"The regime could not have failed to know that its actions would have a chilling effect on efforts here to ease the US sanctions. Indeed, the arrests of dissidents who had just days before met with members of the U.S. Congress can only be interpreted as intended to slow the initiative and to embarrass those who were behind it."
Brian Alexander, the executive director was interviewd on NPR's All Things Considered program on April 24.
http://www.npr.org/dmg/dmg.php?prgCode=ATC&showDate=24-Apr-2003&segNum=17& mediaPref=RM
STATEMENT FROM
THE CUBA POLICY FOUNDATION
April 23, 2003
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the US-based Cuba Policy Foundation and its Board members, along with its Executive Director, resigned today to protest the recent waive of repression and executions in Cuba.
The Cuba Policy Foundation has been the premier US nonprofit organization dedicated to the study of the benefits of expanding trade and people-to-pe ople contact with Cuba. It has embraced the view that the enlarged economic and personal exchange with the Island would, in fact, be in the interests of both countries and ease the process of change in Cuba. CPF's Board has been a Who's-Who of Americans interested in Cuba and the normalization of relations with the island.
The resigning Board members and the Executive Director issued a Statement of Reasons for the mass resignation:
"All of us are appalled at the recent executions and jailings in Cuba. The regime's sudden, wholesale repression of human rights is incomprehensible as a matter of policy, and unacceptable as a matter of principle.
"We are firm in our view that engaging Cuba would advance both America's national interest and peaceful political and economic change in Cuba. Likewise, we will continue, in our individual capacities, to support those members of Congress, the business community, and the growing number of Cuban-Americans and citizens across the country who seek to advance these goals.
"The recent wave of repression adds to the urgency of the effort. But it also raises new obstacles. The regime could not have failed to know that its actions would have a chilling effect on efforts here to ease the US sanctions. Indeed, the arrests of dissidents who had just days before met with members of the U.S. Congress can only be interpreted as intended to slow the initiative and to embarrass those who were behind it.
"We organized, funded and supported the Foundation because we hoped, and had reason to believe, that its energetic efforts to modify the ban on Cuba trade, travel and investment might succeed over time. We can only conclude, however, that in spite of its claims to the contrary, Cuba does not share our enthusiasm for a more open relationship. For this reason we have tendered our resignations.
"Daily operations of the Foundation will cease as of this date. The corporation will technically remain in existence, and Mr. Alexander will maintain its website as a public resource."
Hon. William Rogers, Chairman of the Board
Darius Anderson
Hon. Diego Asencio
Hon. Sally Grooms Cowal
Jo Ivey Boufford
Eusebio Mujal-Leon
Martha Muse
Raimundo L. Ruga
Harry Schlaudeman
Paul Smyke
Hon. Thomas F. Stroock
Brian Alexander, Executive Director
For more information, contact Brian Alexander at 202-321-CUBA (2822) or <A HREF="mailto:alexander at cubafoundation.org"> alexander at cubafoundation.org</A>.