Scholars, artists rip embargo (US embargo on Cuba)

[Mika]

Scholars, artists rip embargo
Some Cuban-American scholars and artists
have united to criticize the U.S. embargo
of Cuba as a failure that should be changed
to allow more trade and travel.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/14428407.htm

Prominent Cuban-American scholars and artists, calling U.S. policy toward Cuba a ''political and moral failure,'' are pressing the Bush administration to open travel to the island.
The group, named Emergency Network of Cuban American Scholars and Artists for Change in U.S.-Cuba Policy, or ENCASA, is launching a publicity campaign against the U.S. trade embargo and Cuba travel ban. Current U.S. policy bars American tourists from traveling to Cuba but allows Cuban exiles to visit direct family -- but not aunts, uncles or cousins -- once every three years.

ENCASA's bold attack on U.S. Cuba policy comes just weeks before the administration's Cuba commission will recommend to President Bush ways to help speed up a democratic transition in Cuba. It also comes at a time when some scholars and activists have expressed concerns that an escalating atmosphere of intolerance in Miami is curtailing discourse over Cuba.

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`We are determined that no longer will others in our community speak for us as they continue to insist on taking this country down a misguided path that has served neither the best interests of the United States nor those of the Cuban people.''

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ENCASA members anticipate that the commission will advise Bush to tighten travel restrictions even more.

''In Washington and other places there is a notion that Cuban Americans speak with a unified voice on this, and we don't,'' Perez said, referring to Cuban-American politicians, who are strong embargo advocates in Washington.

As I have repeatedly reminded DUers: Cuban expats living in the US (and Miami) are not a monolithic bloc in regards to the US sanctions on Cuba and US citizen/resident travel to Cuba.