acer
pee Defendents Get Tough
PRIVATE EYE in Crime. p.5
‘Amanda Dear Diary: Beware the
Packwood Witch Hunt. p.o
Da Italian Deja vu Again
and Agoin Pe p.21
Utah’s Independent Newspaper + November 10, 1993 + Vol. 10 No. 23 - Free
EF IDE-L.18+ Private Eye Weekly * Novenber 10,1993
Story and Photos by Tom Walsh
tubans grandly call him Ef Central Commiuee of the Communist stata swallows iste plans, Casto nationalized uilites,
Commandanie, ot simply EL Party. T's dificult wo imagine that ehe man refineries, and sugar plantations, much of
“One of the true warrior- "I hope, forthe sakeof the Cuban poo- before ws altempled his firs revolution i owned by capitalists frm the US.
philosopher kings ofthe 20c) pl, tht this ‘special period of economic tack in 1953, Tha uy wasn't sucessful. Castro gave land back wth peasants
cenuny sds rent ome, Te famous arishps will end soon," say 0 Casto SO of his followers were execu and he He built hospitals and pubic shoo just
feard 1s longer, The black hoenimmed ase reaches to shake my hand. feu on was jailed. Even from prison, he stuck w as he had promised
lasts and he signatce cigar te goe, the red pcs that spot Casuo'sforcheal his revolutionary principles. He told Large U.S. corporations were
‘Now. his hai is gray and his pale skin has _ jst above his eyebrows. Citas e had only “te hope of bread for promised partial payment for holdings,
sparked whisper of alh problems ‘Casto hear the wanslaion and nods, he hungry and justice for the forgouen.” but they demanded market value. That
But Fidel Castro commands ‘Syarked an economic blockade by
Cuba, this island country once the United States that has isolated
considered a step-child of the ‘Cuba ever since
Soviet Union and now one ofthe CCasiro has survived more than
‘world’s lst bastion of socialism, 8 dozen assassination plots
Even his titles are impressive: ‘repulsed CIA invasion atthe Bay
President ofthe Councils of State; 2 of Pigs; cased a missle ers ta
Commander in Chiel of the put the world of ihe brink or
Revolutionary Armed Fores; and ‘nuclear amiilatio: and created
First Secrelary of the Communist , Maraist-Leninist society only %
ary The tle his people give him miles fom the US.
is even more telling: Leader or But now, he's really in wouble
Lite
Forall of is ies, forall this ing 80 feet from Fide
power, Casrois facing his biggest CCasiro daring a speech
Fight of al, He led the victorious . it’ easy to see the charo
Revolution back in 1989, and in that has captivated anv
the 3M year sinc, Casto as been motivated fas masas. “Lapoloyie
‘struggling to build is communis: for not speaking 10 you i
tie utopia. His enduring dream of . English,” he says,“ haven't prac
wulding hat opi, with the bene tice in years” His implication |
fis tall Cuban, i turing into a ‘lear: Government officials fror
nightmare of food shoriages and his neighboring country aren
iscontet. As the reception line courting his favor.
_rows shone, El seems to loom He compliments our group {
larger. He stands taller than his : risking legal problems 10 come t
aides and the interpreter who Cuba. Fist he apologizes, then F
Sands like a constant shadow at : ‘ompliments, then he condemn
his shoulder. Today, as everyday, sons of les have been su
CCasro wears a green uniform, the ‘shout Cuba in the United State
same color of uniform that be has - for 30 years," Caso says. “The
‘wor since before the revolution in ood wo fabricate ies 0 justify t
1939, This particular version is for blockade.”
fool ea cicesrove simple ved enignia contin, “It must pain you to kaow that Three years Inter, Casto started 2 Then the Lawyer builds his cass“
stains the epaulets on his shoulders. Sour people are suffering and ‘he revolu- guerilla war that not only proved to be in Cuba have been geting rid of insti
Aone in jeopardy" Casto listens to the more successful, but changed history and and inequality. We have eradicated the
I have been in Casio's covniry for first words of the trnsation before he Cuba's relations withthe United Sites, through the revolution, and it has tak
six days, traveling witha group of reaches forthe next hand ‘To the suprise of the watching world, year.”
