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NEWS |
OAS Head Faulted for Inaction
Insulza Allows Human Rights Violations - HRF
NEW YORK (August 20, 2008) —The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) launches
the “Inter-American Democratic Charter and Mr. Insulza” program today
with an open letter to José Miguel Insulza, secretary general of the
Organization of American States (OAS), decrying his unwillingness to
enforce the charter’s mandate to protect democracy in the Americas. HRF
will send monthly digests to Insulza detailing violations of human
rights and democracy in the continent, with the hope that the secretary
general will take note and do his job.
(More) |
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Posted on Thu, Aug. 07, 2008
Spy catcher claims four are agents for Cuba
BY ALFONSO CHARDY / The Miami Herald
A veteran spy catcher's appearance on Spanish-language TV in Miami has
added fuel to the decades-long debate about the Castro government's
interest in spying in South Florida.
Lt. Col. Chris Simmons, an Army Reserve counterintelligence officer and
former Defense Intelligence Agency counterintelligence analyst, named
Marifeli Pérez-Stable, Gilberto Abascal, Alberto R. Coll and Gillian
Gunn Clissold as agents for the Cuban government.
But Simmons offered no conclusive evidence that any of the four -- who
have denied the accusation -- gave classified information to Cuba,
received intelligence training or undertook missions for Cuban
intelligence.
(More) |
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5 August 2008
Come and demonstrate outside Chinese embassies and
online on 8 August
Reporters Without Borders is
calling for demonstrations outside China’s embassies in London, Madrid,
Berlin, Paris, Washington and Stockholm on 8 August, when the Olympic
Games opening ceremony will be taking place in Beijing. Two
demonstrations will be organised on 7 August in Rome and Ottawa. A rally
is also planned outside the Olympic Museum in the Swiss city of Lausanne.
In Paris, those wanting to take part should meet at 1 p.m. at the corner
of Avenue George V and Rue de la Trémoille in Paris’ 8th district.
Reporters Without Borders will distribute "Beijing 2008" T-shirts to
participants, as well other material for a peaceful demonstration.
(More) |
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MEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Concept Creations, Inc.
(305) 431-0300 / (305) 608-9996
CHRIS SIMMONS ON BABALUBLOG RADIO
WHO:
Christopher S. Simmons, an active-duty Lieutenant Colonel
in the U.S. Army and a career counterintelligence officer
since 1987, is one of America ’s foremost authorities on Cuban
Intelligence. From 1996-2004, Simmons was deeply involved with the
majority of U.S. Counterintelligence successes against Cuba . He was a
central figure in the identification, investigation, and debriefing of
convicted Cuban spy, Ana Belen Montes – the highest-ranking Cuban
spy ever sent to prison in the United States . Simmons was the lead
military official in the May 2003 expulsion of 14 Cuban spies serving
under diplomatic cover; the third largest diplomatic expulsion in U.S.
history and the only one not targeted against Russia/USSR. He has
lectured on Cuban Intelligence throughout the U.S. Intelligence
Community, to Congress, and in several academic or private sector
forums.
(More)
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August 4, 2008
MEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Concept Creations, Inc.
(305) 431-0300 / (305) 608-9996
CHRIS SIMMONS – more on CUBAN SPIES in the U.S. ON
wqba 1140 am
WHO:
Christopher S. Simmons, an
active-duty Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and a career
counterintelligence officer since 1987, is one of America ’s foremost
authorities on Cuban Intelligence. From 1996-2004, Simmons was deeply
involved with the majority of U.S. Counterintelligence successes against
Cuba . He was a central figure in the identification, investigation, and
debriefing of convicted Cuban spy, Ana Belen Montes – the
highest-ranking Cuban spy ever sent to prison in the United States.
(More) |
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NEWSPRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Distribution Press Contact: (786) 258-2222
Speaker of the House Marco Rubio to Make Major
Announcement Regarding Cuba Travel
Lawsuit
(MIAMI ): Speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio will hold a press
conference today along with State Representative David Rivera to
announce his decision to have the Florida House of Representatives join
a federal lawsuit regarding state regulations on travel to terrorist
countries.
The press conference will be held today, Monday, August 4th, at 11:00
a.m. at the headquarters of the Junta Patriotica Cubana (Cuban Patriotic
Council) located at 4600 NW 7th Street .
