• A People's Tribute to the Life of
Comandante Filiberto Ojeda Rios
• The U.S. Cannot Assassinate the Struggle for Puerto Rican Independence: We Stand with You!
• Statement from Harriet’s Daughters
• Hawaiian Statement Condemning the Assassination of Filiberto Ojeda Rios
• Hands Off Antonio Camacho Negron!
Cuba Wins Another Victory at United Nations
• End the Genocidal U.S. Blockade! Demand the U.S. Respect the World’s No Vote!
• Cuba Policy Isolates White House at UN
• Cuba’s Report to the United Nations:
The Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States of America Against Cuba
Filiberto Ojeda Rios Lives!
Independence for Puerto Rico!
A People's Tribute to the Life of Comandante Filiberto Ojeda Rios
New York City, November 18, 2005
-- Pedro Albizú Campos
"And I shall defeat you even if you kill me,
because I have a power against which you have no arms."
-- Rafael Cancel Miranda
A People's Tribute to the Life of
Comandante Filiberto Ojeda Rios
Filiberto Ojeda Rios was the Commander of the Boricua Popular Army, better known as Los Macheteros and had been living in clandestinity since 1990. On Friday September 23rd, a historic day for Puerto Rican independentists and nationalists known as El Grito de Lares, the FBI assaulted the home of the Ojeda Rios, shooting hundreds of rounds which he answered with ten rounds.
After three volleys of shots, an FBI sharpshooter apparently shot and wounded Ojeda Rios. FBI officials refused to enter the house and refused entry to supporters, family, lawyers and local government prosecutors. They allowed Ojeda Rios, 72 years old with a pacemaker for his weakened heart, to bleed to death from his wound, causing widespread indignation all over Puerto Rico.
Political figures from across the spectrum denounced the action and the secretive manner in which the FBI handled the action and the FBI has now announced what they term an "independent investigation" of the incident.
What remains to be seen is how independent this investigation will be as it is being conducted by the Justice Department.
At this time of renewed repression against the Puerto Rican Independence movement, your support is more important than ever! If you were also angered by this FBI assassination, wish to show your respect for one of the longest serving revolutionaries in this hemisphere, or simply wish to show your support for Puerto Rican self-determination, please come out and attend this tribute!
¡Filiberto Ojeda Rios Vive! ¡Independencia Para Puerto Rico!
For information: Sept. 23rd Pro-Independence Network (SPIN) (718) 601-4751 or Filibertotribute@hotmail.com
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The U.S. Cannot Assassinate the Struggle for Puerto Rican Independence
We Stand with You!
It is with great anger that we condemn the U.S. assassination of Filiberto Ojeda Rios, beloved son of the Puerto Rican people and heroic leader of the struggle for independence. His life shines as an inspiration to all those fighting for rights. His brutal death at the hands of the U.S. government, far from silencing anyone, is bringing forward greater resistance to U.S. repression against the Puerto Rican people. Thousands, millions, more Filibertos will rise.
We salute the struggle of the Puerto Rican people for their national and social rights and stand with you in the battle for independence. We join with you in the struggle to free all Puerto Rican political prisoners, remove all U.S. bases from Puerto Rico, and end colonization now!
Our best wishes for the success of your event. A red salute to Filiberto Ojeda Rios! Filiberto Presente!
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Statement from Harriet’s Daughters
In Solidarity with the People of Puerto Rico And in Denunciation of the US Government’s Flagrant and Bold Assassination of Companero Filiberto Ojeda Rios
We, the Daughters of Harriet [Tubman], wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to Companera Beatriz Rosado Barbosa, wife and loving Companera of Companero Filiberto Ojeda Rios and other members of the Ojeda Rios family along with the entire Puerto Rican Nation on the death by assassination by an FBI sniper of this great freedom fighter and Puerto Rican Revolutionary. We hold the United States government responsible for this dastardly and cowardly terrorist act and demand that those responsible be charged with murder.
