Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HAVANA816
2008-10-17 12:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:
DAMAS TELL FIRST LADY ABOUT HURRICANE DEVASTATION
how-toVZCZCXRO8125 OO RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC DE RUEHUB #0816 2911229 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 171229Z OCT 08 FM USINT HAVANA TO RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 0142 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 0037 RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO IMMEDIATE 0030 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3805 INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS IMMEDIATE RUCOGCA/NAVSTA GUANTANAMO BAY CU IMMEDIATE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3806
C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000816
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA; NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTORS KORZAK AND FISK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2018
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: DAMAS TELL FIRST LADY ABOUT HURRICANE DEVASTATION
Classified By: COM: Jonathan Farrar: For reasons 1.4 b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000816
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA; NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTORS KORZAK AND FISK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2018
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: DAMAS TELL FIRST LADY ABOUT HURRICANE DEVASTATION
Classified By: COM: Jonathan Farrar: For reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (C) SUMMARY: On October 16, seven members of the group
Damas de Blanco, an organization of the relatives and
supporters of Cuban political prisoners, spoke by video
conference with First Lady Laura Bush, and Commerce Secretary
Carlos Gutierrez. The Damas described the dire situation of
some of their members and the Cuban population after the
impact of hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The First Lady and
Secretary Gutierrez detailed the rejection by the Cuban
government of four U.S. offers of aid, as well as a
commitment to try to assist the Cuban people through private
organizations. The Damas stated that some people have
received assistance from private U.S. organizations. The
Damas interpreted remarks of Secretary Gutierrez as
indicating a commitment to approving a 90 day extension of
OFAC licenses to NGO's. End Summary.
2. (C) On October 16, members of the organization Damas
de Blanco spoke by video conference with First Lady Laura
Bush and Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez. The
participants in Havana were Laura Pollan, Noelia Pedraza
Jimenez, Clara Lourdes Prieto, Julia Nunez, Tania Morejon
Soca, Yaneris Perez and Olga Lilia Gonzalez. The Damas
expressed appreciation of the Bush administration's constant
commitment to democracy in Cuba.
3. (C) Spokesperson for the group, Laura Pollan, stated
that "Cuba is in ruins" after hurricanes Gustavo and Ike and
expressed deep disapproval of the decision of the Cuban
government to reject humanitarian assistance for ideological
reasons. Clara Lourdes described massive devastation in her
home province of Isla de la Juventud. The First Lady and the
Commerce Secretary stated the U.S. government continues to
explore the possibilities of sending aid through private
organizations.
4. (C) Pollan stated that several Damas had received cash
assistance sent by the Cuban American National Foundation
(CANF) and the Florida based NGO, Plantados. These funds
have been sent directly to individuals through Western Union.
Pollan earlier gave Poloff the names of a number of the
members of Damas de Blanco who have received such funds.
Pollan said that some churches in Cuba are making locally
organized relief efforts. USINT has forwarded lists of
dissidents who were severely affected by the hurricane, but
very few of these people have said that they've received any
assistance.
5. (C) Pollan asked for a 90 day extension on the granting
of OFAC licenses to NGO's for hurricane-related relief.
Secretary Gutierrez stated hat the matter was complicated and
was being explored. However, it was clear afterwards that
the Damas interpreted those comments as a firm commitment for
such an extension.
6. After the video conference, Pollan remarked that in the
past some U.S. based organizations such as GAD (Grupo de
Apoyo a La Democracia) actually delivered aid items, such as
clothing and medicine to the Damas which they in turn used to
support victims of previous hurricanes, but this has not
happened in over a year. She stated that it has become
increasingly difficult to get assistance to political
prisoners and their familles.
FARRAR
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA; NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTORS KORZAK AND FISK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2018
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: DAMAS TELL FIRST LADY ABOUT HURRICANE DEVASTATION
Classified By: COM: Jonathan Farrar: For reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (C) SUMMARY: On October 16, seven members of the group
Damas de Blanco, an organization of the relatives and
supporters of Cuban political prisoners, spoke by video
conference with First Lady Laura Bush, and Commerce Secretary
Carlos Gutierrez. The Damas described the dire situation of
some of their members and the Cuban population after the
impact of hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The First Lady and
Secretary Gutierrez detailed the rejection by the Cuban
government of four U.S. offers of aid, as well as a
commitment to try to assist the Cuban people through private
organizations. The Damas stated that some people have
received assistance from private U.S. organizations. The
Damas interpreted remarks of Secretary Gutierrez as
indicating a commitment to approving a 90 day extension of
OFAC licenses to NGO's. End Summary.
2. (C) On October 16, members of the organization Damas
de Blanco spoke by video conference with First Lady Laura
Bush and Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez. The
participants in Havana were Laura Pollan, Noelia Pedraza
Jimenez, Clara Lourdes Prieto, Julia Nunez, Tania Morejon
Soca, Yaneris Perez and Olga Lilia Gonzalez. The Damas
expressed appreciation of the Bush administration's constant
commitment to democracy in Cuba.
3. (C) Spokesperson for the group, Laura Pollan, stated
that "Cuba is in ruins" after hurricanes Gustavo and Ike and
expressed deep disapproval of the decision of the Cuban
government to reject humanitarian assistance for ideological
reasons. Clara Lourdes described massive devastation in her
home province of Isla de la Juventud. The First Lady and the
Commerce Secretary stated the U.S. government continues to
explore the possibilities of sending aid through private
organizations.
4. (C) Pollan stated that several Damas had received cash
assistance sent by the Cuban American National Foundation
(CANF) and the Florida based NGO, Plantados. These funds
have been sent directly to individuals through Western Union.
Pollan earlier gave Poloff the names of a number of the
members of Damas de Blanco who have received such funds.
Pollan said that some churches in Cuba are making locally
organized relief efforts. USINT has forwarded lists of
dissidents who were severely affected by the hurricane, but
very few of these people have said that they've received any
assistance.
5. (C) Pollan asked for a 90 day extension on the granting
of OFAC licenses to NGO's for hurricane-related relief.
Secretary Gutierrez stated hat the matter was complicated and
was being explored. However, it was clear afterwards that
the Damas interpreted those comments as a firm commitment for
such an extension.
6. After the video conference, Pollan remarked that in the
past some U.S. based organizations such as GAD (Grupo de
Apoyo a La Democracia) actually delivered aid items, such as
clothing and medicine to the Damas which they in turn used to
support victims of previous hurricanes, but this has not
happened in over a year. She stated that it has become
increasingly difficult to get assistance to political
prisoners and their familles.
FARRAR