Bush: More Cuba Change Needed for U.S. to Shift Policies

WASHINGTON — Marking the fifth anniversary of Cuba's "Black Spring," when 75 dissidents were arrested and imprisoned, President Bush said Friday that recent changes in the island's political leadership are not enough to cause a change in U.S. policy.

"Reports of the supposed retirement of Cuba's dictator initially led many to believe that the time had finally come for the United States to change our policy on Cuba and improve our relations with the regime," Bush, flanked by two dissidents, said at an event in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

"That sentiment is exactly backward. To improve relations, what needs to change is not the United States; what needs to change is Cuba."

Noting that the retirement of President Fidel Castro was followed by the election of his brother, Raul, Bush said, "So far, all Cuba has done is replace one dictator with another."

As he has in the past, Bush said he would not consider a change in U.S. policy toward Cuba until it releases all of its political prisoners, demonstrates respect for human rights and begins to hold "free and fair elections."

Cuba's "Black Spring" involved the arrest of teachers, librarians and journalists who, Bush said, "committed no crimes. They simply held views their government did not like, and they refused to be silent."

Among those arrested was Miguel Sigler Amaya, founder of the Independent Movement for an Alternative Option, who was arrested along with his brothers, Ariel and Guida. Miguel was released after spending 26 months in jail, but his brothers are still serving 20-year sentences.

While Miguel Sigler Amaya was in jail, his wife, Josefa Lopez Pena, helped start a group of spouses of political prisoners known as the Ladies in White, who would silently march in white dresses to call attention to their husbands imprisonment.

The couple, who now live in Miami, met privately with Bush and then joined him for his statement. Also at the event were Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., both of whom were born in Cuba.

Without mentioning any countries by name, Bush said some of the world's leading democracies have remained silent in the face of repeated waves of authoritarian crackdowns and human rights violations in Cuba.

Bush noted that last fall, dozens of Cuban youths who wore bracelets with the Spanish word for "change" were arrested by Cuban police. Last December, a Catholic church was tear-gassed by police and 18 people were removed. Last weekend, people distributing copies of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights were harassed and beaten.

Bush said the "much of the world was silent" during those incidents. But he hailed Cuba's signing last week of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Diaz-Balart said outside the White House that Bush "is really the best friend that the Cuban people have ever had in the White House. He is fully aware of what is happening on the island and today his message was another one of solidarity with the internal opposition."