We are under no illusions that the United States government in complicity with their colonial boot lickers is hell bent on silencing the leaders and activists who demand an end to the colonial rule of Puerto Rico. By attempting to silence the proponents of Independence of Puerto Rico, as Filiberto committed his own life, let it be know that it has only ignited the flames of solidarity and resistance that much stronger.
Filiberto, like our Sista Assata Shakur, both with illegal bounties of millions of dollars placed on their heads, are uncompromising revolutionaries. They openly exposed the atrocities of this government, they loudly exposed the racism of US imperialism -- the criminality of that racism on display for the entire world during Hurricane Katrina with the manner in which Black and poor people were left to die and to fend for their own lives. The bounties and assassinations are wake-up calls and a lesson that should say to us, not only are the lives of our revolutionaries expendable but so are the lives of every poor child, woman and man in this country.
Let a million flowers rise for Filiberto! Let them rise as voices and actions against fascism, let them rise as the cries did from El Grito de Lares.
Filiberto Presente – Daughters of Harriet: Nellie Hester Bailey, Joan P. Gibbs, Rosemari Mealy, Cleo Silver, Brenda Stokely and Karen Taylor.
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Hawaiian Statement Condemning the Assassination of Filiberto Ojeda Rios
We, the undersigned members and supporters of the Hawaiian Sovereignty movement extend our aloha and sympathy to the family of Filiberto Ojeda Rios and to all the people of Puerto Rico on his untimely death.
We strongly condemn the assassination of Puerto Rican pro-independence leader Filiberto Ojeda Rios by U.S. federal agents and see it as an attack on all peoples who seek self-determination and other human rights, including women, people of color, indigenous peoples, the working classes, and LGBTI communities.
Hawai`i, another nation wrongfully occupied by the United States, stands in solidarity with all Puertoriquenos fighting for liberation from U.S. domination. Viva Puerto Rico Libre! I mua a loaa ka lei o ka lanakila! Pa'lante, Siempre, Pa'lante!
In solidarity,
Signed by many groups and Individuals active In the struggle for Hawaiian Independence
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Hands Off Antonio Camacho Negron!
Following the brutal FBI assassination of well-known and beloved leader of the Puerto Rican people Filiberto Ojeda Rios, the FBI issued an arrest warrant for former Puerto Rican Political Prisoner and long-time fighter for independence Antonio Camacho Negron.
In the late 1980’s, Camacho Negron was arrested and imprisoned for being a part of the MACHETEROS, a resistance movement for Puerto Rican independence. Camacho Negron was also one of the speakers at the tribute to Filberto Ojeda Rios, leader of Los Macheteros, November 18.
The following is a statement that Camacho Negron wrote for presentation at an October 14 demonstration against the FBI in New York City.
“The allegation that the FBI has a warrant for my arrest for failure to serve 15 more years in federal prison is false. It is a total fabrication. The FBI is interested in sequestering me for information that I have gathered surrounding Filiberto’s death, and have approached my family with this lie in the hopes that they will disclose my whereabouts.
I am not “hiding.” I am, of course, being cautious, but I am using my cell phone, communicating with friends and family members, and still participating in public events. I am accessible. I feel that the FBI will make an attempt on my life and justify it with fabrications and lies in pursuit of the information I have shared with various elements of the Puerto Rican media, as well as to quell the revolutionary spirit that has been activated by Filiberto’s death.
The FBI will resort to acts of terrorism against me and others, who are calling for a full investigation of Filiberto’s death, in order to terrify and silence the people from demanding the truth. Earlier this week, there were allegations by provocateur elements in Puerto Rico who have made bold attempts to smear the name and reputation of Filiberto’s wife. I believe that the smear tactics are a strategic ploy by the federal government to ruin her credibility as a witness to events that led to her husband’s assassination.
I fully support Filiberto’s wife and family and trust the integrity and solidarity that has been instilled in each and every member by the late Puerto Rican leader. I have never been nor will I ever be a fugitive from US agencies. I have honored [Filiberto's] sentence to the fullest extent, and publicly supported his right to express political and moral views against the colonization of Puerto Rico by the United States and this has made me one of the targets for censure, incarceration, and ultimately assassination.
