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END THE BLOCKADE OF CUBA
ORIGINS OF THE BLOCKADE
February 3, 1962: the total embargo of commerce between the US and Cuba is put into effect.
Of course, it had begun much earlier. On April 6, 1960, Lester D. Mallory, Deputy Under-secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs stated:
" ... the only foreseeable means to alienate internal support is by creating disillusionment and discouragement based on lack of satisfaction and economical difficulties (…) We should immediately use any possible measure to (…) cause hunger, desperation and the overthrow of the Government."
BATTLE IN THE UNITED NATIONS
The resolution demanding an end to the blockade was first adopted in 1992.
The US has tightened the blockade ignoring the expressed will of the International Community.
THIS YEAR VOTING FOR THE RESOLUTION WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 8TH
It is the longest and most cruel blockade known to the history of mankind.
II. It is an act of economical warfare.
III. It is a fundamental part of State Terrorism policy.
IV. It qualifies as an act of genocide.
V. It has extraterritorial characteristics. It illegally forces companies and citizens of other countries to follow US laws; formalized by the Torricelli (1992) and Helms-Burton (1996) Laws.
VI. More than 70% of Cubans have been born and are living their entire lives under the blockade.
VII. According to conservative estimates, it has resulted in direct economic suffering to Cuba to a total of more than 82 thousand million dollars, with an annual average of 1,782 million dollars.
Extraterritorial measures continue tightening
TORRICELLI LAW
(in effect since 1992)
Prohibits Cuban commerce with the subsidiaries of US companies in third countries.
The Swedish company Pharmacia, bought by Amersham, provided part of the technology and consumables for biotechnological scientific research centers which develop and produce diagnostic and therapeutic elements such as cancer vaccines. The Amersham was later bought by US General Electric, which gave one week to close the Cuban office and suspend all contracts on the island.
Obliges ships from third countries to wait no less than six months to land in US ports after having landed in Cuba ports, they are included on a "black list".
SHIPMENTS OF MERCHANDISE IS AFFECTED
Recently, the foreign ship ZIM was asked to provide information about tariff fares between Havana and Chile; it replied that it could neither give information nor carry out the operation due to the Torricelli law, since its ships frequently traveled to US ports. A tariff higher than one charged to other foreign companies had to be accepted. One of the ZIM 40 foot containers cost 2,700 dollars per container but they had to pay the other company 4,500 dollars per container.
HELMS-BURTON LAW
(Passed in 1996)
Among other aspects, it gave legal strength to all the blockade prohibitions; it attempts to prevent foreign investment in Cuba and assumes that the US can decide on the sovereignty of other States.
Moreover, it indicates that the Secretary of State can deny entry into the US of employees and directors of companies violating the strict blockade against Cuba, and obliges the Secretary to draw up a list of "excluded" people.
IN APRIL 2005, 9 DIRECTORS OF SHERRITT, A CANADIAN COMPANY, AND THEIR RELATIVES, WERE DENIED ENTRY INTO THE US FOLLOWING APPLICATION OF SECTION IV OF THE HELMS-BURTON LAW.
Fines were applied by the US in 2004 for acts in violation of the blockade by 77 companies, banking institutions, and NGOs were affected to a sum of 1,262,000 dollars.
Of these, 11 are foreign companies or subsidiaries of US companies in third countries, such as Mexico, Canada, Panama, Italy, United Kingdom, Uruguay, The Bahamas and British West Indies (Anguila).
TIGHTENING THE BLOCKADE
On June 30, 2004, measures included in the report of the so-called "Commission for Help to a Free Cuba" approved by Bush on May 6 of the same year came into effect.
More than 80% of these measures have been applied.
THE BUSH PLAN FOR ANNEXATION
Objective
Destroy the Revolution, restore capitalism and reinstate imperial domination over the Cuban nation.
THE BUSH PLAN FOR THE ANNEXATION OF CUBA INCLUDES MEASURES THAT WILL:
- Asphyxiate the economy, especially development of tourism and investments.
- Further increase restrictions on financial flow and travel.
- Create obstacles, using even irrational levels, to the ties between Cuban residents in the US and their relatives on the island.
- Prevent academic, cultural, scientific and sports exchanges between our nations.
