Radio Havana Cuba-09 April 2002 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 09 April 2002 . *CUBAN PRESS ACCUSES UNITED STATES OF VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS *CUBA FOR URGENT MEASURES TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS OF AGING *CUBA REPAIRS HOMES DAMAGED BY HURRICANE MICHELLE *ISRAEL WITHDRAWS FROM TWO WEST BANK TOWNS, CONTINUES OFFENSIVE AS 13 SOLDIERS DIE *GENERAL STRIKE FAILS AS HUGO CHAVEZ BATTLES OIL EXECUTIVES *OIL SHORTAGES POSSIBLE AS MID EAST AND VENEZUELA PROBLEMS DEEPEN *97 SALVADORAN JUDGES FOUND TO BE PRACTICING WITHOUT PROPER DIPLOMAS *SRI LANKAN CEASE-FIRE HOLDS; TAMIL LEADER SCHEDULES PRESS CONFERENCE *STUDY FINDS 1,400 US STUDENTS DIE ANNUALLY FROM ALCOHOL ABUSE . *CUBAN PRESS ACCUSES UNITED STATES OF VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS Havana, April 9 (RHC)-- Every 24 hours in the United States human rights are trampled on and yet the authorities claim to be the human rights defenders of the world. An article that appeared on Tuesday in Cuba's Granma newspaper, maintains that the list of violations is so long that it could go from Washington DC to Geneva. The paper mentions a decision on March 28,made by the US Supreme Court, which allows employers to use undocumented workers and to fire them without paying back wages. The article points out that the measure violates the rights of the 2.5 million agricultural workers employed in the United States, 24 per cent of the domestics in private homes and nine per cent of restaurant employees. The article cites the Nuevo Herald newspaper on July 9, 2001, when it reported that "men, women and children who arrive in the United States, for various reasons are forced into servitude in factories, rural areas or brothels." The Cuban newspaper also mentions ongoing investigations into charges of slave trafficking in southeast Florida, noting the case of 25 women taken to the United States from India to be used as sex slaves. After listing various other cases of shocking human rights violations within the United States, the Granma article notes that without a doubt, US authorities rather than sitting in judgment of others, should themselves be judged in the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva. *CUBA FOR URGENT MEASURES TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS OF AGING Madrid, April 9 (RHC)-- The "unjust" world economic order is unable to solve the complex problems of aging. Speaking on Tuesday in Madrid, Cuba's Work Minister, Alfredo Morales Cartaya said the application of specific, effective, global measures is necessary. During the II United Nations Conference on Aging being held in the Spanish capital, the Cuban official charged that hundreds of millions of people lack the right to the so-called, "third age" due to the failure of neoliberal economic policies. Morales Cartaya said the huge gap between the rich and poor must be reduced and he proposed that International Monetary Fund recipes must be substituted with social policies that guarantee equality and quality of life for the elderly. Cuba's Work Minister called for greater contribution to the development of the Third World by condoning the foreign debt and offering interest-free loans to the poor countries to allow them implement adequate social programs. He stressed that it is necessary to globalize solidarity and he condemned what he termed, the "criminal blockade" that for 40 years the United States has maintained against Cuba. Alfredo Moarales Cartaya stated that the tragedy of being unable to grow old in the Third World is an inhuman condition. A condition, he emphasized, that is not the fault of the inhabitants, or the climate, or genes, but rather it is the fault of those who colonized those countries and continue to colonize them. He said that Cuba has shown that a small, poor nation can offer a better life by wisely using resources. He pointed out that since the triumph of the Revolution in 1959, the average life expectancy on the island has risen by 20 years and that in the year 2025 a full quarter of the Cuban population will be 60 years or older. *CUBA REPAIRS HOMES DAMAGED BY HURRICANE MICHELLE Havana, April 9 (RHC)-- Cuba announced today that more than half the homes damaged by the passage of Hurricane Michelle across the island, have been repaired. Vice President, Carlos Lage, added however, that at least 2,000 dwellings need to be built. Of the more than 165 thousand homes that were totally or partially destroyed by the hurricane, close to 84,000 have been repaired said the vice president in a report that was published on Tuesday by the Cuban newspaper, Granma. Lage