Cuba Jails US Worker Handing Out Laptops, Cellphones

eldavojohn writes "An American citizen working as a contractor for the United States Agency for International Development has been arrested for giving away laptops and cellphones in Cuba. The intent was to enable activists to connect with each other and spread information of what's happening inside Cuba. From the article: 'Cellphones and laptops are legal in Cuba, though they are new and coveted commodities in a country where the average worker's wage is $15 a month. The Cuban government granted ordinary citizens the right to buy cellphones just last year; they are used mostly for texting, because a 15-minute phone conversation would eat up a day's wages.' A Representative on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said the arrest was 'no surprise' while a human rights watch group cited a report outlining the Cuban Criminal Code offense of 'dangerousness,' which is most likely the one for which this individual was detained. There is at present no way to contact the individual nor official word on why he was detained." The article quotes an actvist with Human Rights Watch who said that "any solution to the contractor's case would probably be political" and that "the Cuban government often provokes a negative reaction in the United States just as [the two] countries begin to move toward more dialogue."

Comments

Re:Embargo fails.

[dnwq]

Purchasing power per person, 2008:

Cuba: $9500

People's Republic of China: $6000

So, the average Cuban is still richer than the average Chinese. In ten years it might be different, though. But all this is irrelevant to the parent's point: dropping an embargo doesn't necessarily lead to political liberalization, even if the people do become better off. You can be very rich and still dictatorial.

Re:Communism

[AnonGCB]

Not just hot, VERY hot!

Re:Communism

[Fyzzler]

Ask and you will receive: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism#Laws_and_arrests

Now how are You going to back-pedal out of this one?

Re:Can't be true

[Idiomatick]

http://ucatlas.ucsc.edu/spend.php

Switzerland is 2nd and WELL below the US in total cost. The Cuba point is also well illustrated on those charts. It performs well above the curve, the US well below. Canada btw is spending a bit over half what the US is. Honestly, follow ANY modern country other than the US and you will be doing well.

Re:Embargo fails.

[drsquare]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helms_burton

Re:Communism

[Dinjay]

A quick google reveals:
http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/foreign.shtml
"The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) prohibits any foreign national from contributing, donating or spending funds in connection with any federal, state, or local election in the United States, either directly or indirectly. It is also unlawful to help foreign nationals violate that ban or to solicit, receive or accept contributions or donations from them. Persons who knowingly and willfully engage in these activities may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment."

Imagine how your government would react if it finds that a foreign nation (eg China) has been funding the opposition party.

I think Cuba's reaction is quite normal. Cuba does have human rights violations, but I'm not sure if this is one of them.