I am calm and collected, heartened by the reawakened spirit of the Puerto Rican people who have truly understood the social and political implications of the death of the great patriot Filiberto Ojeda Rios. Statehooders, independentistas, and the undecided all understand that Filiberto’s death was a political assassination done by the US to demoralize the Puerto Rican community, and to quell any and all dissent regarding the liberation of Puerto Rico, anti-war beliefs, and other social justice voices that seek dignity, sovereignty, and democracy.
I need the community at large to be vigilant about the conduct of law enforcement agents and help safeguard my life, and the lives of my friends and family members. The community should demand a thorough investigation of Filiberto’s death, and the process must be transparent and secure the human, civil, and social rights of Filiberto’s family, friends, and supporters. The community must demand that the law enforcement agents and their leadership be charged with the crimes that they are guilty of and that they be punished to the fullest extent of the law. I love Puerto Rico, and am proud of my people and my heritage, and I will never ever give up my right to defend Puerto Rico.
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Cuba Wins Another Victory at United Nations
End the Genocidal U.S. Blockade! Demand the U.S. Respect the World’s No Vote!
On November 8, Cuba won another victory at the United Nations when the General Assembly gave a resounding no vote to the genocidal U.S. blockade of Cuba. Of the 191 countries represented at the UN, 182 countries voted for the resolution which urged the United States to end the 44-year-old commercial, financial and economic blockade. This is a record yes vote for this resolution, which last year garnered 179 yes votes. Four countries, the United States, Israel, Marshall Islands and Pallau voted against it while Micronesia abstained. This is the 14th consecutive year the General Assembly has condemned the blockade.
The U.S. stands completely isolated in pursuing the blockade. As Bush goes around the world claiming to be the best defender of democracy, these claims are being thoroughly exposed. The UN Cuba vote is one sharp example, where the U.S. not only pursues a policy against world standards, but refuses to submit to the vote of the overwhelming majority calling for its end.
The genocidal U.S. blockade has consequences in all areas of Cuba’s social and economic life, as well as continually and unilaterally influencing third countries [countries other than Cuba and the U.S.] and many UN agencies. The World Food Program reports that the U.S. blockade continues affecting food aid to Cuba and blocks attempts by Cuba to donate sugar for projects in other countries. The UN Food and Agriculture Program reports that projects with Cuba are hampered by lack of machine parts, seeds and fertilizers for farming.
The World Health Organization and UN Population Fund report the impossibility of buying equipment, medicines and laboratory materials produced by U.S. firms if they are for Cuba. The UN Children’s Fund denounced the fact that U.S. corporations force labs to break contracts for pain relievers for Cuban children with cancer. It is the same case in attempts to acquire the most modern antibiotics and medicines for newborns, as well as anti-retroviral medicines for those with HIV-AIDS (see p. 12).
The genocidal blockade is itself a crime that Bush and every preceding administration are responsible for. The latest UN vote brings to the fore the necessity for Americans to demand that the U.S. submit to the UN votes and end its criminal activity against Cuba.
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Cuba Policy Isolates White House at UN
President Bush has had some difficult days of late. On Tuesday a new UN General Assembly vote (182-4) reminded him how isolated his administration’s Cuba policy is at the same time CIAgate, the more than 2,000 dead GIs in Iraq, and the recent failure to resurrect his free trade agenda in Argentina are fresh.
Almost every country in the world voted against the criminal four-decade long U.S. blockade and approved a resolution calling for its immediate lifting. Only Israel, Palau and the Marshall Islands joined Washington in opposition.
U.S. Ambassador John Bolton abandoned the UN General Assembly during the debate of the resolution, confirming that he does not respect the work of his counterparts at the UN.
While people from around world were listening to the solid arguments being presented by the various speakers in the explanation of their country’s votes, Bolton was in the corridors telling the press that the whole process was “irrelevant.”