reiterated the government's commitment to finishing recuperation efforts before the end the year, when 200 thousand new homes should be completed. Government officials say that Michelle, which ripped across the island last November 4 with winds of up to 210 kilometers an hour, was the strongest hurricane to hit the country in more than four decades. Five people died in the storm, which flattened homes and crops and toppled thousands of electrical power lines. *ISRAEL WITHDRAWS FROM TWO WEST BANK TOWNS, CONTINUES OFFENSIVE AS 13 SOLDIERS DIE Jerusalem, April 9 (RHC)-- Israeli forces withdrew from two West Bank towns today under pressure from Washington and Europe, but then invaded more Palestinian territory in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. And in the worst losses so far suffered by the army since the beginning of the current Intifada, 13 Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion in Jenin refugee camp where fighting is raging. The towns of Qalqilya and Tulkarem were evacuated by the army, which then encircled and effectively blockaded them. Troops then invaded the town of Dura close to Hebron. The US White House said that the withdrawals from Qalqilya and Tulkarem were welcome but not enough to satisfy President George Bush's demands that the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon carry out a general withdrawal from the Palestine National Authority territories he has invaded. Fighting continues in the town of Nablus, which has suffered heavy Palestinian casualties and has been largely destroyed. Meanwhile US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived in Cairo on his tour of the Middle East following a visit to Morocco where he was berated by King Mohammed VI who pointedly asked him why he was not heading to Jerusalem first. Many Arab leaders believe that the US is deliberately giving Ariel Sharon room to maneuver before the arrival of Powell in Israel on Thursday. Nonetheless, observers note that Bush appeared to be frustrated that Sharon had not immediately acted on his demands and said yesterday that he had meant what he said when had demanded a withdrawal of Israel from Palestinian territory. At least half a million demonstrators gathered in the streets of the Moroccan capital, Rabat, to protest the Israeli actions and the US backing of Sharon's policies. The demonstration was described by Moroccan authorities as one of the largest protests in the kingdom's history. Powell defended his itinerary by saying that he felt it was more important to consult with Arab leaders before arriving in Jerusalem. He is expected to meet with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Friday. *GENERAL STRIKE FAILS AS HUGO CHAVEZ BATTLES OIL EXECUTIVES Caracas, April 9 (RHC)-- A general strike that was called today by Venezuela's labor and business leaders in further efforts by the opposition to destabilize the government of President Hugo Chavez, was widely regarded as having failed. Since the President took over the management of the state oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, corporate business interests have maintained pressure on the government calling for strikes and a general slowdown in production. Today's strike was only observed by elements in the private sector with banks, schools, and all government offices open for business. Government representatives Tuesday said that oil exports remained at normal levels and that refineries were operational. Venezuela is the fourth largest producer of crude oil in the world. Its economy relies on oil for 80% of its exports and 50% of all revenues. The last work stoppage that took place in December of 2001 involved thousands of workers but did not force Chavez from power as its organizers had hoped. President Hugo Chavez spoke to the nation on Sunday explaining that he would not let the nation's oil production be affected by the corporate business executives that were against his economic reforms and took the opportunity to announce that he was firing seven of them and forcing another 12 into retirement. As the day closed, Chavez qualified the 24 hour strike as a farce saying that most workers had not been manipulated by the call to strike and that public transport, iron & steel, oil and aluminum industries had all been operational throughout the day. He denounced private television channels for saying the strike had been a success when, he added, the country had not been shut down as his enemies had hoped. *OIL SHORTAGES POSSIBLE AS MID EAST AND VENEZUELA PROBLEMS DEEPEN Caracas, April 9 (RHC)-- The Mid East crisis and the Venezuelan labor protests had a