Cuba

source: Libération
author: Libération, AFP
translation: doxa-louise

Royal defends Castro and earns a salvo of criticism

A salvo of political criticism, particularly from the right, has been directed
this Sunday at Ségolène Royal, who represented France at the funeral for
Fidel Castro, as she defended the political memory of the Cuban
ex-president and rejected accusations of violation of human rights.

Saturday from Santiago Cuba, the number 3 of the French government was the
only member of a European government, along with  Greek Prime Minister
Alexis Tsipras, to have made it to Cuba on the occasion of the week of national
 mourning for the Cuban ex-president, who passed away November 25 at age 90.

Royal thus praised this 'monument of history', thanks to which 'the people
of Cuba got back their territory, their lives, their destiny' and 'took inspiration
from the French Revolution without knowing the Reign of Terror'.

Questioned about the violations of human rights brought up bu the UN
and opposition to the Cuban régime, Ségolène Royal pointed to the existence
on the island to 'religious liberty' and 'freedom of thought'. 'Listen, there is
 a great deal of disinformation, what I observe is that diplomatic relations
were never cut off with Cuba, and that includes certain political actors who
criticize me, who criticize France, never', she said.

'France has no lessons to give to Cuba'

'History always contains some positive and some negative, but it would
be an error to make short in the name of human rights when, if you ask
for a list of political prisoners, there just isn't one. Show me a list of
political prisoners, and then I will reconsider', she added. 'Thus, it is important
to view things in a positive light even if it is inconvenient', adding the view that
'France has no lessons to give to Cuba'.

Thus concluding: 'I know that this causes controversy because precisely,
here is an insular country, protecting its heritage, refusing predators, which
has succeeded in assuring cleanliness, a remarkable sense of security, which
many countries now giving us human rights lessons never attain'.

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