A Controversial Concert in Castro’s Cuba
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Tens of thousands of Cubans flocked to Havana’s Revolution Plaza this past weekend.
Juanes, who has won 17 Latin Grammy awards and is known for his social activism has been criticized by some Cuban-Americans who said the performance gave support to the island’s communist government.
Around half a million people attended the four-hour concert under a broiling afternoon sun making it the biggest visit ever by an outsider.
But the excitement did not extend to some across the Florida Straits, where Juanes -real name Juan Esteban Aristizabal- lives in Key Biscayne.
Some Spanish-language stations geared up for coverage and several exile groups voiced support, describing the event as a rare chance for Cubans to get a glimpse of the outside world.
Some Cuban officials have used the event as propaganda and an opportunity to deride US foreign policy toward Cuba, with the 47-year trade embargo in particular.
Juanes has insisted the concert is about music, not politics.
Juanes has also won the support of the White House. He recently met the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and the concert even prompted comment from President Barack Obama, who said in an interview with Spanish-language Univision network yesterday: “He’s a terrific musician. I certainly don’t think it hurts US-Cuban relations. I wouldn’t overstate the degree that it helps.”
Before the concert, the leader of the Christian Liberation Movement, Oswaldo Paya, called on the pop stars who would be appearing at the concert to perform the song “Todos Cubanos” (We’re All Cubans) and dedicate it to the release of all political prisoners in the country.
Paya recalled that Cuban prisons are filled with people like Regis Iglesias Ramirez, who has spent the last six and a half years in prison “for fighting for the rights of Cubans, for reconciliation and for peace.”
Iglesias “was 33 on the day he was detained outside my home and then sentenced to 18 years in prison in a summary trial without any rights and that was fixed ahead of time.”
Regis was and is the spokesman of the Christian Liberation Movement and one of the leaders of the Varela Project which, through legal means, calls for the recognition of rights, including the right of freedom of expression, and thus the right to sing for all Cubans both inside and outside Cuba, in Cuba,” Paya explained.
The lyrics were written by Oswaldo Paya and the music is by his brother Carlos, who represents the Christian Liberation Movement in Europe.
The Castro regime, however, is using the concert to project an image of tolerance that does not exist. News reports say Cuban authorities had warned some dissidents not to attend the event because they feared the dissidents would stage a protest.[poll id="5"]
The Americano / Agencies
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