May 23, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10,1423

HAVANA: Dissident organizations in Cuba say they do not want the financial aid offered by United States President George W. Bush, who at the same time ruled out an easing of the embargo imposed on this socialist island nation four decades ago.

“We see any aid coming from governments, and especially the US government, which has terrible relations with Cuba, as unacceptable,” said the president of the Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, Elizardo Sanchez.

Economic backing like that offered by Bush would only provide fuel for the Cuban government’s argument that Cuba’s illegal internal opposition groups are “on Washington’s payroll,” said Sanchez.

A similar position was taken by Vladimiro Roca, leader of the now dismantled “Group of Four” activists, who was released from prison two weeks ago, just two months before the end of a five- year sentence he was serving on “sedition” charges.

Roca said any aid should come from human rights or other non- governmental organizations, and never from the US government. “On that point, we disagree with Bush’s speech,” he said.

The US president launched his “initiative for a new Cuba” in a White House ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of Cuba’s independence from Spanish rule and US occupation.

To do that, Washington plans to provide direct assistance to church groups and non-governmental organizations “that serve the Cuban people,” which could be used for humanitarian or business purposes.

The offer includes scholarships for Cuban students and professionals “who are trying to build independent organizations in Cuba,” as well as for the family members of political prisoners.

Bush conditioned the lifting of the commercial and economic embargo on a series of reforms in Cuba, including the holding of elections in which the opposition would be allowed to participate, and which would be monitored by foreign observers.

Free and open trade will only be possible when Cuba has a “fully democratic” government which respects the human rights of all citizens, said the US president.

Dissidents interviewed by the press concurred with Bush’s references to the human rights question, and praised his mention of the Varela Project, a petition drive that in accordance with the Cuban constitution collected 11,000 signatures calling for a referendum on political and economic freedoms.

Meanwhile, the Moderate Reflection Panel issued a communique criticizing Washington’s “increasingly visible” attempt to isolate the Cuban government by stiffening the economic blockade.—Dawn/The InterPress News Service.