U.S. gets tougher on groups defying Cuba travel rules

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Thu, Jan. 12, 2006
CUBA POLICY
U.S. gets tougher on groups defying Cuba travel rules
The Treasury Department is threatening to slap fines on activists from two organizations that openly defy U.S. restrictions on travel to Cuba.
BY PABLO [e-mail]

WASHINGTON - The Treasury Department is cracking down on members of Pastors for Peace and the Venceremos Brigade, U.S. groups that have long organized trips to Cuba in open defiance of U.S. regulations restricting travel to the island, the groups say.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Treasury branch that enforces U.S. sanctions against Cuba, has sent letters to about 200 travelers from the groups asking them to provide information on their latest trips. The letters are the first step in a process that could lead to fines of about $7,500 per traveler.

Pastors for Peace has been organizing caravans of vehicles carrying aid from the United States to Mexico then on to Cuba since 1992, and members have received OFAC letters in the past, said spokeswoman Lucia Bruno. But this is the first time OFAC has sent out so many letters, she said, suggesting a more aggressive enforcement attempt.
(snip)

A HARDER LINE
The Bush administration has been tightening restrictions on travel to Cuba, and enforcing them more strongly, arguing that it wants to deny resources to the communist government and hasten its fall. In 2004, the administration collected $1.5 million in fines from 894 individuals caught traveling to Cuba without a license.
Only a few groups can travel legally to Cuba, including Cuban Americans, journalists, lawmakers and some trade delegations.
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/13605561.htm
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Santiago de Cuba

[mantrid]

1. Good to see they're going after the truly dangerous criminals...

I mean, just from the name you can figure out what a terrifying criminal gang 'Pastors for Peace' are...

[Judi Lynn]

2. Yes, aren't they scary? Americans uniting to collect and deliver

medical equipment and supplies, and educational materials, school buses, computers, etc., etc. to a country which has been under a constant embargo since Dwight D. Eisenhower. The embargo has only been tightened by certain successive U.S. Presidents. The U.S. is condemned annually in the General Assembly of the U.N. by all the members, except 2 or 3, (Israel, the Marshall Islands) the U.S. can pressure into voting for the embargo.

Yeah, those pastors are a rough bunch!



Summer 2005 - 16th Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba

Photos from the caravan
http://www.ifconews.org/Cuba/caravan16/photos.htm

"Let us not love in word: but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:18

Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO)

Welcome to D.U., Mantrid! :hi: :hi: :hi:

[kevsand]

3. I spent two weeks in Cuba in 1989 with

the Venceremos Brigade. I was completely blown away by the spirit of the Cuban people. I can honestly say that I've never seen any population anywhere who are trying harder to make things work, in spite of the malicious interference of the U.S. government. Bush can kiss my ass...

[Mika]

4. And they're doing a pretty good job, too.

kevsand, I've been to Cuba also and I agree with you 100%.

:hi:

[daleo]

5. Let freedom reign.

There's nothing quite like having the freedom to travel the world, without needing the government's permission.

[theboss]

6. Where's Meyer Lansky now that we need him?

Is it wrong that I've always secretly wanted the Mafia to take over Cuba again?

On second thought, don't answer that.

[colonel odis]

7. oh, that's right. the only communists were supposed to do business

with is china.

[Mika]

9. You forgot Vietnam..

.. where the US was waging war and lost over 58,000. We trade with them too.

[pinerow]

8. Because there are no other, more pressing needs that the

U.S. should attend to...sheesh