Cuba and a Minor Concession for Governance

Cuba and a Minor Concession for Governance
October 14, 2014
Rogelio Manuel Díaz Moreno

HAVANA TIMES — As the media have published, Cuban authorities backed
down from the restrictions they had imposed denying entrance to Cubans
in certain areas of the José Martí International Airport. The
restrictions lasted for several months, since the beginning of
maintenance works in Terminal 3, used for international flights.

While in force, those accompanying travelers had to wait in undesireable
conditions, without access to food and sanitation services, having to
wait outside the terminal come rain or shine.

After the repairs had been completed, it was automatically assumed that
the general public would once again be able to go inside the airport.
However, in this country, it's a lot easier to put up a barrier than it
is to take it down, and the directors of the aviation regulatory bodies
had become accustomed to keeping 'the masses' at bay.

For a while, despite the fact that building repairs had finished and the
decline in sales and services at the airport's internal establishments,
Cuban citizens were still cut off by a strict line of fences and
security guards. Those of you who are already familiar with how things
work around here wouldn't be surprised to know that foreigners were
exempt from the limitations.

A large number of intellectuals and activists rose up and shouted out
their protest with force. They circulated letters, messages and articles
of protest making use of social networks, alternative dissemination
channels, emails, handmade newsletters etc.

The official press responded with hard to believe excuses relating to
the airport's supposed low capacity to ensure travellers' comfort and
how this measure resembled similar practices already established in
other countries. They even promised to build new (waiting) rooms in the
surrounding areas. This official declaration was expressed by the
airport management and was picked up without questioning by Granma and
other media.

Protesters argued that what really inconvenienced them and made them
wait hours on end were the confusing mechanisms that travellers have to
deal with when entering the country and that the only other country to
do the same was Eritrea, not exactly the most famous in the world. I
pointed out that the declarations made by the airport management were a
straightforward confession of how to violate the country's Constitution.

Amidst the controversy, I was only moved by the attitude of someone who
did actually stand up tall like a prize rooster, he was one of those
people that command with their courage and ethics. The intellectual and
activist, Tato Quiñones, and some of his family accompanied another
member of their family in their departure, entering the restricted
areas. The kiss-ass that tried to force them to leave received an
exemplary answer that left him weak at the knees. If on one of those
days, out of the thousands of Cubans that have to go through the
airport, there had only been 10 Tatos, the prohibition would have ended
right there.

Recently, for no particular reason, the authorities communicated the end
of these restrictions. It is nice to see that public opinion has finally
been taken into account. I'm not sure if it was at the fourth or fifth
level of power that made the announcement, due to the informality and
irregularity of the press, but whatever it was, I learned that certain
outcomes are attainable via social mobilization. However, I don't think
we should give the event too much importance.

In regard to the government's handling of this matter, there is not even
a hint of regret for the outright violations that were made against
civil rights. They very cynically hide behind the excuse that the
restrictions were temporary resulting from the building works that
needed to be carried out. They only timidly acknowledged the fact that
their measure "inconvenienced many citizens". And so, at least in the
public eye, the government officials that implemented this restrictive
policy remain immune.

For me, it sounds like the government decided to make a concession in
order to calm angered spirits, in a small matter that does not really
affect the deeply ingrained ills of authoritarianism and full discretion
of their powers. That's to say, it's not a big deal.

Important issues were not being discussed: problems with foreign
investment not relying on Cuban workers, privatization of part of the
State's economy, the establishment of exploitation and social
differences etc. If all those people who were offended by this airport
episode also came together and joined their efforts to resolve the above
issues, now that would be a beautiful utopia.

Source: Cuba and a Minor Concession for Governance - Havana Times.org -
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=106715