FOLLOW-UP MAY 21 - DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 000908

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018
TAGS: CU KDEM KPAO PHUM PREL SOCI
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP MAY 21 - DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN
PEOPLE

REF: A. (A) STATE 051536

B. (B) LIMA 870

Classified By: Ambassador P. Michael McKinley reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU/NF) Post took the following actions to support the
Day of Solidarity with the Cuban People:

a. Placed IIP-provided editorial in El Comercio edition of
May 20, under the by-line of the Ambassador. El Comercio
(center-right, circulation of 90,000) is Peru's "paper of
record" and the op-ed appeared on the editorial page, just
under the paper's own daily editorial. The op-ed appeared
under the headline "The Drama of the Political Prisoners"
with the sub-head "Cuba and Some Lukewarm and Insufficient
Reforms" (added by El Comercio editors).

b. Issued as Press Releases the IIP-produced story on
Solidarity Day by Eric Green and President Bush's
Proclamation of May 21.

c. Added links on the Embassy's websites in Spanish and
English to the IIP story and Presidential remarks on Cuba
Solidarity Day.

d. Contacted several local NGOs active in promoting human
rights, including four heavily involved in prisoner rights
and prisoners of conscience and asked them all to take action
to support Solidarity Day. Many of the NGOs we contacted
showed an interest but did not confirm directly with us when
or how they would take action.

e. However, two events were added by two of these NGOs to the
Solidarity Day website. These included a musical event held
on Saturday, May 17 in the middle class district of Lima,
Pueblo Libre. The President of the PPC and former
presidential candidate, Lourdes Flores; PPC Congressman Raul
Castro; Salvador Heresi, the mayor of San Miguel district of
Lima and David Flores from the "Red Huamista" group all spoke
about Cuba's need for democracy and freedom. Approximately
1,500 young people participated.


2. (SBU/NF) Post reported comments made by President Garcia
and the President of the European Parliament in reftel (B)
made at the opening of the Latin America-EU Business Summit
in Lima May 15. On the morning of May 16, at the opening of
the summit of political leaders, President Garcia made the
following comment during his welcoming remarks: "We believe
firmly in democracy, we believe firmly in liberty, we know
that it is only through free elections, a truly free press
and freedom of free association and political thought that
our peoples can express themselves("


3. (C) A high-level figure from the ruling APRA party told
us that during the summit President Garcia repeatedly called
on certain countries not to "isolate" themselves ("aislarse")
from others in the region with anti-democratic practices --
a clear play on the word "isla" (island in Spanish) that made
the reference to Cuba clear. President Garcia's deputy chief
of staff also told us May 21 the President would likely
reiterate publicly his concern for political prisoners in
future public fora, including during the May 23 meeting of
South American presidents in Brazil (he promised to confirm
these plans with us at the earliest opportunity.)
MCKINLEY