'We stand by you': Obama speaks to Cuban dissidents ahead of meeting with Raul Castro
Source: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
-snip-
Obama held a closed-door meeting with prominent critics of Castros regime, as well as a dozen other dissidents from the Americas, in a move sure to provoke ire in Havana.
Obama flanked by the leaders of Costa Rica and Uruguay met lawyer Laritza Diversent and political activist Manuel Cuesta Moura. The gathering took place on the sidelines of a civil society meeting linked to the Summit of the Americas in Panama. Before the closed-door meeting, Obama told rights activists from across the region that (we) stand by you every step of the way.
When we speak out on behalf of somebody who has been imprisoned for no other reason than because they spoke truth to power, when we are helping an organization that is trying to empower a minority inside a country get more access to resources, were not doing that because it serves our own interests, Obama said.
Were doing it because we think its the right thing to do.
Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/04/we-stand-by-you-obama-speaks-to-cuban-dissidents-ahead-of-meeting-with-raul-castro/
Mika
(17,751 posts)Y'know... one of the other political parties we are told don't exist in Cuba's single party system.
I should also note that he is a paid "journalist" for USAID, NED, IRI, Diaz Balart, Orlando Bosch funded Cubanet based in Miami.
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)Serious question, I don't know about Cuban elections.
Mika
(17,751 posts)Cuban elections are not run by any political party.
Candidates are selected in open public nominations in the districts they are seeking to represent.
They run on their own platform, which may or may not coincide with a national/provincial party.
I have attended several open nominations. I lived in Cuba during an entire election cycle.
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)Larry Engels
(387 posts)That's an effort to cheer up the people one has disappointed.