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subject: Radio Havana Mar 16.World Economy threatened by US recession
Radio Havana Cuba-16 March 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 16 March 2001
.
*PANAMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CONFIRMS REFUSAL TO EXTRADITE POSADA
CARRILES
*FIDEL CASTRO SPEAKS TO GRADUATING PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
*CUBA-MOZAMBIQUE COOPERATION COMMISSION WINDS UP HAVANA MEETING
*CUBA ACHIEVES WHO GOAL OF ERADICATING TUBERCULOSIS
*CUBANS WORKING HARD TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY IN EASTERN GUANTANAMO
*CUBAN NATIONAL BALLET TO PERFORM IN CENTRAL AMERICA
*TROVA MUSIC FESTIVAL UNDERWAY IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA
*DANIELLE MITTERAND CHALLENGES MEXICAN PRESIDENT ON CHIAPAS
*EYE WITNESS TESTIFIES ON SUMMARY EXECUTIONS OF MRTA REBELS IN PERU
*ANTI-GLOBALIZATION PROTESTS BEGIN AGAINST INTER-AMERICAN BANK IN
CHILE
*ANGOLA: UNITA FORCES CONTINUE THEIR CAMPAIGN OF TERROR
*UNICEF DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR GUATEMALAN CHILDREN
*U.S. VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ON VIEQUES
Viewpoint:
*WORLD ECONOMY THREATENED BY U.S. RECESSION
.
*PANAMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CONFIRMS REFUSAL TO EXTRADITE POSADA
CARRILES
Panama City, March 16 (RHC)--Panamanian Foreign Minister Jose Aleman
has reportedly confirmed his country's refusal to extradite to Cuba
terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, arrested last year for involvement in
an assassination plot against Cuban President Fidel Castro. The
statement comes on the heels of a similar affirmation by Panamanian
President Mireya Moscoso, who asserted that Panama would not
extradite Posada Carriles and three other terrorists because Cuba
applies the death penalty.
The Cuban Foreign Ministry responded to that affirmation reiterating
that Havana would respect Panamanian laws in this particular case,
and would not apply capital punishment. The Panamanian Foreign
Minister said Posada Carriles will be tried in Panama for what he
called "serious crimes" committed in that country.
The four terrorists are reportedly accused of possession of
explosives, crimes against collective security and criminal
association. Aleman stated that his government will officially inform
the Cuban government in the coming days.
*FIDEL CASTRO SPEAKS TO GRADUATING PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
Havana, March 16 (RHC)--Cuban President Fidel Castro says he is
confident in the island's current and future generations of teachers.
The Cuban President was speaking during a graduation ceremony of
primary school teachers on Thursday evening in Havana's Karl Marx
theater.
The 399 young people from Havana and 100 from Matanzas, had completed
their studies in the Pre-University Institute of Pedagogical
Sciences, located on the outskirts of Havana in Melena del Sur.
The Cuban president explained to the graduates that the new primary
school teacher's graduation ceremony was held on a historic date
commemorating the so-called, Protest of Baragua, made by Cuban
independence leader Antonio Maceo during the island's struggle
against Spanish colonialism.
Fidel Castro added that the graduating teachers are badly needed,
especially in Havana and he referred to shortages and limitations in
schools arising out of the island's economic crisis, known here as
the "special period." But he stressed that despite the crisis, not
one school has been closed.
The Cuban president personally presented the classes' 13 most
outstanding students with their diplomas.
*CUBA-MOZAMBIQUE COOPERATION COMMISSION WINDS UP HAVANA MEETING
Havana, March 16 (RHC)--The Cuba-Mozambique Joint Commission for
Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation wound up on Friday in
Havana after three days of discussions on bilateral issues.
The Commission is headed by Mozambique's Secretary of State for
Foreign Business and Cooperation, Hipolito Pereira Zozimo Patricio
and by Cuban deputy Minister for Foreign Investment and Economic
Cooperation, Noemi Benitez.
Cuba and Mozambique established diplomatic relations in 1975 and
have cooperated in the fields of health, education, culture,
fishing, agriculture, sports and trade.
*CUBA ACHIEVES WHO GOAL OF ERADICATING TUBERCULOSIS
Havana, March 16 (RHC)--As International Day against
Tuberculosis approaches, Cuba is successfully controlling and
treating the disease that kills three million people each year around
the world.
On Friday the Cuban newspaper Granma, published an article announcing
that the island has been applying the World Health
Organization's anti-tuberculosis program since 1971 to eradicate the
disease. The program is carried out by the island's family doctors
using an out-patient system and free medicine.
Cuba registers 10 tuberculosis cases per 100,000 inhabitants a year,
far below the figure of 25 established by the World Health
Organization.
*CUBANS WORKING HARD TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY IN EASTERN GUANTANAMO
Guantanamo, March 16 (RHC)--Agricultural workers, forest technicians
and environmental specialists are working hard to improve natural
areas of important ecological value in eastern Guantanamo province.