But the U.S. ambassador’s attempt to belittle the UN General Assembly received a record trouncing with 182 nations opposing the blockade. During the preceding 13 years, opposition to the unilateral U.S. blockade of Cuba has been on the rise. Countries from across the political spectrum have shown they do not support the hardship several U.S. Administrations have tried to inflict on one of its closest neighbors, in disregard of international law and the UN Charter.
Everybody knows that UN General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, thanks to the lack of democracy that currently prevails within the international body. However, the vote on the Cuba issue amounts to a resounding political defeat to the superpower. It sums up the contempt of global opinion towards the U.S. aggressiveness, malice and unbridled hostility towards the Caribbean island.
Nonetheless, this administration seems particularly intent on its obsession to reinforce the economic siege of the island. Bush has taken the economic blockade to new limits that go from the sharp reduction of bilateral contacts and exchanges, to the obstruction of family ties between Cubans residing on the island and their relatives in the United States.
Another cornerstone of the Bush policy on Cuba is to distribute large sums of money to promote internal subversion on the island and the stepping up of the counterrevolutionary propaganda campaign.
But Cuba has always resisted and will continue doing so. Despite the wall of fire that the U.S. wants to keep around it, the island continues to be an alternative vis-à-vis the model of exploitation and hypocrisy coming from the North.
It is precisely that fighting spirit that produced the scene yesterday at the General Assembly. The world overwhelmingly demanded the lifting of the U.S. blockade on the island and recognized the resilience and determination of the Cuban people.
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Cuba’s Report to the United Nations
The Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States of America Against Cuba
We reprint below the introduction to the Report prepared by Cuba to inform United Nations member countries about the U.S. blockade against Cuba.
* * *
The economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba is the longest lasting and cruelest of its kind known to human history and is an essential element in the United States’ hostile and aggressive policies regarding the Cuban people. Its aim, made explicit on 6 April 1960 is the destruction of the Cuban Revolution: “through frustration and discouragement based on dissatisfaction and economic difficulties […] to withhold funds and supplies to Cuba in order to cut real income thereby causing starvation, desperation and the overthrow of the government...”
It is equally an essential component of the policy of state terrorism against Cuba that silently, systematically, cumulatively, inhumanly, ruthlessly affects the population with no regard for age, sex, race, religious belief or social position.
This policy, implemented and added to by ten U.S. administrations also amounts to an act of genocide under the provisions of paragraph (c) of article II of the Geneva Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 9 December 1948 and therefore constitutes a violation of International Law. This Convention defines this as “acts perpetrated with the intention to totally or partially destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group’, and in these cases provides for ‘the intentional subjugation of the group to conditions that result in their total or partial physical destruction.”
The blockade against Cuba is an act of economic war. There is no regulation of International Law that justifies a blockade in times of peace. Since 1909, in the London Naval Conference, as a principle of International Law defined that a “blockade is an act of war,” and based on this, its use is only possible between countries at war.
Although the total blockade on trade between Cuba and the United States was formally decreed by an Executive Order issued by President John F. Kennedy on 3 February 1962, measures that are part of the blockade were put in place just a few weeks after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution on 1 January 1959.
On 12 February 1959, the U.S. Government refused to grant a modest credit requested by Cuba to maintain the stability of the national currency. Later, other measures were applied such as the restriction of the supply of fuel to the Island by American transnational companies, the halting of industrial factories, the prohibition of exports to Cuba and the partial, and later total, suppression of the sugar quota.
By virtue of the blockade, among other restrictions, Cuba cannot export any product to the United States, or import any merchandise from this country; American tourists are prohibited from visiting; the dollar cannot be used in the country’s transactions with foreign countries. [...]
The blockade has a marked extraterritorial component. In 1992, with a view to intensifying the effects of Cuba’s loss of 85 percent of its foreign trade after the Soviet Union and the European socialist block fell apart, the United States passed the Torricelli Act, which removed Cuba’s ability to purchase medicines and food from U.S. subsidiaries in third countries which stood at US$718 million in 1991. The Torricelli Act placed tight restrictions on ships sailing to and from Cuba, thus making formal its serious extraterritorial provisions. A ship from a third country that docks in Cuban waters cannot enter a port in the United States until 6 months have passed and said country has obtained a new permission permit.
