We leave you with a article written by Arnold August for Voltaire Network: The way the business press has treated the whole world informed about the death of Orlando Zapata and the manifestation of the Ladies in White in Cuba demonstrates, as if trying a case study, the following facts: the charges conveyed by the mainstream media are deliberately false . This is not a lie disseminated by a particular journal but a massive campaign to which all participate. However, no holding of the press has a direct interest or nothing to gain from such manipulation. It is then the response of a political system that protects denigrating a confrontational model.
The media war against Cuba, which these days for yet another regular episodes, is based lies on four principles:
a) prisoners in Cuba are controversial, are imprisoned for their political views [ View HERE].
b) Cuban prisoner Tomaya Orlando Zapata, who died recently because of the hunger strike which he won, he was in prison for political reasons [ View HERE].
c) Tomaya Zapata died as a result of carelessness or deliberate action of the medical and political authorities Cuban.
d) Las Damas de Blanco [ View HERE] were physically harassed by citizens and then violently detained by Cuban authorities in Havana on March 18, 2010.
Many of the media and massive information controlled by the oligarchs in North America and Europe and the European Union itself, have abrogated the right to lie about Cuba and other countries that do not fit into the northern paradigm of "state acceptable. " And worse, the media monopoly does not even feel the need to respond to this serious accusation. Hence the fight for telling the truth as opposed to deliberately spreading lies in the media is something that receive the maximum attention.
then partially transcribed interview on March 8, 2010 by Bill Maher on HBO (USA), actor and filmmaker Sean Penn, which manifests the topic of the lies of media. What it reflects, is fully applicable to all matters currently being handled by the media in their lies:
Watching this TV show, was obviously bothered Maher much by Penn stressed. Sometimes a picture is richer than a thousand words. But in this case the words are also very important. Maher changed the subject by saying he had to go to a panel participant of the program. But in reality this was not true. Maher simply changed the subject, and made some jokes with Penn. Maher said he would return to Penn on TV "to talk about whether Chavez is a dictator or not." But this was not the issue raised by Penn, who denied the charge against Chávez simply stating the facts according to identical criteria the U.S. ruling circles that apply to themselves, the electoral victories. The issue was and remains: how come there is no accountability, there is no need to account for the monopoly of the media? Why can continue to repeat lies and no more, and there are no measures against, obliging those who are doing what is commonly called yellow journalism? means collaborating with government circles deliberately telling lies is a very serious business which can even contribute to wars and aggression. The peoples of the world have learned this bitter experience from the time of the Nazis to the events that led to Bush's involvement in the war in Iraq.
In this context of self-proclaimed right to lie, let's examine the four points mentioned at the beginning with regard to Cuba.
First, the Cuban prisoners who are the subject of attention were not subsequently prosecuted and convicted for holding political views contrary to the political system in that country. Cuba, like most northern countries, has legislation that makes it illegal for individuals to collaborate with a foreign power against their own country . Take the case of the U.S.. For example, the Office for the Control of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC for its acronym in English) is an agency of the Department of the Treasury of the United States and derives authority (among other sources) of the Act of Trading with the Enemy. Each year the U.S. president signed a memorandum in favor of continuing for another year of the implementation of the Act Trading with the Enemy for the U.S. blockade against Cuba, as Obama did the September 11, 2009. Not only technically but for all intents and purposes, the United States are conducting a war against Cuba to change its political system. According to the U.S. Penal Code, under Chapter 115 entitled Treason, Sedition and Subversion, Section 2381 states that "... Has committed the crime of treason anyone owing allegiance the United States makes war or is associated with its enemies, helping, inside or outside the United States. " and stipulates that the person incurring such behavior punishable as a crime of treason can be " sentenced to death or imprisoned for not less than five years and fined not less than $ 10 000, and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States ". In other words, a U.S. citizen working with a country which the U.S. considers war with them, can be sentenced to death for helping the foreign power.
Cuba, like many other countries have similar legislation. In 2003, some Cubans were tried, found guilty and sentenced to prison by working closely to serve the Interests Section in Havana United States, which funded and provided them with material resources to subvert the constitutional order on the island. These data have been published and can be verified by anyone.