The plan includes reconstruction of forests, maintenance of
plantations, and protection of wild fauna in addition to erosion
control and the natural regeneration of vegetation.
The majority of the environmental work is being done in the Alejandro
de Humboldt National Park, which contains the region's main
biodiversity and includes over half of the Cuchillas del Toa area,
the largest of the island's six UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.
Although most of the financing to improve the region has come from
the Cuban government, support is also forthcoming from UNESCO and
European non-governmental organizations, mostly from Germany.
*CUBAN NATIONAL BALLET TO PERFORM IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Havana, March 16 (RHC)--Cuba's National Ballet, directed by prima
ballerina Alicia Alonso, will perform in Costa Rica next week.
The Cuban ballet troupe, one of the largest dance companies in the
world, with 50 dancers, will perform in various Central American
countries.
Director Alicia Alonso, founder of the Cuban Ballet School, made her
debut in Havana October 29th, 1931 and danced for the last time in
Italy on November 28th 1995.
Last October, Alicia Alonso received the Jose Marti Award, the
country's highest distinction.
*TROVA MUSIC FESTIVAL UNDERWAY IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA
Santiago de Cuba, March 16 (RHC)--Santiago de Cuba's "Trova" music
festival got underway on Thursday in that eastern city with the
participation of musicians from Mexico, Spain, Japan, France and
Australia.
The event includes the Sacco Cultural project from Mexico and
Japanese groups like Sones de Oriente and Quinteto Palmas.
The Trova Festival organizing committee has announced that renowned
Cuban musicians Eliades Ochoa, a member of the Buena Vista Social
Club, will gave a special performance.
*DANIELLE MITTERAND CHALLENGES MEXICAN PRESIDENT ON CHIAPAS
Mexico City, March 16 (RHC)--Former French First Lady and human
rights activist Danielle Mitterand has called on Mexican President
Vicente Fox to contribute to peace in Chiapas with actions, and not
just words. At a press conference in Mexico City, Mitterand said
Fox's words inspire confidence, but that those words must be combined
with actions in order to preserve that confidence.
The leader of the humanitarian organization France Liberte said
the Zapatista leadership has offered conditions for peace, asking
what condition could outstrip having marched to Mexico City unarmed.
Mitterand said the Mexican government should comply with the
Zapatista demand to dismantle seven military bases in Chiapas, noting
that in 1994, before the indigenous uprising, there were 15 military
bases in that southern-most state compared to 250 today. She said
seven is not asking too much.
She rejected widespread charges that Zapatista rebel commander Marcos
has assumed messianic postures, saying that his suspicions are well-
founded taking into account how many Mexican governments have
deceived the indigenous population. Mitterand also defended the
Zapatista demand to address the full floor of the Mexican Congress,
noting that many Mexican legislators are not well-versed in the issue
of indigenous rights, autonomy and culture.
Coinciding with Mitterand's press conference, Marcos asserted that
the Mexican Congress looks down on the indigenous population. In a
telephone interview with a radio station in Uruguay, the rebel
commander said Mexican legislators don't want to receive the
Zapatistas because to do so would constitute for them a humiliation.
*EYE WITNESS TESTIFIES ON SUMMARY EXECUTIONS OF MRTA REBELS IN PERU
Lima, March 16 (RHC)--Another eye witness has further implicated
former President Alberto Fujimori's administration in the 1997
summary executions of leftist rebels. Maximo Rivera, former anti-
terrorist police chief and one of the hostages in the Japanese
embassy stormed by members of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement,
has come forward with testimony after having initially remained
silent.
Rivera said that at least four of the 14 rebels were executed after
they surrendered, and that the Peruvian military also killed several
who were wounded. He mentioned two specific cases of rebels who he
saw throw down their weapons shouting that they were surrendering.
Rivera's testimony now joins that of Japanese diplomat Hidetaka
Ogura, another hostage in Tokyo's embassy in the Peruvian capital,
Lima. Ogura recently said that he wasn't the only hostage who saw
rebels surrender. The Peruvian government's official report at the
time claimed that all 14 rebels died in armed confrontations.
Judicial authorities in Peru have dug up most of the rebels' bodies
and are currently submitting them to forensic examinations.
*ANTI-GLOBALIZATION PROTESTS BEGIN AGAINST INTER-AMERICAN BANK IN
CHILE
Santiago de Chile, March 16 (RHC)--Anti-free market globalization
protesters have begun to take to the streets of the Chilean capital,
Santiago, to protest the upcoming 42nd Annual Assembly of Inter-
American Development Bank Governors. Close to 25 people were arrested
Thursday, including two who allegedly threw a smoke bomb into a
McDonald's fast food restaurant.
Chilean police are on alert as numerous foreign organizations
and individuals are expected to converge on the city. An Argentinean
was among those arrested Thursday, while several people from Spain
and Belgium also participated in the protest. The Inter-American
Development Bank will officially begin its gathering next Monday,
with some 6000 invited representatives from nearly 46 countries.