Tao aher Americans. Simply by "The 66-year-old Castro works the Casio's band of 80 revolutionaries grew Castro's voice increases in volum
Spending American dlrs in Cabs, room withthe charm and vigor of a 10 3,000 in thre years. By 1959, his and he leans foward in his chat. Hei
wwe have beenheaking ur om country's worké-
tlism and foe emerprss?™ 1 ask. Castro
treating a red patch, A nervous habit ofa
‘wered man
racks have replaced buses, oxen
have replaced tacirs and bey
cles have replaced cars, The
alloument of gasoline for work
es has dropped to five-gallons-2-momh
‘Same months the allotment drops to 20
(On holiday weekend, the mest common
sighs on the roads lading out of Havana
are straining muscles and sweat as men
peal single-gear, Heavy Chinese bikes
“The revolution is a constant struggle
and it is a work of the spirit.”
- Fidel Castro
[November 10,1999 Pivate Eye Weekly + 9
uphill, Often, wormen ride on the back of
the bicycle and a child may be on the
ros bar
Workers routinely rise at dawn to
pedal to jobs up to 60 kilometers away,
‘Another common sight are clusters of
‘people by the roodsce who just stand and
stare. They wait for buses that may, oF
‘may not, rive. Breakdowns are frequent
and spare pats ae, When buses do rn in
Havana, they are dangerously overloaded
with passengers hanging o doorways,
Fidel Castro has proclaimed this an
indefinite “special period” of economic
hardships for his people. “The women are
the real ees of this crisis.” said one
woman who proudly serves a visitor 19
her home a weak cup of sugary coffee
‘Carmen isa clerical worker in her
cary foes. Aftee completing a 10-hour
‘workday, se wait up 1 an hour fora bus
Fide home. Her husband has the bike
Often she'll arrive home to a “rolling
blackout” a four-hour period without
electricity. She already had endured
blackout ia the morning. Her motherin
Jaw lives with her along with two chil-
Aron, She keeps house, But has no power
tnd very lie food 1 serve, “How would
‘women in North America handle situa
‘on like this?" Carmen asks.
To survive the oppressive heat, she
scapes o her porch. But she can't escape
her woris abou the Future She longs foe
shampoo and cosmetics. She and her hus-
band share a hal-bar of soap for two
weeks. "We can only wash parts of our
sves” she says F
Inside, pesting pain mars an otherwise
Lidy home. Painting their home is out of
the question, “Those kind of materials go
to the hospitals and tourist hoels fest,”
(Carmen ays
‘She is envious of a neighbor who
charges a car batery during the day when
the electricity ison. Later, the neighbor
uses Uansistrs to ransform the power
imo electricity for use during blackous.
His TV and a lonely ight bulb are the
‘only beacon of ight inthe neighborhood
that nigh
‘Carmen's idea of a eat i to cook an
agin the moming and eat it cold with a
single piece of sweetpotato bread. Her
Family receives monthly rations of four
Pounds of rice and ahalf-pound of beans10 Private Eye Weekly + November 10, 1993
Children sometimes reecive an ational
allounent of powderot milk, sometimes
they don't
‘Carmen displays meat tat is made-up
of bee pats and soy. At least that’s what
‘She thinks it a se of “special period”
hhamburger helper. Her husband doesn’t
‘seem to mind the meat intr. "I Jost pa
‘Tot of hot pepper sauce on it and it's not
too bad when you're hungry,” he says
“But my wife—wel, hha”
‘Carmen says its the shoes boredom of
the dit that esting er revolutionary
patience. That's when she heads for El
Mereado Negro or Black Market.