Second, Zapata was tried and convicted for that approach at all political issues. The mass media just repeat what they want to swallow the public. In fact Zapata since 1988 has been involved in all kinds of criminal activities, but none of them political. He had been arrested and convicted on several occasions for disturbing public order, two counts of fraud, indecent exposure, injury and possession of weapons, not guns. In 2000, he fractured the skull of a Cuban citizen and once in jail he had a long history of violence against prison authorities . He was released on parole in March 2003, eleven days before the arrest and prosecution was carried out with the media outside of Cuba began to attract political dissidents. Committed another crime on March 20 and was again admitted to prison. Although this last event in March 2003 in the month coincided with the trials of so-called dissidents behind bars his return had nothing to do with it, but it was a coincidence that was used by dissidents and the U.S. to present Zapata after the fact as a political prisoner. The very few times that mass media have even a vague reference to complaints from Cuba regarding Zapata real judicial record has been consistently in terms that ridicule the credibility of the Cuban position, while not providing the public with the facts above, all of which are fully accessible in the Cuban press.
Third, Tomaya Zapata did not die as a result of inattention or deliberate actions of doctors Cubans, or the prison authorities or other institutions. A special report on Cuban television on March 1 explained the details leading up to his death, showing a video in that article is still available on the Internet for foreign journalists interested in the truth. In the video we can see and hear the Cuban doctors, nutritionists, and others, testifying as did all the efforts to save his life. much was explained with scientific precision, how he was kept alive by serum and other techniques, but when an individual refuses to eat organs began to deteriorate in an irreversible process led to his death despite all efforts. A psychologist explained how she tried to convince Zapata to abandon their hunger strike and to adopt other means to present their demands and make them addressed. The video also shows one's mother saying her son had received the attention of the best Cuban doctors, so she was very grateful. And one very important detail to note is that these statements by the mother were recorded and filmed in a spontaneous discussion, without her knowledge that this was done, which eliminated any suspicion of whoever was saying was made under pressure authorities. The fact that the statements given later by Zapata's mother, in which he blamed the Cuban authorities, something which further strengthens the claim as the deceased prisoner and her mother have been manipulated by the forces rather than seeking condemning the prisoner treatment, are pursuing a purely political objectives more than disinformation campaign to frame Cuba's alleged conduct in violation of human rights.
Who to believe? Why not show the video and give the public the ability to draw their own conclusions about the case, rather than continuing to insist constantly repeat lies in the style of Goebbels? Noting repeatedly and carefully, the original video shown on Cuban television available on the Internet later, we find once again hear the words, explanations and work style that is clear from the above by Cuban specialists that we find a way forward which is a manifestation of one of the most relevant aspects of Cuban society and political culture. Any researcher or non-Cuban journalist who spends time on the island and is seriously interested in Cuba, meets that Cuba is a deeply humane society in which human beings and life itself is placed on a pedestal. Humanity is very sacred to the Cubans, something untouchable, and the values \u200b\u200bthat underpin and justify these concepts are applicable to all human beings on the island, regardless of considerations of any kind. And if this were not enough, are values \u200b\u200bthat Cubans have been able to extend their sacrifice far beyond its geographical borders. Comments and sincerity exhibited by Cuban specialists are part of everyday life of Cubans, for which we are familiar with the life of the people, the witness saw on TV reflects a procedure that is perfectly normal and natural, which is expected of Cuba under any circumstances.
