UN regrets undercover Cubans at event

[Bacchus39]

Source: AP

GENEVA - The United Nations has expressed regret that undercover Cuban officials attended a U.N. news conference on human rights, where they sought information on a French journalist asking critical questions about Fidel Castro's regime.

Elena Ponomareva, spokeswoman for the global body's European headquarters, said she was unable to prevent two Cuban diplomats from entering the Oct. 11 news event with Jean Ziegler, a U.N. rights expert who was preparing for a mission to the communist-run island.

The U.N. strictly prohibits government officials from attending news conferences unless they are explicitly invited and included among those presenting. Previous run-ins have occurred with Sudanese diplomats seeking to monitor rights officials speaking about Darfur.

Havana refused for years to allow U.N. envoys to visit and investigate alleged rights abuses in the country, claiming that such missions would violate Cuban sovereignty.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071114/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/un_cuba_journalists;_ylt=Aqa.p0L7Fr6vJxDeCOivmCq3IxIF

[NYVet]

1. But, but...

I was told my Michael Moore that Cuba was a paradise on earth...

Why would Cuban officials need to go undercover to get information reporters investigating suspected human rights abuses?

[Tempest]

2. For the same reasons the U.S. does it

Bolton sent one of his underlings undercover to an Iranian conference at the U.N. to gather intelligence.

[Javaman]

9. But but nothing...

everyone spies on everyone. If you don't believe that I have a bridge to sell you.

[Judi Lynn]

3. UN Praises Cuba's Ability to Feed People

UN Praises Cuba's Ability to Feed People
By WILL WEISSERT – Nov 6, 2007

HAVANA (AP) — A U.N. food expert hailed Cuba as a world model in feeding its population, some 18 years after the collapse of the Soviet Bloc ravaged the island's economy and sparked widespread hunger.

Jean Ziegler, who has been the United Nations' independent investigator on "the right to food" since 2000, spent 11 days in Cuba on a fact-finding mission, meeting with top officials and chatting up farmers, state managers and ordinary Cubans waiting in line for food allotted by ration cards.

"We haven't seen even one malnourished person" — a rare feat in much of poverty-stricken Latin America, Ziegler said Tuesday. "The right to being fed is the priority, without a doubt."

Cuba is one of 32 countries that include the "right to food" in their constitutions, and fewer still — including Brazil, Latin America's largest economy — meet pledges to provide food to all their citizens, he said.

Ziegler, who visited two prisons in Havana to ask inmates about their daily diets, did not address human rights concerns over the arbitrary imprisonment and alleged abuse of political prisoners and critics of the island's one-party government.

Despite a 46-year U.S. embargo against the communist-run island, Cuba has found ways to ensure its population does not go hungry, Ziegler said. "Cuba always invents an answer," he noted.

More:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jfWi7uupBHNctnkAa8hW-0Nf32KwD8SOKKE00

[Bacchus39]

4. from my original llink concerning the food issue

Ziegler — who hailed Cuba during his 11-day mission as a world model for how it provides its people with food — could not be reached for comment.

The Swiss sociology professor was appointed as an unpaid, independent expert by the U.N. Human Rights Council, but his views do not necessarily represent those of the global body.

[Rage for Order]

5. That's setting the bar pretty low

Cuba is being praised because its people aren't starving to death? That's like praising a husband for not beating his wife.

[Judi Lynn]

10. You're only missing the 45+ year old embargo which the entire world condemns.

It's easy to attempt flippant remarks but they have to have a footing in reality to matter.

[Rage for Order]

12. You're mistaken

I didn't "attempt" a flippant remark, I made a flippant remark, and I executed it perfectly! :)

[Judi Lynn]

13. Your flippant remark didn't make any sense. It has no context, nothing to do with reality.

How is praise for Cuba's ability to produce food under a 45+ year old embargo for its people similar to a man beating his wife?

Before the revolution, the poor in Cuba were actually starving. The people who lived dependent on seasonal work, like tobacco, sugar cane, had work only part of the year, yet had no land upon which they could grow their own food. They had no electricity, running water, sewage, education, or medical treatment when sick or injured. A large percentage of them suffered with internal parasites. They did NOT have adequate food, by any means whatsoever.

Their poverty made revolution seem the ONLY alternative, combined with the brutality of the Batista regime.

Haven't you ever bothered to research the subjects you believe you're skilled at babbling about? No time like the present.

[Rage for Order]

14. What does all of that have to do with the OP? nt

[Judi Lynn]

15. Concerns the 4th paragraph of the O.P.:

The Cuban officials were present for a testy exchange between the French journalist and Ziegler, who said Havana should be praised for cooperating with the global body and agreeing to allow him to report on the country's respect for the "right to food" — Ziegler's area of expertise.

On edit, make that the ORIGINAL ARTICLE. The fourth paragraph wasn't included in the O.P. You had to read the article to notice it.

[Bacchus39]

17. and to elaborate

"The Swiss sociology professor was appointed as an unpaid, independent expert by the U.N. Human Rights Council, but his views do not necessarily represent those of the global body."

[robcon]

6. It seems your only posts are to change the subject, Judi Lynn

Usually, when someone tells the truth about Castro's gulag, you try the diversion to some Miami Mafia guilt-by-association tactic. This time it's another example of the well-documented human rights abuse in Cuba - so you try to change the subject to food.

Nice try - food to divert from the subject, rather than guilt-by-association. At least you're adopting something new to change the focus from Castro's police state.

Why don't you bring up Cuban medicine to deflect from Castro's despotism? ... like Mussolini's supporters used the "trains ran on time" to deflect criticisms of that dictator in pre-war Italy?

[Bacchus39]

7. oh, rest assured

the are coming....

[Judi Lynn]

11. So you don't think it's important to read the original post? The fourth paragraph, to refresh your

memory says:

The Cuban officials were present for a testy exchange between the French journalist and Ziegler, who said Havana should be praised for cooperating with the global body and agreeing to allow him to report on the country's respect for the "right to food" — Ziegler's area of expertise.
(snip)

God forbid you should be expected to know what you're talking about.

[ronnie624]

8. That settles it.

We have no choice but to continue our current policies. And the 'military option' must not be ruled out. That would embolden our enemy. Cuba must be crushed, one way or another.

Sarcasm aside, I'm not sure I understand the significance.

[Laughing Mirror]

16. Who is this "French journalist"?

Is there some reason why the journalist's name is not given?

I, along with the Cubans, would like to know who it is.