(More) |
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1 August 2008
Concern about condition of imprisoned journalist
on hunger strike
Reporters Without Borders is very concerned about the state of health of
imprisoned journalist Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta of the Agencia de
Prensa Libre Oriental, who began a hunger strike on 18 July and sewed up
his mouth as a protest on 21 July, and who is being denied access to
medical care. Arrested on 20 March 2003, Herrera is serving a 20-year
prison sentence.
“Herrera’s current state of health is grounds for suspending his
sentence on humanitarian grounds,” Reporters Without Borders said. “It
is vital that he should receive medical treatment as soon as possible.
We urge the Cuban authorities to show some consideration towards this
prisoner, who is in danger of dying. We point out that a total of 23
journalists are imprisoned in Cuba, 20 of whom were, like Herrera,
arrested during the ‘Black Spring’ of 2003.”
(More) |
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Russia, Cuba set to boost ties
22:07 | 01/ 08/ 2008
MOSCOW, August 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and Cuba are to make efforts to
boost bilateral cooperation in all spheres, the Russian Security Council
said on Friday.
Council chief Nikolai Patrushev and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor
Sechin visited Cuba on July 30-31, in a trip focusing on projects to
revive economic ties between the former Cold War allies, including
Russian companies' participation in developing oil fields in the Latin
American state.
(More) |
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Little League's Cuba trip criticized
August 01, 2008 6:00 AM
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A Florida congressman is criticizing a
Vermont-New Hampshire Little League team's planned trip to Cuba next
week.
According to a column in the Washington Post, Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart,
R-Fla., an anti-Castro Cuban-American, held a meeting of the Cuba
Democracy Caucus on July 10 to discuss "the very troubling granting of a
Treasury/OFAC license to a Little League team to travel to Cuba."
(More) |
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Jul 29, 2008 4:06 pm US/Eastern
Omega 7 Leader Asks For Presidential Pardon
LITTLE HAVANA (CBS4) ―
A new petition drive kicked off today in Little Havana with postcards
addressed to the White House asking for outgoing President George W.
Bush to issue a pardon to 65-year-old Eduardo Arocena. Some have labeled
Arocena as a Cuban freedom fighter, others simply call him a terrorist.
He was sentenced to life plus 35 years after gunning down a Cuban
diplomat. He was also convicted by a South Florida jury for planting
nine bombs around Miami. He is also serving time for the attempted
murder of Cuba's United Nations ambassador.
(More) |
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Raul Castro fails to announce reforms in Cuba
By WILL WEISSERT, Associated
Press Writer
Sun Jul 27, 2:16 AM ET
SANTIAGO, Cuba - President Raul Castro warned Washington that Cuba would
keep its defenses up no matter who wins November's U.S. presidential
election, but failed to announce any new changes to the communist system
during a speech Saturday.
In a 48-minute Revolution Day address, Castro also told Cubans to
prepare for tough times ahead as rising oil and commodity prices take a
toll on the island's economy.
(More) |
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Bombers In Cuba, Bases In Venezuela
Ibd
Fri Jul 25, 7:11 PM ET
Geopolitics: As Barack Obama luxuriated in the adoration of Europeans, a
less charming leader was also making his way across the Continent,
seeking arms and military bases to direct toward the United States.
What happened under the radar last week ought to have gotten more
attention, because it's the beginning of a problem that will carry well
into the next administration. (More) |
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Civil Rights Leader Calls for the Freedom of
Afro-Cuban Political Prisoners and Democracy Activists at New York
Demonstration
NEW YORK (July 22, 2008) -- Today,
prominent civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton led a demonstration to
protest the Castro regime's ongoing human rights violations. The
demonstration was held outside the Cuban Mission to the United Nations
in New York. (More)
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PRESS CONFERENCE
Campaign for the
Presidential Pardon for Eduardo Arocena.
The Arocena Family, the
Political Cuban Prisoners, and the Casa
del Preso, invite the communication
media and the local press to a Press
conference on Tuesday July 29 at 11:00
a.m. at 1140 S.W. 13 ave. Miami Fl
33135.
This invitation is extended to all Cuban
Organizations and the general public in
support of a free and democratic Cuba.