is important that the corporate mass media try to keep this feature of Cuba out of the reach of public opinion, to manipulate situations in their favor when circumstances so require . While the entire planet was focused on Haiti after the earthquake of January 12, the U.S. media who were in the air with the latest news on events 24 for several weeks, always found a way hide from the public that the Cuban health workers and others had been working hard in Haiti for eleven years and that the January 12 not only continued but increased its assistance to this town. Sean Penn had the courage to mention in the interview. Hard time imagining how it is that American reporters, with all the most advanced technology and highly skilled, could spend all their time in Haiti, and never cross with a Cuban doctor or any of the health workers there providing their services, or any of the thousands of thousands of Haitians who have been treated and in many cases saved by Cuban medical missions for the past eleven years and in the weeks following the earthquake. This blockade information is very deliberately designed and organized, because when the opportunity arises, as with the case of Zapata's death now makes it much easier for the public can buy that lies as the Cuban health authorities and Cuban health system has no heart and feelings of humanity in the slightest. Is no denying that, of course, situations like Zapata can not be compared with situations such as Haiti. But when an entire society and the medical profession is based on respect for humanity, the preservation of human life, these principles apply in all cases above any other consideration.
Cuba is a society trained for more than five decades in patience and education to try to correct errors and resolve any problems. You can be the level of the CDR (Committees to Defend the Revolution), in discussions of the Municipal Assemblies and the People's Councils, government agencies most directly and closely linked to citizens in neighborhoods and centers of production and services, meetings of accountability of elected representatives of state bodies with their constituents, or in discussions and consultations during the work of the committees of the National Assembly, the Cuban Parliament, its standing committees or working in the workplace. But in any case the problems of Cuban society are analyzed on the basis of patience, understanding and education as the foundation of self-criticism of the system itself. Whether you are trying to solve some of everyday problems, or even a simple violation of law or a more serious crime, involving individuals or groups of them, is remarkable as you can directly attest to the patience with which is appropriate, always looking for educational processes as the main way to change behaviors that affect society. And in this case is confirmed as a fact but completely plausible normal to watch the video, when health professionals testify as they did everything in their power to try to save the life of Zapata. This is how it is in Cuba.
is no coincidence that at one point the Bush administration abruptly ended the majority of educational visits by Americans to Cuba, the youth who traveled to visit Cuba and their teachers, the vast majority saw through media lies about Cuba, and on his travels were able to appreciate at least one essential element: Cuba is a peaceful society based on the value of human beings, and this transcends any other consideration , it is applicable in all circumstances. Students returning to the U.S. with a vision of Cuban society opposed to spread by the media in that country.
The fourth lie being circulated is the Damas de Blanco, concerning which they were threatened and physically assaulted by citizens and then violently repressed by the Cuban authorities during a recent demonstration in Havana. Who are the Ladies in White and what is its significance? Since 1960 the U.S. government has been officially supporting the formation and development of "groups opposition "in Cuba with close ties to the U.S.. More recently in July 2006 a document titled U.S. Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba (Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba) [ View HERE], again specifically states that these groups need to "well-funded programs designed to strengthen "and stresses the need to" build an international consensus in support of these groups "(page 16). In the document there are several groups and individuals who are mentioned: one is the Damas de Blanco. An individual who explicitly also received the seal of approval close four years ago is Guillermo Fariñas, who the U.S. document at that time was "engaged in a sustained hunger strike" (page 19). At the time of writing the said person is still on hunger strike and is being handled in the same way it has been and is still being manipulated Zapata after his death.
The mass media including YouTube videos and reports about the recent incidents with the Ladies in White. This YouTube is a reflection of the biased reporting, based on lies, consisting of a montage of some film footage, still photographs which may or may not have anything to do with events of the day in question, verbal description of events, all edited together to give an impression of violence. However, one can look at the original unedited full video that was shown on TV world, ignoring the audio portion which said several times that violence was used by the pro-Cuban against the Ladies in White and the police took violently under their custody. The facts are that while the opponents of the Damas de Blanco were extremely upset and shouting their support for the revolution, at no time did the use of violence. Similarly, the female police officers who the Damas de Blanco to buses in the city, and led their home did not use violence against Women, which were not arrested. Even though the ladies are officially recognized and promoted by the U.S. as an opposition group and its links with the U.S. are obvious to anyone, no violence was used against them. Claiming otherwise is a lie and repeat it in the hope that people would accept that a fact is reprehensible and despicable, is the type of lies that Sean Penn rejected when referring to the media insist on describing Hugo Chavez as a dictator.