The 1996 Helms-Burton Act made the effects of the blockade worse, increased the number and scope of the provisions with an extraterritorial impact, instituted persecution of and sanctions on actual and potential foreign investors in Cuba and authorized funding for hostile, subversive and aggressive acts against the Cuban people.
From the end of 2001, and by virtue of legislation passed by U.S. Congress in 2000, as a result of strong pressure from agricultural sectors in the United States and the American people in general, Cuba began to make purchases of goods in the United States, which in 2004 amounted to 474.1 million dollars, albeit with severe restrictions and complicated procedures, to extraordinary imports of food and medicines by Cuba. Cuba has to pay in cash and in advance — with no chance of obtaining financial credit, not even private credit. The sale and transportation of the merchandise means a license has to be obtained for each operation. Cuba cannot use its merchant fleet for transporting these goods, it has to use ships from third countries, and, mostly, from the United States...
The restrictions on importing medical goods are so extensive that these are almost unfeasible. They include the exporter having to verify the use of the product or the equipment when it reaches its final destination and a ban on the sale to Cuba goods and equipment involving advanced technology.
More than 70 percent of Cubans were born and have lived under the blockade. The Cuban people defend Cuba’s right to self-determination and demand respect for its sovereign system of independence, social justice and fairness.
According to preliminary, conservative estimates, the direct economic damage to the Cuban people resulting from the blockade is over US$82 billion, an average of US$1.782 billion annually. This figure does not include the more than US$54 billion of direct damage occasioned by sabotage and terrorist acts encouraged, organized and financed in the United States nor the value of the goods not made nor the damage stemming from the onerous credit conditions imposed on Cuba.
The General Assembly’s demand that this blockade policy be ended, contained in thirteen of the resolutions passed with the virtually unanimous support of the UN’s member states has been defied by U.S. authorities, thus confirming their total contempt for the United Nations, for multilateralism and for international law.
On 30 June 2004 the measures included in the report from the self-proclaimed “Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba” to which George W. Bush had given his approval on 6 May that year, came into effect. Its 450 pages contain proposals for new actions and measures intended to intensify the blockade by stepping up actions aimed at discouraging tourism and investment in Cuba, by restricting financial flow and visits to the island and by placing even more restrictions on family remittances and exchanges in various spheres, the aim being to bring about conditions which would allow the U.S. to intervene in Cuba, thus permitting them to impose the “regime change” to which the U.S. president made reference on 20 May of that year.
The period covered by this report — the second half of 2004 and the first half of 2005 — has witnessed the implementation of those measures; this once again proves the U.S. administration’s criminal plans for the Cuban people.
Steps taken by the United States to Intensify the Blockade
8 June 2004, in compliance with President Bush’s proclamation 7757, the Coastguard service promulgated new regulations that place restrictions on pleasure craft leaving U.S. ports with the intention of entering Cuban waters. It can apply fines of US$25,000 or five years in prison or both. In addition, those who violate this provision can have their boat seized.
From the second three months of 2004, the U.S. Government, together with the federal congressmen of the Miami mafia, intensified a campaign of speculation and defamation over the origin and destination of the Cuban dollar funds, as well as pressure and threats of investigations and sanctions in order to scare all foreign banks that could have financial relations with Cuba. In the framework of this campaign, the U.S. Federal Reserve imposed a fine of 100 million dollars in May 2004 on the Swiss Bank, UBS AG, for having supposedly violated the U.S. sanctions on Cuba, Libya, Iran and Yugoslavia. The purpose of this was to prevent the deposit, exchange into other currencies or transfers through banks in third countries of the dollars that Cuba obtains legitimately by way of tourism, remittances and sales in shopping centers, with the aim of preventing Cuban importations, mainly of food, medicine and fuel, thus promoting a collapse in the economy and an extremely critical social situation. [...]
