Radio Havana Cuba-13 June 2000 23:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 13 June 2000 23:00 *ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF MASSIVE CHILDREN'S MARCH FOR ELIAN *FIDEL CASTRO PRAISES CHILDREN'S MARCH *SCHOOLMATES OF ELIAN GONZALEZ SEND MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT CASTRO *CHINESE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES VISITING CUBAN DELEGATION *DEATH OF SYRIAN LEADER HAFEZ AL ASSAD A LOSS TO THE ARAB CAUSE *CUBA AND ZAMBIA TO RENEW MEDICAL COOPERATION ACCORD *MEXICAN TOUR OPERATORS VISITING JARDINES DEL REY TOUR RESORT *Viewpoint: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CUBAN CHILDREN MARCH FOR ELIAN'S RETURN *ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF MASSIVE CHILDREN'S MARCH FOR ELIAN Havana, June 13 (RHC) --In related news, another televised round table discussion on the situation surrounding Elian Gonzalez was aired live this evening on Cuban television and radio. Tuesday's program dealt with the impressive march Monday of around 200 thousand school children, called the pioneers, which lasted over two hours. The march culminated at the recently constructed Anti-Imperialist Tribune in front of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana. The main theme touched upon during the roundtable dealt with the international repercussions of the march, specifically the mass media's treatment of demonstrations in Cuba. Members of the panel pointed out that the mass media has insisted on emphasizing the fact that the marches have been organized by the government, implying a sense of governmental coercion accounting for such high turnouts. But, said the participants, this tainted view of popular mobilizations on the island fails to take into account the rich history of unity between the government and the people, expressed through the mass organizations, in which the revolution and the populace are viewed as two sides of the same coin. While pointing out that anyone who wishes to stay home can opt not to participate without fear of reprisals from the government, the panelists recalled that international media outlets are only accustomed to the coverage of massive street protests when those protests are against the government. *FIDEL CASTRO PRAISES CHILDREN'S MARCH Havana, June 13 (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro praised Monday's march of more than 200,000 children past the U.S. Interests Section, calling it "much more than we expected." Speaking with reporters about the historic demonstration, the Cuban leader emphasized that the action was "well organized" and "broke all predictions." Calling the march "one of the most memorable of our lives," the leader of the Cuban Revolution noted that hundreds of thousands of grade school and junior high students took part in the unprecedented, massive march. In related news, international reaction to the march continues to come in. Major television and radio news media covered the children's march and many reporters stated that they were impressed with the massive turn out. Newspapers saround the world carried stories and photos of the demonstration, considered to be one of the largest so far in the struggle to demand the release of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez. The march of young children streteched for several kilometers down Havana's sea-side drive, known as the Malecon. Monday's demonstration past the U.S. Interests Section and the rally held directly in front of the building that houses Washington's representatives in Havana lasted for nearly three hours. *SCHOOLMATES OF ELIAN GONZALEZ SEND MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT CASTRO Cardenas, June 13(RHC)-Grade-school children from the Marcelo Salado Primary School in the central city of Cardenas -Elian Gonzalez' school- have sent a message to Cuban President Fidel Castro. In the letter, schoolmates of Elian Gonzalez thank the Cuban leader for giving them the opportunity to participate in the patriotic demonstration, demanding the immediate release and return to Cuba of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez. The grade-school pioneers expressed that they are ready go to the United States to support Elian and his father. They also stated that they are willing to march here, in Cuba, as many time as necessary to condemn Washington's anti-Cuba laws. Moreover, they condemned the constant maneuvers by the Miami-based Cuba-American Mafia to delay Elian's return to the island, where he belongs with his father and grandparents. They added that they are also willing to postpone their vacations to make up for missed school days, due to their participation in patriotic demonstrations for Elian's return. In the letter, signed by the 978 students, Elian's schoolmates sent warm regards to President Fidel Castro, expressing their hope to see the Cuban leader again soon. *CHINESE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES VISITING CUBAN DELEGATION Beijing, June 13(RHC)- Renowned Cuban scientist, Concepcion Campa, was officially greeted on Tuesday by Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Li Langing. Dr. Campa, who is also the President and General Director of Havana's Finlay Medical Institute, arrived in China on Sunday for an official visit at the invitation of the Chinese Communist Party. Both dignitaries discussed the use of traditional medicine, and the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in that area. The Chinese leader took the opportunity to express his appreciation to the Cuban government, and people, for the warm welcome he received on the island during the South Summit. *DEATH OF