Lopez-Cantera calls for justice, freedom in Cuba

Lopez-Cantera calls for justice, freedom in Cuba
By Scott Powers
Orlando Sentinel
contact the reporter Cuba Caribbean

Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera said freedom must come to Cuba and the
Castros must pay for American blood.

Lt. Gov. Carlos López-Cantera sees no chance that Florida will aid
President Barack Obama's efforts to normalize relations with Cuba until
the Castro regime is gone, freedom is installed, and justice — and
perhaps vengeance — is brought.

Speaking in downtown Orlando as one of four panelists at a Florida Forum
debate of "El Cambio: The Change in U.S.-Cuba Relations" on Wednesday,
López-Cantera called the Cuban government an enemy of the United States.

He said Cuba cannot be trusted, and someone should pay first for the
actions of longtime dictators Fidel and Raúl Castro. He reminded the
audience that Americans died in the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion and when
Cuba shot down two planes involved in the1996 Brothers to the Rescue
humanitarian flights.

"Recognize that the loss of one American life at the hands of those who
are our enemies is as horrible as losing multiple American lives. And
there have been American lives lost at the hands and the direction of
the Castro brothers," López-Cantera said.


"I would not have a problem if they suffered the same fate or justice
that Saddam Hussein did, or as Osama bin Laden did, for taking American
lives," López-Cantera added.

López-Cantera said Cuba also needs freedom, and an end to human-rights
violations.

"When those things occur, absolutely," he said of Florida's support.
"But until then, absolutely not, as far as I'm concerned, and I know the
governor feels the same way."

His views starkly contrasted with those of fellow Cuban-American Pedro
Freyre, a Miami lawyer, author and speaker on Cuba relations. Freyre,
who has often traveled to Cuba, said the Cuban people need and are ready
for the United States to open relations.

The panel discussion, sponsored by the Orlando Sentinel, also included
political consultant Bertica Cabrera Morris and banker Mercedes McCall,
both of Orlando. All agreed the long economic embargo does not work.
They debated the conditions needed before the United States should offer
to open relations.

Freyre acknowledged the repressions of the Castro brothers. But he
declared, "Fidel is gone!" and that his younger brother Raúl is in his
80s and is no longer capable of standing up to the rising spirit he
sensed on Cuba's streets.

Freyre asked the audience to consider the lyrics of the song
"Guantanamera," which was based on a poem by Cuban national hero José
Martí and was always hugely popular in Cuba.

"For the cruel one who rips out my heart, I don't grow thorns. I grow a
white rose," according to one translation of the Spanish lyrics.

"It breaks my heart every time I go to Cuba," Freyre said, "And every
time I go, I come back with the conviction is the way to build here is
'la rosa blanca.' We need to tender that white rose."

smpowers@tribune.com

Source: Lopez-Cantera nixes Cuba relations until Castros gone - Orlando
Sentinel -
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-florida-forward-cuba-20150513-story.html