Juan González, Colombian by birth and American at heart, who serves as President Joe Biden’s adviser on Latin America, launched a feeble threat against Cuba.
González claimed that Cuban leaders would face sanctions if some of Washington’s scoundrels in Havana were arrested or prosecuted.
The newly named adviser made his argument with a recurrent and phony display of respect for the fundamental right of “peaceful protest,” omitting, as always, established law on the island.
What is intriguing about the Colombian American’s concern is that it shows a selective devotion when it comes to defending rights. Last April, González visited his native Colombia just as a new wave of protests erupted, a wave that surpassed the level of protest in 2019 and 2020.
After meeting with Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez and members of his administration, González reaffirmed that “Colombia and the United States are strategic allies.”*
We know what came after. From April 28 until a few weeks ago, hundreds of thousands of Colombians took to the streets nearly everywhere in the country to express their disapproval of Duque’s pro-Uribe government.
As a result, 80 people died, dozens were injured and disappeared, and there were hundreds of detainees. Faced with this mass massacre in addition to the dozens of deaths that occurred during the 2019 and 2020 protests, and in addition to the victims of systemic violence in this country, González did not issue any threats or even express any concern.
In May, when the Colombian foreign secretary and vice president made a desperate trip to Washington to whitewash the pro-Uribe regime in the face of visibly excessive repression, González reassured them, reiterating his support without any mention of sanctions.
This selective manner of defending human rights shows once again the cynicism of the Biden administration and reinforces need for a standard of tenacity that U.S. officials should have when talking about Cuba. This failed threat will be tossed overboard because it is vacuous and immoral.
*Editor’s Note: This quote, though accurately translated, could not be independently verified.
Juan González, colombiano de nacimiento y estadounidense de corazón, quien se desempeña como asesor de Joe Biden para Latinoamérica, lanzó una lánguida amenaza contra Cuba.
Juan aseguró que vendrían sanciones contra dirigentes de la Isla si algunas de las fichas de Washington en La Habana eran arrestadas o procesadas judicialmente.
El flamante asesor argumentó su retórica con el recurrente artificio del respeto a los derechos fundamentales de los «protestantes pacíficos», obviando como siempre el marco legal establecido en la Isla.
Lo sugerente de la preocupación del colombo-estadounidense radica en su selectiva devoción a la hora de defender derechos. En abril pasado, Juan visitó su tierra natal, Colombia, justamente cuando allí bullía una nueva ola de protestas que superó las acaecidas en el 2019 y el 2020.
Tras reunirse con el presidente Duque y parte de su equipo, refirmó que «Colombia y Estados Unidos son aliados estratégicos».
Después vino lo que sabemos. Desde el 28 de abril hasta casi unas semanas atrás, centenares de miles de colombianos tomaron las calles de casi todo el país para expresar su inconformidad con el gobierno uribista de Duque.
El saldo fue de 80 muertos, decenas de heridos y desaparecidos, y centenares de detenidos. Frente a esta masiva masacre, que se une a las decenas de asesinatos durante las protestas de 2019 y 2020, y a las víctimas de la violencia enquistada en ese país, Juan no lanzó amenazas, ni siquiera preocupaciones.
En mayo, cuando la canciller y vicepresidenta colombiana viajó desesperada a Washington para lavar la cara del régimen uribista frente a una represión visiblemente desbordada, Juan la tranquilizó reiterándole su respaldo sin mencionar sanciones.
Esta selectiva manera de defender los derechos humanos evidencia, una vez más, el cinismo que transpira la administración de Biden y refuerza el criterio sobre la solidez facial que deben tener los funcionarios estadounidenses a la hora de hablar sobre Cuba. Por la borda se irá otra vez esta amenaza fallida por vacua e inmoral.
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It is doubtful that the Trump administration faces a greater danger than that of dealing with the Jeffrey Epstein files, because this is a danger that grew from within.
It is doubtful that the Trump administration faces a greater danger than that of dealing with the Jeffrey Epstein files, because this is a danger that grew from within.
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