THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 17, 1994 TAG: 9409160009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Not the Cuban people but the Cuban government is America's enemy (letter, Sept. 2). Cuba is an aggressive state; its army has been in Angola, Yemen, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia, Bolivia and God knows where else.
The Cuban government was not elected by the people. Let me enlighten you as to some of the reforms initiated by Castro upon his rise to power: confiscation of all private property (I have an uncle who was in the watch-repair business and even his meager tool box was confiscated!), educational reform - children were removed from their homes on Monday mornings and returned to their parents on Friday night.
So intense was the indoctrination that even my nephew at the age of 13 informed his father (who was contemplating leaving Cuba) that he would remain in Cuba because the ``state'' would take care of him.
Children were taught to spy on their parents and inform the ``state'' of any suspicious actions at home. Castro revised many laws and legal procedures: A dear friend and classmate of mine was sentenced to 30 years in Castro's prison system for the suspicion (not conviction - there was no trial) that he was an antirevolutionary. This man was Dr. Alberto Fibla, who now resides in Miami after serving 26 years, 8 months, and 12 days in Castro's prison.
The Cuban people will revolt against Castro with or without the aid of the United States; the difference being that with the help of the U.S., many fewer Cubans (victims) will suffer and die.
Cuba's history is rich with struggle and suffering; the Cuban native Indians, the Siboney were exterminated by the Spaniards.
Cuba fought against Spain for its independence for 50 years (1848-1898). That struggle ended with the Spanish-American War, but the struggle for freedom continued. This time the struggle was with the United States, until 1934, when freedom was finally attained.
By that time I was five years old. I grew up during the democratic era, which unfortunately did not last long. On March 10, 1952, a military coup led by Batista, took over the island. Twenty-four hours later the U.S. government announced its recognition of Batista as the rightful leader of Cuba (the United States was the first nation to do this).
When U.S. support for Batista ended in 1958, the Cuban Revolution, headed by Fidel Castro, entered Havana triumphantly on Jan. 1, 1959. The revolutionaries promised to re-establish democracy. Two years later the Cuban people found they had been double-crossed: Castro declared himself a communist. Once again the fight for freedom was resumed, and it continues today.
I cannot blame President Clinton for his policy. However, my recommendation would be to increase pressure on the Cuban government through the United Nations and the Organization of American States and offer military training to the Cuban refugees. After all, the United States must abandon its Guantanamo base in the year 2002, exactly 50 years after the Cuban people's latest fight for freedom started.
LEOPOLDO E. LADAGA, M.D.
Virginia Beach, Sept. 4, 1994 by CNB