Feds go after Berkeley man for Cuba visit

[Judi Lynn]

Article Last Updated: Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 5:31:23 AM PST
Feds go after Berkeley man for Cuba visit

By Laura Counts, STAFF WRITER

BERKELEY -- Fred Burks was hardly the first American tourist to visit Cuba when he spent 10 days there four years ago. The documentary "Buena Vista Social Club," which reignited the faded popularity of Cuban music, had helped make the island a trendy vacation spot.

But Burks may have the distinction of being the first U.S. tourist prosecuted for violating Cuba travel restrictions.

It has been 11 years since Congress established the right to civil hearings for those accused of violating U.S. regulations. Although thousands of people have been threatened with prosecution and many have paid fines in the $3,000-$7,500 range to settle, no judges were ever assigned and no cases pursued against those who refused to pay up. Until now.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, acting on President George W. Bush's orders that Cuba travel restrictions be more vigorously enforced, recently hired three administrative law judges to hear cases. (snip/...)

http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1865~1838547,00.html

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They haven't checked enough to know that Texan DAN SNOW, wooo HOOOOO, :bounce:, has even been thrown in jail for travelling to Cuba already.

(snip) The Dallas Morning News

U.S. ban hasn't slowed Americans' trips to Cuba Recent crackdown on illegal visits does little to end traffic

03/19/2002

By TRACEY EATON / The Dallas Morning News

HAVANA - Austin resident Dan Snow can't vote. Can't own a gun. Can't even go fishing where he wants to.

His crime?

He hopped on a plane and went to Cuba, the forbidden island, land of Fidel Castro and rumbling '59 Chevys.

"I'm a travel felon," said Mr. Snow, 63, the only American to have served jail time for going to Cuba.

He's the most extreme example of a trend - people thumbing their noses at Uncle Sam and going to Cuba despite a decades-long ban and a recent Bush administration crackdown on travel to the island.
(snip/...)
http://www.nlg.org/cuba/banhasntslowed.htm


The terrifying, sinister felonious Cuba traveller, Dan Snow!

[Judi Lynn]

1. Lifting of Cuba trade ban urged

Lifting of Cuba trade ban urged
Delegation of reps from ag industry and grocers want to widen market for food sales.


By Anita Snow
Associated Press
December 18, 2003


HAVANA -- American farm leaders on Wednesday called for an end to the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, following talks that have resulted in nearly $85 million in new U.S. food sales to the communist island.

"Ending the embargo is the right thing to do," Iowa Agriculture Secretary Patty Judge told a news conference. She said U.S. government restrictions on travel to Cuba by most Americans also should be eliminated. (snip)

(snip) "There could be policy set tomorrow that could take away the little trade we have now," said Sparks. "But it cannot take away the relationships I've made with the Cuban people." (snip)

(snip) The 77-year-old bearded leader wore a dark suit during the Tuesday night dinner at the Revolution Palace, where he keeps his offices and entertains visiting dignitaries, said Americans here for the talks.

The dinner that ended around 3 a.m. Wednesday was the most elaborate in a string of meetings Castro has held with the U.S. visitors since talks began Monday, demonstrating his desire to do business with Americans. (snip/...)

http://www.indystar.com/articles/5/103253-1885-031.html

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The pro-embargo propagandists are going to have to streamline their stories. Some of them claim that the last thing in the world Fidel Castro wants is for America to drop the embargo, because "then he wouldn't have anyone to blame for his problems."

They say this although there has never been even a glimmer of proof this could possibly be true. In fact, ALL evidence has always gone to the contrary, from the earliest days.

[Judi Lynn]

2. For anyone who has read about U.S. funded Cuban "independent libraries"

this material might be of interest, and prompt you to look further, read more about it. It's from the Cuban Libraries Solidarity Group, and I've snipped some interesting points:

(snip) Since its formation, the CLSG has:

· Worked with a wide range of partners to support Cuban libraries: Book Aid International, Cuba Solidarity Campaign, Cuban Library Association, Information for Social Change, Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) , Link, Progressive Librarians Guild, Social Responsibilities Round of the American Library Association, BIS.

· Sent books and journals to a number of Cuban libraries and organisations: University of Santa Clara, University of Havana, Ministry of Health, Proinfo (library school), GELI (language institute), Biblioteca Nacional Jose Marti, Biblioteca Publica Provincial Ruben M Villena, Institutes of Nefrologia, Cardiology and Anaesthesiology, Institute Cubana Amist Pueblo, Ciego de Avila Ctr Hygeine and the Latin American Medical School.

· Campaigned for: respect for Cuba's right to sovereignty and independence; an end to interference in Cuba's internal affairs by foreign governments; an end to the US economic blockade of Cuba; the normalisation by the US of all diplomatic, cultural, scientific and travel relations with Cuba

· Responded to a report on Cuban libraries produced by the Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) committee of IFLA in 1999. Much of the mis-information in this report was supplied by Robert Kent and the so-called "Friends of Cuban Libraries". This group is, in fact, funded by the US government. The group leader, Robert Kent, has taken books and pamphlets to Cuba for Freedom House and the Centre for a Free Cuba, both of which are funded by the US Agency for International Development. On three occasions his travel expenses were paid by Freedom House or the Centre for a Free Cuba.