- Encourage conditions that facilitate US intervention with an eye to later annexation.
Severe travel limitations
In 2004, visits of US citizens to Cuba decreased by 40.5%: 51,027 compared to 85,809 in 2003. This year (until August 31) 26,459 US citizens visited Cuba, 33% less than in the same period last year (39,916).
Travel of Cuban residents in the US decreased 50.3% in 2004: 57,145 visited Cuba compared to 115,050 in the previous year. Until June 30, 2005, 56,920 visited Cuba, 20% less than in the same period in 2004 (71,044).
Restrictions for US citizens or permanent residents
On September 30, 2004, the US Treasury Department indicated that citizens or permanent US residents can not legally buy any product made in Cuba, including cigars and alcohol, in a third country, not even for their personal use abroad.
Criminal charges for violating these regulations can include a million dollars in fines for corporations and 250 thousand dollars and up to 10 years imprisonment for individuals.
Fines for US citizens and residents
In 2004, the Office for Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) fined 316 US citizens and residents for violating various provisions of the blockade. Up to August 2005, 477 fines had already been imposed.
Measures against the Cuban finance
Starting with the second quarter of 2004, the US Government strengthened their campaign to prevent deposits, exchange to other currencies or transfers through banks of third countries of dollars that Cuba legally receives because of tourism, remittances and sales in commercial centers.
In May 2004, in the context of such campaign, the US Federal Reserve imposed a U.S.$100 million fine on the Swiss bank UBS AG.
Impact on the social program of soy yogurt distribution for all Cuban children aged 7-13:
In August 2004, Cuba hired from Brazilian Enterprise MEBRAFE equipment for the refurbishment of all the cold-storage plants from UNION LACTEA. The equipment hired included 14 SABROE refrigeration compressors. SABROE - a Danish Company - was bought by U.S. York Company, and consequently, it prohibited its representative in Brazil to sell the compressors to Cuba.
IMPACT ON CANCER TREATMENT
Cuba has not been able to purchase the spare parts and radioactive sources for two automatic charging machines for the treatment of gynecological tumors (brachytherapy equipment), purchased from Canadian Company MSD NORDION. As a result, 120 patients were not able to receive the best choice of treatment until those machines were replaced by other machines from Europe.
IMPACT ON THE PURCHASE OF MEDIA TO DETECT CONGENITAL DISORDERS IN PREGNANT WOMEN
The U.S. company GIBCO produces Amniomax, which is a culture medium for the detection of congenital disorders in pregnant women over 38 years and it is the only internationally known product to carry out such test.
Around 100-ml 6 160 flasks of it are imported annually for the National Center for Medical Genetics, through an intermediary.
Had Cuba been able to purchase it directly, U.S.$136 700 would be saved.
IMPACT ON THE PROGRAM TO ASSIST CHILDREN IN NEED OF A LIVER TRANSPLANT
The lack of response from Abbot Laboratories to request for purchase of the equipment that sets doses of Tracolimus (FK506) immunosupressor, which is only produced by that American Lab, and which is indispensable to watch over the blood levels, whose variations may bring about complications due to infections and secondary tumors.
Close down in Havana of the enterprise of medical equipment for intensive care.
RADIOMETER-a Danish company that produces gasometers (equipment used at intensive-care units to analyze gas in blood) with direct links with MEDICUBA - an importer company for over 35 years - was forced in 2004 to close down its office in Havana as it was purchased by the U.S. company DONAHER. This cost additional expenses of around U.S.$200,000 annually to the Cuba.
IMPACT ON METROBUS (CAMELLOS)
The coupling wedges and engines for Metrobus service for the City of Havana, especially the U.S.-made ones, had to be purchased through an intermediary. With the U.S.$795,642.33 that were paid in excess in the purchase through intermediaries of 98 coupling wedges during the year, Cuba could have bought another 62 wedges. In addition, it was necessary to pay an additional amount of U.S.$567,978 for not being able to purchase spare parts directly in the U.S. With these two quantities, the service could have been increased in 30 percent.
For more information, read the Report by Cuba on Resolution 59/11 of the United Nations General Assembly: "The necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba" from August 15, 2005.
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