Patience wears thin on eve of July 26
- From: PL <pl.nospam@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 08:30:59 GMT
Posted on Tue, Jul. 26, 2005
CUBA
Patience wears thin on eve of July 26
Several Cuban dissidents remained in detention as the government scaled back plans for festivities commemorating the start of the revolution.
BY NANCY SAN MARTIN
nsanmartin@xxxxxxxxxx
When Cuban leader Fidel Castro takes to the microphone as expected today to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of an attack that marked the start of his revolution, many on the island will cling to words that promise relief from conditions exhausting the patience of an already exasperated population.
Human-rights activists on the island have said that ''tempers are flaring'' as the country continues to struggle with extended blackouts and a shortage of food, made worse by Hurricane Dennis.
Meanwhile, 10 of as many as 33 dissidents arrested last week spent their third day in custody Monday, opposition leaders in Havana reported. They were detained as they tried to participate in an anti-government protest in front of the French Embassy in Havana. And while the European Union joined the United States in condemning the arrests, leaders of the opposition movement on the island began plotting their next move to bring international attention to their plight.
''The detentions are completely arbitrary,'' said prominent dissident Martha Beatriz Roque, who was released from custody Saturday without charges. ``We cannot allow the government to continue to treat us this way.''
''There must be a response, not only from the opposition but from everybody,'' Roque told The Herald in a telephone interview, declining to reveal whether any new anti-government protests were planned in the coming days. However, she hinted they could be organized at a moment's notice.
''All I can say is that opposition groups all over the island are on alert,'' Roque said. ``They are waiting for the call to take to the streets. I see the strong possibility of civil unrest.''
Roque's determination to strike back comes as the government prepares to commemorate the July 26, 1953, assault led by Castro in a failed attempt to seize the Cuban army's Moncada Barracks in the eastern city of Santiago.
The event planted the seeds of a revolution that brought Castro to power in 1959. The anniversary usually is marked by big public events, but this year's planned celebration appears more subdued.
Castro is expected to give a speech, but as of late Monday, the location had not been announced. Other events were planned to take place indoors,
Several opposition leaders said the scaled-back festivities illustrate government fear that widespread discontent could escalate. Human-rights activists in Cuba have said patience is wearing thin as the island continues to struggle with blackouts that can last 12 or more hours a day, spoiling what little food there is in most refrigerators. Several anti-government incidents have been reported, and police presence has been boosted.
Besides the 10 in custody since last week, six others who tried to participate in a separate demonstration July 13 remain jailed on ''public disorder'' charges.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/12223496.htm .
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