In a welcome course correction, MundoFox included perspectives critical of Obama’s policy toward Cuba in its national evening newscast. After a slanted report last week that hyped the Obama-Castro rapprochement and solely featured Castro and his supporters on touting the removal of the Cuban regime from the United States’ list of countries that sponsor terrorism, the network has now produced a balanced, comprehensive piece on economic and political developments on the island, including mounting concerns over human rights violations.
Anchor Rolando Nichols opened the network’s latest coverage by pointing out that “not all agree with President Obama’s policy toward Cuba.” In the back-to-back reports that followed by reporters María Luisa Rossel in Washington and Orlando Guerrero in Miami, MundoFox highlighted both the economic hopes that Obama’s policies may mean for Cuba, as well as the challenges of necessary reforms. In her report, Rossel noted that “Congress is not ready to lift the embargo” and interviewed analyst Carlos Mercader, who emphasized Cuba’s lack of basic liberties and systematic violations of human rights.
CARLOS MERCADER, REPUBLICAN ANALYST: But, the reality of the case is that the majority of the Cuban people live under oppression; not only are their human rights violated on a daily basis, but also their social rights, their rights as a person to be part of free enterprise, to have economic benefits, to have social benefits that everyone here enjoys.
MARIA LUISA ROSSEL: Meanwhile, Congress is not ready yet to evaluate the lifting of the embargo.
Meanwhile, MundoFox’s Orlando Guerrero observed how “the world speaks about rapprochement between Havana and Washington, but news coming from Cuba reports more repression cases.” Guerrero’s report noted the spike in human rights violations as well as concerns about how a possible Castro regime consulate in Miami could be used by the Cuban government to target the city’s pro-democracy exile community.
Relevant portions of the referenced Noticias MundoFox segment are below.
Noticias MundoFox 06/02/2015 5:30 p.m.
English Translation:
ROLANDO NICHOLS: Now, not everyone agrees with what President Obama is doing about Cuba. It is still not known when embassies are going to open in both countries. From Washington, Maria Luisa Rossel begins with this team coverage.
MARIA LUISA ROSSEL: The United States’ Undersecretary of International Commerce, Stefan Selig, is waiting for Cuba to open its market and move forward necessary economic changes necessary as part of the process of normalization of relations with the United States. During a conference about Cuba’s economic future at the Brookings Institution, to whichCuban economists were also invited, Selig said that the necessary reforms will place Cuba at the level of countries like Chile, Colombia or Peru.
…
Opponents of Obama’s policy towards Cuba lament that the U.S. emphasizes the economic realm and not the lack of liberties in Cuba.
CARLOS MERCADER, REPUBLICAN ANALYST: But, the reality of the case is that the majority of the Cuban people live under oppression; not only are their human rights violated on a daily basis, but also their social rights, their rights as a person to be part of free enterprise, to have economic benefits, to have social benefits that everyone here enjoys.
MARIA LUISA ROSSEL: Meanwhile, Congress is not ready yet to evaluate the lifting of the embargo.
…
ROLANDO NICHOLS: In Miami, more than 20 organizations are getting ready for a demonstration rejecting the policies being applied by the Obama administration to the Castro government. Orlando Guerrero presents to us those who are opposed.
ORLANDO GUERRERO: The world is talking about the rapprochement between Washington and Havana, but the news being received from Cuba tells of more cases of repression. Dozens of protesters were detained this past Sunday for marching in Havana, and actions against the Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White) are announced for next Sunday. In view of this panorama, the Cuban exile community will take to the streets this upcoming weekend. They are more than 20 organizations united with just one purpose; to demand that President Obama not move forward with negotiations with Raúl Castro until respect for human rights is guaranteed. But the demand that is also aimed at Latino members of Congress from both parties also comes with a certain threatening touch. Historically, the Cuban vote has been one of the most disciplined and solid in both presidential and congressional elections.
…
ORLANDO GUERRERO: While everyone talks about the opening of embassies, the exile community does not stop imagining a Cuban consulate in South Florida. They predict enormous problems for the authorities.
ORLANDO GUTIERREZ, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST: An American embassy in Cuba could be at the service of the rights of Cubans and achieving Cuba’s peaceful transformation. A Cuban consulate in Miami would be at the service of the intelligence service of that dictatorship to bend and distort that community.
Español Original:
ROLANDO NICHOLS: Ahora, no todos están de acuerdo con lo que está haciendo el presidente Obama sobre Cuba. No se sabe aún cuándo van a abrir las embajadas en ambos países, María Luisa Rossel desde Washington, inicia con esta cobertura de equipo.
MARIA LUISA ROSSEL, CORRESPONSAL: El subsecretario de comercio internacional de Estados Unidos, Estefan Selig espera que Cuba abra su mercado y lleve adelante los cambios económicos necesarios dentro del proceso de normalización de relaciones con EEUU. Durante una conferencia de sobre el futuro económico de Cuba en el Instituto Brookings, a la que también fueron invitados economistas cubanos, Selig dijo que las reformas necesarias situarían a Cuba al nivel de países como Chile, Colombia o Perú.
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Los opositores de la política de Obama hacia Cuba lamentan que EE.UU. enfatice el tema económico y no la falta de libertades en Cuba.
CARLOS MERCADER, ANALISTA REPUBLICANO: Pero la realidad del caso es que la mayoría del pueblo cubano vive oprimido, no tan solo sus derechos humanos son violados diariamente, y sus derechos sociales, sus derechos como persona a ser parte de la libre empresa, a tener beneficios económicos, a tener beneficios sociales que todos aquí gozamos.
MARIA LUISA ROSSEL: Mientras el Congreso no está listo aun para evaluar el levantamiento del embargo.
…
ROLANDO NICHOLS: Ahora en Miami más de 20 organizaciones se preparan para una manifestación de rechazo a las políticas aplicadas por el gobierno de Obama hacia el gobierno de los Castro. Orlando Guerreo nos presenta a los que se oponen:
ORLANDO GUERRERO, CORRESPONSAL: El mundo habla de acercamiento entre La Habana y Washington, pero las noticias que llegan desde Cuba reportan más casos de represión. Decenas de opositores fueron detenidos el pasado domingo por marchar en La Habana y para el próximo se anuncian acciones contra las Damas de Blanco.
Ante este panorama el exilio cubano saldrá a la calle el próximo fin de semana. Son más de 20 organizaciones, unidas con un solo propósito: pedirle al presidente Obama que no avance en las negociaciones con Raúl Castro hasta que se garantice respeto por los derechos humanos. Pero la petición que también va dirigida a los congresistas latinos de los dos partidos lleva cierto tinte de amenaza. Históricamente, el voto cubano ha sido uno de los más disciplinados y solidos tanto en las elecciones presidenciales como legislativas.
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ORLANDO GUERRERO: Cuando todo el mundo habla de apertura de embajadas, el exilio no para de imaginarse un consulado cubano en el sur de la Florida. Vaticinan que los problemas para las autoridades serían enormes.
ORLANDO GUTIERREZ, ACTIVISTA DE DDHH: Una embajada americana en Cuba podía estar al servicio de los derechos de los cubanos y de lograr una transformación pacífica de Cuba. Un consulado castrista en Miami, estaría al servicio de la inteligencia de esa dictadura para doblegar y distorsionar a esta comunidad.