Contact:
Dionisio de la Torre, Jr: (305) 796-6937
Email:
libertadparaarocena@yahoo.com
Sitio Web:
www.libertadparaarocena.com
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FROM CUBA
URGENT LETTER FROM WIFE OF CUBAN PRISONER OF
CONSCIENCE
“...my husband is
enduring horrible conditions. Nelson Aguiar Ramírez is buried alive,
evidence that they (Cuban authorities) want to eliminate him.”
Havana, Cuba. July 3, 2008
To: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Presidents and Heads of Democratic States
United Nations Secretary General
Human Rights Organizations and Institutions
International Red Cross
National and International Public Opinion
I, Dolia Leal Francisco, 63 years old and a co-founder of the Damas de
Blanco (Ladies in White); wife of NELSON AGUIAR RAMÍREZ, a prisoner of
conscience of the “Group of the 75” since March of 2003, make an URGENT
APPEAL on behalf of my husband who’s life is presently in grave danger.(More)
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Cuba cracks down,
rounds up dissidents before freeing most
by Carlos Batista
Sat Jul 5, 4:09 PM ET
HAVANA (AFP) - Cuba this week rounded up
and detained more than 30 dissidents
after accusing the United States of "instigating"
opposition to the Communist regime, a
top rights activist told AFP Saturday.
As many as 35 people were arrested and
around 70 targeted in all, but most have
now been freed, economist Martha Beatriz
Roque of the rights group Agenda for the
Transition said. (More) |
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Betancourt says
Colombian rescue 'impeccable'
July 3,
2008 - 8:35AM
 Colombia
freed Ingrid Betancourt and three US
military contractors from leftist
guerrillas today, saying military spies
tricked rebels into giving them up
without a single shot fired.
Betancourt, who was seized while
campaigning for president six long years
ago, called her surprise rescue
"absolutely impeccable" and said she and
14 other hostages had no idea they were
being rescued until they were airborne
in disguised military helicopters. (More) |
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AP
Spirit fined for violating
Cuba trade restrictions
Tuesday July 1, 12:12 pm ET
Treasury Department office fines Spirit Airlines
for violating restrictions on trade with Cuba
MIRAMAR, Fla. (AP) -- Discount carrier Spirit
Airlines has been fined $100,000 for violating
U.S. restrictions on trade with Cuba.
According to the Office of Foreign Assets
Control, the carrier transferred funds to the
Cuban government for flying in its airspace, but
did not have the proper license to do so. (More)
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EU,
US urge Cuba to free political prisoners
Posted
on Wed, Jun. 11, 2008
Leaders of the European Union and the United
States have urged Cuba to free its political
prisoners "unconditionally." They also urged
guerrilla groups in Latin America to free "all
their hostages."
Click here for full story in Spanish
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FROM CUBA
Prisoners in Cuba’s labor
camp sleep on the floor
SANTA CLARA , CUBA- June 9th (Liset Zamora
Carrandi /www.puenteinfocubamiami.org)-
More than half a hundred inmates sleep on the
floor at Camp Provario, which is a concentration
and/or labor camp in Sancti Spiritus.
According to information provided by peaceful
opponent Jorge Ramirez Calderon a member of the
Democratic Party 30 of November “Frank Pais”,
who went to visit a relative detained in said
prison, he was able to confirm that he met 65
prisoners all of whom were sleeping on the floor
due to lack of beds and mattresses. (More)
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FROM CUBA
Diarrhea outbreak in a
Matanzas prison taking a toll on inmates
RANCHUELO, CUBA- 9 de Junio (Felix Reyes Gutiérrez/
www.puenteinfocubamiami.org )- Inmates at
the Agüica Cuban prison which is located in the
Matanzas province are suffering from a diarrhea
outbreak since June 1st, due to the contaminated
water they drink.
According to information provided by political
prisoner Alexander Garcia Lima about 180
prisoners suffer from stomach pains and constant
diarrhea due to negligence of prisons
authorities. (More)
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Demand that Dangerously
Ill Cuban Activist Receive Proper Medical Care
Click Here to Take Action:
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/ct/ydS_Vx41BRLN/
When imprisoned Cuban independent journalist Normando Hernández Gonzalez was sent to the
Carlos J. Finlay Military Hospital in Havana on
September 14, 2007, we hoped it was a step
towards his release. Instead, on May 7 he was
returned to an isolation cell in the Kilo 7
Prison. His medical treatment for several
diseases has reportedly been stopped and access
by his family has been restricted. (More)
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Human rights 'severely'
restricted in Cuba: Amnesty
London,
May 29 : Human rights have been "severely"
curtailed in Cuba in 2007, Amnesty International
has said, Spain's EFE news agency reported
Thursday. Freedom of expression, association and
movement remained subject to "severe
restrictions" in Cuba in 2007, the rights body
has said in its latest State of the World's
Human Rights report.