30 September 2004, the U.S. Treasury Department let it be known that, following the recent changes to the Regulation for Control of Cuban Assets, 31, CFR part 515 (the Regulations), U.S. citizens or permanent residents cannot legally buy products of Cuban origin, including tobacco and alcohol in a third country not even for their personal use abroad. The penalty for violating these Regulations can be a fine of as high as one million dollars for corporations and of US$250,000 and up to 10 years in jail for individuals. Fines of up to 65 thousand dollars can be imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department.
9 October 2004, the Under Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the State Department, Dan W. Fisk, in an unprecedented act of aggression in the history of international financial relations, announced that they were setting up a “Group For Persecution of Cuban Assets” to investigate new ways for hard currency to move into and out of Cuba and ways to stop these, giving particular mention to ‘tourism that has substituted the exportation of sugar as the main source of income of hard currency’.
In the second half of 2004, the OFAC declared the Melfi Marine Corporation S.A. and Tour Marketing Ltd to be “especially designated nationals”, and the SERCUBA company to be a “Cuban national”; this resulted in the immediate implementation of blockade measures to these companies.
In January 2005, it turned out that the OFAC had been interpreting the regulations on travel to Cuba in such a way that U.S. citizens are not permitted to take part in meetings in Cuba which are sponsored or organized by UN agencies unless they first obtain a license to do so.
22 February 2005, the OFAC reinterpreted the concept of “payment in cash and in advance” to purchases by Cuba of agricultural and medical products in the United States, saying that this means that the payment must be made before the merchandise is loaded in a U.S. port for shipping to Cuba. This measure, which represents an extra obstacle for the limited importations of food, came into effect 24 March 2005. The lack of security for the supplies, derived from this interpretation, forced Cuba, in the first four months, to use alternative food suppliers from third countries in order to ensure the purchase of 3 million dollars worth of food and agricultural products that were originally going to be imported from the United States. Such transactions fell by 26 percent between January and April of 2005 compared to the same period in 2004, according to statistics issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This contraction includes a decrease of 52% in the purchases of rice.
24 February 2005 an appeal court revoked the 29 March 2004 decision of a New York judge who had ruled that the United States, in order to comply with international treaties was obliged to recognize Cuban company CUBATABACO’s rights over the trade mark Cohíba in U.S. territory under the doctrine of famous trade marks. This new decision goes against the international regulations on the protection of brand names.
13 April 2005 The Third Circuit Appeal Court restored the guilty verdict reached against American Stefan Brodie, former president of the Purolite company, who was tried in 2002 for having conspired to violate the blockade imposed on Cuba. Brodie had been absolved by the judge of first instance, who ruled there was no direct evidence to prove his participation in the sale to Cuba of ionized resin for water purification. [...]
In April the new top executives of the Canadian company Sherritt and their families were denied entry into the United States as per Title IV of the Helms Burton Law.
Pressure, Threats, Sanctions Against Individuals, Institutions and NGOs
6 July 2004 the OFAC warned those taking part in the U.S. organization Pastors for Peace’s solidarity Caravan that anyone who traveled to Cuba without the appropriate U.S. Treasury Department license would be subject to the penalties set forth in the regulations. Pastors for the Peace is an ecumenical project of the Inter-Religious Foundation for the Community Organization, which between 1992 and 2004 has brought second-hand computers, medication, food, toys, books, etc, to Cuba as a way of giving supportive aid to the Cuban people, without a license from the U.S. Treasury Department.
On 9 November 2004, the company Xael Charters, received a visit from OFAC officials, who requested information on operations to Cuba, in the framework of the intensification of persecution measures.
12 November 2004, the president of the Cuban-American Alliance for Educational Funds (CAAEF) received a letter from the OFAC asking for a list of all the people and institutions who had made use of their travel license in the last five years.
13 November 2004, the ‘Brigada Venceremos’ issued a letter of protest in which it announced that it had received a letter from OFAC requesting information on trips organized to Cuba.
23 November 2004, Washington’s Corcoran Art gallery, following pressure from the OFAC and the State Department, cancelled a cultural evening sponsored by the Cuban Interests Section.
