Cuban Government Toughens Internet Restrictions

edibleplastic writes "The BBC is reporting that the Cuban government is cutting off much of its citizens' access to the internet. 'The move clamps down on the thousands of Cubans who illegally access the internet from their homes. From now on, it will not be possible to dial up the main government server from most domestic phone lines. Only lines which are paid for in dollars will have direct access. These are usually restricted to foreigners. Amnesty International says this is an attempt to shield Cubans from alternative views.'" This is a good time to revisit two earlier stories about Cuba's attitude toward modern communications.

Re:what's cuba like?

[FePe]

Maybe some want to leave because they see American TV shows or movies and they think the whole continent is safe, nice, accepting, etc. Maybe if the Cuban govt. let the population see what the rest of the world is really like, they'd be less enthusiastic to leave Cuba.

I agree. But the Internet is available in schools and workplaces, from the article:

The internet should be for the common good, it says, pointing out that it will still be available in schools and workplaces.

Then all surfing, downloading etc. will be done in the school? Or do they also keep a constant eye on the students and workers there? Restriction may be a good thing, but they are not thinking realisticly about how much the media is influencing other non-american countries.

Re:what's cuba like?

[Anonymous Coward]

They get free healthcare, free education, free food (limited, of course). Yay Castro! Yeah, he's a control freak. Big deal. They get everything they need, so whats the problem? The Cubans pretty much just live their lives, regardless of politics.

It may be good that people are able to get basic living necessities for free, but why does a tremendously oppressive society have to go along with it? In Cuba there is no freedom of speech or the press, no freedom to move within and leave the country, no freedom of religion, no voice in government.

These are some of the most basic human rights. It doesn't matter whether people care to exercise their rights or not. They are rights, not privileges, so the option to use them should not be taken away. A government which restricts these rights is oppressive.

Re:what's cuba like?

[Nadsat]

>> The funny thing is though, the general vibe I got from the two weeks I spent there was that people really just didn't care.

That's what I would say describes the majority of Americans. Americans don't want to be bothered. The typical says I don't care about ozone, children in sweatshops making my disney t-shirts, special interest bombs going off in cities where I can't pronounce the names. Bush is cool. He wants to stop baseball players from using steroids. And I like MARS--let's go to MARS!

So, arguably, the average American, Cuban, whoever, may equally not care as their rights are taken away. I guess what marks Americans is that Americans feel they have to impose their values on others... and they have a long history of doing so. Manefist Destiny spirit.

I mean, if Fidel were to suddenly wage an all out war against a country who didn't attack Cuba because Fidel wanted better control of its resources and was afraid, wetting his pants with fear... would Cubans care then? Would they?

the path to Freedom

[jmlyle]

There are two ways to free the Cuban people.

1) Declare that they have Weapons of Mass Destruction. Invade. Cause massive damage and destruction and death. Set up a puppet government. Leave. Watch as the government fails within 50 years, just like every single time we do this.

2) Stop the trade restrictions. Let captitalism eat them away from the inside. Maybe fund a show on the WB about a wacky Cuban group of friends.

Re:what's cuba like?

[Pave Low]

A friend of mine was in Cuba a few years ago, and he says it's a great place.

Of course foreigners are treated great there; that's their meal ticket. Tourism and prostitution are the only real growth industries in Cuba.

A brilliant medical system which is government funded, the streets are absolutely safe at night,

This sounds exactly like the old "Mussolini made the trains run on time" excuse. This sure must make up for the lack of political and economic freedoms.

Maybe if the Cuban govt. let the population see what the rest of the world is really like they'd be less enthusiastic to leave Cuba.

Or maybe if they did, more people would demand change in Cuba and threaten Castro's 50 year iron-fisted rule.