A Protest in the Dark
Arrested Cuban dissidents feel betrayed by CNN.

By Jay Nordlinger, NR managing editor
May 16, 2001 4:00 p.m.

hat happens when CNN films an opposition protest,

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staged at great risk to the protesters, and then declines to air it? Bad things, apparently.

On November 23 of last year, about 150 Cuban oppositionists gathered at the Havana home of Jose Orlando Gonzalez Bridon, leader of an illegal trade union. This was an unusually large gathering of the Cuban opposition, which is severely repressed by the regime. The oppositionists staged a bold protest against that regime, greatly encouraged by the apparent willingness of CNN to broadcast the event to the world. The oppositionists are desperate for their activities, and their very existence, to be known. They are certainly unafraid to challenge the regime; but they would naturally like some reward for their courage.

There is no doubt that CNN filmed the protest; a network spokeswoman confirms as much. But, for reasons unknown, the network chose not to air the film, or to report on the matter at all. There was, however, a report from Cuba on CNN that day: It was about the return of Elian Gonzalez to Cuban society, where "he is a typical, happy-go-lucky schoolboy."

Many of the Cubans who participated in the November 23 protest were later rounded up at a religious gathering. They were beaten and jailed. Gonzalez Bridon, the trade-union leader, is among those in prison. His wife has told supporters in the U.S. that she does not hold CNN responsible for the arrests; she does, however, believe the network behaved unethically and misleadingly. Many of the oppositionists are incensed at CNN, feeling betrayed. They maintain that CNN promised them it would air a story. The network's spokeswoman, however, says that it is CNN policy never to make such a promise. The oppositionists are in a very dark mood, suspecting the worst about CNN. They complain that the network is consistently pro-regime, and they note, too, that CNN honcho Ted Turner is a friend and admirer of the island's dictator.

Gonzalez Bridon is being held on charges of distributing "enemy propaganda" and "false information" for the purpose of "provoking public disorder." His main offense was to question the responsibility of the regime for the death of his fellow trade unionist, Joanna Gonzalez Herrera. Gonzalez Bridon faces a minimum sentence of seven years. He was supposed to be accorded a trial — sham though it would be — on May 10. That date has come and gone.

Before being arrested, Gonzalez Bridon made the following report to American supporters about the November protest:

"On November 23 at 10:30 a.m., we took part in an activity within San Miguel del Padron, Havana. This event was publicized among the oppositionists. What little funds we had were used for it. The press was invited so that the event would be documented and the world would see what took place. Reuters and Telemundo were notified, but did not show up. We can't explain why, but CNN was there.

"The Constitution of 1976, the present penal code, the Law of 1988, and the Workers' Labor Code were represented by four coffins. There was a 'wake,' and the coffins were put in a common grave…. This was all filmed by CNN. Many oppositionists were present. More than 150 people from different oppositionist groups took part. The reporter from CNN took very strongly voiced interviews against the regime. The event is worthy of documentation."

And then came another report, concerning the arrests, this one from a remarkably daring journalist in Cuba, Maria del Carmen Carro:

"The rapid-response team (a team of state security officers dressed as civilians who respond swiftly and with extreme prejudice to subdue any non-state-sponsored activity) attacked peaceful oppositionists in San Lazaro Sanctuary. While the people paid tribute to Saint Lazaro, dozens of oppositionists were detained. According to the statement made by Maria Esther Valdez, wife of Jose Orlando Gonzalez Bridon, upon exiting the sanctuary the political police detained Belkys Barzaga Lugo as she held a sign that read 'Freedom for Political Prisoners.' Another of the oppositionists present, Fernando Aragon, said, 'Belkys yelled out when she was attacked by the rapid-response team: "Look, this is the state security." She addressed her plea to the international press who were on the scene.'"

The reporter then provides a roll call of names: "It is known that among the detained are: Rogelio Menendez, Luis Manzaneiro Ucalo, Jose Enrique Santan, Jose Luis Gonzalez, Emilio Leyva, Antonio Ankiarosa, Hector Ramos Suarez, Ramon Suarez, and Ricardo Ramos Periera. In addition, the four who were previously arrested are: Martel Valenzuela, Jose Orlando Gonzalez Bridon, Maritza Lugo, and Orlando Funora. Maria Valdez stated that among the beaten oppositionists were Belkys Lugo, Jose Rene Valdez Beregera, and Hector Ramon Suarez."

Dissidents from all over the world have long pointed out that it is important to name names; that it is important to speak and broadcast the names of those who are abused and jailed by tyrants. As Jeane Kirkpatrick said in an interview with National Review recently, oppressive regimes want their opponents to vanish into a dungeon, never to be heard from again. They want them to feel forgotten and, in fact, to be forgotten. Regimes have an easier time with their persecutions if no one is watching.

One American in contact with the November 23 Cubans says that — in part because of the hope of having their protest heard — they sacrificed "what conditional freedom they had." The oppositionists feel that CNN owes them an explanation. They hardly expect that freedom will dawn on them tomorrow. But they would like to feel that the world — especially as represented by its main news organs — has not turned its back on them.