Inside the Hotel Inglatera in the old
section of Havana, or Habana Viel, for-
‘ign tourist sit inde bar beneath bea
{ul stained glass windows. They sip Cubs
Libres in this Cuban version of Rick's
Gate American, They watch an old Cuban
‘man had-oll expensive cigars that se
for 90 Ameticandollars-t-box. Just 10
for vee stops out of the air-conditioned
Tobby. they're besieged by ilegal free
marketcers who sell the same cigars at
S30.%-box
“The Black Market i alive just about
anywhere in Havana, bu items inthe
‘Sl side steets of Old Havana. Lined
‘with small shops, bars, and an occasional
‘government store, the sitet is too narrow
for ears. Twenty Cubans wait in lineata
ration sore, but there's no waiting onthe
Black Market
‘One short enuepeencar approaches me
with box af pills labeled PPO. He asks
‘FT want wo buy them for S10. Task what
they are for, He fires back: “What's
‘wrong with you?” W's a kind of “'l sup-
ply what you demand, after you tell me
What your demand is” marketing
approach say don't have any pains
‘After sizing. me up, he changes his
sales piteh. Drawing his hand it a fs,
te drop it below his belt. The pills are
also gor for sexual impotsnee, be ays
“If you ask, you will find,” another
seller ells me. Foreigners simply walk
oven the set and approaches are mae.
“Ly to capture the dollars here
‘ecause I earn more selling necklaces
than Ido a my work,” says one man, who
works as a security guard at a cement
plant. He says he doesn't worry about
being caught “I'm not afraid, i is wide
open.”
Most Cubans rely on black market
neworks, called el bolsa, or the
‘xchange, Some Cubans esimate that up
to a thin ofall food moves through these
networks. Chains of supply may start at
‘work, then spread through a neighbor
hood, to fiends and families. Most black
market merchandise is supposed 10 be
fatoned at government stores, but some:
how ends up going atthe back door.
‘Carmen is curently looking fora 82
chicken for Sunday dinner, which she is
Expecting to falloff delivery tuck, she
says with a wink, Without dollars,
Carmen would be forced to pay most of
he monthly wages of 120 pesos forthe
chicken if she bought i legally. Her son
has some bars of Mexican soap that he
tought for 25 cens and he hopes tose
for Starbar. “It may be wrong,” Carmen
sys, “but he dees steal.” Hunger has
“These AIDS patients are tod fo stay in a sanitarium. sit draconien
practices, of just good health care?
‘change the ouook of many law-aiding
Cubans. Both her children look thin, but
ca
Hees
Sere
Ares
ceeamee
pias
ae
Pa orcs
osesitraie
sone
see
avana was the playground of
the Western world in the "405
"Two young girls walk up to our able
and ask our Coban frend if they can join
1s, Lourdes’ delicate features are covered
by layers of makeup that appear wo be
misapplied, H's understandable, given the
fact hat she is just 15 years ol Her oder
fiend, a more mature 17-year-old,
smokes a cigareue tough thickly pint
cd ips.
‘When they onder rum sight up the
waiter doesn't blink. We start asking
(questions, trying wo determine the girls
‘Objective. The pai tell me whey jus want
{o nave fan, When Iie deus we ate
‘Americans, Lourdes
looks alarmed. “My
grandmother tod us
ters Aabeot a
crete wonea — “The political to say avay from
Susie the hotels and i your shea.
Clive requemea by POHECe are ONE iy Catan rent,
hmemswes of the few Mary ie
SER ee aie los
announced 1wo goals: work well they could be just
to sop te sarin ‘ Yoong sits Wishing
and mistreatment of in Cuba to spend time with
Mi people, and 10 fr esata ie
wearers dara. Mowadays.” — rope ot geung new
tion, He began hs Clotes ort eat»
clan canrin ty —Blizardo Sanchez, Te yracro ae
eaeeeeere ge Cuban dissident. onging wound te
Hilton Hotel. The
tallest and most luxurious of the
‘American hotels, the Hilton tecame
‘Casto’s headquarters. He even gave the
place new name: The Havana Lite.
