Costa Rica is demanding US explain ‘Cuban Twitter'

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Costa Rica is demanding US explain ‘Cuban Twitter'
By ALBERTO ARCE, JACK GILLUM and JAVIER CORDOBA
Associated Press April 24, 2014 Updated 43 minutes ago


SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — The Costa Rican government says it’s waiting for the Obama administration to explain why it improperly devised a secret “Cuban Twitter” network from inside the Central American nation’s borders despite warnings in 2009 that the plan could jeopardize the two countries’ diplomatic relations.

Costa Rican Foreign Minister Enrique Castillo said it was “inappropriate” to use his country for developing the primitive social media network, known as ZunZuneo, which aimed to stir political unrest in Cuba. The network was created under the U.S. Agency for International Development, but its users were unaware it was backed by the U.S. government.

“I think it’s inappropriate to use an embassy in Costa Rica for this type of operation that harms a third country,” Castillo said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We’re not filing a complaint. The point is that embassies accredited in Costa Rica don’t have to submit their plans or programs for the Costa Rican government’s approval.”

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki acknowledged Wednesday that the U.S. Embassy in San Jose received a diplomatic note from Costa Rica requesting an explanation after the AP first reported on the program in early April. “In the following days, embassy staffers have reached out to their MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) counterparts on multiple occasions about the issue and those conversations have been ongoing,” she said.

Read more: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/04/24/3605742/costa-rica-is-demanding-us-explain.html#storylink=cpy

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Good for Costa Rica!

No need to drag them into and old battle from last century. They aren't involved - we need to leave them out of it. Oh - and Costa Rica is my 'happy place' - so I'm being blindly protective of those folks who welcome me to their country with warmth and kindness.

[lsewpershad]

2. Exceptional America

Has a right to do this kind of destabilizing work any place in the world.....but no other country can.

[Perseus]

3. No, not good for Costa Rica...

Most of DU members, if not all, are always complaining on the intrusion that the US government has around the globe, but Cuba is worst, and you can see what is happening in Venezuela, Bolivia, in Colombia with the FARC, Ecuador, and you will see the same in Brazil, the Castro brothers have started with the "import" of Cuban Medical Doctors into Brazil. Now, just think about it, what kind of technology does Cuba have that makes their doctors so "good"? None, and those that were "imported" into Venezuela have caused more chaos than benefits, they are not well prepared.

The Castro brothers are worst than the US because where Cuba goes, injustice, poverty and misery follow, and if Costa Rica doesn't wise up, they are going to end the same way.

Lets face it, what does Cuba have that they can offer to any country in the World? Their music, which is fantastic, but most of the good Cuban musicians are in the USA, but other than that, nothing. What kind of life do you think the Cuban people live?

[dotymed]

5. Wow.

Did you even read the O.P.?

I really miss the "old DU."

[JustAnotherGen]

6. Thank you!

We'd flip a shit if Canada did this to us with say - Russia.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. No Costa Rica

Will not end up the same way. Belize? Maybe. But Costa Rica - nope. Capitalists through and through - even have legalized prostitution.

[Ash_F]

9. The US government pulled the plug on the service.

After Cubans were found to be using it to actually socialize, rather than spark a revolt.

So much for freedom of expression.

Good for Costa Rica.

[Sunlei]

13. They pulled the plug on twitter for Cubans?That sucks!,with Guantanamo there its only a switch flip.

[joshcryer]

19. Nah, it was a free texting service.

Texting is extremely expensive in Cuba, a couple of text messages are a days work.

The "service" was allowing Cuban's to text each other for free. The Cuban government had no reason to shut it down because they were getting paid and it wasn't causing any unrest or anything.

It makes you wonder why they don't just open up the internet there.

[crim son]

10. Hmmm.

You don't know much about Costa Rica, do you?

[drgonzosghost]

11. I Live Here in CR

And what you just posted was so dumb that I had to show everyone in my house.

"Wise up"....
Our version of the Occupy Movement just won the national election, and you're still bathing in oligarchy.

Seriously Perseus...think before you write things.

[Sunlei]

14. I wish the USA wasn't "bathing in oligarchy"

Makes me wish I could move to Costa Rica!

[JustAnotherGen]

15. Thank you for speaking up!

If you don't mind - where about? I love love love Costa Rica. Wonderful people - beautiful country. And yes - very progressive folks. Very very kind to my husband and me.

[drgonzosghost]

17. I live in Heredia,

and I've been here for about 8 years. I made the decision to move here when our then Sec. of Defense said on national TV that anyone who was against our torture program was a nazi sympathizer.

That's when I took my ball and went home. I met the most gorgeous woman alive with a lighthearted Tico family, and haven't really looked back. I suggest everyone who can, do the same. Get to a (actual) neutral country, be it CR or anywhere else and park your ass there for a while. Shit's about to get ugly.

And THAT is the crux of CR's issue with the "Cuban Twitter" nonsense. CR is neutral, recognized by the UN as neutral, and you don't do espionage from neutral countries. It's just rude.

[Comrade Grumpy]

4. Those damned Russian imperialists--oops, nevermind.

[JustAnotherGen]

7. +1000

[Sunlei]

12. Their gov didn't allow it's citizens to have twitter? Is that what Costa Rica wants to hear?

Everybody already knows America has its fist on Cuba.

[hack89]

16. Regular twitter should be good enough for the Cuban people nt

[Judi Lynn]

18. Costa Rica condemns alleged anti-Cuba US campaign

Costa Rica condemns alleged anti-Cuba US campaign

24 April 2014 21:19 (Last updated 24 April 2014 21:23)

Costa Rica condemned an alleged US campaign against Cuba communist regime being conducted from San Jose

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica

Costa Rica condemned an alleged social media campaign based in the U.S. Embassy at San Jose, aimed at undermining the Cuban communist regime. The condemnation was made on concerns that this would damage diplomatic relations between Cuba and Costa Rica, according to a statement from Costa Rican foreign minister.

The ZunZuneo network which targets young Cubans as a free social media platform for music, football etc. has drawn tens of thousands of subscribers who remained unaware that the network was founded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

In an interview with Associated Press (AP), Castillo said that the government waits for an urgent explanation from the U.S. upon the issue.

Several documents seized by the AP showed that United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is financing a social media program dubbed "Cuban Twitter" ZunZuneo, aimed at undermining the communist regime in Cuba and provoking a political crisis in the country. To start up the 2009-dated program, the U.S. has seized more than 400 thousand phone numbers in Cuba and hired contracted employees for realizing its anti-Cuban targets, the AP report said.

More:
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/rss/317902--costa-rica-condemns-alleged-anti-cuba-us-campaign