The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.60/No.27           July 22, 1996 
 
 
'Our Answer To Helms-Burton Is Success Of Sugar Harvest'  

BY MARTÍN KOPPEL

HOLGUÍN, Cuba - "Our answer to the Helms-Burton law is the success of our sugar harvest," declared Feliberto Solano, a maintenance worker at the Urbano Noris sugar mill near this eastern city. "We are taking the first steps to economic recovery. That's what Clinton can't stand," the 32-year-old worker said. He was referring to the measure, recently signed by U.S. president William Clinton, that tightens Washington's trade embargo.

"We're not afraid of this law. And if they [the U.S. government] ever try to invade, we'll do to them what the Vietnamese did," added Omar Rodríguez, another mill worker.

Throughout the island, the response of working people, youth, and other Cubans has been similar. "The government has translated and printed the full text of the U.S. law," said Frank Patterson, an economics student at the University of Holguín.

Another student, Wilson, added, "It has been discussed in the newspapers and on the radio and TV. An initial round of discussions was held in workplaces and schools. Now we're holding another round to get a deeper understanding about this law and U.S. policy" against the Cuban revolution.

Patterson explained that the Federation of University Students (FEU), of which he is a member, and the Union of Young Communists (UJC) recently organized seminars on the Helms-Burton law among students on campus.

"Then the FEU and UJC selected 64 of these students to form two-person teams. We had an intensive one-week discussion, two hours a day. Then we gave presentations to the university workers. Now we're going to make signs that explain different aspects of the measure," he said.

Patterson reported that "all the universities divided up the city of Holguín. Our campus was assigned a certain area. Now we're going to go to factories and other workplaces to initiate discussions on Helms-Burton. We're also going to high schools and neighborhoods. "Instead of attacking our revolution, which is an example of justice, why doesn't Clinton do something about the Black churches that are being burned down in his country?" Patterson asked.  
 
 
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