Exile who returned welcomes plan to drop visas for native Cubans

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HAVANA --

A prominent Cuban exile who returned home this summer with hopes of staying for good said Wednesday he welcomed news that the communist government plans to drop visa requirements for exiled natives who want to visit.

"We've been asking for this for years. I'm very happy," said Eloy Gutierrez-Menoyo, a former Cuban rebel commander turned opposition leader.

Lazaro Herrera, a spokesman with the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, said Tuesday the change would take effect early next year. Currently, Cuban exiles who wish to visit their homeland must obtain special permission before making the trip.

The proposed change was announced by Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque at a meeting with about 300 Cuban-Americans in New York last weekend, Herrera said. The Cuban government is changing its policy to try to improve relations with Cuban exiles, he added.


<http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031001/APN/310011198>

He's so courageous, following his own conscience, and his own larger view of Cuba's possible future.

He had to put up with so much hostility from the right-wing extremist Miami Mafia, and still didn't back down to them.

From your article:

(snip) Now 68 and nearly blind, Gutierrez-Menoyo has said he stayed in Cuba after a family vacation here with his wife and three school-age sons in August in hopes of receiving official permission to stay permanently. He also wants to open an office for his opposition group, Cambio Cubano.

Although Gutierrez-Menoyo has said he has met several times with foreign ministry officials since deciding to stay here for good, he has received no final decision from the government. (snip)

(snip) Cambio Cubano - Cuban Change in English - criticizes the socialist system, but favors dialogue with island leaders and reconciliation among Cubans of all political stripes.

The Castro government in recent years has had a respectful, but cautious relationship with Gutierrez-Menoyo, who has traveled here occasionally to visit family. He met with Castro himself in 1995. (snip)

The right-wingers in Miami are trying to claim that he's allowed to set up operations in Cuba because he's a "collaborator."

Isn't this SO typical of people like that? Since he doesn't support their violent ways, he must be a "commie lover."