The report said 62 people, including independent
journalists and human rights activists, were
imprisoned in Cuba in 2007 "for their
non-violent political views or activities" and
subjected to intimidation and harassment. (More)
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Cuba dissidents: Police
raided meeting
Posted
on Mon, May. 26, 2008
The Associated Press
HAVANA -- Cuban police violently broke up a
dissidents' meeting, leaving at least two people
in need of medical treatment, opposition sources
said Monday.
At least 30 people were detained briefly after a
weekend raid on the home of well-known dissident
Jorge Luis "Atunez" Garcia Perez in the central
city of Placetas, opposition leader Martha
Beatriz Roque said in a communique sent to
journalists by fax. (More)
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Mother of Cuban dissident
arrives in Argentina
Posted
on Mon, May. 26, 2008
Associated Press
BUENOS AIRES -- The mother of a dissident Cuban
doctor has been reunited with her grandchildren
and great-grandchildren in Argentina after
Havana agreed to let her leave the island.
The 89-year-old Hilda Morejón -- the mother of
renowned brain surgeon Hilda Molina, whom Cuba
has prohibited from leaving the communist island
-- arrived in Buenos Aires late Saturday
accompanied by her granddaughter-in-law. (More)
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THE
WHITE HOUSE
President Bush Discusses
Cuba, Marks Day of Solidarity
East
Room
10:28 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Bienvenidos. Thanks for coming to
mark this Day of Solidarity with the Cuban
People. This is a day of pride, as we honor the
culture and history of a noble nation. It is a
day of sorrow, as we reflect on the continued
oppression of the Cuban people. Most of all,
this is a day of hope. We have hope because we
see a day coming when Cubans will have the
freedom of which they have dreamed for centuries
-- the freedom that is the eternal birthright of
all mankind. And many of you here are working to
hasten this day -- and I thank you for your
efforts. (More)
Links related:
Fact Sheet: Promoting Democracy in Cuba
In Focus: Freedom Agenda
In Focus: Global Diplomacy
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CUBA SOLIDARITY DAY 2008
DEMONSTRATING SOLIDARITY
WITH THE CUBAN PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM
To
promote peaceful democratic change in Cuba and
show support for the Cuban people, May 21 will
mark a "Day of Solidarity with the Cuban
People". The day will focus on the plight of
Cuban political prisoners and the lack of civil
and political freedoms in Cuba. The Cuban regime
denies its people the most basic freedoms and
opportunities that are enshrined in the
Inter-American Democratic Charter, the UN
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the
International Covenant for Civil and Political
Rights. The current regime seeks to legitimize
itself both at home and abroad through
initiatives which fail to address fundamental
economic flaws or promote basic freedoms denied
to the Cuban People. Raul Castro's succession to
power occurred without a democratic vote by the
Cuban people. (More)
* LINK RELATED
-Original Document |
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For More Information:
Janisset Rivero
305.220.2713
PRESS RELEASE
Directorio Responds to
Cuban American National Foundation Smear
Campaign
Miami. May 16, 2008. Cuban Democratic
Directorate. The Cuban Democratic
Directorate ("Directorio") today expressed
outrage and disgust with the efforts of the CANF
(Cuban American National Foundation) to smear Directorio's good name and spread lies about its
activities.
"We are profoundly disappointed and dismayed
that CANF has chosen this time in history to
attack and lie about a fellow Cuban
pro-democracy organization," said Orlando
Gutierrez, National Secretary of Directorio. "We
need to be united against the regime; not
telling lies about each other. In the name of
all Cubans, we call upon CANF to cease this
divisive smear campaign, which surely the Cuban
dictatorship must enjoy. " (More)
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PETITION CALLING ON THE
CUBAN GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE ALL THE CUBAN
POLITICAL PRISONERS
On May 21, 2008, a
number of democracy activists, non-governmental
organizations and the White House will host
events in solidarity with the people of Cuba
that will focus on the plight of political
prisoners and the lack of fundamental civil,
political and economic, freedoms. This date is
significant as it falls during a 12-day period
when Cubans all over the island commemorate the
unsung heroes who have suffered at the hands of
the Castro regime for the cause of freedom and
human rights. We hope that the faith-based
community will join in this effort to highlight
the deplorable human rights situation on the
island and the pressing need for the
unconditional release of all political
prisoners. (More)
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FROM CUBA
They Commemorated the 1st
Anniversary of the Cuban National Liberal Party
SANTA
CLARA, CUBA - May 15 (Yoel Espinosa Medrano /
Puenteinfocubamiami.org)
- Members of the Cuban National Liberal Party (PLNC)
commemorated this May 3, in different regions of
the country, the first anniversary of the
founding of this organization of the Cuban
opposition.
