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By Marc Frank | Reuters
Cuba has demanded that the United States take down Christmas lights in front of its mission in Havana’s busy sea-side drive because they include a reference to jailed dissidents, the top U.S. diplomat in the country said on Tuesday.
The Christmas display includes the number 75, in reference to 75 pro-democracy activists imprisoned 20 months ago for long terms. There is an international campaign to free them.
Mission chief James Cason said Cuba’s Foreign Ministry summoned him on Saturday and again on Tuesday and told him to take the display down or there would be consequences.
“As part of our holiday celebrations, we also displayed a ‘75’ symbol as a reminder of those arrested for thinking and speaking independently,” Cason told a news conference.
This year’s Christmas decorations at the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana include a lit display of the number 75, seen in the frontyard of the compound on December 7, 2004. REUTERS/Claudia Daut
“The Castro regime is now threatening this diplomatic mission with retaliation.”
Cuba jailed the 75 dissidents in March 2003, charging that they were working with the United States to overthrow the communist-run government.
President Fidel Castro and other officials have repeatedly criticized Cason for holding dissident events in his residence and described the U.S. mission as a “nest of spies.”
Cason has continued to hold events for dissidents and recently asked them to place their wishes for a democratic Cuba and buried it in backyard of his residence.
“It looks like the 75 symbol might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back,” a U.S. diplomat told Reuters, saying Cuban officials had indicated they would take serious action if the lights were not taken down.
“Our position is that all our decorations are up through Christmas,” Cason said.
Washington broke off diplomatic relations with Havana and imposed sanctions on Cuba after Castro’s 1959 revolution, but the two countries maintain interests sections in each others’ capitals.
The Bush administration has stepped up support for Cuban dissidents’ efforts to undermine Castro’s government.
Amnesty International reported in January there were 84 “prisoners of conscience” in Cuba.
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Our “Diplomat” James Cason should be more respectful of the country where he lives. He is a “Diplomat”, right?
Did he put this “75” sign (oh sorry, Christmas decoration) up with or without the Bush Administration knowledge and approval?
If not, is he prepared for international consequences? My guess is that he did this on his own and that is will come down at the request of the Bush Administration.
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If Cuba put up a display at their Interests Section offices in Washington DC of an USA soldier sodomizing an Iraqi prisoner, then that would set the record straight about the most egregious human rights abuser between them.
I have a feeling that Cason did this on his own, y no creo que el Bush administration lo van a quitar. Todo esto me da risa. The arrogance and immaturity of both groups is unbelieveable.
By the way, Dana, the 75 (I mean 84) prisoners of conscience that are held in Cuba IS NOTHING compared to unjust killings, arrests and thefts that Pres. Fidel has endorsed. To compare what Fidel, the president of Cuba, has done to what a screwed up soldier has done is not only misinformed but a misrepresented analogy. Please use a better analogy, or please don’t bother. I’m sorry for being curt, but let’ try to be rational.
I do not believe for a second that Mr. Cason would do this on his own initiative. I believe they are looking for an excuse to start trouble. This is call PROVOCATION.
Here are official US Interests photos of the Christmas lights:
http://usembassy.state.gov/havana/wwwhushl.html
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