Whose Interests are some Canadian Media Serving with Lies About Cuba?
April 19, 2010
The Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) denounces the slanderous attack on Cuba that is being carried by some media on the occasion of the death of one Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a common criminal in prison in Cuba who recently died as a result of a hunger strike. Without any evidence or foundation, the media
asserts that Orlando Zapata Tamayo was "murdered by the Cuban government."
Not once does the media so much as inquire who this man was or why he died, let alone what role the Cuban government might have played in this affair, to say nothing about why this has made headlines in the first place.
Orlando Zapata Tamayo was in fact a habitual common criminal. Since 1988 he was convicted of several crimes, including assault, fraud and possession of a dangerous weapon. In 2000 he assaulted Leonardo Simón with a machete, fracturing Simón's skull. Despite this record of criminality and violence, and despite the fact that his name was not even included on the now defunct United Nations Human Rights Commission's 2003 list of so-called political prisoners in Cuba, certain U.S. media all of a sudden declared Orlando Zapata Tamayo a political prisoner and certain Canadian media are following suit. They are crying crocodile tears for a man whose rights the Cuban government allegedly violated by refusing to give him a private phone, stove and television in his prison cell, thus forcing him to wage an 85-day hunger strike to the death.
What did the Cuban government do?
Zapata was treated by highly-qualified specialists in Cuban hospitals. Other specialists were also consulted. Eventually he was fed intravenously and through a nasal tube. Zapata and his family were consistently warned by the Cuban medical specialists of the dangers to his life should he persist on his
chosen path. Maria Ester Hernandez, one of the specialists who treated Zapata, declared: "We explained to him the consequences of his decision at every turn and how much he was endangering his life with this. But he kept it up." The director of the National Hospital for Prisoners, Dr Dailé Burgos, stated that
Tamayo was "treated with state-of?the-art drugs. The patient turned down food. His proteins, carbohydrates and fat were used up, thus he wasted away, making recovery difficult." In the end before he died Zapata was placed on an artificial respirator.
In short, every effort was made to avail Zapata of the resources of the Cuban medical system, which did its utmost to preserve his life.
Hardly acts of neglect or malfeasance!! Why then are Canadian media telling lies about this case? Why don't they explain whose interests it serves to tell such lies?
On behalf of the Canadian Network On Cuba
Isaac Saney
Co-Chair & National Spokesperson
CNC Launches "Cuba for Haiti" Fundraising Campaign
January 18, 2010
Dear Friends,
In response to the horrendous suffering of the Haitian people resulting from the earthquake and its many
aftershocks, many Canadians have been wondering what is the most effective way to provide aid. The
Canadian-Cuban Friendship Association of Toronto has proposed the Cuba for Haiti fundraising
campaign which is also endorsed by the Canadian Network on Cuba as a national effort.
Cuba has an unequalled record in helping people in crises such as the earthquake in Pakistan and natural disasters in many other countries. In fact it has set up a special emergency unit, the Henry Reeve Medical Brigade, to respond to such disasters. At the time of the earthquake in Haiti, 402 Cuban internationalists, 302 of them medical personnel, had already been helping Haitians. These together with many of the 500 Haitian doctors who had been trained in Cuba free of charge formed the essential early group of lifesavers, attending to 1,102 Haitian patients in the first 24 hours after the earthquake. They have continued their work, boosted by an additional medical brigade which arrived promptly from Cuba.
We believe that this kind of unprecedented and invaluable help which Cuba has been giving Haiti for
eleven years deserves to be supported as strongly as possible. The CNC urges you to support Cuba in this work by giving a donation to 'The Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund,' indicating on your cheques
memo line 'Cuba for Haiti'.
Charitable receipts will be issued by the Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund (Charitable Org - Revenue
Canada Reg, #88876 9197RR0001).
Your donation should be mailed to:
The Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund &
Friends of the Mac-Pap Battalion, Int'l Brigades
Att: S. Skup
56 Riverwood Terrace
Bolton, ON L7E 1S4
The 'Cuba for Haiti' contributions will go into a special account, ensuring that 100% of all donations are
used for medical support and aid to Haiti. We are working directly with The Cuban Embassy in Ottawa and the Consulate General in Toronto.
