 14 of the 75
prisoners.
"We have to support the revolution," said government supporter 70-year-old Aida
Diaz, who said the counterprotest by about 100 women was organized by the
Federation of Cuban Women.
She said the silent march outside the church by about 30 prisoners' wives 
dressed
all in white "goes against the country."
"We cannot let them damage the revolution," Diaz added.
The Cuban government launched the weeklong crackdown on March 18, 2003,
rounding up the dissidents and later sentencing them to long prison terms.
While the wives demanded the release of their husbands, the protesters from the
Federation of Cuban Woman called for the release of this communist country's
"Five Heroes" ? five Cuban intelligence agents serving long terms in U.S. 
federal
prisons.
Even before the Mass, several dozen state security officers in civilian clothes 
and
carrying walkie-talkies were stationed outside the church, indicating that this 
week's
regular protest would be different.
When the prisoners' wives known left the sanctuary, the pro-Castro protesters 
were
waiting for them, some with the tiny paper red, white and blue flags commonly 
used
at government organized rallies.
The prisoners' wives looked stunned by the protesters, some carrying signs 
reading
"Viva Fidel!" ? "Long Live Fidel!" or inscribed with other slogans of the Cuban
revolution.
The government supporters marched aggressively toward the wives, blocking their
way as they tried to perform their weekly ritual outside the church.
But Alicia Rojas, the 34-year-old daughter of prisoner Jesus Manuel Rojas, said 
she
would not be deterred.
"I feel more strength and courage to defend my father who is a political 
prisoner in
this country," she said.



Bertha Soler Fernandez, whose husband is prisoner Angel Moya Acosta, agreed.
"The government feels powerless to respond to us so it sends us these people to
give a response," she said.


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