Cubans welcome Kerry’s call for democracy

HAVANA (Reuters) — The sight was so unlikely that some Cubans could scarcely believe it: a US secretary of state lecturing their Communist government about democracy and human rights on state television.

As the US flag was raised at America’s embassy in Havana for the first time in 54 years, John Kerry called for a “genuine democracy” in Cuba and his comments were broadcast across the country in full, translated accurately into Spanish so everyone could understand.

Cubans should be free to choose their own leaders, Kerry said, telling the government to respect international norms of human rights.

Cuba’s government hit back by criticizing the United States’ own record on rights.

” It would be great if everything said were actually accomplished. We’ll see if it’s more than just talk,” said Leyania Martinez, 44, a neighbor of the US embassy who watched the ceremony on television.

US- Cuban relations took a dramatic turn in December when Cuban President Raul Castro and US President Barack Obama announced an end to decades of hostility.

Since then, Obama has eased restrictions on travel and trade, believing engagement with Cuba will do more to encourage personal freedoms on the island than Cold Warera rhetoric and a economic embargo.

Cuban dissidents believe Obama is making a real attempt at change but that Castro will hold firm, refusing to loosen the Communist Party’s hold on power.

” No, nothing is going to change because the US government shows good intentions but the Cuban regime doesn’t, in fact everything to the contrary,” said Jose Daniel Ferrer, leader of the largest dissident group, the Patriotic Union of Cuba.

Like other dissidents, he was not invited to the flag-raising ceremony but he did meet with Kerry at the US embassy residence.

Despite his skepticism, Ferrer was struck by the image of Kerry’s message broadcast on tightly controlled Cuban television.

”Yes, that’s positive for the cause,” he said.

A few hundred Cubans and tourists braved the intense August heat and tight security around the embassy to watch the US flag go up while a US Army band played the national anthem.

Others watched it all at home or at work.