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From el diario/La Prensa

Translated and edited by Toby Mailman. "el Diario/La Prensa" is
a Spanish language newspaper published in New York City.


Cuban Oppostion Seeks UN Observer

On January 20 in Costa Rica members of the Cuban opposition
asked the Cuban government to authorize the visit of a special UN
representative to verify the human rights situation in that
country. The idea was presented by Luis Garcia, a human rights
advisor to an organizationd called "Immigration International"
[funded by the right-wing Cuban organization, the Cuban-American
National Foundation, headed by Jorge Mas Canosa] at a meeting on
Human Rights in Latin America and the Carribean which was held in
San Jose. The meeting was held in preparation for the UN World
Conference, to be held in July of this year in Vienna.

Shortly before Garcia spoke Cuban ambassador Jose Perez
Novoa had declared before some 500 delegates representing
governments and non-governmental organizations, the urgent need
for the UN to establish effective mechanisms to promote and
protect human rights.

Perez denied that the situation in his country required the
appointment of a special envoy because there are not "massive
violations" of human rights, although he admitted taht there are
isolated cases "about which clear explanations have been given."
He said the Torriccelli Law, approved by the US Congress, and
which tightens the trade embargo against Cuba, is a "massive"
violation of human rights. The law restricts freedom of trade
with the island, and, said Perez, "especially the purchase of
foodstuffs."

Garcia siad that Perez's statements "offend one's
intelligence" since in Cuba there are massive violations of
individual and social rights. "In Cuba there are no non-
governmental organizations for women, nor for human rights
workers, nor are there political parties, because everything is
controlled by the state," said Garcia.

He continued, "The hundreds of millions of dollars Castro's
government received from the former Soviet Union in loans and
economic assistance were invested in mounting the most refined
political control systme in the world."

Garcia said the UN's work in regard to human rights had a
"moral" character and therefore was not effective, and accused
the San Jose conference of having nmarginalized non-govenrental
organizations. The Cuban representative served as the Vice
President of the Meeting but the importance of this fact was
minimized by Garcia, who alleged that it was simply constituted
regional representation, and did not imply deference to the Cuban
government. (edlp 01/21/93 from AFP)


Castro, Garcia Marquez Receive Honorary Doctorates

Fidel Castro, Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and
Ecuadoran painter Oswaldo Guayasamin were given honorary
Doctorate degrees from the state run Autonomous University of
Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. During the ceremony
authorities also awarded the title to intellectual Juan Bosch,
the Dominican priest Father Vicente Rubio and the Spanish nun,
Sister Agueda Rodriguez.

Upon receiving his title Guayasamin referred briefly to the
situation in Latin America, pointing out the high level of infant
mortality and those who suffer the greatest poverty, as well as
those who are killed in the large cities. He also noted the
seriousness of the foreign debt.

Marquez and Castro sent notes thanking the University for
the distinction, excusing themselves from the ceremony. Castro
was represented by historian Eusebio Leal. In his note he
recalled the historical ties between Cuba and the Dominican
Republic, noting the struggles of Jose Marti and Maximo Gomez.
(edlp 01/21/93 from AFP, and byline Isabel Butten)


Haitains Return from Cuba

One of the survivors of a sunken ship, Celon Sullivan, said
that the catastrophe had caused over two hundred deaths and that
he was saved because during three days he floated on a piece of
wood along with seven other people until a Cuban ship rescued
them. The ship was overloaded with Haitians trying to go to
Florida. The eight survivors were among 102 Haitians returning on
January 20 from Cuba to Haiti through arrangements made with the
Red Cross and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This
makes 1,298 Haitians who have returned voluntarily to Haiti so
far, since the "air bridge" was established on January 12. (edlp
01/21/93 from AFP)


Dominican Republic To Sell Rice To Cuba and Haiti

Dominican rice producers have been granted the right by
their government to negotiate the exportation of rice to Cuba and
Haiti, as of January 25. The announcement was made by rice
producer Joaquin Crespo, President of the Santiago Rice Factories
Association. According to Crespo, producers plan to export about
one million quintales of rice to Cuba and Haiti, in hopes of
keeping factories and mills from going bankrupt, even though Cuba
and Haiti pay the lowest prices for the product. At present there
is an excess of rice in the Dominican Republic of about four
million quintales, plus approximately 1.5 million more which the
spring harvest beginning in May should produce.

Rice is produced at a cost of about 300 pesos the quintal
($24), which is considered excessive by some producers. In
addition, the majority of the supplies they need for production
are imported. As a solution to the rice growers crisis, Dr.
Joaquin Balaguer, President of the Dominican Republic agreed to
buy 300,000 quintales of rice from the upcoming harvest, at a
cost of 100 million pesos. The rice will be sold to the
population through government programs.

This information was given out by the administrator of the
Agricultural Bank, Pedro Breton, who added that President
Balaguer has also directed another $50 million pesos to the
program. (edlp 01/24/93 byline Isabel Butten)




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