Vol. 74/No. 12 March 29, 2010
The caravan was organized by Alianza Martiana, a coalition of Cuban American organizations that oppose Washingtons embargo of Cuba. The event was announced on Radio Miami, a Spanish-language station operated by opponents of the embargo. For some in the caravan it was the first time they had joined a protest like this.
While restrictions on travel to Cuba by Cuban Americans were lifted in April 2009, other U.S. citizens, except for journalists, are prohibited unless they receive a permit from the U.S. Treasury Department.
As caravan participants prepared to depart, a couple dozen right-wing demonstrators showed up. They waved Cuban and American flags and yelled insults through a bullhorn, trying to provoke those demonstrating against the embargo. Instead they were rebuffed with laughter. The rightist protesters followed in their cars, which made the caravan look larger than it was.
Direct travel to the island by Cuban Americans in the United States is under attack due to a recent lawsuit by Ana Margarita Martinez. She was married to Juan Pablo Roque, a former Cuban air force pilot who came to Miami in 1992. He joined Brothers to the Rescue, a right-wing group that had been harassing Cuba, to monitor its actions. Roque returned to Cuba in 1996 a couple of days before two planes from Brothers to the Rescue were shot down after ignoring repeated warnings to stop violating Cubas airspace.
Under U.S. law, which allows suits against foreign governments for terrorist acts, Martínez won a judgment for $27 million in 2001, saying that Roque married her under false pretenses.
She is asking the courts to garnish money from eight charter companies in South Florida that pay fees to Cuba for landing rights, fuel, ground support, and other services. An estimated 20,000 passengers go to Cuba on these flights each month.
Related articles:
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Cuban 5 art shown in Oregon
Hundreds in N.Y. hear Cuban womens group leaders
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