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A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 15 November 2019
Cuban president says US plan to pressure Cuba failing

By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN appear to have become
Associated Press graver, and gas stations
CAIMANERA, Cuba (AP) have been regularly run-
— A short distance from ning out of fuel, but there
the U.S. naval base at is no sign that Cuba has re-
Guantanamo Bay, Cu- duced ties with Venezuela
ban President Miguel Díaz- or made any other conces-
Canel said Thursday that sions sought by the U.S.
the Trump administration’s Díaz-Canel began his visit
hardening of the American to the town of about 10,000
embargo is failing to force people with a visit to a new-
concessions from his gov- ly renovated 3D movie hall,
ernment. a state-run restaurant and a
"The Yankees keep squeez- series of other government
ing but we keep resisting projects in Caimanera be-
and winning,” he said. “We fore heading to the provin-
will fight back. They will cial capital, Guantanamo.
never defeat us, and with Since assuming power in
everyone’s help we will April 2018, Díaz-Canel has
keep advancing our ideas made several dozen similar
and the country will keep trips around Cuba to check
advancing.” Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel greets residents as he arrives in Caimanera, Cuba, Thursday, on public services and in-
Díaz-Canel, 59, was mak- Nov. 14, 2019. frastructure, accompanied
ing his first trip as president Associated Press by Cuba's state-run media.
to the town of Caimanera, Some international me-
the closest point in Cuba nist government dedicated cent months, banning U.S. ban government and re- dia were invited to cover
to the U.S. naval base. The to thwarting U.S. influence cruise ships and sanction- duce its ability to help Ven- Thursday's trip in an unusual
45-square-mile base in the in Latin America. ing ships bringing oil from ezuelan President Nicolás widening of access to Díaz-
country’s far east has been President Donald Trump Venezuela, among other Maduro, whom the U.S. Canel who has had virtu-
under American control for has been steadily tighten- measures. Trump adminis- wants to overthrow. ally no interactions with the
116 years despite the 1959 ing the six-decade trade tration officials say the goal The Cuban government’s foreign press since becom-
rise to power of a commu- embargo on Cuba in re- is to cut revenue to the Cu- chronic cash shortages ing president.q

Mexico’s president faces challenge over human rights

Associated Press head of the country’s rights the National Human Rights partial nor familiar with the has faced criticism for his
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexi- agency. Commission and brushed country’s problems. use of the military in police
can President Andrés Man- López Obrador has stressed aside its recommendations. That prompted the resigna- work and for using the mili-
uel López Obrador is fac- respect for human rights This week he pushed tion of several members of tarized National Guard to
ing one of his most serious since taking office nearly a through Congress a new the board of the govern- prevent Central American
challenges over human year ago. head for the rights agency mental rights commission migrants from travelling
rights in a dispute over the But he has also criticized who critics say is neither im- Thursday. López Obrador through Mexico.q

Students offer Venezuelan police roses, then turn to rocks

Associated Press dom” and “Guards, listen front of the embassy.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) and join the fight.” Maduro’s government says
— A minor clash broken The students then tried to the group invaded the em-
out in Venezuela’s capital charge the police line and bassy, while the Venezu-
Thursday between univer- threw rocks, drawing pep- elan representative to Bra-
sity students and national per spray and tear gas in zil named by Guaidó said
police wearing riot gear fol- return. The confrontation embassy staff opened the
lowing a speech by oppo- ended with no injuries. gate and let them inside.
sition leader Juan Guaidó Maduro’s Foreign Affairs The government of Brazil’s
at the Central University of Minister Jorge Arreaza also President Jair Bolsonaro is
Venezuela campus. announced Thursday that among more than 50 na-
Guaidó is rallying sup- the government had retak- tions that recognize Guaidó
port for nationwide pro- en control of Venezuela’s as Venezuela’s leader.
tests planned for Saturday embassy in Brazil’s capi- However, Bolsonaro said in
against the government of tal following a brief distur- a statement Wednesday
President Nicolás Maduro, bance. A group of people that he had no knowledge
trying to re-energize a cam- A group of student protesters attack a cordon of Bolivarian po- backing Guaidó’s claim to of the group’s plans to oc-
paign launched in January liceman blocking their path, in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, be Venezuela’s legitimate cupy the embassy.
to overthrow the socialist Nov. 14, 2019. president occupied the Arreaza in a statement
government. Associated Press nation’s embassy in Brasilia thanked the Brazilian “so-
As Guaidó spoke, nation- for about 10 hours Wednes- cial movement” for its help
al police carrying shields The students approached Maduro. day. Sympathizers on both resolving the situation. He
formed a blockade at one them with white flowers, The protest by dozens of sides briefly engaged in said the group had peace-
of the campus’ entrances. urging them to abandon students chanted “Free- pushing and shoving in fully left the building.q