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CNN Live Sunday
Fidel Castro's Regime in Cuba Taking More Heat Than Usual
Aired August 10, 2003 - 18:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA. CNN ANCHOR: Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba has been taking more heat than usual lately for crackdowns on dissidents and yet an opposition leader who spent nearly the last 40 years either in prison or in exile shocked the world this week by announcing he's back in Cuba to stay.
From Havana, CNN's Lucia Newman has this follow-up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NEWMAN (voice-over): Back in Cuba to stay, former exile Eloy Gutierrez-Menoyo goes out to buy a pack of his favorite cigarettes. After four failed attempts, he admits he's still learning how to live in Cuba again.
"I'm learning" he says. "This morning I calculated it would take me five minutes to shower but with so little water coming out of the faucet it took me half an hour."
Still, for this man who spent 22 years in a Cuban prison and 16 in exile in Miami organizing a legal opposition movement is much more important than life's daily hassles.
"I want to work with anyone who is in favor of a truly independent opposition movement" he says.
Many Cuban dissidents, though, are not welcoming Gutierrez-Menoyo with open arms.
"I would work with Satan if it was for the good of my country" says human rights activist Elisardo Sanchez (ph). "But I doubt Gutierrez-Menoyo wants to work with us because for years he's been attacking us, trying to discredit the human rights movement."
Gutierrez-Menoyo has criticized many local dissidents for, in his view, being too cozy with Washington but he denies that he return from exile was approved by President Fidel Castro, who until now has not said a word publicly about his presence back in Cuba.
Elisardo Sanchez, meanwhile, doubts Castro would allow a legal opposition movement. "Cuba's government doesn't want any kind of opening" he says, "any kind of political change for the good."
But Gutierrez-Menoyo argues his movement offers the Castro government something it needs. "It could represent an improvement of relations with the rest of the world and even better ties with the United States. So many opportunities could open up if Cuba shows it's willing to give some room to the opposition." The former guerilla commander become pacifist continues to be an eternal optimist.
Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 10, 2003 - 18:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA. CNN ANCHOR: Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba has been taking more heat than usual lately for crackdowns on dissidents and yet an opposition leader who spent nearly the last 40 years either in prison or in exile shocked the world this week by announcing he's back in Cuba to stay.
From Havana, CNN's Lucia Newman has this follow-up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NEWMAN (voice-over): Back in Cuba to stay, former exile Eloy Gutierrez-Menoyo goes out to buy a pack of his favorite cigarettes. After four failed attempts, he admits he's still learning how to live in Cuba again.
"I'm learning" he says. "This morning I calculated it would take me five minutes to shower but with so little water coming out of the faucet it took me half an hour."
Still, for this man who spent 22 years in a Cuban prison and 16 in exile in Miami organizing a legal opposition movement is much more important than life's daily hassles.
"I want to work with anyone who is in favor of a truly independent opposition movement" he says.
Many Cuban dissidents, though, are not welcoming Gutierrez-Menoyo with open arms.
"I would work with Satan if it was for the good of my country" says human rights activist Elisardo Sanchez (ph). "But I doubt Gutierrez-Menoyo wants to work with us because for years he's been attacking us, trying to discredit the human rights movement."
Gutierrez-Menoyo has criticized many local dissidents for, in his view, being too cozy with Washington but he denies that he return from exile was approved by President Fidel Castro, who until now has not said a word publicly about his presence back in Cuba.
Elisardo Sanchez, meanwhile, doubts Castro would allow a legal opposition movement. "Cuba's government doesn't want any kind of opening" he says, "any kind of political change for the good."
But Gutierrez-Menoyo argues his movement offers the Castro government something it needs. "It could represent an improvement of relations with the rest of the world and even better ties with the United States. So many opportunities could open up if Cuba shows it's willing to give some room to the opposition." The former guerilla commander become pacifist continues to be an eternal optimist.
Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