“Thiny-four yeas later, the hotel has
been liberated and spruced up by a
Spanish company in this new age of joint
entire. Th owners have refurbished the
top-loor nightclub and einwoduced salsa
ands to ait tourists with the music's
pulsating bea
lobby oF promenad:
ing down the seaside walk called the
‘Malecon. They also hang atthe beaches
like sharks out of water nd approach any
foreign looking man witha proposition,
"A majority of the Cubans living in
Havana, who readily tlk 10 reponters on
the sets, say it's apparent the revolution
ison the verge of an economic and mor
bankruptey. Communist Party and
National Assombiy leaders ae staring to
publicly acknowiede that 1093 may not
be heen ofthe “spoil period or even
its worst year, Interestingly, Castro i 0
toting From both sides (or liberalizing
the economy. Hard-tine Marxists and
some Fidelistas (sue believers in Fidel)
fe upset the changes in the revolution.
‘ary course that they grew up following,
’An enginese who & a paty-member
‘and a dedicated participant in te revo
tion, says Casteo beter stand by the
“Socialism of Death” slogan plastered
around Cuba, “I didn’t work my entre
Tite for nothing, 10 bow down wo the vile
olla,” he says. So, why not work within
the paity say the revolutionary course?
“ou don't understand how sensitive
‘things ae now.”
"There Rave Been rumors tat the mi
tary is on alert stamp out any uprising
'A Cutan pilot who defected 10 the US.
Tast month says the military has been
vwamed to prepare for rows. Opthmalogist
De. Othon Gomer Ruiz calls it American
propaganda, The silver-haired gentleman
ould have left for Miami wih the ruling
tiie in 1959, bute stayed behind wo eat
the companeros, or comrades of the
cause, He says these reports of the mil
tary on-standby and rumors of civilian
hostility are ridiculous. “The police have
been given the authority to respond if
‘tacked, But before that happens you wil
See the citizens respond toa probiem, The
people will stand in solidarity and when
they see something wrong, they wil take
action to prevent i. In this country ci
“ens band together and auack the esi
tale"The “linens” the doctor was refer
fing to are “rapid-action response
brigades,” made up of revolutionary
zealos and undercover political police.
“This gives the impression that a repres-
sive goverment i aniavolved, according
tohaman rights crs.
The following day, on Oct. 12, a
funeral procession in the town of Regla
‘grew 19 inclade several hundred people
Silendy protesting the death of @ young
man who had Been about to escape from
Cubs. The teenager and some friends
were eaught hauling a oat 10a harbor
‘with a acter, Repos indicate the group
tras ordered to sop by soldiers and the
young man was shot while tying to le.
2 smal ot broke out during the feral
when a “brigade” came to defend the rey-
ution. News reports indicate shouts and
chants escalated into bottle and stone
throwing as the police stood by and
‘watched. Fourteen people went to the
hospital.
‘One ofthe heroes of this phase of the
revolution sis at his manual typewriter
and displays a book he's working on. He
hopes to sl two pay for de rent o house
himself, his wile and two children
Elizardo Sanchez used to tech Marxist
philosophy at Havana University. That
twas before he went to prison.
“The crime wat ‘pinion problems
was a talking offense.” For speaking out
aboot the nec for democratic eform and
Teading a group he called the Cuban
Commission on Human Rights, Sanchez
ths spent 8 ofthe lst 12 years im prison,
He claims he as nt od to form a polit
ical panty nor called for the ouster of
Caso, "But I would like 1 free elecsions where anyone can run fr offi," he
says.
For this, he was subjected 0 "repui
tion” by’ what he calls the “brigades of
fast answer.” He and 20 ether dissidenis,
swrers, and political organiers Kad Unit
homes surounded by the organized mabs
‘on numerous occasions, "The police
dressed as civilians, tell the thers 'm a
‘momber of the CIA of 4 teerorist and
ow siones at he house, Then they put
‘my door down and invade the house,
repudiating me- Hours later, tbe police in
uniform appear and take me o jal, saying
“someone has pay fortis disturbance.
