wfn.org | NCCCUSA Racial Justice Working Group to Cuba

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Contacts:  NCC News, 212-870-2227
  Sammy Toineeta, 212-870-2387
  Czerny Brasuell, 207-786-8215
Email: news@ncccusa.org  Web: www.ncccusa.org

NCC3/18/99FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FACT-FINDING GROUP CALLS FOR AN END TO THE EMBARGO OF CUBA

 HAVANA, Cuba, March 16, 1999 - The Racial Justice
Working Group of the National Council of Churches completed
its March 11-16 fact-finding mission to Cuba today resolved
that the U.S. embargo and economic sanctions against Cuba be
lifted.

"It was the unanimous opinion of our delegation," said
Czerny Brasuell, the working group's co-chair, "that the
continuing imposition of the U.S. embargo and economic
sanctions will not produce credible economic or political
results.  Certainly, on moral and humanitarian grounds, we
believe that this policy primarily targets the elderly and
children, not the Cuban government."

 The fact-finding delegation included five clergy, two
denominational representatives, several human rights
activists, and lay people sent by their congregations.

One of the group's goals was to learn more about
religious practice and freedom in Cuba.  Group members were
the guests of the Martin Luther King Center, an interfaith
facility and hub for cultural activities (especially for
youth), education, worship, and dialogue.

Rev. Raul Suarez Ramos, Director of the Center, along
with Rev. Lucius Walker of Pastors for Peace in the United
States, made arrangements for a heavy schedule of interviews
and discussions while the group was in Havana.  Rev. Ramos,
pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church at the Center, is also an
elected deputy to Cuba's National Assembly.

 The group met with the Cuban Council of Churches,
representatives of the Afro-Cuban and Haitian communities,
the President of the Cuban Parliament, and the director of
North American affairs in the Foreign Ministry.

They spent considerable time touring the city and
observing general living conditions.  Lack of housing was
one of their major concerns, and the embargo certainly plays
a role in this shortage, they observed.  There also was an
opportunity to talk with members of congregations, workers
and students.  Three of the U.S. pastors were guest
preachers at local churches on Sunday morning.

 The most poignant testimony concerning the embargo,
however, came in a visit to a children's hospital, where the
delegation was briefed on the history of the Cuban Health
Care System, and the present consequences because of a
scarcity of very basic supplies, technology, lack of raw
materials to produce their own medicines, and not having
access to new drugs being developed in other countries.

 The question and definition of human rights came up in
several conversations, particularly with the "dissident"
trial going on at that time.  Comparisons were drawn to the
number of political prisoners in the United States, some
with very long sentences.  Concern about the continued arms
race and nuclear capacity of the U.S. was also raised.

 "It is our belief," said Sammy Toineeta, Coordinator of
the Racial Justice Working Group, "that it is in the
interests of the people of both countries to end the
embargo, and work towards mutual understanding and respect
through dialog, cultural exchanges, and manifestations of
faith.  We will go back to our communities and appeal for
the end of the embargo as a first step toward this goal."

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