Name That Dissident

at 10:57 AM Sunday, June 19, 2011


BY: THE HILL


The Miami Herald ran a story today entitled, "Wikileaks: Few Cubans Can Name U.S.-Backed Dissidents."

The title alone indicates heavy spin -- for the "U.S.-backed" label is irrelevant (at best) and malicious (at worst).

Moreover, the facts don't support the title, nor the spin.

The story is about a State Department cable from the U.S. Interests Section in Havana (USINT) -- released by Wikileaks -- which analyzes a 2008 unscientific survey conducted amongst a group of Cubans seeking to emigrate.

Over half of those surveyed recognized the name of at least one prominent Cuban pro-democracy leader.

The dissident with the highest name I.D. was Marth Beatriz Roque (43%), followed by Oswaldo Paya (29%) and Jorge Luis Garcia Perez "Antunez" (22%).

It's important to note that those surveyed were only in the application phase of their migration status and that the first tier of USINT employees they interact with are Cuban nationals contracted from Castro's state-employment agency. Thus, a fear factor should also be weighed-in, which artificially weighs down these numbers.

Despite this, the fact that over 50% recognized at least one pro-democracy leader is actually quite impressive considering the Castro regime's absolute monopoly over all means of communication.

Remember -- Barack Obama's name I.D. was barely over 50% when he began his 2008 campaign for President of the United States, while enjoying the benefits of a free media.

Thus, imagine the spike in the name I.D. of these pro-democracy leaders as new technologies continue to expand and after the high-profile confrontations of 2010 -- pursuant to the death of political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo and the hunger strike of Guillermo Farinas.

And if dissidents had access to the island's national media networks -- it would be game over.

Of course, Castro knows that (hence the incessant censorship and repression).

It's too bad USINT and The Miami Herald doesn't.