To promote a peaceful transition to a Cuba that respects human rights
and political and economic freedoms
Repression in the Time of Coronavirus, Day 1 of the Covid-19 Emergency in Cuba, and some good news at the OAS
Cuba's dictatorship bills itself as a medical superpower exporting Cuban doctors around the world for profit, in an arrangement that has been identified as human trafficking by some and called slavery by others. Beyond profiting off the doctors, the Castro regime also uses healthcare to leverage support and patient treatment is conditioned on their obedience to advancing Raul Castro's objectives. The New York Times reported that Cuban doctors in Venezuela were ordered to deny or ration care to advance Nicolas Maduro's election prospects in the March 17, 2019 article, "It Is Unspeakable’: How Maduro Used Cuban Doctors to Coerce Venezuela Voters."
Mary O'Grady pointed out in her March 22nd article "Repression in the Time of Coronavirus" that with the collapse in oil prices, and tourism due to the coronavirus the Cuban dictatorship is scrambling for hard currency. They are also trying to combine this with a propaganda offensive promoting their healthcare system and medical doctors by sending medical brigades to hard hit areas around the world, and using their agents of influence to provide positive media coverage.
The situation in Cuba is worrisome, but the international press has not been paying much attention. The Cuban government was welcoming tourists through mid March 2020, and claiming that Cuba's sun and tropical temperatures would kill the coronavirus in digital ads over social media targeting Europeans. Furthermore, one of the main sources of tourism to Cuba is mainland China. This does not bode well.
Meanwhile at the Organization of American States there is some good news to share, Luis Almagro was re-elected OAS secretary general for a second term despite a strong campaign waged against him by Caracas and Havana.
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