Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 19 June 2017

Tougher Trump line toward Cuba delights hardliners on island

By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN ate, many with a degree of
ANDREA RODRIGUEZ support from U.S. individu-
Associated Press als and foundations that
HAVANA (AP) — President would have been impos-
Donald Trump’s announce- sible before the reestablish-
ment of a tougher line to- ment of diplomatic rela-
ward Cuba has delighted tions.
hardliners on the island, Many government officials
who say it reveals the long- and their supporters saw
held U.S. aim of imposing the Obama policy as an
American will on Cuba and attempt to lull Cuba into
justifies their wariness to- complacency and under-
ward Washington. mine the foundations of a
The president’s speech to communist system based
Cuban exiles in Miami has in part of near-total control
also dismayed moderates of virtually every aspect of
who were working with pro- society, from animal-rights
engagement Americans groups to the film industry.
but now fear association Trump’s hostile language
with a policy of open hos- toward the Castro govern-
tility toward the communist ment and his literal onstage
system could make them embrace of Cuban-Amer-
targets for repression. ican exiles and Cuban
Trump and the Cuban- Javier Yanez stands on his balcony decorated with U.S. and Cuban flags in Old Havana, Cuba. dissidents has unmasked
American Congress mem- President Donald Trump’s announcement of a tougher line toward Cuba has delighted hardliners the United States’ true in-
bers who helped design on the island, who say it reveals the long-held U.S. aim of imposing American will on Cuba and tentions toward Cuba
the new policy pledged on justifies their wariness toward Washington. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) and made it easier for the
Friday that it would block government to instill unity
the flow of U.S. cash to- — even though he’s said reforms, leaving full embas- entrepreneurship and cul- across Cuban society, pro-
ward military-linked enter- he wants to help entre- sies in Washington and Ha- tural projects that were out- government figures said
prises and direct it toward preneurs — this new policy vana and letting U.S. cruise side control of the state but
independent businesses, alienates entrepreneurs and airlines continue ser- within the bounds of law, Saturday.
with the long-term aim of from the government,” said vice to Cuba, although it unlike the directly confron- “Faced with your words,
overturning President Raul Angel Rodriguez, a 27-year- will make travel harder by tational tactics of Cuba’s the Cuban people stand
Castro’s government. old sociologist who works requiring most Americans small dissident groups. up and, their flag held high,
Members of Cuba’s small with the Catholic Church to come in groups and Some of those new groups sing their war anthem!” said
but vibrant independent in entrepreneurship-train- banning payments to mili- came under intense pres- a Facebook post by Jenni-
civil society say they fear ing programs. “That could tary-linked businesses. sure during detente, par- fer Bello Martinez, the head
the new policy will do more bring them under fire now, Former President Barack ticularly after Obama’s of Cuba’s official Federa-
harm than good. and they could find them- Obama’s 2014 declara- May 2016 visit to the island. tion of University Students
“Trump’s become the in- selves much weaker.” tion of detente with Cuba Despite bitter criticism and and, at 25, the youngest
dependent business peo- Trump’s new policy retains prompted hundreds of is- personal attacks, most member of the powerful
ple’s new enemy because key aspects of Obama’s landers to launch media, have continued to oper- Council of State.

Samba schools protest against budget cuts for Carnival

By LILIANA MICHELENA sion to cut by half the city’s fice from everyone,” Criv- der such cuts. for the Beija-Flor school,
Associated Press contribution to the annual ella told Globo TV earlier in Dressed in the colors of their said the dazzling spec-
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — celebration. the week. He added that groups, about 200 people tacle of the schools’ pa-
Singing popular songs, Crivella plans to reduce “the beauty of the Carnival marched from city hall to rades will be hurt and he
members of Rio de Janei- the city hall’s support from is in the samba dancing” the Avenida Marques de warned that the commu-
ro’s samba schools protest- $640,000 (2 million reals) to rather than the expensive, Sapucai, also known as the nities whose members par-
ed Saturday against the $320,000 (1 million reals) for multistory floats that samba “Sambadrome,” where the ticipate in Carnival — often
mayor’s proposal to slash each school, and says the schools build for their pa- schools hold their parades. with costumes donated by
city funds for next year’s difference will be spent on rade competition. Protesters sang along to the the schools — will be the
Carnival. resources for children’s day The Independent League classics of Carnival, closing first to suffer from the cuts.
The demonstration that care centers. of Samba Schools respond- out their march with “Nao Held every year in the week
began outside the city hall “We are under budget- ed by saying that next deixe o samba morrer” preceding Ash Wednes-
came in response to Mayor ary restrictions, which de- year’s Carnival parades (“Don’t let samba die”). day, Carnival is the biggest
Marcelo Crivella’s deci- mands austerity and sacri- “would not be viable” un- Cid Carvalho, art director event in Rio.