In 2003, the United States' government denied visas to all the Cuban
musicians -or their agents- that applied. The general public was led to believe that stricter
border controls, implemented after the September 11th terrorist attack, was the main reason for
delaying and preventing the entry of individuals from certain nations. However,
that was not the real motive in the case of Cuban musicians. Indeed, the reason was the anti-Castro policy of
the US government.
Even though Cuba is not a threat to the national security of the United States, nor is it home to any terrorist groups, anti-Castro elements that are well connected with the Bush administration have managed to affect the cultural relations between the citizens of the United States and Cuba. The "anticastristas" have determined the United States' policy regarding the entry of Cuban musicians. And that policy is that any Cuban musician based in Cuba will not be allowed entry into the United States, regardless of their merit.
Mixing the arts and politics is never a good idea. Cultural exchange brings
people together and allows for better mutual understanding. It exposes traveling musicians and their audiences to new ideas and different perspectives.
Cuban musicians happen to be very well respected abroad. They are skilled at what they do and they have preserved numerous traditions that are popular outside its borders. US citizens have the inalienable right to enjoy the performances of high quality musicians from any country. Most Cuban musicians have very little to do with internal, or external, Cuban politics. And even if Cuban musicians support their current government, there is the matter of freedom of speech.
The person behind the U.S. State Department's current Cuban policy is a hardliner named Roger Noriega. He's an ex-aide to retired Senator Jesse Helms, well known for his right wing extremism. Bush appointed Noriega as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Noriega detests Fidel Castro. In a meeting with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on October 2 of 2003, Roger Noriega said: "The president is determined to see the end of the Castro regime and the dismantling of the apparatus that has kept him in office for so long."
Furthermore, Noriega met with the uncompromising Cuban Liberty Council in 2003 and said: "Castro sends hundreds of performers to the United States to earn dollars to send to the regime. Castro's cash cows will not be grazing through the United States under this administration."
Unknowingly, some booking agents and promoters that work with Cuban musicians are still applying for visas. They do not seem to know that any applications, regardless of their merit, will be rejected. There are countless news articles about cancelled tours and even disgraceful stories about non Cuban artists whose tours are ruined because they employ a Cuban musician in their band [read Homeland Security Forces Cancellations of Paco de Lucía Concerts].
It is time to end this shameful situation. The citizen's best weapon is the vote and the US is having elections in November of 2004. Citizens should keep in mind who is supporting extremist policies and hurting the arts and cultural exchange.
The following is a list of links related with the Cuban embargo from well known news sources:
'Mr Ferrer can't be with us tonight' - Artists from all over the world are being refused entry to the US on security grounds (The Guardian, UK).
Denying Cuban Musicians' Visas Is "Bureaucratic Nonsense", http://www.farr.house.gov/issues2.cfm?id=7886
U.S. silences Cuban beat, State Dept. cracks down on visas for musician, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4286635/
Tuner strikes sour note with U.S. over Cuba. Treasury bars New Yorker from sending pianos to Havana.
For Foreign Musicians, Concert Schedules Left in Disarray, http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/06/nyregion/06musician.html
[Photo: Cubanismo]
And here are a series of news stories and editorials our Web site has published:
World Music Central
http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/2004052219552863