This is how our Gestapo works. They
think he people can't see tvough this.”
‘Sanchez didn’t see much when he was
thrown ino prison. “I vas psjchologcal-
ly torued in Cuan prison cells. 1 con
sisted of being let in dark isolation for
long pesid of ime in very poor hygiene
conditions. I had blackouts, and T stl,
have them.” Sanchez was not let out of
his cell for five months according to
human sights monitors.
‘The 99 isolation cells in the
CCombinado del Este Prison are called the
“rectangles of death” by those unfortunate
enough to have experienced them, An
‘America’s Watch human righs eepresen
tative, who toured the prison years ago,
say Ls pitch lack inside Ue small cells.
“Mary Jane Camejo recalls, “There's slit
large enought ita small pate through 1
could ony se the whites of eyes. We've
had report of political prisoners having
food and water rations Cu, and beatings
We fear it might amount to rue. One
political prisoner was chained at the
‘ankle
‘Sancher says there are several thou
‘sand political prisoners in Cuba
“America's Watch says atleast several
hundred. The Cuban government says
conly three hundred and Amnesty
Tmiemauoral agrees. Who to believe? NO
fone really knows because the
International Red Cross was denied
access t the prisons starting in 1980. In
the past three years, Cuban authorities
have arrested more than 20 human righis
‘monitors and political righ adv. All
hhave been denied a job in Cuba
‘America's Watch also says more and
‘more Cuban who dissent are beng selec:
tively prosecuted on common exitinal
charges. Some dissidents are put into
‘mental hospitals for "alt thinking”
‘As we speak, Sanchez says politi
olla arepSabty aching ai noe
and monitoring is visitors. “The politcal
police are one ofthe few things that work
‘wel n Cuba nowadays.”
Sanches and others we spoke to say a
large number of young people are boing,
picked up fr not working. “They haven't
committed a crime, but the government
says they may comnit one inthe fre
1's realy political and social
ina neo Sui
he president of the National
Assembly is sting at table in
his short-sleeved guyaberra
shin a ripe frit falls from a
ge tee that covers much of a couryac,
"Don't worry,” Ricardo Alarcon says.
reassurngly, “tho fruit won't stain your
Clothes” With ale. gray-pren eyes and
Ue pens in his shirt pocket, his former
Ambassador tothe United Nations looks
like a competent mid-evel manager bask
in the US. But he i actually the second
‘ost powerful man in Cuba.
‘The power ofthe voters is supposedly
wielded by the people through the
AAscemblics of People's Power and tc
National Assembly. But in reality, ne
people choose candidates frm one pei,
and it’s ruled by Castro. Any oer pol
cal, civic oF union organizations are
against the La.
‘Alarcon points to the hundreds of own
{ist by pointing out se fundamental prin
ciples of his society, and then asking if
‘hese lnudabl abuts ares in the US.
We have lad down the foundations of
‘democratic society because we've
tackled the ise of inequality first" The
races mix with ease in Cube. The black
‘men and women interviewed firmly
believe they're not discriminated against
in housing or the workplace. An epidemi:
logis sud she never ran ito any kind of
Aiscrimination for being black and female
‘Another black man told mo the discrimi
ration is clear whem you see te types of
inferior jobs blacks are given. He says,
Discrimination doesn’t exist here
“El told artists years ago that,
‘Within the Revolution,
artistic freedom is everything.
Against the Revolution,
nothing’
Tunderstand that.
I don’t need to argue or appeal.”
— Cuban artist.
hall “accountability” meetings going onin
the counigy now 35a sign ofa pnicipao-
1y democracy. People can tll hee fepe-
sematives what is working and what it
“I question your inerpretation dat Limits
democracy to a contest periodically
between persons for apolitical jo. In
your county, only he rch can emer the
process, and then telly becomed acen-
lest between competing public relations
lunms, rater than contrasting political
programs,” he says.