Sincerely,
Isaac Saney - Co-chair and National Spokesperson, Canadian Network on Cuba
Tamara Hansen - Co-Chair, Canadian Network on Cuba
Keith Ellis - CNC Coordinator 'Cuba for Haiti'
Download printable version of this fundraising appeal here
Download 'Cuba for Haiti' brochure with fact sheet about Cuba's internationalist work in Haiti here
Inicia CNC la campaña
"Cuba Para Haiti"
18 de enero 2010
Queridos amigos:
En respuesta a los terribles sufrimientos del pueblo haitiano por el sismo y sus muchas réplicas, muchos canadienses se han preguntado cuál es la forma más eficaz de proporcionar ayuda. La Asociación de Amistad Canadá-Cuba de Toronto ha propuesto recaudar fondos para Haití en esta campaña que también está respaldada por la Red Canadiense sobre Cuba, como un esfuerzo nacional.
Cuba tiene un récord sin igual en ayudar a las personas en situaciones de crisis como el terremoto de Pakistán y los desastres natural en muchos otros países. De hecho, se ha creado una unidad especial de emergencia, con el médico Henry Reeve y la Brigada, para responder a tales desastres. En el momento del terremoto en Haití, 402 internacionalistas cubanos, 302 de ellos personal médico, que ya habían estado ayudando a los haitianos. Estos, junto con muchos de los 500 Médicos haitianos que habían sido entrenados en Cuba de forma gratuita formaron el grupo esenciales de socorristas, atendieron a 1.102 pacientes en las primeras 24 horas después del terremoto. Ellos han continuado su trabajo, impulsado por una brigada médica adicional que llegó rápidamente desde Cuba.
Creemos que este tipo de ayuda sin precedentes y de valor incalculable que Cuba ha estado dando a Haití por once años merece ser apoyada con bastante fuerza como sea posible. El CNC hace un llamado, a que apoye a Cuba en este trabajo y dar una donación a 'The Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund,' indicando en su cheque 'Cuba para Haití'.
Los Recibos de beneficencia serán emitidos por The Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund (Charitable Org - Revenue Canada Reg. Canadá, # 88876 9197RR0001).
Su donación debe ser enviada por correo a:
The Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund
& Friends of the Mac-Pap Battalion, Int'l Brigades
Att: S. SKUP
56 Riverwood Terraza
Bolton, L7E 1S4
Las contribuciones 'Cuba para Haiti' van a entrar en una cuenta especial, para garantizar que el 100% de todas las donaciones sea utilizadas para apoyo médico y de ayuda a Haití. Estamos trabajando directamente con la Embajada de Cuba en Ottawa, y en el Consulado General en Toronto.
Atentamente,
Isaac Saney, Co-presidente y portavoz nacional de la Red Canadiense sobre Cuba,
Tamara Hansen, Co-presidente canadiense de red para Cuba
Keith Ellis, Coordinador de CNC 'Cuba para Haití'
Descargar versión imprimible de este llamamiento de recaudación de fondos aquí
Descargar el folleto 'Cuba for Haiti' con información sobre el trabajo internacionalista de Cuba en Haití aquí
Long Live the
Memory of Compañero
Juan Almeida Bosque!
September 12, 2009
Long Live the Memory of Compañero Juan Almeida Bosque!
Dearest Compañeras y Compañeros,
The Canadian Network On Cuba, on behalf of the Canada-Cuba solidarity and
friendship movement, expresses its profound sorrow and condolences to
the Cuban people and its revolutionary leadership on the death of Juan Almeida Bosque,
Commander of the Revolution. As a historic leader of the Cuban Revolution,
Compañero Almeida was a model of revolutionary ethics and dedication to the
task of building and perfecting a society founded on justice, independence and
human dignity. During the revolutionary struggle and from the triumph of the
Revolution, Compañero Almeida stood side by side with Fidel, Raul and
Che. His life was one of steadfastness and commitment to principles and
convictions. His memory lives on in the in work of the Cuban Revolution
and its demonstration that another better world is possible.
Long Live the memory of Compañero Juan Almeida Bosque!
Long live the Cuban Revolution!
