Reply #60: Where were you when it was revealed that Cuban undercover agents

[Judi Lynn]

who had been working within the "dissident" community for YEARS came forward and provided all necessary proof of certain dissidents, like Marta Beatriz Rocque, taking payment from American sources FOR YEARS, including money from a Cuban "exile" paramilitary organization in Miami. (One of these witnesses was the personal secretary to Marta Beatriz Rocque, and should know, having handled all the materials for ages.) This is the foundation of the prosecution which sent these guys to jail.

If the situation were reversed, and prominent critics and provocatuers in America were being financed by China, etc., they would not fare well here. There's actually a law which addresses this situation, which someone might provide in a link, if he/she reads this post.

Here's information from Cuban Presbyterian church leaders concerning the flap surrounding their dissidents:

(snip) On April 23, church leaders responded to the international furor with an open
letter to churches around the world. The Rev. Reinerio Arce-Valentmn, a
Presbyterian who serves as president of the Cuban Council of Churches, was
one of 23 signatories.

In the letter, the religious leaders expressed opposition to the death
penalty and disagreement with some of their government's actions. But they
also expressed grave concern for the "security" and "integrity" of their
nation in light of the U.S. threat. They also voiced fear that the war with
Iraq could be a prelude to U.S. aggression against Cuba.

"We believe that we find ourselves in a moment of serious threat for the
security and integrity of our nation," they wrote. "We also
believe that what is intended is to find pretexts to launch another war of
aggression."

They promised to honor their evangelical directive to provide spiritual
counseling to imprisoned dissidents and condemned the U.S. government for
financing, supporting and protecting opposition groups inside Cuba > activity
they claim has increased under the direction of James Cason, the top U.S.
diplomat in Cuba. The U.S. government disputes the charge.

"Throughout 40-plus years this kind of thing has happened every once is a
while with people who have been used by the CIA , for example," Dopico said.
"So basically, people in my congregation saw it as just another example of
people  working with the U.S. and profiting from it."

Jiminez, who leads a Presbyterian Reformed congregation in central Cuba, said
his country must be wary of outside influences. "I think as Cubans we need to
defend our country," he said. "We don't want Americans or Europeans coming
here and saying what we need to do." (snip/...)

http://www.wfn.org/2003/12/msg00044.html