Cuba: Access to Internet in dollars

Cuba: Access to Internet in dollars

Havana, Radio Progreso Alternativa (RPA) — The Minister of Data Processing and Communications has published a resolution that allows access to Internet only to people and institutions who have dollar-paid telephone lines or that buy telephone cards also in dollars.  The resolution will be in force as of January 24, 2004.

In the island foreign and local companies, Cuban organizations and institutions can have Internet access.  The foreign press has also been granted access.

Many Cuban artists, writers and scientists can also access Internet.  Up to now many of those authorized – people and organizations – browsed the net through telephone lines paid in the local currency.  But as of now they will have to pay in dollars, unless they can obtain an exemption allowing them to pay in pesos.

An undisclosed number of Cubans – according to some sources, thousands of them – accessed the net paying $20 or $30 a month to employees of workplaces with Internet.  The web pirates up-linked their computers after office hours.  Others did likewise when they had a friend who as a favor gave them the access codes.  Now it seems that both ways will be closed.

According to legal and illegal navigators the government measure is meant to exert greater control on information, as well as a way of getting more foreign currency.  The telephone rate for accessing the Internet will be 8 cents a minute.

Cuba: ALIMPORT signs joint communiqués with Kansas and South Carolina

Havana, Prensa Latina — ALIMPORT (the Cuban food importing government agency) signed communiqués with the states of Kansas and South Carolina that will establish the basis to promote mutually profitable trade.

In the communiqué, signed by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Pedro Álvarez Borrego, president and CEO of ALIMPORT, Cuba is mentioned as a potential market for Kansas’ agricultural products, which include wheat, flour for human consumption, beef, and pork, soy flour for animal feed, and dairy products.

It also indicates that both parties, with a spirit of understanding and cooperation, declare their mutual desire to strengthen friendly and commercial relations, and as an expression of this ALIMPORT declares its willingness to negotiate and sign contracts for $10 million with companies in Kansas in order to buy basic and manufactured agriproducts.

For its part, the government of Kansas pledges to promote among the state’s businessmen, the opportunities for trade in the existing Cuban market, and identify to suppliers in that state that are willing to join trade delegations to Cuba, organized by the state’s authorities in the future, in order to sign contracts during or after the visits.

The government of Kansas will continue to promote among its congressional delegation the idea of a continued vote in favor of lifting the existing restrictions on trade and travel in relation to Cuba and in favor of the normalization of relations between Washington and Havana.

Bolivia: Felipe Quispe meets with the people’s defender

La Paz, Argenpress — Felipe Quispe, the main peasant leader in the country, said that he would be willing to modify the deadly dateline of January 20 for the beginning of mobilizations if a meeting with the government is held first.

“We demand a dialogue, but since there is already a letter, a telephone call that says that we can begin the dialogue, I think we’ll think our position over; it depends on them, all we are demanding is that they keep the 72 points we claim,” Quispe said.

On October 20, 2003, after the violent days that brought about the change of government, the Peasants’ Confederation, led by Felipe Quispe, gave President Carlos Mesa 90 days to solve the sectors claims, otherwise they would renew the pressure.

After meeting with the People’s Defender, Waldo Albarracín, who began a plan of “early warning” in order to avoid conflicts similar to the ones in February and October, Quispe declared his willingness to talk.

According to Albarracín, the peasant leader showed a favorable disposition for solving the problems through dialogue, although he said that several times the government has made a mockery of them, so there is mistrust.

Up to the moment, Albarracín has talked with the Retirees’ Confederation, the Bolivian Trade Union and the Peasants’ Confederation of Bolivia, but he expects to meet with different social sectors in order to make an appointment with President Carlos Mesa, in which he will transmit the feelings and demands of the sectors in order to promote an open and sincere dialogue among all parties.

Bolivia: A controversial referendum

La Paz, Comcosur — President Carlos Mesa called for a referendum on March 28 which will solve

the fate of the huge reserves of natural gas that prompted the ousting of his predecessor.

A popular uprising not only upset the government, but also blocked the sale of natural gas to California; yet, according to Mesa, there are other potential markets.  For that reason the referendum will be a consultation to citizens on the subject whether there should be a sale and though which port.

Nevertheless, opposition sectors formed by the left and indigenous groups believe that there should be a reverse action on the privatization of this resource.  Roberto de la Cruz, a labor leader from the city of El Alto, said that a referendum was made with the popular mobilization that ousted the previous president.  For him, the answer was a resounding “NO!”  On his part, congressman Evo Morales said that those resources should be expropriated from the transnational companies.

Ecuador: Aborigines reject the dialogue

Quito, Comcosur — The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (CONAIE) again rejected the possibility of a dialogue with the government because they are “liars”, they said.  Leonides Iza, president of the organization, said that there hasn’t been a single step forward.

“We spent months arguing with the president and nothing was done”, Isa said.  “The moment you lose trust, how can you have a dialogue… with those who lie, with those who do not keep their word?”

January 14 will be a key day for peasants, government officials and several trade sectors, for they will meet to define a plan of protest actions.  Among different sectors there is an increasing opinion that the president should resign. Yet leader Gilberto Talahua said that “in our agenda overthrowing the government is not an option.  We have said clearly to the country and I’ll say it again, the indigenous movement… is not betting on Gutiérrez’s fall, because Gutiérrez himself and his government are already falling.”

Guatemala: Payment to mercenaries suspended

Guatemala City, Comcosur — The Constitutionality Court of Guatemala found that thousands of former paramilitary that were part of death squads during the civil war will not receive the reparations they claim.  In that manner the payment ordered by President Alfonso Portillo of $650 dollars each to more than half a million mercenaries (former members of the Patrols of Civilian Self-Defense) has been cancelled.

“The president of the Republic can not dispose of the national budget by government decree”, said the Court in its finding.

The paramilitary had pressured the government blocking airports and highways, as well as occupying public buildings.  The reparations would have been paid in three installments, the first of which has already been paid.  The other two would have fallen under the responsibility of president elect Oscar Berger after his inauguration.  Berger said during his presidential campaign that he would honor the commitment made to the mercenaries.