· Placed letters and articles in the professional press, the "Morning Star" daily newspaper, and "Cuba Si" (journal of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign) countering the lies and propaganda being circulated by Robert Kent. In April 2000 members of CLSG visited a so-called "independent library" in Havana and exposed it as a front for counter revolutionary activity. CLSG issued a discussion paper about this visit, along with articles by Rhonda L. Neugebauer (Cuban Libraries: challenges and achievements) and Larry R. Oberg (Cuba Today, tomorrow, forever).

· Submitted a statement to the American Library Association (ALA) International Relations Committee and to ALA Council in 2001 on the issue of the so-called "independent libraries movement" in Cuba. The CLSG position is that these are neither "independent" or "libraries" and that they are part of the US government's continual attempt to undermine and destabilise Cuba's political, economic and social systems. (snip/...)

http://libr.org/CLSG/

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I started reading about Robert Kent the year after Elián Gonzalez was captured by the Miami distant relatives, during the time I and a whole lot of Americans started trying to find out more about Cuba.

It's worth taking the time to recognize U.S. agents, of various shapes and sizes, and descriptions, have been butting into Cuban affairs at ALL levels for years, being funded by U.S. taxpayers, without our knowledge. (Not to mention the acts of terrorism committed at first by CIA/Cuban "exiles," then later only Cuban "exiles," and not Cuban "exiles" as well as Latin American mercenaries they have paid to plant bombs in hotels, etc.)

As you should recognize, this activity from ANY government would be met with harsh measures in our own country. Something to think about.

[cprise]

3. POLITICAL PRISONERS

Has anyone here on DU started a list?

[MasonJar]

4. Well, no wonder they do not have time to

find the Anthrax killer, the Wh outer, the WMD, and all the etcs.

[leesa]

16. I know...with all the prostitutes, bong sellers, and travel restriction

violator's to arrest and prosecute, who has time to figure out what happened on 9-11.

[oasis]

5. "Ass" croft's time in power is coming to an end.

[Judi Lynn]

6. A bit of history I just uncovered today in a search

Really have to post it here, also. We have NEVER been given the truth about US/Cuba relations. You have to dig for it yourself, or live with the propaganda.

Just found it in an article I found in a search on Frank País, a man who was killed by Batista. Most people are totally unaware that this was going on in Cuba in the 1950's:

(snip) November 1957 General Batista has become a liability for the Eisenhower Administration, which is under considerable pressure to stop sending arms to a government that is bombing and strafing its own people in addition to torturing and killing suspected rebels and their sympathizers. The U.S. government is officially neutral, but it is still supplying arms and training to Batista’s forces and maintains military missions in Cuba until 1959.

February 13, 1958 The United States indicts former Cuban President Carlos Prío Socarrás, who was overthrown by General Batista, and eight other Cubans on charges of conspiring to violate U.S. neutrality laws by financing and taking part in military expeditions to be carried out from U.S. territory against Batista. He is jailed for a brief time.

March 14, 1958 With the fall of General Batista’s regime only a matter of time, the Eisenhower Administration announces an arms embargo. Ambassador Smith complains about this to the State Department.

June 16, 1958 In a decision that later becomes important in U.S.

November 1958 As the revolutionaries move closer to victory, U.S. Ambassador Smith hopes that a free election in Cuba will produce an alternative to both Batista and Castro: but Batista’s candidate for president, Andrés Rivero Agüero, wins an election that even Smith concedes is rigged.

December 9, 1958 A secret emissary from the Eisenhower Administration, William D. Pawley, meets with General Batista to try to persuade him to accept exile at Daytona Beach, Florida, leaving the government in charge of a U.S.-approved junta. Batista refuses.

December 27, 1958 A Cuban Air Force pilot flies a B-26 bomber to Miami and requests asylum because, in his words, “I don’t like to bomb cities and kill innocent women and children.” (snip/)

http://www.oceanbooks.com.au/cuba/cuba1492.html

[DBoon]

7. Texas, hmm...

And if he were carrying a dildo and one of Tommy Chong's blown glass smoking devices, would he serve life under the "three strikes law"?

[Osolomia]

8. "This is what I get for being honest," said Burks

More from the article:

Burks' case number is 03T001 -- the first to be called.

"This is what I get for being honest," said Burks, who, unlike many, declared his visit to the island on a U.S. Customs form upon his return. "I didn't even really know it was illegal to go to Cuba when I went."

Burks said his girlfriend suggested the trip after she fell in love with the island portrayed in "Buena Vista Social Club," the sweet story of aging musicians who gain worldwide fame.

... Why of all the thousands of people who have travelled illegally to Cuba Burks' number came up is unclear. New York piano tuner Ben Treuhaft, an Oakland native who has openly mocked the Cuba sanctions and sent hundreds of used pianos to Cuba to replace old ones, at one point was threatened with $1.3 million in fines. He has repeatedly requested a hearing so he can use it to publicize contradictions in the policy, but never gotten one.