30 March 2005 the OFAC sent a letter to the U.S.-Cuba Labor Exchange insisting that it “cease and desist” from promoting and organizing a trip for a delegation to attend the 4th Hemispheric Meeting of Struggle Against the FTAA and the May Day celebrations in Cuba. The OFAC also demanded that it send them a detailed list, within 20 working days, with information about the members of the delegation.
In April 2004, invitations were sent to Mr. Christopher Schenk, American citizen and geologist of the U.S. Geologist Service, member of the Department of the Interior, and to Mr. Richard T. Buffler, American geophysicist of the University of Austin, Texas, to take part in the Convention of Land Sciences.
Mr. Buffler wrote back straight away to say that, despite being interested in the Convention, it would be impossible for him to attend due to other prior commitments. With regard to Mr. Schenk – who attended the Conference and Annual Exhibition of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, which took place in Cancun in November 2004, an evaluation of the predictable reserves of petrol in the deep waters to the north of Cuba – it was made known by way of an e-mail from Mr. Buffler that “when the U.S. Government found out that he had carried out an evaluation of Cuban waters, they fiercely humiliated him and told him that he could not have contact with Cuba, and they threatened to fine him if he did so.” American experts apologized for not being able to attend the event.
In April 2005, the OFAC sent a circular letter to organizations that have licenses for trips to Cuba for religious reasons, informing them that they were being investigated for alleged “abuses of religious licenses” which could lead to the suspension or revocation of their licenses and administrative fines or penalties. The missive insisted that only members of the organization in question that were involved in religious activities could travel to Cuba. The letter also made a point of telling them that donation to Cuba by religious organizations or by individuals or groups need authorization from the Department of Commerce.
In 2004, the OFAC imposed fines on 316 U.S. citizens and residents for violation of several of the blockade’s provisions. In the first quarter of 2005, 307 fines have been handed out, almost the same amount as in the all of the previous year...
Although the new restrictions on travel only began to be applied in the second half of 2004, trips by Americans to Cuba decreased by 40.5 percent, with 51 thousand 27 tourists traveling to Cuba, compared to 85 thousand 809 in 2003. The trips by Cubans resident in the United States suffered a 50.3% drop in the same period, with 57 thousand 145 visiting Cuba compared to 115 thousand 50 in the previous year.
Growing Opposition to the Blockade Within the United States
The U.S. government continues to ignore the public’s opposition to the blockade in its own country. This has been made evident by many speeches and a lot of action in Congress and in state government bodies and by well-known political and intellectual figures, non-governmental organizations and business sectors. Some of the most important of these are:
[In 2004 and 2005] the U.S. House of Representatives passed four amendments proposing the revocation of regulations concerning sending packages to Cuba, the elimination of restrictions on family visits by Cuban émigrés to the Island, the suspension of measures that impede American student programs in Cuba and cancellation of restrictions on the export of food and medicine, including those concerning access to private credit. However, as a result of pressure by Republican leaders and the president’s threat to veto, all these amendments were eliminated from the final text of the laws in which they were included. […]
From 9 – 12 January 2005 the Annual Convention of the American Farmers’ Federation (AFBF) passed a resolution asking that President George W. Bush’s administration immediately normalize trade with Cuba.
10 February, the State Senate of Alabama passed the joint resolution SRJ.26, in order to ‘demand that U.S. Congress eliminate restrictions concerning commerce, finance and trips to Cuba’.
3 March, the Representatives of the American ports of the Mexican Gulf passed a resolution in which they expressed their support of the lifting of the blockade for the sale of medicine and food to Cuba. They also requested that congress reestablish the conditions that existed with regards payment in cash and in advance before the new OFAC measures on this issue were published.
16 March 2005, The U.S. Rice Federation urged Congress to overturn the regulation concerning payments for food purchases by Cuba and to allow existing agreements to be performed as per the Reform of Sanctions Act of 2000. […]
8 June of last year the state Assembly of New York adopted without votes a legislative resolution, presented by a large group of members that called for the president of the United States to encourage exchanges between the residents of New York and Cuba. The text was initially presented by a big group of assembly members, an initiative of José Rivera, among others.
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