Caribbean & Central America - May 2005 (ISSN 1741-4458)

Bush praised Cuba's opposition for emerging from the "shadow of oppression" to attend the meeting. "We will not rest. We will keep the pressure on until the Cuban people enjoy the same freedom in Havana that they have in America," Bush said. His message could be counterproductive as it will add strength to Castro's claim that the political opposition is in the pay of the US. One of Cuba's most prominent opposition leaders, Oswaldo Payá, refused to attend the conference on the grounds that Cubans should pursue democracy without any assistance from the US and because he thought it would give Castro an excuse to crack down further on the dissident movement. The conference attendees drew up a list of demands for Castro, which included the immediate release of imprisoned dissidents, economic freedom and the return of a full multiparty democracy. 

End of preview - This article contains approximately 452 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options

• Subscribe
• Sign up for a one-time, 14-day trial