substantial effect on the world's oil prices today. On Monday Iraq placed a one-month moratorium on oil production in protest at Israel's invasion of Palestinian territories. Prices increased by some 4% on the New York Mercantile Exchange as a result of Iraq's decision and today's general strike in Venezuela. Although rising by a dollar a barrel yesterday, prices stabilized at an increase of 33 cents a barrel by the close of Monday's business day. The concern is especially sharp in the United States, which relies on Iraqi crude for 9% of its huge consumption. Venezuela represents the third largest importer of crude into the US. Saudi Arabia and other members of OPEC have announced that they will not follow suit with Iraq but Iran and Libya have expressed solidarity with Baghdad's decision and Arab leaders across the globe are under pressure to strongly respond to Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people. *97 SALVADORAN JUDGES FOUND TO BE PRACTICING WITHOUT PROPER DIPLOMAS San Salvador, April 9 (RHC)--In a scandal that could have major repercussions on the nation's judiciary, the Salvadoran Supreme Court has announced that it is investigating a total of 18 judges and four lawyers for irregularities in obtaining their academic diplomas. One of the investigating judges, Mario Solano, told the press that a total of 22 cases had so far been uncovered that could be classed as very seriously. In some instances, practicing legal counselors and judges on the bench have been found not to have the qualifications to carry out their duties. The Ministry of Education has cancelled the diplomas of 97 individuals with diplomas entitling them to the title of judge and another five with lawyer's degrees. Many of these had not even read the required texts to pass their exams. The scandal was uncovered after the Attorney General of El Salvador decided to review 2,849 lawyer's qualifications in which 179 were found to contain irregularities. *SRI LANKAN CEASE-FIRE HOLDS; TAMIL LEADER SCHEDULES PRESS CONFERENCE Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 9 (RHC)-- In the first serious efforts at peace in seven years, the leader of the Sri Lankan rebel Tamil Tigers is expected to hold a press conference for the first time in a decade on Wednesday. The reclusive Velupillai Prabhakaran, who has been fighting a civil war against the government in Colombo for 18 years, is considered to be a terrorist by India, the United States and Great Britain. He will not be arrested, however, after a cease-fire agreed upon with the government in an attempt to end the island's bloody conflict. Great efforts have been made by the government in an effort to hold the three-month peace together. The nation's prime minister, a Buddhist, recently removed his shirt upon entering a Hindu Tamil temple in a sign of respect. Grateful Tamils overwhelmed him. The actual peace talks are expected to begin in May and will be monitored by Norway. They will be difficult to carry through as many Muslims mistrust the Tamils after massacres in 1990, which led to the expulsion of many thousands of Muslims from the Tamil Hindu Jaffna Peninsula. Abuses on both sides have led many local populations to fear the consequences of a breakdown in negotiations but the fact that the cease fire has held since February is a hopeful sign say diplomats. Although the government will not grant the Tamils a separate state, as they have demanded, it is willing to grant them a high degree of autonomy as long as other ethnic minorities rights are guaranteed. *STUDY FINDS 1,400 US STUDENTS DIE ANNUALLY FROM ALCOHOL ABUSE Havana, April 9 (RHC)-- A study carried out by a Washington sponsored Task Force on College Drinking has found that an average 1,400 US college students die every year from alcohol related causes. The Associated Press reports that researchers felt that the figure is high enough for college drinking to be seen as a major health concern and treated as such. Kenneth J. Sher, a psychology professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia, reported that the general attitude toward student drinking is that it is simply a "rite of passage" that they needed to go through. The report estimates that 500,000 injuries and 70,000 cases of sexual assault occur every year in the US as a result of student alcohol abuse. On top of this some 400,000 students reported having had unprotected sex as a result of drinking. Car related injuries and deaths were the most common, with falls and drownings following. Homicides and suicides were not taken into account. (c) 2002 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-27230 2002-Apr-10 01:30:16