Labor Organization Slams Castro Regime Cancelation of Visit by Canadian Official
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Christian Labour Association of Canada Press Release

http://www.clac.ca/NewsEvents/NewsArchives/tabid/395/ctl/ViewContent/mid/830/ItemID/115/Default.aspx

Ottawa—CLAC [Christian Labour Association of Canada] says the Cuban government's cancellation of a visit by the Honourable Peter Kent, minister of state of foreign affairs (Americas), is a deliberate ploy to avoid discussing legitimate concerns over human rights violations in Cuba.

"The Castro regime has responded to the invitation to dialogue with a closed fist and a deaf ear," says Dick Heinen, CLAC's executive director. "They are using pretense to cover their dismal record of human rights and ignore legitimate concerns raised by labour unions, the United Nations, and human rights organizations around the world."

CLAC sponsored the April visit to Canada of Pedro Pablo Alvarez Ramos, a high-profile Cuban labour rights advocate and prisoner of conscience, who met with NGOs, academics, and government officials. Minister Kent met with Alvarez and was expected to raise the issue of human rights during his visit to Cuba.

"Organizations as diverse as the UN, the International Trade Union Confederation, Amnesty International, and the Canadian government have been clear: dialogue with Cuba is preferable to sanctions," says Heinen. "The Obama government has also extended an olive branch. Sadly, the Cuban government remains completely unwilling to talk about its human rights violations."

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Directorio Democrático Cubano
P.O. Box 110235
Hialeah, Florida 33011
Tel. 305-220-2713
info@directorio.org

In Memory of Mario Manuel de la Peña