Castro's departure fails to stir Cubans

AM - Wednesday, 20 February, 2008 08:12:00

Reporter: Kim Landers

 

PETER CAVE: After almost half a century in power, Fidel Castro is stepping down as Cuba’s President and Commander-in-Chief.

The 81-year-old has never fully recovered from stomach surgery and had already handed over power temporarily to his brother Raul 19 months ago.

But the news of Fidel Castro’s resignation has sparked little reaction on the streets of Cuba nor amongst the large communities of Cuban refugees in the United States.

North America correspondent Kim Landers reports.

KIM LANDERS: Fidel Castro is a revolutionary icon - famous for his rumpled green military fatigues, his beard, his long speeches and the cigars he once smoked.

(Fidel Castro speaking)

KIM LANDERS: During his 49 years in power he’s dodged everything his enemies threw at him - a US invasion bid, assassination plots and a trade embargo.

He even took the world to the brink of nuclear war when he let Moscow put ballistic missiles in Cuba leading to a 13-day stand-off between president John F. Kennedy and the Soviets.

JOHN F. KENNEDY: By the presence of these large, long range and clearly offensive weapons of sudden mass destruction constitutes an explicit threat to the peace and security of all the Americas.

KIM LANDERS: But in the middle of the night, on Cuba’s Communist newspaper’s website, came the news that Fidel Castro is resigning as President.

(Extract from television from Cuba)

PETER KORNBLUH: Most leaders of his kind don’t leave office except in a coffin or during a military coup and he is now going out on his own terms, securing a smooth transition to his brother and to a younger generation of leadership.

KIM LANDERS: Peter Kornbluh is a senior analyst at the National Security Archive at George Washington University.

He says the Bush administration’s policy of trying to stop Fidel Castro from transferring power to his 76-year-old brother Raul, obviously hasn’t worked.

PETER KORNBLUH: And that plan has failed as has every single effort of the United States - paramilitary intervention, CIA assassination plots, economic embargoes, you name it. Those have failed.

Other countries have adopted a much more rational approach to Cuba and they have more influence in Cuba and I think the next president of the United States is going to be pushed in the direction of a far more pragmatic policy of civil relations, normal relations with Cuba.

KIM LANDERS: In the Little Havana section of Miami, a huge Cuban flag has been hung between two palm trees and motorists are honking their horns as they drive down the main street.

But reaction among Cuban Americans hasn’t been as boisterous as when Fidel Castro temporarily handed power to his brother 19 months ago.

VOX POP: I think this is a great day for all of us if we take advantage of it, because today with his resignation is accepting he’s out of power.

VOX POP: I remain sceptical until his brother die and then it will be a close proximity to the states and maybe things will change but I don’t see any change so far.

KIM LANDERS: Fidel Castro remains the head of the Communist Party in Cuba for the time being and he says he’ll continue to write his newspaper column.

It’s as if he’ll go from Commander-in-Chief to Commentator-in-Chief as one dictator is replaced by another.

This is Kim Landers in Washington for AM

 

 

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Concerns about volcano overreaction

Rachael Brown reported this story on

Monday, April 19, 2010 08:12:00

TONY EASTLEY: European airlines and airports are questioning whether the current blanket ban on flights, because of Iceland's volcanic cloud, may be an overreaction. As the paralysing restrictions head into a fifth day, many air operators are questioning whether fears about the volcanic ash and its ability to cause catastrophic engine failure are warranted.

As the bank-up of frustrated, stranded passengers grows, emergency talks are being convened and in Britain there's even talk the navy might be called in to help.

Rachael Brown reports from London.

RACHAEL BROWN: It's an uneasy scene at Portsmouth Harbour; hundreds of people crammed into the ferry terminal who have already been waiting for days yell and jeer at police when told there'll be further immigration delays.

WOMAN: So what are they queuing up for? There's going to be civil unrest.

RACHAEL BROWN: It's a scene that epitomises this air crisis - commuters abandoning one queue, only to find themselves at the back of another.

As the air lockdown enters a fifth day, already 63,000 flights have been cancelled. Airlines say they're bleeding $1.7 million an hour. And with test flights from France, Germany and Holland returning seemingly unscathed, they're wondering whether it's even worth it.

Two bodies representing Europe's airlines and airports say volcanoes have erupted in other parts of the world, and have never warranted the level of restrictions being enforced in Europe. They are calling on the regulator to reassess the blanket ban.

The European Transport Secretary Siim Kallas was asked if this was another swine flu, just a lot of hot air.

SIIM KALLAS: You know this is Europe - is very much based on the rules and rules have been accepted and adopted after 2004, the International Civil Aviation Organisation's recommendations.

RACHAEL BROWN: He'll be going by the book. But whether the airlines are, is confusing. EU airlines are supposed to ensure accommodation and food but stranded commuters like surgeon Christine McCandy are hearing a different story.

CHRISTINE MCCANDY: We get the just repetitive answer, no there's no duty of care because of adverse weather, or it's an act of god and so we have no duty of care.

RACHAEL BROWN: The UK Government is considering setting up a hub in the south of Spain, to help stranded commuters reach the channel.

The UK's Security Minister, Lord West.

LORD WEST: We clearly have a reasonable lift capacity within the royal navy for lifting people. That's being looked at the moment to see what's available - particularly in the amphibious force itself which can lift a whole brigade if necessary.

But also we have an ability to take up ships in trade. All of this is being looked at the moment.

RACHAEL BROWN: So as airlines shuffle back their reopening time every few hours, volcanologists are more pragmatic; saying when Iceland's volcano stops spurting ash, the existing plume will take days to dissipate.

Those who are enjoying the rare peace are publicans in Hatton, beside Heathrow airport. But over the airport fence, columns of salmon ready for import start to go off, and conveyor belts usually heaving with fresh fruit are empty.

The crisis is starting to effect pharmaceutical supplies, and even bone-marrow donation deliveries.

This is Rachael Brown in London reporting for AM

 

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