SYRIAN LEADER HAFEZ AL ASSAD A LOSS TO THE ARAB CAUSE Havana, June 13 (RHC)-The death of Syrian President Hafez El Assad is "a sensitive loss for the Arab cause," according to the Cuban daily Granma. The Cuban newspaper highlighted what it called "the position of principles," of the Syrian leader, to defend sovereignty and reject Israeli aggression. Concerning relations between Cuba and the Arab country, Granma said that Cuban internationalist servicemen fought hand in hand with Syria during the 1973 war in which Cuban doctors and medical personal also participated. Granma recalled that Syria has always sided with Cuba in its struggle against Washington's criminal blockade against the Caribbean island. Cuban authorities declared a five day official mourning period to pay tribute to Hafez El Assad. *CUBA AND ZAMBIA TO RENEW MEDICAL COOPERATION ACCORD Lusaka, June 13 (RHC)-The Cuban and Zambian governments are currently holding talks to renew a medical cooperation agreement. According to Zambian Health Minister, David Mpamba, Zambia finds it ever more difficult to cover the costs of the Cuban medical staff's stay, in the African country, as well as their airfares. Currently 150 Cuban doctors are lending a hand to the African nation which needs three or four times as many doctors as there are today. The Director of the Cuban Foreign Ministry's Sub-saharan African Affairs Department, Esther Armenteros, said in January that Cuban authorities are willing to send more Cuban doctors to Zambia as long as the government and people appreciate their service. Armenteros said that in spite of the fact that Cuba's economy is not strong, the island will continue to help Lusaka in the area of medicine. *MEXICAN TOUR OPERATORS VISITING JARDINES DEL REY TOUR RESORT Ciego de Avila, June 13 (RHC)- Nearly 40 tour operators, journalists and travel agents from Mexico are touring the Jardines del Rey tour resort off the eastern province of Ciego de Avila. The tour comes on the heels of the opening of direct flights from Mexico, to the resort, beginning in July. The group of visitors was invited by the Spanish Hotel Chain Sol Melia. The Mexican visit is aimed at taking a first hand look at the resort, promoting it as an ideal site for children and high income tour segments, given the quality and variety of services provided. The Spanish Group, Sol Melia, has three hotels in Coco and the Guillermo Keys. Next month it will inaugurate 1100 rooms, in the same locations, to become one of the island's largest hotel chains. Jardines del Rey has over 2 thousand hotel rooms, which will be increased in July with the opening of the Melia Cayo Guillermo hotel, along with the Laguna Azul facility in December. *Viewpoint: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CUBAN CHILDREN MARCH FOR ELIAN'S RETURN On Monday, more than two hundred thousand school children marched along the Malecon waterfront in Havana, past the U.S. Interest Section to demand the return to Cuba of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez. After five months of kidnapping in Miami by distant relatives closely tied to right-wing anti-Cuba extremists, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno exhausted every possible deadline and finally sent in federal agents to recover the child. Elian was taken to the Andrews' Air Force Base in Bethesda, Maryland to meet with his father, who had been in the United States for weeks, but had been denied any contact with his son. Other members of their family, one of Elian's teachers and some of his friends subsequently joined them, in an attempt to make the boy feel at home. Another two months have already gone by and Elian seems to have recovered from the stress and trauma of the shipwreck, the loss of his mother, the lonely struggle for survival at sea, and the life in Miami surrounded by a di! ! stant and hysterical family who discredited the love of his father to whom he should have quickly been returned. All this for money, for the huge media coverage, for the well-paid front- page pictures. Elian had all this packed into his life in less than four months, far too much for a six year-old. However, Elian now appears to be a different child from the grave, sad-looking one we all saw while he lived in Miami, under the continuos harrassment of sensationalist media and fanatical pro-right wing followers. Once back with his father pictures published of their reunion show his smiling, bright face and tender way of looking at Juan Miguel Gonzalez. Both, father and son obviously love each other very much. This is why, inspired by a father and a sons love, Cuban children from all over the capital marched and sang waving their red and blue school scarfs in the air. The first rows of the march were formed by the students of Elian's school in Cardenas, in the province of Matanzas. Not one child was missing. The day before, in a TV interview all confirmed their participation. Even the ones who were sick at home, made themselves look and feel well enough to come to the march in Havana and join in with more than two hundred thousand children, marching for Elian. However, the battle is still not won. Unfortunately, there is still a long process of absurd appeals the kidnappers in Miami intend to make good use of to buy time. November will be the advent of a new President and new Attorney General to take office at the begining of next year. As if the U.S. people did not count. As if the Cuban people and all the people in the world that respect justice and human feelings did not count and remain motionless before such a crime. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= rhc-eng-23420 2000-Jun-14 03:23:47