Happy on the Outside but Worried on the Inside

Happy on the Outside but Worried on the Inside / Somos+, Javier Martinez
Delgado
Posted on October 25, 2015

Somos+, Javier Martinez Delgado, 22 October 2015 — Since 1959, when the
Castro brothers hijacked a triumphant revolution that was thought to be
democratic, the Cuban government has portrayed the United States as the
country's main enemy. All our economic, social and political misfortunes
over the next fifty-five years would be blamed on the "restless and
brutal empire," at least until now.

Many people thought that December 17, 2014 would mark a new chapter in
relations between our two countries and in some ways it has. However,
the Cuban regime continues to blame its economic failures as well as its
violations of civil and political rights on the same enemy: the
never-ending US embargo, known in Cuba as the blockade.

One might think that 2015 would bring about improved economic and social
conditions, and a gradual breakdown of repressive actions by the
one-party state, but just the opposite has happened. Now who is to blame?

The US blockade? Yes, according to Esteban Morales. For those not
familiar with him, Morales was director of the Center for United States
Studies at the University of Havana, a Doctor of Sciences and, as a
political insider, one of the people most knowledgeable about relations
between the two countries.

After December 17 — or 17D as this new phase in relations between Cuba
and the United States is known — Morales was present at the official
opening of the US Embassy in Havana and has written several analyses
explaining the positions of the two countries towards the negotiating
process.

We can glean from published comments on Cubadebate and the blog The
Insomniac Pupil that, in his view, the current US blockade must be
completely lifted before we will see effective measures coming from the
Cuban government. He writes, "…the measures taken so far by the Obama
administration have not even scratched the lock. Clearly they are
intended to empower those sectors of Cuban society, which — as we know —
think such measures could encourage domestic political change in Cuba."

Since December 17 the American administration has taken unilateral
economic measures, largely related to the expansion of opportunities for
travel to and from the island. But it has not been the only change. We
are no longer on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, thus reducing
the possibility military intervention, an ever-present topic of
government rhetoric. Several politicians and economists have also
visited the island as part of advance preparations for what are expected
to be closer relations. Nothing, however, seems to be enough.

Certainly, most of the measures taken by President Obama have not
affected the lives of average Cubans. The embargo remains powerful and
most of the punitive measures adopted by the American government are
still in place. But there are questions I ask myself.

Has the Cuban government taken any measures to relax the internal
blockade? Has it reduced the price of cars rotting away in Havana
dealerships? Has it raised the minimum wage for professionals? Has it
taken effective measures to allow freedom of the press, of assembly, of
opinion? Has it accepted calls for universal internet access? Has it
granted a role to Cubans under new foreign investment laws? The answer
to all these questions is NO.

17D began as a duet. Although Mr. Morales' arguments sound too much like
those overbearing speeches we have been hearing for fifty years, he
could not be clearer when he says, "As long as Obama does not take
measures to start seriously lifting the blockade, the sooner the better,
I am sure Cuba will pay no attention or react to such limited and
unilateral measures, which are directled solely at those sectors Obama
wants to empower."

The Cuban government uses the blockade as a cover to hold onto power, to
justify unpopular measures, to silence the opposition, to unjustly
arrest those who dare to express an opinion, to denigrate the thousands
of young people — those who want to see change — by calling them
mercenaries while the leaders of the Revolution live like millionaires.

By not taking steps to improve the lives of Cubans on the island, the
system is choking itself. The American administration takes unilateral
steps while domestically the Cuban regime maintains and strengthens its
own internal blockade on society.

Source: Happy on the Outside but Worried on the Inside / Somos+, Javier
Martinez Delgado | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/happy-on-the-outside-but-worried-on-the-inside-somos-javier-martinez-delgado/