‘Alarcon defy refets the questions,
because the government says it doesn’.
Alarcon says solidarity comes from
‘equality. "We have neighbors giving to
neighbors, our society isnot based on
selfishness and greed. There is no rue
democracy where a few have too much
‘and all tbe hers have oo Hil.”
Polticians before the revolution used
to broker health eare for votes. If your
child needed emergency medical care,
Well you beer ave been a supporter of
the lal poiial boss, or else o care.
Dr. Jan Abel Gazi ies his bike to
Elizardo Sanchez refuses to be silent about human rights abuses in Cuba.
November 10, 1998» Pvc Eye Weekly» 11
work and makes the equivalent of $40-
‘month, His aparument similar to al oth=
ers and he thinks that the amount of
‘money American doctors make is a sin
“How ean they allow poor children 1 go
without care and collect those fees?” he
asks, Amid all ge hardships, Dr. Galazia
‘emuins commited. to providing quality
healthcare at hs clinic for fee. He docs
make house call
‘The United Nations ranks Cuban
healthcare as the best im Latin America
‘Tere are 43,000 doctors in Cuba (one for
every 524 people) and lie expectancy has
risen 1075 yeas. I's one of afew coun.
tres producing Inerferon andi trying to
compete wordvie in bio-technology.
ow Cuba isaacking th AIDS prob:
Jem says a lot about its humanitarian
approach, and its form of government
Every AIDS patent is given free exams,
special diet, drugs and aroind-the-clock
nursing—in a soeure sanitarium, every.
thing: Ow oft, nohing,
Some view this 2s a forced quarantine
that abuses patents’ rights, Others say
this is We only way 10 stop the spread of
AIDS and afterall, doesnt the patient
deserve the best care for fee? Hospital
tminisrator Osbaldo Ponsa says after
‘counseling and weaugent the paints can
0 out for visits with family and friends
"Nobody is held here at gunpoint.” he
says, "but which will it be? Do we allow
‘complete fee association, or do we keep
‘our people free from this terrible dis-
ase?” Most ofthe population gives blood
‘and is wed at ha ime, Those showing
signs of HIV are told they must emer the
Ponsa says only two patients have
‘refused enty; one died and one eventually
came back when the disease ad disabled
him. There have been only a thousand
{al-blown AIDS eases in this county of
leven milion,
‘Alarcon ass that te sea of reedom
be examined from all sides, not jst from
civil rights angle. Americans concen-12 + Privat Eye Weekly * Neverber 10, 1998
But of this ight, fueled by liquor
bought by- American guests, songwriters
and musicians expressed themselses
frely. painfully thin young man rose
and delivered a forceful and poignant
oem whose verses iteraly hung inthe
trate onthe freedom io vor OF 10 speak. damp ai, His sory was one of prisoner
“We als think there should be a freedom — who had syccesstuly picked out the ony
{from not having medical care. A freedom jailer with a glass eye, The prisoner was
{from illiteracy. And thse feedoms are asked how be did it.The prisoner sid it
vallble hee toll.” was easy because the glass eye was the
‘There is no free press. Only state only one tht did't ook at him wit ha
owned and coatolled modia can operate. A guitars, singe and social comme
For insling Fidel Caso in pin, writers ttor sang songs with a critical bite. He
te imprisoned for up wo Uwee years. made fun ofthe bureaucratic bosses who
But freedom of speech is alive this continually give orders, The worker
humid right on patio where a group of ignores him and moves on with ie
tists have gathered, The sire is in the “Think most young people are tiedof
best European traition of the salon, having tha man (Casio and his govem:
‘where aists will informally share theit ment dictate our lives for us" the mus
talents ina social Sting. They'll not be cian ltr sid. "Most of us are well-fu-
sing any ood cated and fel frustrated with all ofthe
The center of culture tonight is the contol” I's a young county, and ston
hhome of Carla Bolivar, a descendent of 60% will have been boxn afer he rv
Simon Bolivar, the great Liberator of ton.