Those who were arrested and sentenced to prison in March 2003, and advocates such as the Ladies in White, are not in conflict with the government Cuba and the people that invariably comes to the streets to oppose those factions and to demonstrate in defense of the revolution, because of their views and political opinions. His problem is that they are collaborating with a foreign power (the United States government) against his own people and against their own country. In Cuba, more than ever before, is carried out extensive and profound discussion and debate going on in the media, families, neighborhoods, mass organizations and organs of Popular Power. There are conflicting opinions that are openly debated on the measures taken to improve the socio-economic Cuba, for example to provide more strength and authority to elected representatives and policy makers in government bodies and government to address problems such as corruption - which in no way can be compared, either in the extent or type facts, which are confronted in any capitalist country, production and distribution of food and materials necessary to the public. But these discussions are not intended to change the current socialist system by a capitalist system, and again convert Cuba into a U.S. satellite, a situation which existed before the revolution. "Groups opposition "have voluntarily disqualified themselves about these important debates, which are not directed against the current system or against the constitutional order. On the contrary, these discussions are even encouraged by the historic leadership of the revolution, because of his sincere desire for a people increasingly involved in perfecting their own system. So the fact that the "opposition" or so called "dissidents" are completely separated from the main trends in contemporary Cuban society is not a Cuban system failure or an indication of one of its features should be changed. The "opposition groups" have only themselves to blame for his isolation. If not for the media campaign of the international right and the financing and other support provided by the U.S. government to devote time to writing about the "dissidents" would be a waste of time because of its total irrelevance Cuban everyday political life at all levels.
-called dissidents in Cuba, completely isolated, irrelevant and marginal in Cuban society and its political life, are traitors to the nation just as their counterparts in Miami. They just follow what serves its interests, opportunistic methods of acting and thinking. They can work paid by anyone, that's how they live their lives. The traitors by their nature can sell their souls. They can even fight one another for foreign funding. The peoples of Europe and the U.S. who have an interest in improving relations with Cuba, have to think that if Washington and Brussels and the mass of the oligarchies have created a monster, it is out of control. These individuals make a living based solely on meeting the goal of creating tensions between Cuba on the one hand and on the other Europe and the U.S., conflicts that inhibit their very nature the existence of normal relations between states. President Obama has to have the intelligence to see through these intentions of the extreme right to sabotage his program to improve relations between the two countries. In this situation, should not any serious journalist, parliamentarian sincere and open-minded, political figures, union leader or intellectual, to be alert to avoid falling into this trap?
why Cuba is the victim of yet another media campaign and pressure from Washington and Brussels? There are several reasons. Perhaps one is the fact that the meeting of 22 to 23 February all States in the hemisphere except U.S. and Canada agreed to establish a regional organization to promote economic integration political and cultural. This is a historic event. It is no secret to anyone that Cuba since 1959 has borne the burden and has been all this time under the most difficult conditions as a political and moral basis for regional cooperation. The U.S. and old Europe never forgave Cuba for taking this first step more than fifty years. They never accepted which Cuba refused to follow the path of capitulation to the west as happened in the USSR and Eastern Europe. defend Cuba today is to defend the Revolution and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean and its noble project of integration. Zapata's death occurred at the right time, and handling by the European Union and the mass media there and in North America serves very conveniently to try to reverse the new trend in the region hitting his initial inspiration and most prestigious in the past century: Cuba. The same document cited the U.S. before 2006, the U.S. was worried about Cuba-Venezuela axis this way: "Together, these countries are advancing an agenda retrograde and anti-American for the future of the hemisphere and are finding some resonance in the region ... "(page 24). It is in this context the U.S. spells out its program to organize, sustain and promote their own groups and individuals opposing in Cuba.
But Cuba is not alone. On the contrary, despite all attempts at isolation for over fifty years, Cuba has never been at the center of regional and global politics as it is now. The latest media campaign based on lies and distortions only serve to grow the political consciousness of the peoples of the world about how the mass media in the service of the oligarchy work only with lies and manipulations.
Arnold August
Author / journalist / speaker specializing in Cuba.
