CHAPTER 2: A NEW IMPERIALIST PROGRAM FOR SUBJUGATING THE CUBAN NATION AND RECOLONIsing THE COUNTRY

One of the more conclusive examples of the reinforcement of Bush administration’s policies of hostility, aggression and blockade against the Cuban people, and its right to self-determination is the president’s endorsement and quick implementation of the provisions included in the Report of the so-called “Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba”, submitted the 6th of May, 2004.

This document includes an extensive and aggressive plan to destroy the constitutional order established and supported by the Cuban people. It aims to set up once again the domination that Cuba endured for more than half a century, as a result of the military occupation by the U.S. forces, and the neo-colonial control regime imposed, after the first imperialist war, known to history.

Following up this extremely cruel plan, on July 10, 2006 the Bush Administration officially made public the updated version of what essentially is a Plan for the Annexation of Cuba. Based on these additional measures, the updated plan consolidates and increases the negative impact of the actions that were implemented in May, 2004.

The “Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba” was established by the current occupant of the White House. It is clear in its intentions to speed up the so called “regime change” in the Island. The consecutive documents prepared by the Commission show a deep annexationist desire. They support methods and coherent actions with the imperial brutality which the performance of the current republican administration concerning foreign policy has been characterized by.

The mandate given to the Commission, when it was established, left no doubt in relation to its objectives. It was requested urgently to accelerate and bring about a “transition to democracy” in Cuba, that is, the destruction of the present political, economic and social systems chosen by the Cuban people and suggest replacing it with a plan thought out by Washington to the smallest of details. The final goal is to violate the Cuban freedom and independence and turn their patrimony in an American property.

The Commission identified as strategic tasks to achieve the overthrow of the Cuban government the following: increased support for recruitment, organization and financing of internal counterrevolutionary forces; promotion of political-diplomatic campaigns against Cuba in different international fora; strengthen the disinformation war against our country; provision of funds and securing the support of international perpetrators -subordinated and allied governments, supposed “non-governmental organizations”, “think-tanks” and “academic” institutions of similar ideological makeup or financed with the money from the Washington payrolls, “intellectuals” who hire out their talents and sell their “principles”, and others of  similar “pedigree”- to its anti-Cuban hostility; adoption of new measures to escalate the blockade actions and economic war on Cuba; and what they have called “undermining the regime’s succession plan”; sketching out the stages of “the change” and meticulously describing what requisites, the puppet government set up on the island, will have to meet.

The implementation of the aforementioned tasks, -that assume the strengthening of the blockade, plus subversion and media political-diplomatic campaigns against Cuba- brought about:

• The trips of Cuban-American visiting their families decrease to 54%, between 2004 and 2006. Also strict restrictions to send packages and remittances, which is a clear violation of fundamental rights, in relation to family affections and mutual help.

• Tougher restrictions on American citizens traveling to Cuba. Licenses already granted by the U.S. government were canceled, and other ones requested were not granted. In the last two year period, the number of Americans traveling to Cuba was reduced in 45%.

• The already limited academic, cultural, scientific and sport exchange programs existing between the Cuban and the American people was reduced to the minimum. More than 300 U.S. universities lost their licenses to send students to Cuban universities.

• Increase of sanctions to companies and American citizens, violating the blockade’s regulations.

• Intensification of persecution to overseas Cuban commercial and financial transactions. A Cuban Assets Identification Group was set up to investigate how hard currency comes in and out of Cuba. In 2005, the damage to Cuban foreign trade exceeded the 945 million dollars, 15 % more than in 2004.

• Strengthening the implementation of the extraterritorial blockade. Fifteen companies in third-countries were sanctioned after being recognized as having Cuban interests.

• The financing increase for subversive activity and anti-Cuban propaganda. An additional amount of 59 million dollars was provided between 2004 and 2006. Out of this amount, 10 millions were assigned to the operation of an airplane devoted to broadcast illegal anti-Cuban TV signals.

• Appointment of Caleb McCarry, as the “Coordinator of the Transition Plan,” a well known allied of Miami terrorist and anti-Cuban mafia. The intended proconsul of the anti-Cuban annexationist plan,”

Never before has the brutality and unscrupulousness of the U.S. government’s anti-Cuban policies been so blatant. To achieve their proposed aims, the annexation plan didn’t have any reservations about recommending measures that violate such fundamental rights as to the respect to family ties.

From the offset of the initial draft, the anti-Cuban plan of the Bush administration has promoted the aforementioned strategic tasks. In the version of July 2006 the anti-Cuban plan makes its conspiratorial and aggressive intention more evident, while classifying many of the measures adopted as secret, alleging “reasons of national security” and the need to guarantee “its effective implementation”.

