Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 18 OctOber 2017

‘Star Wars’ fantasy? Cubans doubt US sonic attacks claims

By M. WEISSENSTEIN eign Minister Bruno Rodri-
A. RODRIGUEZ guez requested an urgent
Associated Press meeting with Secretary of
HAVANA (AP) — A bizarre State Rex Tillerson, leading
string of attacks on diplo- State Department officials
mats in Havana has sent to surmise that he might
Cuban-American relations be coming with informa-
to their lowest point in de- tion uncovered by Cuba
cades, with the Trump ad- about what had occurred,
ministration virtually clos- or other new develop-
ing its embassy here and ments to share with the
expelling Cuban officials U.S., an official familiar with
from Washington. But few the meeting said. Instead,
people on this communist- Rodriguez once again
run island believe a word of said Cuba hadn’t commit-
the U.S. allegations. ted the attacks and don’t
Despite increasingly tough know who did. Rodriguez
talk by the U.S., including also appealed to Tillerson
White House Chief of Staff not to overreact by clos-
John Kelly saying that Cuba ing down the embassy, as
“could stop the attacks on Tillerson had said was un-
our diplomats,” the com- der consideration, accord-
mon reaction in Havana is ing to the U.S. official, who
mocking disbelief. “It isn’t In this Oct. 3, 2017 photo, tourists ride classic convertible cars on the Malecon beside the United wasn’t authorized to dis-
States Embassy in Havana, Cuba. A bizarre string of alleged attacks on diplomats in Havana has
the first or the last excuse sent Cuban-American relations to their lowest point in decades. But few people on this communist- cuss the meeting publicly
that they invent to discredit run island believe a word of the U.S. allegations. and requested anonymity.
Cuba and its leaders,” law- (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan) By the time the U.S. pulled
yer Alexander Tamame, 36, very seriously — and you’ll guarantee that Americans access around the country staff from Havana last
said as he walked through likely be met with laughter. will be safe in Cuba. over the last three years, month and expelled Cu-
the Vedado neighbor- “I don’t believe any part of Some Havana residents most Cubans still get their bans a few days later, Ro-
hood in this city where the it,” said Luis Felipe Gonza- took a mocking tone. news from state-controlled driguez was striking a dif-
U.S. says at least 22 strange lez, a 59-year-old taxi driver, “It sounds like Star Wars,” media that function fun- ferent tone, calling the at-
episodes have occurred as he waited for customers said Dayan Rosete, a damentally as outlets for tacks “alleged incidents”
over the last year. “I don’t nearby. “It’s absurd propa- 23-year-old language stu- such statements from the and blaming the United
think anything really hap- ganda.” American officials dent, as he stood chatting government. The Cuban States for impeding the
pened.” This skepticism say embassy officials be- with a friend in front of the Ministry of Foreign Rela- investigation by failing
stretches from government gan hearing strange, high- Habana Libre hotel. tions said after the attacks to share information with
supporters like Tamame to pitched shrieking noises in Cuban skepticism reflects became public in August Cuba. Other Cuban offi-
its detractors; from fans of their homes last year, with an increasingly assertive that “Cuba has addressed cials went even further.
the United States to those many soon after reporting stance by President Raul’s the matter with the utmost “Even Star Wars didn’t
wary of the giant to the severe symptoms including Castro’s government, seriousness and has acted contain such fantasies,”
north. Talk to anyone, any- deafness, vision problems which has gone in three swiftly and professionally to Raul Castro’s daughter
where in the country about and difficulty concentrat- months from issuing state- clear up the situation.” Mariela, a legislator and
the U.S. allegations that ing. Despite unprecedent- ments of deep concern It ended its statement say- head of Cuba’s sexual
Cuba bears responsibility ed Cuban cooperation about the attacks to ques- ing the government “reiter- education agency, said in
for attacks with a strange with a U.S. investigation, tioning whether they even ates its willingness to coop- a Sept. 26 interview with Al
sonic weapon that have af- the Trump administration occurred. While the Cuban erate to clear up the situa- Mayadeen, a Beirut-based
fected at least 22 embassy says President Raul Castro’s media diet has diversified tion.” pan-Arab news agency
officials or spouses — some government has failed to with the spread of internet In September, Cuban For- close to Hezbollah and the
Syrian government. The
Venezuelan president rejects election fraud claim American government,
she said, “will use any lie,
any absurdity, to justify
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) uro defended Venezuela’s used in Chicago. Then he poking fun at the name their political vandalism.”
— Venezuelan President voting system as one of the added: “Obama votes and looks of another who The same tone was struck
Nicolas Maduro is reject- most secure in the world. with this same machine.” lost. Opposition leaders are on Sunday by Miguel Diaz-
ing opposition claims that He provided an on-site He extended his offer to di- disputing an official vote Canel, the first vice presi-
regional elections for gov- demonstration of how the alogue with the opposition count that says the ruling dent widely expected to
ernors were shrouded in nation’s voting machines while also calling one of socialist party won most of succeed Raul Castro when
fraud. In a three-hour news work and remarked that the five winning opposition the 23 governorships elect- he steps down as president
conference Tuesday, Mad- they are the same ones candidates a “fascist” and ed Sunday.q in February. q