‘In the exercise of my freedom’ --Interview with Menoyo

Anyone interested in Cuba will be fascinated by this man.

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An interview with Eloy Gutiérrez Menoyo, who has been threatened by the government of the United States for supporting a political dialogue with the Cuban government.

By Manuel Alberto Ramy

ramy@progresosemanal.com

Over the head of Eloy Gutiérrez Menoyo, former Cuban rebel commander and the leader of the opposition group Cambio Cubano (Cuban Change), hangs the possibility that the U.S. authorities will sentence him to 10 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. This was communicated to him officially by a functionary of the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba.

Menoyo's case is curious. In August 2003, he traveled to Cuba from the U.S. accompanied by his wife and three of his children to visit relatives. It wasn't the first time he returned to Cuba. But during that trip he decided to remain there and secure legal status for himself and for the organization he leads.

Since then, he has left the country and returned on several occasions with the approval of the island's government, which every time "guaranteed to me that I could return -- a promise it kept," Menoyo told me in an interview months ago (see "The path of confrontation leads nowhere," in Progreso Weekly, July 29-Aug. 4, 2004.)

Now, a communication from OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control), an office of the U.S. Treasury Department, warns him that he may be tried and punished.

What is happening to Eloy Gutiérrez Menoyo? Why this message to the only oppositionist to the Havana government who has decided to leave the Miami enclave to reside in Cuba so as to "open spaces for the peaceful and independent opposition," as he has stated?

http://www.progresoweekly.com/index.php?progreso=Ramy2&otherweek=1108706400

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Background on Menoyo

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Cuban exile leader returns 'for peace'

A former Cuban revolutionary who became the leader of an exile opposition movement in Miami says he has returned to live in Cuba to work for peace and national reconciliation.

...Mr Gutierrez Menoyo fought in the Cuban revolution which brought Fidel Castro to power, but later spent 22 years in prison for leading an armed uprising against his former comrade.

...Despite his differences with the Cuban authorities, Mr Gutierrez-Menoyo has been granted permission several times to make non-political family visits to his homeland in recent years.

He met Mr Castro during a visit to Cuba in 1995.

Mr Gutierrez Menoyo, 68 and nearly blind, was a commander who fought in the Cuban revolution that overthrew the Batista regime on 1 January 1959.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3133649.stm

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Statement by Cuba expert Wayne Smith former head of US-Cuban Interests Section in Havana.

Wayne Smith Comments on Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo

February 9, 2005

Just when you think U.S. policy and actions toward Cuba cannot possibly get any dumber, they do. The actions the Treasury Department is threatening to take against Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo are truly mind-boggling. Here he is, a man who fought against Castro, was captured arms in hand and spent 22 years in prison. Released in the late 1980s, he went to Miami and formed an opposition group called Cuban Change (Cambio Cubano), but said all along that he did not want to be an "exile leader;" rather, he wanted to return to Cuba and lead Cambio Cubano from within the island, but as a group that would work within the law and be recognized by the government. In effect, a loyal opposition. Feeling that time was passing him by, a year and a half ago, after a visit to Cuba with his wife and children, he announced that he was not returning to the United States; rather, he would remain in Cuba indefinitely. This was a rather dangerous thing to do, given that he did not have any authorization from the Cuban government, which made it clear that it was unhappy with his decision. But remain he did, and the Cuban government tolerated it. He has not opened a Cambio Cubano office, but, as he puts it, "there's still time."

No one would ever say that Eloy does not have guts. He has demonstrated again that he has plenty, and he has eked out a certain amount of "opposition" space for his efforts.

Now, on the one hand, the U.S.Government says it supports oppositionists in Cuba. But one the other, it is now threatening to impose a huge monetary fine against Eloy and to send him to prison for ten years BECAUSE HE OVERSTAYED AND DID NOT COME BACK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW REGULATIONS. But if anything, Eloy's case simply points up again how foolish and counterproductive the new regulations are. "No, sorry, sir," they seem to be saying," you can't stay and try to expand the parameters for legitimate opposition. You must return by the limits set by the new regulations! That's what's really important."

http://www.ciponline.org/cuba/cubainthenews/newsarticles/WSScomments/Eloy.htm