In a surprise move, the Treasury Department sought to avoid protracted struggle with IFCO/Pastors for Peace by initiating an offer to allow the aid to go to Cuba without a license. During six previous caravans, the US government has seized aid, issued grand jury subpoenas, and otherwise attempted to stop the Pastors' aid from getting to Cuba. But Treasury did not impede the passage of this caravan, even though it carried more than 500 tons of unlicensed humanitarian aid, including sophisticated medical equipment, high-level computers and prescription medicines.
Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., executive director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace, attributed today's victory in part to the success of last year's campaign to free the 435 medical computers which Treasury seized from the sixth caravan. "Perhaps our government came to understand the depth and seriousness of our commitment, and decided not to engage us in another long struggle. Perhaps the strong advocacy of 70 members of Congress, nine national religious agencies, and many thousands of US citizens, has forced a slight liberalization in the enforcement of the blockade. But we remain concerned, and much work remains to be done.
"The US continues to enforce a tight international blockade on the sale and trade of most essential goods to Cuba -- even the most basic goods. Our government tries to deny this, by publicly suggesting that there are no sanctions on food and medicines. But the American Association for World Health has documented the precise effects of the so-called "Cuban Democracy Act" on the health and nutrition of the Cuban people, and we have seen those effects with our own eyes. We refuse to be complicit with a policy of death and starvation. We need to stop putting a pretty face on this brutal blockade -- to admit that Cuban children are being denied access to lifesaving medicines because of our government's policies, and to stop punishing those innocent children.
"Our future work must include a concerted campaign to support legislation which will exempt food and medicine from the blockade. And from there we will keep working until Helms/Burton, and Torricelli, and the whole blockade are overturned. Our major objective is to do everything possible to awaken the conscience of this nation to the need to end this policy of death."
The aid which IFCO/Pastors for Peace will deliver to Cuban children includes: a computer-equipped mobile library; an ambulance filled with specialized pediatric medicines; four school buses and several vans; six dialysis machines, an incubator, and hundreds of tons of medical and dental equipment; 50,000 pairs of eyeglasses; equipment for blind, deaf and disabled children; and family needs such as soap, shoes, clothing, toothbrushes and powdered milk. The aid will be received by an ecumenical committee of Cuban clergy who will distribute it according to the most pressing needs. 155 members of the caravan will visit Cuba May 17-24 for a program of education and fellowship.
This morning in San Diego, the caravan was ambushed and attacked by Alpha 66 terrorists, as it passed by a Catholic church in San Ysidro on its way to the border. Eight members of the right-wing Cuban-American terrorist organization, which describes itself as "a commando military" group, rammed caravan vehicles with their cars, jumped on vehicles, hurled eggs and insults, and assaulted members of the caravan. "They even attacked our ambulance. I can't imagine how any decent person could justify attacking an ambulance for a children's hospital," said Rev. Walker. Rev. Walker expressed pity for them and asked God's forgiveness for their sinful behavior.
IFCO/Pastors for Peace
An action project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization National Office:
402 West 145th, NY, NY 10031 tel 212/926-5757 fax 212/926-5842
Midwest Office: PO Box 408130, Chicago, IL 60640-8130 tel 773/271-4817 fax 773/271-5269
We want to send a strong and broad-based message to our government: that it's time to stop using food and medicine as weapons against our neighbors; that it's time to overturn Helms/Burton; that it's time to end the US blockade and normalize relations with Cuba.
We invite YOUR participation in this historic act of love for our Cuban neighbors. Families, youth and adults from all parts of the US will be joining this caravan. Canadian and European participants will show that the US government is alone in the world in its brutal treatment of Cuba. We expect this caravan to be our biggest and broadest ever!
The Caravan for the Children of Cuba will travel through the US May 4-10, stopping in 150 cities for educational presentations. We will cross the US border with our aid for Cuba's children on May 16 at San Diego, CA and on May 14 at Buffalo, NY. Caravanistas will visit Cuba for a week-long educational program May 17-24.
The Caravan will collect and deliver many types of aid for Cuba's young people--including computers, science lab equipment, school supplies and other educational aid; mobile libraries and school buses; ambulances; pediatric medicines and medical equipment; special equipment for blind, deaf and disabled kids; soap; toothbrushes; cloth diapers and baby clothes; educational toys; musical instruments; art supplies; dance and sports equipment. (Please check with us for guidelines, as only certain specific items can be accepted.)
There are many ways you can support the Caravan for the Children of Cuba:
Eastern and Southern States:
IFCO 402 W 145th St., New York, NY 10031
212/926-5757; fax: 212/926-5842
Email: ifco@igc.apc.org
Western and Midwestern States:
IFCO/Pastors For Peace PO Box 408130, Chicago, IL 66040
773/271-4817; fax: 773/271-5269
Email: p4p@igc.apc.org
For more information, see also the local Cuba Solidarity organization nearest you
Return to the Cuba Solidarity Home Page
( "http://www.igc.apc.org/cubasoli/" )