Freed Cuban dissidents speak after landing in Spain

[demoleft]

Source: bbc

Seven Cuban dissidents have spoken on arriving in Spain after their release from prison in Cuba.

In a statement issued after they landed in Madrid, the freed men said exile was a "continuation of the struggle".
...
A second, Julio Cesar Galvez, said: "This signifies the start of a new stage for the future of Cuba and all Cubans.

"We hope that those who remain in Cuba will enjoy the same freedom as we do."

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/latin_america/10617820.stm

[dipsydoodle]

1. I notice the BBC persists

in referring to them as dissidents.

I doubt they will find much sympathy within Spain.

[hack89]

2. Sure they will

having caste off the yoke of Franco, I suspect that the typical Spaniard has a lot of sympathy for victims of Castro.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Spain has been freely issuing passports

to descendants of people in Cuba who fled the country under the rule of former dictator Franco. Known as the Grandchild rule.

I've not noticed much in the way news concerning any flood of Cubans taking advantage of the offer.

[hack89]

4. What's your point?

I thought we were talking about freed political prisoners - who I think the typical Spaniard would have a lot of sympathy for.

[dipsydoodle]

5. For years

I went on holiday there every year without fail and I'd have thought that if there remained issues connected with Franco they might just have mentioned it - but no. It would be even easier for me now - just get in the car and drive south. How did you find it there ?

These days , given an unemployment rate of 20% I would doubt the Spaniards are very enthusiatic about any immigrants regardless of reason.

[Mika]

6. More Miami Cubans took advantage of Grandchild rule than did Cubans in Cuba.

I posted links to back that up in the Latin America forum when it was going on.

Seems like more Cubans of Spain descent wanted out of Miami USA than Cubans in Cuba wanted to get out of Cuba.

Must be the world class infrastructures (like ed, health care, right to housing and rent control, right to work, complete union representation, subsidized utilities, etc etc) that Castro forces on them. :sarcasm:

---

[Judi Lynn]

7. Ha. Totally true to form, of course. After all, it was their pure Spanish heritage, in their eyes,

which raised them so far above the large population of African slaves their predecessors brought to Cuba to do all the work for them and make them inordinately wealthy.

They still believe, even in the U.S., they should NEVER be confused with a "minority" designation in this country. CANF spokeswoman, pudgy Ninoska Perez-Castellon loudly informed a reporter of this little known fact: "We are not a minority."

http://2.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_bCnWIxmOJSA/Sh9MJ6EF8lI/AAAAAAAABBI/kRm0vGmh0wc/s400/Samantha+Curra+y+Ninoska+P%C3%A9rez+Castell%C3%B3n.JPG http://lacomunidad.elpais.com.nyud.net:8090/blogfiles/lo-que-otros-callan/0605100412.embedded.prod_affiliate.84.JPG

[dipsydoodle]

8. Pudgy

as in lump of lard ? :rofl:

[Billy Burnett]

9. More like a lump of turd.

Ninoska was the prime architect of the Elian kidnapping when she was on the board of the CANF (which she quit for being soft on Castro :wow: ).

[Judi Lynn]

10. What a classy event that was. On TV every single night. Ninoska was there constantly,

fuming, tossing her fat head, snarling at a reporter who asked her about the "Miami Mafia," making demands, running down the government, etc., etc.

One of their high moments was to drag around an effigy of Fidel Castro wearing a bra, for some strange reason. Apparently that's high humor in some quarters.

She became a familiar face in U.S. American homes, one we'd just as soon never see on tv again! What a slimy, creepy thingie she is.

http://www.cancioneros.com.nyud.net:8090/bio/ep/ep000659_1.jpg