Firing Line: Mario Diaz-Balart

In this weekly episode of Firing Line, Mario Diaz-Balart, a member of Congress whose family came from Cuba, talked about Cuban protests for freedom.

Cuban people had been chanting in the streets, using one word: ‘freedom.’ Balart said that the Cuban people had been under the same oppressive, communist regime for 62 years. However, the people were tired of the same oppressive government. 

“They’re getting murdered in the streets,” he said.

The current protests that had blown up were not because of COVID-19 or tourism; rather, it was because people did not want to be enslaved or murdered anymore. A lot of it had taken off over the Internet, but the Cuban government had tried to block out most of it. 

Balart passed a letter of recommendation to both Biden and other allies from other countries on what to do with Cuba. 

The first thing that allies must do is to call the regime an illegitimate regime. Furthermore, condemnation is not good enough, but it is vital to stop doing business with the Cuban government. He believes that if allies start pressuring Cuba with sanctions, it can help bring an end to human rights abuses.

Furthermore, for Biden, he said that US had proven efficient in communicating with the Cuban people. It is his job to lead an effort in letting the world know that the Cuban regime is illegitimate. As well, US needs to continue to broadcast US news into Cuba through television, radio, and the Internet. 

He believes that through embargo and sanctions, it can lead to basic freedoms, freed political prisoners, and a free election to ensue. 

“Those are basic human right conditions that the Cuban people demand, that the Cuban people deserve,” he said.