But protests will continue this weekend under the slogan "capitalism
kills, kill capitalism - their wealth is our misery." Among diverse
activities, organizers of the protest will hold this weekend what
they're calling an anti-capitalist culture fair.
*ANGOLA: UNITA FORCES CONTINUE THEIR CAMPAIGN OF TERROR
Luanda, March 16 (RHC)--News reports from Angola reveal that UNITA
forces, under the leadership of Jonas Savimbi, continue their
campaign of terror. In the southern province of Benguela, UNITA
terrorists are setting up ambushes and trying to block roads leading
from areas formerly under their control.
The Angolan government announced on Wednesday that rural residents
are fleeing from UNITA attacks. Luanda reports that rebels are
resorting to intimidation and assassinations of those trying to
escape to more secure areas. UNITA forces are also targeting
deserters from their ranks who have decided to take advantage of
offers of amnesty. Rebels who put down their weapons and wish to
reincorporate themselves into society are granted amnesty through
special legislation. In the central province of Huambo alone, more
than 300 former UNITA troops have turned themselves over
to authorities in recent days.
According to military reports, Angolan troops are taking an
offensive against remaining terrorist bands in remote areas of the
African country.
*UNICEF DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR GUATEMALAN CHILDREN
Berlin, March 16 (RHC)--The United Nations Children's Fund together
with Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Guatemalan indigenous activist
Rigoberta Menchu are demanding justice for the victims of Guatemala's
long civil war. Representatives of the UN agency and the 1992 Nobel
laureate presented a new report in Berlin entitled "Guatemala: the
War and the Children."
Rigoberta Menchu told journalists that the UNICEF report shows that
of the more than 200,000 people killed in Guatemala during the
conflict, 20 percent were children. She said the newly released
report also documents the fact that 93 percent of the crimes and
human rights violations committed were carried out by the military or
paramilitary death squads connected to the Guatemalan government,
while only three percent could be attributed to rebel forces.
According to the UNICEF report, the Guatemalan government
systematically used rape and sexual abuse as instruments of war
against women and children. More than one-third of all rape victims
in Guatemalan during what became known as "the dirty war" were under
17 years of age, while at least 35 percent were children who had not
even reached the age of eleven.
*U.S. VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ON VIEQUES
San Juan, March 16 (RHC)--The United States must answer to the UN
Human Rights Commission regarding their crimes against the people of
Vieques. According to a report issued in San Juan, the Puerto Rican
capital, a delegation from the Caribbean island is preparing to
appear before the Geneva-based Commission to denounce the U.S. Navy's
use of depleted uranium in military exercises on Vieques.
The Puerto Rican delegation is made up of lawyers, religious leaders
and human rights activists. A spokesperson for the group, Fermin
Arraiza, told reporters that they plan to request a special
representative from the United Nations to investigate what they said
was "the massive violation of human rights by the U.S. Navy over the
past six decades."
Arraiza, an attorney specializing in the area of international law,
stated that the delegation hopes to get the attention of the
international community and particularly the European Union regarding
the situation of some 10,000 people who live on the island of
Vieques. He added that U.S. military exercises on Vieques are in
violation of numerous international treaties. And, more importantly,
continued target practice on the Puerto Rican island municipality
constitutes a violation of human rights and the right to self-
determination.
The Puerto Rican delegation that will soon travel to Geneva to attend
the upcoming session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission
affirmed that the vast majority of the people of Vieques want an
immediate end to the military use of their island.
Viewpoint:
*WORLD ECONOMY THREATENED BY U.S. RECESSION
If the U.S. economy fails to recuperate, or at least to grow modestly
over the next few months, the entire world could be facing a
devastating economic crisis. The Stock Market has demonstrated signs
of progressive weakness and it is feared that that tendency will
increase over the coming weeks. It is still too soon to predict a
sharp drop in stock values, but economists and businesses are closely
watching the situation.
All the countries of the region have reason to be concerned. Take
Argentina for example. If we examine national statistics, we see why.
In the provinces of Formosa, Chaco and Corrientes, more than 20
percent of the population is living below the poverty line. According
to the World Bank, more than eight percent of Argentineans are
indigent, although other studios reveal a higher rate. Of those
nearly four million poor, 40 percent are economically active and the
level of so-called "informal" work stands at 80 percent. Such
a critical situation leaves little room for hope of a speedy
recovery.
If has been announced that some 3.5 million Argentines live in
extreme poverty and 740,000 households live below the poverty line.
If "investor confidence" is not re-established, the situation will
continue to deteriorate.
Cuba is possibly the country most prepared to face what could be
coming, though it too will be affected. Cuba is not a member of any
of the international economic organizations, but we live in the same
world economy as everyone else and this means we will suffer as well.
We can only hope that the situation remains stable.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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rhc-eng-30521 2001-Mar-17 01:54:06 " JC
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