Isaac Saney & Tamara Hansen
Co-Chairs, Canadian Network On Cuba
CNC Message to Friends in Cuba in Vigil for the Five
Marking 11 Years of Unjust Imprisonment of the 5 Cuban Heroes in US Jails
September 12, 2009
The Canadian Network On Cuba (CNC) expresses its resolute determination to do
all that can be done to free the Five Heroes. Today we are witnessing the many
efforts by the empire to turn back the wheel of history, to hold back the
irresistible tide of the peoples? struggle for justice, independence, freedom
and human dignity. As the great humanity of Latin America and the Caribbean has
stood up and marched forward, the Five Heroes shine with even greater meaning
and courage. They are integrally connected to this great and profound
continental movement to realize in the fullest and most complete way the right
of self-determination for the peoples of these historic lands.
On this occasion, the CNC expresses our steadfast solidarity with the Five
Heroes, who are exemplars of the Cuban Revolution. The significance of the
Cuban revolution extends beyond the geographical boundaries of Cuba. The Cuban
Revolution established authentic self-determination, placing the Cuban nation
firmly in the hands of the people of Cuba. In the more than fifty years that
have passed since the triumph of their Revolution, the Cuban people have
resisted all attempts to take away their independence and freedom, and
re-impose foreign domination. They have repelled the unceasing all-sided
assault, military, economic, financial and propagandistic by Washington, which
has never accepted the verdict of the Cuban people.
No words can adequately convey the transcendent and singular meaning of the
Cuban Revolution. By holding aloft the banners of Justice, Peace,
Internationalism and Human Dignity, Cuba demonstrates that another better world
is possible!
We assure you that as long as our 5 heroes remain in prison, we stand with you
and will not pause in our struggle for their freedom!
Free the Five Heroes!
Long Live the Cuban Revolution!
On behalf of the Canadian Network on Cuba
Isaac Saney & Tamara Hansen
Co-Chairs, CNC
Cuban Parliament Calls for Intensifying the Fight for the Five
Statement from the President's Office of the National Assembly
June 15, 2009
THE U.S. Supreme Court today announced, without any further explanation, its decision not to review the case of our Five compañeros unjustly incarcerated in that country for fighting anti-Cuban terrorism sponsored by the U.S. government. The judges did what the Obama administration asked them to do.
In spite of the sound arguments put forward by the defense lawyers in response to the evident and multiple legal violations committed during the entire proceedings, and ignoring the universal backing for this petition expressed in an unprecedented number of "Friends of the Court" documents - among them 10 Nobel laureates, hundreds of parliamentarians, many international and U.S. jurists' organizations and eminent political and academic figures - the Supreme Court rejected the case, ignoring the demand of humanity and its obligation to do justice.
Once again the arbitrariness of a corrupt and hypocritical system and its mercilessness toward our five brothers has been exposed.
Our fight to attain their liberation will not diminish for one second.
Now is the time to step up our actions, without leaving one space to be covered or a single door on which to knock.
We are sure that Gerardo, Antonio, Fernando, Ramón and René will continue leading this battle as they have done for the last close to 11 years.
Responding to the infamous decision, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo stated: "On the basis of our experience, the Supreme Court decision does not surprise me. I have no confidence at all in the U.S. justice system. It is now totally clear that our case has been a political case from the beginning, because not only did we have all the necessary legal arguments for the Court to review it, we but also had growing international support, reflected in the amicus briefs presented to the Court in our favor. I reiterate what I said 12 months ago, on June 4, 2008: as long as even one person is fighting on the outside, we will continue resisting until justice is done."
The struggle must be multiplied to the point of forcing the U.S. government to end this monstrous injustice and restore their freedom to Gerardo, Ramón, Antonio, Fernando and René.
President's Office of the National Assembly of People's Power
June 15, 2009
Photos from Havana - New, 2006-Dec-01!
What do you think?
cnc@canadiannetworkoncuba.ca
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MasterCard in Cuba!
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Caravan to Cuba!
Click here for details on the 21st Friendshipment Caravan to
Cuba
Open Letter Regarding Terrorism and the Cuban Five from
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Click here for details.
Terrorism
Terrorism: Leonard Weinglass
If you missed the BBC Radio Five
live interview with Leonard Weinglass, US attorney for the Miami Five, you can listen to
it at the link blow.
Read the full transcript.
THE CASE OF THE CUBAN 5
(Los Cincos Héroes)
National Committee to Free the Cuban Five - US
International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5
Books on Cuba
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"DISSIDENTS"
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CNC Declaration
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