Through this action, the U.S. government, not only make sure of having a blank check for changing the content of anti-Cuban actions, but also guarantee leaving some essential parts of the Plan for Cuba’s Annexation out of any scrutiny or denunciation. This maneuver allows them free will to execute and use all sorts of actions and the implementation of the dirtiest measures against the Cuban people. History has been an eloquent witness of the nature and magnitude of these types of covert actions of the U.S. against Cuba, which has included from a direct military invasion, to terrorist attacks and even assassination attempts.
The aggressive escalate of economic and financial pressures against Cuba –conceived from the very beginning in the Plan for the Annexation of Cuba; is now added to the mechanism that includes several U.S. federal agencies to improve the implementation of the blockade’s regulations and maximize its extraterritorial effect. These mechanisms are directed to increase the prohibition of access to Cuban products by the American markets and other countries as well. A clear example is the creation of an Inter-agency Task Force, for tracking Cuban nickel. It was established to control the imports of products containing that mineral, and discourage international trade of Cuban nickel and cobalt. Furthermore, these actions will be accompanied by the imposition of severe sanctions on people or companies that violate these regulations. We should keep in mind that nickel has become one of the main exports, of the Cuban economy.

The first chapter of the 2006 version of the Plan for the Annexation of Cuba reiterates the recommendation to rigorously implement the sanctions included in title IV of Helms-Burton Act, which prohibits U.S. entry visas for foreigners investing in Cuba. This document announces, with special malice, the implementation of these measures on businessmen who invest or have invested in Cuban strategic sectors, such as, drilling and extraction of oil, tourism, nickel and production and commercialization of rum and cigar.

This second report tries to ensure the irrational and extraterritorial implementation of the blockade’s policy. It recommends imposing title III of the Helms-Burton Act, on third-country businessmen, considered to be helping the revolutionary government of Cuba, through their economic activities and associations.

Due to international pressure, the implementation of this title, that urges American courts to judge third-country businessmen, who have businesses in Cuba, has been put off for many years. The intention of implementing it, case by case and country by country, aims at creating fear in business community. Businessmen and government officials as well, are directly threaten. Their bilateral and multilateral policies toward Cuba would be analyzed, when the American courts decide on pursuing sanctions against them, which could last for the rest of their lives. Furthermore, this action tries to divide the international community concerning its rejection to implementation of the extraterritorial Helms-Burton Act. It is support and direct antecedent of the Plan for the Annexation of Cuba 

The updating of the anti-Cuban plan openly violates Cuban people’s right to self determination. By virtue of which, in the Letter of United Nations it is stated that each country can establish freely its own political, economic, cultural, and social systems, without foreign interference. It also supports and consolidates the draw up of the immoral and aggressive campaign, of the anti-Cuban public diplomacy, which was defined when the so called Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba made its first report. It aims to subordinate and commit some lackey governments and international organizations, to attain the goals of its annexationist policy on Cuba. 

The plan also includes several measures to strengthen the already existing restrictions on American citizens, and Cubans living in the U.S. The new measures restrict travels as well as remittances sent to families in Cuba. The regulations are extremely inhumane; they have increased difficulties for family relationship and mutual help which are present among the members of a family in any culture.

By virtue of these measures, the U.S. government continues to violate article 12 of the International Agreement on Civil and Political Rights. This article deals with the rights and freedom of travel, each person can enjoy once legalized in any state. These principles are confirmed by the General Assembly, on resolution 59/203 “Respect for universal right to travel and the vital importance of family unification“. The current occupant of the White House also ignores the General Assembly resolution 60/206, “Measures to facilitate and reduce cost of remittances of migrants”. This resolution recognizes the importance of reducing the cost of migrant remittances. It also urges governments to facilitate these mechanisms for receptors countries, by facilitating access and simplifying its procedures.

Some of the new measures added to the “Plan for the Annexation of Cuba” in July 2006, are as follow:

• To issue the guidelines to the agencies that are responsible for implementing the regulations of the blockade to carry out criminal  investigations, which could include legal actions against those violating the regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, particularly, to those who organized and/or facilitated travel transactions to Cuba with no license.

• To eliminate the use of cash cards for people with licenses that travel to Cuba.

• To prohibit direct remittances through third-countries institutions and demanding all remittances to be send through American remittance companies that have licenses.

• To implement new criteria for licenses application and additional information for suppliers of transport and travel services. Furthermore, it also includes that both entities receive an independent annual financial audit.

• To include on the List of Specially Designated Nationals, those companies that engage in efforts to promote the sell of Cuban products or transactions for remittances and/or trips from the U.S. to Cuba with no license.