... "Why they are making (Burks) the poster child, I don't know," said Milwaukee attorney Art Heitzer, chairman of the National Lawyers Guild Cuba Subcommittee, who is helping Burks and others who have run afoul of the policy. "But it's ridiculous to make him and his witnesses go all the way to Washington to prove his innocence."

... Both the Republican-led House and Senate voted to end the travel ban this fall, but the provision was later stripped from a larger bill after Bush threatened a veto. Bush is now tightening Cuba on all fronts.

.../snip

With all the leading 2004 Democratic* presidential candidates supporting keeping y'all travel and trade banned this could get a lot worse long before it ever gets any better at this rate.

[Judi Lynn]

9. They're not (except for Kucinich) exactly blazing a trail, are they?

American business is moving out ahead of the politicians, and they couldn't care less what the Miami Cuban Mafia, and the twisted right-wing loons think about it.

[Osolomia]

10. So long as Dems let the Miami Cuban mafia walk all over them they will

That's why you've got Bush and that's why you're still not free to travel to Cuba and judge the country for yourself for many more years to come at this rate. What a shame.

[Mika]

11. Miamicuban radio report. Menendez endorses Dean because..? You guessed it

Menendez says on Miamicubano radio that Dr Dean will maintain the embargo on Cuba, and will git tough on Castro - if elected.


Sadly, only ONE candidate for US president openly states that he would end this unjust and insane policy against Cuba AND Americans.

That candidate is Dennis Kucinich.

-The Democratic Presidential Candidates on Cuba-
http://www.lawg.org/pages/new%20pages/Misc/prez-candidates1.htm

[Judi Lynn]

12. Unbelievable. Who cares what he thinks, to use the pResident's line

Thanks for the info. on Menendez's radio garbage, Mika. He's such a jerk.

He'd better live it up now, they are running out of time!


Menendez


By the way, Lyle and Eric Menendez are the children of a Cuban "exile."

[joshcryer]

13. I haven't been around lately.

Just saying hey. :)

Damn shame about this guy. Damn shame about the embargo. I know some of you hate our democratic presidential candidates, but with Bush's faltering economy, any democratic presidential candidate ought to be able to be prusuaded to open up travel to Cuba, given its obviously economic boosting nature (not only for Cuba, but for the US, too). So vote for a democratic candidate, and lobby after they get in. Don't dispair. We need optimism. :)

Any of you planning to go back to Cuba any time soon?

[arwalden]

14. How Does This Increase Our National Security?

What a waste of money and time and effort. This policy has failed. Time to move on.

-- Allen

[yellowcanine]

15. It's ok, because we are not a democracy

According to the wing nuts, the U.S. is actually a republic, not a democracy - so it is ok to restrict people's freedom to travel. No harm done.

[Osolomia]

17. Zogby poll: MAJORITY of American voters favors ending embargo!!!!!!!!!!

Released: December 15, 2003
Majority of American Likely Voters Favors Ending Cuban Embargo, Foreign Policy Association/Zogby Poll Reveals

More than half (56%) of America's likely voters now favor re-opening trade with Cuba, while 12% oppose the idea, according to a recent Zogby International poll.

Polling was conducted September 5-9, 2003 for the Foreign Policy Association, with 1,000 likely voters chosen at random nationwide from listed residential phone numbers. The margin of survey error is +/- 3.2 percentage points. Margins are higher in sub-groups.

... Support for ending the Cuban embargo does tend to turn more sharply on party affiliation, with 59% of Democrats and 66% of Independents saying the embargo should end, and 45% of Republicans agreeing.

Older respondents - presumably more familiar with the Cold War experience - are slightly more likely than younger respondents to favor ending the embargo (65 and older: 57%, compared to those 18-29: 51%).

Others who favor ending the embargo include: college graduates (62%), African Americans (61%), higher income respondents ($75,000-plus: 61%). Hispanics (45%) Born-again Christians (43%) and conservatives (47%) are significantly less likely to favor ending the embargo.

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=770

[Judi Lynn]

18. Great news, Osolomia, interesting numbers.

Worth pondering, wouldn't you say?

The link doesn't work, this will take you to a page where one can click the link, anyway:

http://www.zogby.com/news/SearchNews.dbm

[Osolomia]

19. Bush has it made so long as the Dems ignore the majority

and cling to their ignorant fantasies.

Interesting that the USA's "free press" didn't report this poll. Guess why!

[Judi Lynn]

20. A clear case of people shoving their program down our throats

while forcing us to lie to ourselves while they do it. The American people don't believe in the embargo, nor the preposterous, outlandish travel ban. Who would ever know? They do everything they can to keep us from finding out!

It's clear they inhibit the flow of information TOTALLY. Bet none of us ever expected to see this in our lifetimes, as children. Little did we know, stories like Kissinger and Pinochet were being acted out which would remain completely undisclosed for decades.

The only reason we know now is because some really determined, brave people wouldn't give up, and kept pushing.

Shameful.