Leon Padron Ascuy, National President of the
party said that meetings were held in different
parts of the island to discuss the platform and
activities for the year.
The members of PLNC, also pledged to make sure
the Cuban government comply with the changes
they announced last February, as it relates to
the civil and political rights of the people, in
addition to the economic, social and cultural
rights of all the citizens. (More)
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATION
MOVEMENT MESSAGE TO BRUSSELS CONFERENCE, MAY
13-14 2008-05-08
THE
ONLY PROJECT FOR CUBA: LIBERTY
May our greetings reach all participants. We
would especially like to recognize the
organizers of this conference, the Konrad
Adenauer Foundation and the Shuman Foundation,
who have worked arduously so that many voices
can be heard at the event, as well as
facilitating that our voice, which originates in
the interior of Cuba, be heard and considered.
We appreciate your efforts and dedicated
solidarity greatly.
If anything is clear in the ideology, the
doctrine or teachings of social Christianity is
the idea that people, their liberty, their
dignity, their rights, their right to full
development, their vocation to fraternity and
therefore to live a life in human community with
equality and justice—all these matters are above
ideological consideration, all strategy and
interests and all schemes. (More)
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Cuban police to train
Venezuelan counterparts
Posted
on Wed, May. 14, 2008
By
CASTO OCANDO
El Nuevo Herald
The first contingent of Cuban police experts
arrived this week in Venezuela with the task of
designing a training program for the new
Venezuelan National Police Force.
The Cuban police delegation is led by Ramón Rodríguez Curbelo, chief of the National
Revolutionary Police of Cuba who will be in
charge of a three-month training program that
will take place in Cuba.
The arrival of Rodríguez Curbelo to Caracas
coincides with a similar mission by agents of
the Nicaraguan Police that will also conduct
training courses for their Venezuelan
counterparts. (More)
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CUBA
Blogger creates freedom
Posted
on Wed, May. 14, 2008
BY CARLOS ALBERTO MONTANER
www.firmaspress.com
Raúl Castro lost the perfect opportunity to let
the world know that his government is slightly
less clumsy and repressive than his brother
Fidel's.
Foreign ministries and the most important
communications media had fixed their eyes on the
''new'' president. The reason was simple: Would
he allow Yoani Sánchez, a young Cuban blogger, a
professional philologist on whom the Spanish
newspaper El País had bestowed the Ortega y Gasset Award for online commentary, to travel to
Madrid and receive the prize? (More)
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MORE NEWS
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CUBAN FEATURES
Official name:
Republic of Cuba.
Head of State:
Fidel Castro, since 1959
Government:
Communist
State.
Presidential Elections: None since
January 1, 1959
Area: 42,843 sq. mi. (110,860 sq. km)
Population: (1999): 11,096,395 (average annual
rate of natural increase: 0.55%)
Capital: Havana City, with a population
of 2,241,000.
Other cities:
Santiago de Cuba, 440,084; Camagüey, 293,961;
Holguin, 242,085; Guantánamo, 207,796; Santa
Clara, 205,400.
Monetary unit: Cuban peso.
Language: Spanish.
Ethnicity/race:
white 37%,
mulatto 51%,
black 11%,
Chinese 1%.
Religion:
At least 85% before Castro assumed power.
Geography:
The largest island of the West Indies group,
Cuba is also the westernmost -just west of
Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), and
90 miles (145 km) south of Key West, Florida, at
the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. The island
is mountainous in the southeast and
south-central area (Sierra Maestra and Pico Turquino).
It is flat or rolling elsewhere. Cuba also
includes numerous smaller islands, islets and
cays.
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INFOCUBA
By: La Memorial Histórica contra el
Totalitarismo