Asia-Pacific Group Demands US End Blockade on Cuba
Nearly 400 participants from 20 countries at the Fourth Asia-Pacific Meeting in Solidarity with Cuba approved the Colombo Declaration in support of the island’s people.
The statement demands “an immediate end to the US economic, financial, and commercial blockade against Cuba."
Delegates from both North and South Korea joined those from India, Laos, Nepal, Australia and New Zealand amongst others, to analyse the achievements of Cuba's revolution in the past 50 years, and the challenges it faces for the future. A Commission on the media and mass communication identified an interesting dichotomy in the demonising approach to international relations of the capitalist countries, compared to the humanising approach of Cuba, whose medical and educational diplomacy has benefitted so many in this region
In his closing speech, S. Nagendra, who headed the organizing committee, said the solidarity event showed that Asia and Oceania, with two-thirds of the world population, support Cuba.
The Colombo Declaration also strongly rejects the unjust imprisonment of the Cuban Five in the US and demands "their immediate release." It notes that the Cubans, who gathered information on terrorist groups operating from US territory against Cuba, were convicted of “false charges” at their 2001 Miami trial.
The Canadian Peace Congress has also added its voice to those condemning the decision of the US Court. In a statement issued June 10 the Congress said that the Court ruling “is a continuation in the 21st century of US imperialism’s cold-war hostility towards the Cuban people for daring to uphold their sovereignty and their right to the economic and political system of their choice”.
The Mythical Cuban-Chinese Oil Connection
Meanwhile back in US disinformation as policy continues to be the modus operandi of the Bush regime. Vice-President Cheney recently told a meeting of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that ``oil is being drilled right now 60 miles off the coast of Florida. We're not doing it. The Chinese are in cooperation with the Cuban government”.
“Even the communists ”. Cheney contended, “ have figured out that a good answer to high prices is more supply”. It just so happens however that, as with Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and Iraqi- Al-Qaeda –9/11 links it’s just not true. And if it were true – so what? Cuba, like any other nation, has the right to develop its natural resources whether on land or as part of its exclusive economic zone.
Cheney’s out burst flags perhaps the real objectives in the reestablishment of the US fourth fleet.
