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Politics
In Cuba, U.S. activists criticize trade sanctions
They also will protest against the Guantanamo prison.
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published January 8, 2007
HAVANA - Peace activists visiting Cuba to protest the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay expressed hope Sunday that the new Democratic congressional leadership will help ease long-standing U.S. trade and travel sanctions against the communist-run island. "I think it is about time we end the embargo and open up relations between the Cuban and American people," said Cindy Sheehan, who became an antiwar protester after her 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in Iraq in April 2004. "It hurts both sides." U.S. restrictions bar most Americans from spending money in Cuba, effectively preventing them from traveling there legally. The restrictions also bar virtually all trade between the countries, except for some U.S. sales of food and medicine to the island. Sheehan has drawn attention by camping outside President Bush's ranch to protest the Iraq war. Also in the delegation is Medea Benjamin, who organized the trip through the California activist groups Global Exchange and Codepink. Benjamin said she and others in the group of 12 believe they are exempt from the U.S. restrictions because they are traveling as human rights activists who will attend a daylong international conference in the Cuban city of Guantanamo on Wednesday. They plan to protest outside the main gate of the U.S. Navy's Guantanamo base Thursday to call for the closure of its prison for terrorism suspects. .
[Last modified January 8, 2007, 05:46:28]
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