London Mayor "Red" Ken Livingstone is planning on expending very large sums of public money to arrange a huge celebration in London. To celebrate Fidel Castro's Cuban dictatorship. For all the freedom and justice its brought to Cuba, you know. Call it Maximo Lider meets el Cerebro Minimo.
Ken Livingstone is planning a "massive festival" across London to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fidel Castro's Cuban revolution.
The event, to be staged in 2009, will involve street parties, sports venues and some of London's leading museums as well as the closure of Trafalgar Square.
Although the Mayor's office refused to provide budget estimates, it could cost up to £2 million.
The festival was agreed on the Mayor's controversial trip to Cuba last month. But Mr Livingstone's lavishing of public money to honour one of the last dictatorships in Latin America was condemned today.
"Forking out to celebrate a totalitarian regime is a choice that most Londoners will find bizarre," said Angie Bray, leader of the Conservative group on the London Assembly.
"The Mayor associates himself with some of the most odious people around and it's Londoners who are being asked to pay out. Sooner or later, there will be a reckoning."
Speaking at a recent public meeting at Central Hall, Westminster, Mr Livingstone said: "We've got the backing of the Cuban government for a massive festival to celebrate 50 years of justice in Cuba."
Ah yes. Cuban "justice". It's just a real paradise there, Kenny. Let's see, Human Rights Watch says:
Cuba’s legal and institutional structures are at the root of rights violations. Although in theory the different branches of government have separate and defined areas of authority, in practice the executive retains clear control over all levers of power. The courts, which lack independence, undermine the right to fair trial by severely restricting the right to a defense.
Cuba’s Criminal Code provides the legal basis for repression of dissent. Laws criminalizing enemy propaganda, the spreading of “unauthorized news,” and insult to patriotic symbols are used to restrict freedom of speech under the guise of protecting state security. The government also imprisons or orders the surveillance of individuals who have committed no illegal act, relying upon provisions that penalize “dangerousness” (estado peligroso) and allow for “official warning” (advertencia oficial).
Now since we are to accept without question whenever HRW slams the US or Israel, are we supposed to ignore them when they slam Fidel's police state? I think London should send Ken back to Cuba. One way, of course.
UPDATE: More from Fausta.
