NAACP hit for policy on Cuba

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Cuban dissidents yesterday accused the NAACP of a double standard in its promotion of human rights, defending those of blacks in South Africa while embracing — rather than condemning — the treatment of blacks in Cuba.

“I have never heard of a chapter of the NAACP taking an interest in the Cuban Negro,” said Eusebio Penalver Mazorra, a black Cuban who spent 28 of his 69 years as a jailed dissident in the communist nation.

“While they moved in a precise way for solidarity to get rid of apartheid in South Africa, we have never received their support, even though we have asked for it.”

Mr. Mazorra is part of the Municipalities of Cuba in Exile, an umbrella group for several factions of the Cuban community who now live in the United States after being jailed under the regime of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

With the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People holding its 94th annual convention here, Cuban interest groups have lobbied for a meeting with its president, Kweisi Mfume, who yesterday told The Washington Times he understood the perception of such a double standard.

“As long as they know that there were other groups also advocating in South Africa. It wasn’t just the NAACP,” said Mr. Mfume.

With regard to those jailed by Mr. Castro, “Our concern is right up there with everyone else’s,” Mr. Mfume said. “I think there needs to be a diplomatic effort here, and I think it will take negotiation, and most likely through back-channel communications. But something has to come out of this to help relations between the two nations.”

The United States maintains no diplomatic relations with Cuba, and trade and travel are severely limited.

Of the many overtures made to him, Mr. Mfume yesterday chose to spend 90 minutes with the Cuban American National Foundation, a group that is seen by some Cubans as too mainstream but that still wields a powerful anti-Castro stance.

“What we did was to establish a starting point,” said CANF Executive Director Joe Garcia. The meeting was attended by some of Mr. Mfume’s staff, as well as members of the local Cuban community.

“He is aware of what is going on in Cuba,” Mr. Garcia said. “But I am aware that we cannot deprogram him in one hour. Clearly, the debate in Cuba is one of civil rights and justice. But what we did was create a point of reference.”

Anti-Castro groups here have stepped up calls for international action against Cuba for human rights violations since the April execution of three black Cubans who attempted to hijack a boat to Miami.

The execution drew the condemnation of the international community and renewed accusations of racism in the Castro regime, which seized power in 1959. Cuba is 70 percent black, but few blacks occupy high ranks in Mr. Castro’s government.

The NAACP did not comment on the executions.

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