Castro Refuses to Ease U.S. Trade Restrictions
Calls U.S. "a prison"

HAVANA (Associated Poets) -- Despite the pleadings of Governor Ryan of Illinois and representatives of the huge American agribusiness cartels, Fidel Castro of Cuba refused today to resume trade with the United States unless George Bush releases political prisoners, conducts independently monitored elections and accepts a list of tough conditions for "new governments in Washington -- and Florida -- that are fully democratic." He did however agree to offer political asylum to Gov. Ryan.

Castro said the United States' legacy of freedom "has been insulted by a despot who uses police methods to enforce a bankrupt vision, under the name of a 'War on Terrorism.' That legacy has been debased by a relic from another era who, with this secret police chief Ashcroft, has turned their beautiful nation into a prison."

"Without political reform, without economic reform, trade with the US will merely enrich George Bush and his cronies -- including his family and the so-called 'Carlyle Group,'" he said Monday. "It will not help the American people."

To win his approval of easing restrictions, Castro said the US must:

• Allow opposition parties, such as Greens, access to the ballot.
• Allow independent trade unions.
• Free all political prisoners, notably those the US holds in Cuba, at Guantanamo Bay.
• Allow human rights organizations to visit the US to ensure that the conditions for free elections are being created, especially in the upcoming Florida elections.
• Allow outside observers to monitor 2004 elections.
• End discriminatory practices against US workers (recently described in detail by B. Ehrenreich).

"Full normalization of relations with the US, diplomatic recognition, open trade and a robust aid program will only be possible when the US has a new government that is fully democratic, when the rule of law is respected and when the human rights of all Americans are fully protected," Castro said

He voiced support for a referendum in the US asking voters whether they favor civil liberties, including freedom of speech and assembly, and amnesty for political prisoners.