of miami herald revealed This week, it was reported that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) visited communist Cuba at an unspecified time in February. However, the visit has not yet been discussed by the Cuban government, nor has it been made public by lawmakers.
The women members reportedly met with Castro administration officials as part of a secret delegation representing the Congressional Progressive Caucus. herald observed. In addition to both congressmen, a representative from the office of Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) reportedly attended.
Following the release of the report on Tuesday, the caucus issued a statement confirming the visit. “Senators Jayapal and Omar visited Cuba last week, where they met with members from across Cuba’s civil society and government officials to discuss human rights and U.S. issues. Cuba’s bilateral relations,” a spokesperson said. told the newspaper.
Details of the trip remain a mystery at press time. Other than a statement from the Progressive Caucus, the lawmakers involved have not commented on the matter. The Cuban Communist Party did not comment on the matter at press time. report There is no mention of their visit in the official state newspaper. grandmother. grandmother An ardent propagandist who typically praises American politicians, such as Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who support the regime by visiting and treating criminal leaders with respect. Articles are published.
Cuba’s Ministry of External Relations (MINREX) last confirmed the visit of American officials on Wednesday, with American diplomat Kelly Hannan saying: held Meeting with government aides in Havana.
As of this article, no “civil society” organization exists to corroborate the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ claim that Rep. Jayapal and Rep. Omar met with “Cuban civil society” to discuss “human rights.” The concept of a free “civil society” is illegal in Cuba, and the Communist Party severely suppresses the activities of groups such as the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), considered the country’s largest opposition organization. UNPACU Secretary Jose Daniel Ferrer said: arrested July 11, 2021, amid a wave of anti-communist protests that drew an estimated 187,000 people across the country. As of Wednesday, human rights organization Amnesty International said: report Ferrer has been missing for three months because the government has not allowed his family to visit him or tell him where he is.
Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer speaks at a press conference announcing the “minimum program for the national project” in Havana, May 12, 2016. (Yamil Raji/AFP via Getty Images)
Other civil society organizations face a similar fate. Ladies in White, a group of mothers, daughters, sisters and wives of political prisoners, has been regularly accused of extraordinary police brutality each week for attempting to go to Catholic mass to pray for their families. has been arrested.Leaders of Cuba Free Yoruba, an anti-communist supporter organization from Nigeria santeria Religious believers are facing severe health complications after languishing in prison for years.artist group, journalistand other active participants in civil society have faced similar repression and are highly unlikely to receive an audience with members of the U.S. Congress.
The radical leftist lawmaker’s appearance in Cuba came in the same week that Havana hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Foreign Minister Lavrov stopped in the island nation to begin a regional tour that also includes visits to fellow rogue states Venezuela and Nicaragua. In an official statement about his meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov, Cuban figurehead Miguel Diaz-Canel gave Russia’s top diplomat “affectionate greetings to President Vladimir Putin” and said the two had “shared interests.” We talked about making bilateral relations more dynamic.” and related matters on the international agenda. ”
Russian President Sergei Lavrov, influential leader of President Vladimir Putin.
Cambiamos maintains relations between the two countries and collects information related to international agendas. pic.twitter.com/wHhYOYDymn
— Miguel Diaz Canel Bermudez (@DiazCanelB) February 19, 2024
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Lavrov called on the United States to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The list, maintained by the State Department, also includes Iran, Syria, and North Korea. The Castro regime is on the list because of its close ties to the narco-terrorist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), including hosting top terrorist leaders and providing a safe haven for radical left-wing terrorists who carry out attacks. This is because it includes policies, etc.). US territory and close ties to Iran, the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, and its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah.
Foreign Minister Lavrov called it “absurd” to declare Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism.
In January, Rep. Jayapal made a similar argument, calling on fellow leftist President Joe Biden’s administration to remove Cuba from the list.
According to the newspaper, Congressman Jayapal demanded that “this list makes it nearly impossible for Cuba to do international business, leading to an economic downturn and forcing its population to flee the country.” herald. “The time has come to re-engage with Cuba.”
In reality, the “economic slump” that caused “populations to flee the country” is the result of more than half a century of communist depredation, barbaric mismanagement, and environmental destruction. Opposition groups have documented instances of the Castro regime handing out rotten food to poor citizens during events organized by the government. luxurious banquet For foreigners with deep connections. Castro’s government proposed consuming rodent meat and cockroach milk to help people out of poverty.
