Reply #42: First of all, they are NOT librarians - by their own words, they're "dissidents".

[Mika]

From a link that you posted..
http://www.ala.org/ala/pr2004/prjan2004/alacounciladopts.htm

Both delegations, which included leaders from ALA and IFLA, and members of IFLA's FAIFE and staff, used the opportunity to visit Cuban libraries and librarians and to meet with individual journalists, unionists, psychologists, and writers who had opened private library collections as "independent libraries" for other Cubans to use. Among the individuals met by ALA and IFLA members were Ramon Colas and Berta Mexidor, who were the founders of the "independent library" movement.

ALA and IFLA members and staff confirmed in discussions with the Cuban dissidents who opened private libraries, that these individuals did not consider themselves librarians, but described themselves as "political dissidents."

What are we to make of your article that dismisses the words of the subjects being discussed (and defended in the article you posted).

The founders of the "independent library" movement do not consider themselves librarians, but described themselves as "political dissidents."

Why should the ALA support and/or defend an illegal US funded "independent library" movement?

The IRC/IFC Task Force has reviewed ALA and IFLA documents and several reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch on the matter of the arrest, trial, and detention of the 75 Cubans in March and April 2003. All the information available to us indicates that none of the prisoners were charged with violent actions; rather, they were accused of collaborating with U.S. diplomats to undermine the state, and/or receiving American government funds.

There were no such charges against these people that included "making available the Universal Declaration of Human Rights". They were charged with treason by aiding and abetting the declared enemies of Cuba. The Nat Hentoff allegation of this is just plain ridiculous, because the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in its entirety is part of the Cuban constitution, which is taught at school as well as being available in full at bookstores and libraries all over Cuba. Plus, he is attempting to draw a parallel between US librarians (the ALA membership) and fake "librarians" in Cuba who don't even claim to be librarians, but dissidents on the US payroll. The ALA and Asociacion Cubana de Bibliotecarios (ASCUBI) do have a relationship, but they don't have a relationship with US paid political agents who's agenda is to overthrow the system of government.



Its easy for Nat Hentoff and his ilk to spew this crap to an audience that has not and cannot go to Cuba to see for themselves.

I have been there, and seen it with my own eyes.