The Cuban government stated on March 18 that it has restricted the movement of U.S. diplomats on the island "in response to measures adopted...against our personnel in Washington."

The Cuban statement emphasized that Havana "goes to great lengths to comply with the norms and principles regulating diplomatic relations between states." After U.S. actions, however, it "now finds itself obliged to curtail the...movements" of U.S. representatives.

Staff of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana will now have to receive approval for travel beyond Havana province.

Before Washington imposed the restrictions on Cuban diplomats, they only needed to inform U.S. authorities of any travel plans. Cuban personnel at the United Nations, on the other hand, have always been required to receive permission to travel outside of the Manhattan area.

Washington broke diplomatic relations with Havana in 1961. Their diplomats function out of interests sections hosted by third countries.

The Cuban statement also denounced the "repeated provocations by the head of the U.S. Interest Section in Cuba.... No country has the right to turn its diplomatic representation into a...general quarters in order to...subvert constitutional order," it read.

Section head James Cason has invited "dissidents" to use his official residence to hold press conferences opposing the revolutionary government. According to U.S. officials, he has traveled 6,200 miles since his arrival last summer.

U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that Cason has "visited with Cuban people in their homes. He’s visited independent libraries. He’s visited other independent voices."

Havana has announced the arrests of dozens of individuals in connection with Cason’s "conspiratorial activities."

Boucher called on the UN Commission on Human Rights, of which Cuba is a member, to condemn the arrests "in the strongest terms." Over the years Washington has consistently pressed the commission to issue such condemnations of the revolutionary government.

At the same time, Cuban officials explain that Washington has increased funding for "independent" groups of self-professed unionists, journalists, librarians, media, and human rights associations on the island.

U.S. diplomatic staff in Havana have handed out propaganda and free shortwave radios to enable people to listen to Radio Martí. The U.S.-funded radio station in Miami broadcasts news and commentary by opponents of the Cuban revolution.

On March 3 U.S. federal prison authorities ordered five Cuban revolutionaries held in U.S. jails to be placed in solitary confinement. The Cuban statement called the action "cowardly" and "vengeful." The five Cubans were in the United States gathering information on groups who have committed violent acts against the revolution, using U.S. soil as a base. They were framed up and convicted in a U.S. court on "conspiracy" charges, including conspiracy to commit espionage.

The day following the Cuban statement six people hijacked a Cuban airliner headed from the Isle of Youth to Havana and forced the pilot to land in Key West, Florida. Cuba demanded the immediate return of the plane, its crew, passengers and the highjackers. Sixteen of the Cubans returned to Havana March 22. The six highjackers have been arrested on charges of federal air piracy. If convicted, they face a minimum of 20 years in prison.
 
 
Related articles:
Students protest denial of visas to Cubans
Five Cubans in U.S. jails remain in ‘hole’  
 
 
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