The Bush administration has prohibited export of medical equipment to Cuba that greatly encumbers Cuba’s efforts on its humanitarian missions. These maneuvers are intended to restrict the solidarity work and cooperative endeavors performed by the Cuban people, such as countries, where natural disasters and catastrophic events have occurred. To Cuba, a developing nation, blockaded and with limited resources, solidarity and international cooperation means to share the available resources with the needy people, without pretending any reward or retribution. The new anti-Cuban measure of the American government ignores the more basic principles of humanity and solidarity. In Its blind annexationist desire against the Cuban people, the United States does not even think about the negative impact of its decision which affect the life and health of millions of people all over the planet, particularly from the South.

Some of the new measures added, to the “Plan for the Annexation of Cuba” include; provisions to increase the already established restrictions on the limited sales of American business sector to Cuba. An additional amount of 80 million UDS to be distributed in the next two years and no less than $20 millions has been allocated for every year thereafter to finance international campaigns against Cuba and recruitment and payment to mercenaries, of its anti-Cuban policy. The newly recommended figures exceed in 39 millions the additional allocated amount by virtue of the anti-Cuban plan between 2004 and 2006.

It also has allocated funds for the dirty and illegal radio war against Cuba, by expanding the transmissions from third countries.

It is clear evidence that this updating of the “Plan for the Annexation of Cuba“ constitutes an additional step by the Bush administration in its design and malicious intentions; of imposing a “change of regime” in the Island against Cuban people’s will, which endanger the existence of the Cuban nation. Among its priorities, it ratifies snatching the ownership of properties, and land from the Cuban people. Privatization of industries and of educational system was also mentioned. Furthermore, it aims to eliminate the social security system and abolish our Constitution. Its rules are consistent with the historical objectives pursued by all of the American administrations of the last four decades: overthrowing the revolutionary process and reestablished its control on our country.

The more recent version of the Plan continues to lie in regards to the accusations that Cuba is not fulfilling its obligations under the Migration Accords and recommends diplomatic efforts against the Cuban government in this regard. They try to overlook the criminal consequences of its murderous Cuban Adjustment Act. Also, the U.S. government has continuously, opposed bilateral cooperation with Cuba in the following areas: migratory issues, fighting drug trafficking and terrorism. The Cuban government has ratified at all times its full disposition to sign agreements on these and other issues with the U.S. government and to discuss bilaterally any issue based on mutual respect and following the principles of legal equality and sovereignty of the States.

The new regulations of the “Plan for the Annexation of Cuba” go against Cuban people’s human rights and the basic principles of International Law. Let’s not forget that the first version of the plan, authorized the U.S. government to usurp and abolish the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba, which was approved by a referendum by more than 95% of Cubans.
The occupation government would modify and restructure the legal system, the civil and criminal procedure and laws. They would also modify the syllabuses of the Cuban Law Schools.

It would also encourage the creation of a multi party political system, yellow trade unions committed to the interests of U.S. transnational corporations and the shady business of the Miami anti-Cuban mob. An institutional network that would sustain a caricature of a Republic, such as the one left behind by the Cuban people through a process of profound, revolutionary transformations.

Properties nationalized by the revolutionary government would be restituted to American Transnational Corporations, and the former Creole oligarchy. Both sectors characterized by a strong anti national position, and most of which have been granted American citizenship. It is worth to remember that, many of the main proprietors that belong to the Cuban oligarchy were henchmen and torturers of Batista’s tyranny, corrupted politicians of puppet governments, and unscrupulous scoundrels who were ripping off the public funds and the national patrimony, and unscrupulous people who profit out of the suffering, ignorance and famine of the Cuban people.

The Plan for the Annexation of Cuba proposes that a U.S. government Commission be created to ensure the Restitution of Properties. This commission would adopt decisions and impose the measures required to guarantee their implementation. Much violence would doubtless be needed to take away the lands of farmers who have been made landowners by the Revolution, or to once again impose high rent payments on the 85 % of Cuban families who —also thanks to the Revolution— are today the owners of the homes they live in.

Those in Washington and Miami who hope to take the Cuban people back to a past of systematic evictions and dispossession are deluding themselves if they think they could do so without meeting with the resistance of millions of Cubans who would fight to death.

The neoliberal recipes that these proconsuls would follow in Cuba would result in: the dismantling of the current fiscal and monetary policy, which aims at an equitable re-distribution of incomes and to stimulate the country’s economic growth; the elimination of price controls and subsidies for first order consumer goods, including electricity and water services; the elimination of the cooperatives and the expropriation of their resources; a redefinition of priorities with respect to national budget allocations and the revision and ultimate elimination of  the numerous social programs whose results have placed Cuba at the vanguard of the Third World.

The escalation of the blockade policy with its hostility, and aggressions that propose Bush Plan for the Annexation of Cuba: is on an accelerated track. New and dangerous measures are being implemented. Serious threats and challenges still shadow Cuban’s right to free self determination, development and peace. Such threats derive from the anti Cuban policy and the pretensions of imperial and hegemonic domination of the present Republican administration.