South America. Carla lives in the A young artist, who has achieved
‘Miramar district where the bourgeoisie some notoriety in de medium of plastic
fonce built mansions and country clubs an, gladly works forthe government. He
long bred, tre lined boulevards, has no problem with sei censorship. "BI
Her aunt is pechps the most famous told aris years ago tha, “Within the rv
sculptor in Cuba. Her mother isthe die- olution, artistic freedom is everything
tor of @ museum, yet this once elegant Against the evolation, nothing” unde
house is now divided and crumbling, But stand that. 1 don't need to argue oF
the pictures and porvaits of regal looking appeal.”
ancestors remain. Carla restores pre-ev0
Taton at dat few can now afford to bu. lizardo Sanchez observes that
Her wailke guests truly do look like while the clamp on dissent is
saving rss. Tere must not bea black Complete, Carr's politcal base
‘market fora. 10s smaller. "Fidel Caste is
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the main obstacle in the proess of yea
tual democratic retonns." Sancher views
his country as a giant pressure-cooker
about wo explode, He is afraid tha a spiral
(of anger will ead down to violence, “The
social order may go down in flames,
‘which will evenualy leat bloodshed
hesays sadly.
Depending on who you tlk 10, EI is
cater the savior or the devil, A majority
(ofthe people I talked wo in Havana say
Caso and the government must chang.
Bt most ofthe prople living outside he
city say Castro and scilism wil prevail,
(One aspect is no disputed: The Leader for
Life retains toal contol of his county's
destiny fhe should fall to ill health his
brother Raul wll tp in
The determined man who triggered the
evolution forty years ago is pictured in
the Museum of the Revoltion ase was
n the late “40s—in a double breasted
jacket, with his alr slcked back and a
Father atvactive brunete on his arm. A
lawyer from a well-to-do family, Casto
was radicalized by students andthe cor
apt regime of Batista. A life-and-death
struggle ensued. One that he wasn't sup
posed to win, The museum that chronicles
the centuries long strugale ofthe Cuban
poop osuain independence is howod in
mer barogue-style palace.
i, you realize the length
and breath of Casto’ stugale
Bom out of wedlock, Fidel Alejandso
Castro Ruz was the son ofa sugarcane
‘grower and the family maid, Neighbors
Sty young Fidel was an angry boy who
always rebelled at authority yet excelled
at sports: ho was named the best high
sehool athlete in Cuba in 1984, He also
had a keen mind and a photographic
memory acconling to his Jesuit eachers,
Those around him recognized his
strengths as he excelled at debate. But
those who really knew him also say he
asthe most tubbom person, who would
rover givo up, no matter what the fight It
remains tue today
‘Casio says he will never give up on
socialism for a number of reasons, but he
always returns 1 his vow to provide for
the kids of Cabo. The children ho live in
the housing projects ouside of Havana
rn free and unafraid, Although living in
shared poverty isnot the grinding power:
ty hat leaves children with distended be
i and fear onthe faces. The social jus
tice these children have grown up with is
visible in their faces. Their parents don’t
ear crime and drugs and they thank
Casto for a.
'But what kind of fur will hey have
ifthe paternalistic government doesn't
give thom an opportunity to work and
Uhink on their ow? New dean ini
tive are not incouraged
‘Maybe the imposing figure in the
arccn uniform who has heroically and
dats, invasions and
will find the solution, EL
Commandanie is facing the toughest
strategic decision of his i .
Bd, note: Nest week, the story of 150
Americans who risked imprisonment
and Fines to challange U.S. laws against
travel to Cuba,
On tour with
DEPECHE MODE across
North America.
+ $980 Sot Stat SL, nex to Shopko 264157
* 5100S, Redwond Rl, net o Wamu 251-2085