Castro scores major victory as U.S. congress votes to allow American tourists

President Fidel Castro

Thursday, September 11, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Cuban President Mr. Fidel Castro scored a major victory in the U.S. Congress yesterday, as Congressional representatives voted in favor of allowing American tourists to travel to the island. 

The Cuba travel amendment, introduced by Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona and attached to the Treasury and Transportation Departments' appropriations bill, passed by a vote of 227-188, AP reported.

Those in favor of free travel to Cuba welcomed the vote. "By voting to legalize travel to Cuba, the House decided that the best way to advance freedom was to ignore the Bush veto threat and confront political repression in Cuba by unleashing the power of average Americans to act as goodwill ambassadors," AP quoted Ms. Sarah Stephens, director of the Freedom to Travel Campaign at the Center for International Policy, as saying. 

But President George W. Bush and opponents of the Castro government say it will only boost the 'dictatorship' of Mr. Castro. Mr. Bush has vowed to veto the bill, which will have to now be approved by the U.S. Senate.

Current law allows Americans to visit Cuba, but only if they have special permission from the U.S. government. Authorized groups include journalists, family members of Cuban nationals, humanitarian workers and students on educational missions.

Meanwhile, the Bush administration announced plans to impose economic sanctions on Cuba, Burma and North Korea for failing to take steps to stop ``human trafficking.'' 

In June, the U.S. State Department alleged in an annual report that 15 countries had made no significant efforts to stop trafficking in humans and could face sanctions under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Officials said sanctions could include voting against loans to the countries from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. 

The U.S. government estimates that 800,000 to 900,000 people are trafficked annually across international borders worldwide, with 18,000 to 20,000 winding up in the United States.

Drying tobacco in Cuba

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