Monday, April 6, 2009

U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan's criticism of America's trade embargo on Cuba has done little to convince at least Florida federal legislators to go along with his proposal to lift the travel ban.

Both Florida senators, the Florida Keys House representative and the governor said they oppose the bill, which the North Dakota Democrat said he filed because the embargo is a "failed policy that has failed for 50 years."

SB 428 -- cosponsored by Richard Lugar, top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee; Mike Enzi, ranking Republican on the Health Committee; and Banking Committee chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. -- would prevent the president from stopping travel to Cuba except in cases of war, imminent danger to public health or threats to the physical safety of U.S. travelers.

Reps. Bill Delahunt, D-Mass., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., have an identical bill in the House, HB 874, with 120 cosponsors.

The lawmakers on Tuesday held a news conference where they were joined by trade and human rights groups. They argued their proposal to allow travel should be a first step toward breaking down economic and trade barriers between the two countries.

President Barack Obama last month signed a $410 billion spending bill that rolled back Bush administration limits on Cuban-Americans visiting their relatives on the island. The bill effectively allows visits once a year, removes restrictions on how long people can stay in Cuba and permits spending up to $179 a day. However, the changes remain in effect only until the fiscal year ends Sept. 30.

Florida federal lawmakers said they do not agree with Dorgan's assessment of the embargo and said they wold not support allowing travel and trade with Cuba. U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, R-Fla., immediately issued a statement in response to the introduction of legislation.

"This is the time to support pro-democracy activists in Cuba, not provide the Castro regime with a resource windfall," Martinez said. "Changing travel restrictions for U.S. citizens will simply allow Americans to contribute to the resources available to the Castro regime to perpetuate its repression. My fellow senators should be standing in solidarity and showing support for the 11 million Cubans who are suffering under the Cuban regime, instead of making it easier for Americans to vacation in Cuba."

Martinez did not acknowledge that millions of travelers from other countries, particularly Europe and Canada, pump billions of dollars into Cuba each year.

Martinez argued that Castro passing his power to brother Raul has done little to promote democracy and end human rights violations, even though Raul Castro has lifted bans on things such as allowing Cubans to stay in hotels and buy cellular telephones. Raul Castro also deeded homes to Cubans last year.

"The behavior of the current Cuba government of Raul Castro continues to underscore its repressive nature," Martinez said. "Fifty-four of the 75 peaceful activists arrested in the 'black spring' crackdown of 2003 remain in prison. Their only 'crime' was trying to exercise their civil and political rights. Jorge Luis Garcia, 'Antunez,' has now reached his 43rd day of a hunger strike asking for justice for and an end to the torture of political prisoners as well as for the right of Cubans to publish human rights commitments made to the United Nations by the regime."

Martinez urged fellow senators to join him in opposing the legislation, and his Florida colleagues complied.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., House Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla.;, and Gov. Charlie Crist issued statements to The Citizen this week stating they do not support easing travel restrictions to Cuba for non-Cuban immigrants.

Nelson's office went as far as to say the embargo is not a failed policy because it "has had the effect of keeping hope alive for the many Cubans on the island who oppose the oppressive Castro regime," according to an e-mail from his spokesman, Dan McLaughlin.

"The U.S. should not lift the embargo against Cuba, because that would only bolster a regime that continues to deny the Cuban people basic rights and freedoms," his e-mail said.

The U.S. trades with China and other communist countries that have been criticized and charged with human rights violations by world human rights agencies.

Key West and the Keys has had a closer relationship with Cuba than other Florida towns because of the proximity between the islands. In Bayview Park stands a statue of Cuban revolutionary leader Jose Marti, who once gave a speech from the balcony of what is now La Te Da, a gay bar, restaurant and drag cabaret. A group of developers recently used easing travel restrictions to Cuba as part of their rationale for proposing a ferry terminal on Shrimp Road.

Monroe County Mayor George Neugent said he sees some irony in the U.S. policy toward Cuba compared to other communist countries.

"We have an embargo against Cuba but continue to trade with other dictatorships or communist countries," Neugent said. "It's hard for me to understand that."

Neugent was on a boat trip in Cuba in 1991 and saw first hand the negative impacts of the embargo on average citizens, many of whom live in poverty. He said he is sympathetic to Cubans who came to the U.S. after the Castro regime took power and nationalized companies and took control of privately owned land.

"I am sensitive to the feelings of some of the older Cubans who came to this country in the 1950s and '60s," Neugent said. "They have strong feelings about the existing regimes, but how long does this go on?"

Associated Press material was used in this report.

tohara@keysnews.com