Should I Believe You Granma?

Erazmo Calzadilla

On Thursday, November 19, there appeared a relatively extensive article in the newspaper Granma titled “The Intellectual Orphanage of Human Rights Watch.”

A journalist for the official organ of the Party informed us that the preceding day this NGO had accused the “island” of failing to improve its human rights record.

It was here where I begin to doubt the intentions of that columnist. Did Human Rights Watch (HRW) really accuse the “island”? – because it’s difficult for a mound of rock in the middle of the sea to violate human rights.

Wasn’t the accusation made against the government of the Republic of Cuba? And isn’t the author translating that as the “island” in an attempt to dilute the accusation by indicting all islanders?

This would have been cleared up in a click if I had had the opportunity to read the HRW report with my own eyes; but neither Granma nor any other national newspaper believed it was necessary -even out of elementary respect for their readers- to present a translation of the charge along with the commentary.

This time, like almost always, we had to be satisfied with the filtered version of the middlemen, who on occasions such as this seem more like vulgar manipulators of the truth than they do experts.

In the subsequent paragraphs, the fudging of language continued as Granma affirmed that HRW sought “to throw lifejackets to domestic counterrevolutionary forces paid by the anti-Cuban lobby within the government of the USA.”

Stated this way, the opposition in Cuba -which was lumped together here under the label of “counterrevolutionary,” thus accentuating their villainous character- seems to consist of a unitary group of mercenaries at the service of the USA.

I don’t doubt they do in fact exist, but it’s obvious that not all opponents and dissidents are paid by the “Yankees.” I know many who would never sell themselves, despite the miserable situations in which they live.  Many people of conviction, capable of great sacrifices for their ideas, are now tossed into the same bag as the real mercenaries.

The journalist then asserted that HRW “pursues no other aim than to maintain the blockade.” It is true that certain degenerates sustain the embargo and justify it with criticisms like these against the Cuban government; however, I recently had the privilege -impossible for the vast majority of Cubans- of viewing this NGO’s webpage, where I read with my own eyes their president’s statement:

“The embargo has failed and it should be ended.  Instead of isolating Cuba, that policy has isolated the United States because it has allowed Castro’s government to garner international sympathy, alienating potential allies from Washington.”

This is to say -contrary to what is claimed by Granma (the only contact with the world for ordinary Cubans)- the “kow-towing” president of HRW not only disapproves of the blockade, but is also calling for its end from within the very bowels of the empire that imposes it.  In addition, he denounces serious human rights violations within the US itself.

So I don’t see how HRW can be so casually labeled as being biased and a brownnoser, as Granma would lead us to believe.  This is called lying, or at least hiding information, and that’s serious for any press media.

In short, it’s an article that tries to convince us that the violation of some human rights doesn’t exist in Cuba.  But it does so with such poor technique -characteristic of those who lack reason, trying divert attention by slinging insults at the accuser- that I really find it difficult to believe.

This is not an approach to the issue that involves the depth and calm calculation it deserves. And I imagine it disappointed not only me, but many of those who would expect a different kind of response from a self-proclaimed Marxist, proletarian and comunist government.