No End to Cuba’s Turmoil Without International Aid

Published in Hokkaido Shimbun
(Japan) on 25 July 2021
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Joseph Santiago. Edited by Olivia Parker.
Starting in the middle of this month, large-scale demonstrations against the government have risen up in socialist Cuba, with thousands participating in city centers like the capital, Havana. In some cases, these protests have turned fatal. Between U.S. sanctions and the global spread of COVID-19, the flow of foreign currency and goods that comes with tourism has stagnated, bringing the economy to its lowest point since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. The discontent stemming from over half a century under the Communist Party’s oppressive rule has reached its limit. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been quick to point out that any coercion of protestors is a human rights violation.

After the passing of Fidel Castro, the hero of the Cuban Revolution, in 2016, his younger brother Raul succeeded him as first secretary of the Communist Party. This past April, though, he announced his retirement, leaving the leadership of Cuba to Miguel Díaz-Canel, whose power base remains shaky. If the situation in “America’s backyard” worsens, the increase of refugees and the displaced has the possibility of allowing China to spread its hegemony and gain a foothold in Central America and the Caribbean. The unrest in Cuba can’t be allowed to spread throughout the region. The U.N. and the wider international community must support Cuba with both its economy and the welfare of its people.

Though America and Cuba broke off diplomatic ties in 1961, Barack Obama restarted them in 2015, loosening economic sanctions. However, Donald Trump, who antagonized Obama, restored said sanctions to their previous levels. Last month, for the 29th year in a row, the U.N. voted in favor of requesting that the United States end its embargo on Cuba. The only two countries opposed to this motion were the U.S. and Israel.

As isolating Cuba has done little to democratize it, the Obama administration’s policy shift aimed to force change from inside instead of out, something Joe Biden, then vice president, must not forget.

Biden stated flatly that "Cuba is unfortunately a failed state and repressing their citizens,” but when taking into account the plight of said citizens, loosening trade restrictions must be given serious consideration. There are certainly issues for Cuba itself too, as it clings to one-party rule while its citizens suffer. Cuba must recognize that building good diplomatic and economic relations with America is invariably tied to its own stability.

During a tour of Central America and the Caribbean this month, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi spoke over the phone with his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, stating, “We want you to listen to your peoples’ pleas,” requesting concrete efforts to improve conditions. Historically, Japan has maintained good relations with Cuba. This must be used to rein in this chaos.


キューバの混乱 国際社会の支援必要だ

社会主義国キューバで今月中旬、大規模な反政府デモが起きた。首都ハバナなどで数千人が参加したとされ、死者も出た。

 米国の制裁に加え、新型コロナウイルスの世界的な感染拡大で、観光による外貨収入や内外の物流が滞り、経済は1991年の旧ソ連崩壊後当時に匹敵するほどの危機にひんしている。

半世紀以上続く共産党独裁による抑圧的体制への不満が噴出した形だ。米国は、デモ参加者への弾圧が人権侵害だと指摘している。

 革命の英雄フィデル・カストロ氏は2016年に死去し、弟のラウル・カストロ元国家評議会議長は今年4月、要職から完全に退いた。後継のディアスカネル大統領は権力基盤がまだ弱い。

 「米国の裏庭」と言われるキューバの状況が悪化すれば、亡命者や難民のさらなる発生につながる可能性がある。覇権主義的な動きが目立つ中国は、中米・カリブ諸国への関与を強めている。

 キューバ国内の混乱を地域の不安定要因にしてはならない。経済と国民生活の安定に向け、国連はじめ国際社会の支援が必要だ。

 米国とキューバは1961年に断交したが、オバマ元大統領が2015年に国交を回復させ、経済制裁を緩和した。だが、オバマ氏に批判的なトランプ前大統領がこれに反発し、緩和を取り消した。

 国連は長年、米国の対キューバ制裁の解除を求め、先月には29回目の決議を採択した。反対したのは米国とイスラエルだけである。

 オバマ政権の政策転換は、キューバを孤立させる政策を続けても民主化は進まないとして、内からの改革を促す狙いがあった。当時副大統領だったバイデン大統領は、そのことを忘れてはなるまい。

 キューバについてバイデン氏は「失敗国家で、自国民を抑圧している」と突き放すが、国民の疲弊ぶりを踏まえれば、商取引制限などの緩和を検討すべきではないか。

 国民生活を改善できないまま、一党独裁に固執するキューバの側にも問題があろう。米国との関係改善を進め、経済交流の構築を図ることが、自国の安定につながると認識すべきだ。

 茂木敏充外相は今月、中米・カリブを歴訪した。コロナ禍で電話での会談となったキューバのロドリゲス外相に対しては「人々の声に耳を傾けてほしい」と述べ、状況改善に向けた対応を求めた。

 日本は伝統的にキューバと良好な関係を維持してきた。その経験を混乱収拾に生かしたい。
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