On April 29, the Protagonistic Critical Observatory Network (Red Protagónica Observatorio Crítico), an autonomous group of Cuban activists and intellectuals, received the following invitation via e-mail from the U.S. Interests Section in Havana:
From: Morin, Gerardo G (Havana)
To: observatoriocritico
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011 12:27 PM
Subject: Solicitud de encuentro
Good afternoon. After becoming familiar of some works by thinkers from the Critical Observatory that appeared on blogs and in the press, Mr. Joaquin Monserrate, Chief of the Pol./Econ. Section of the U.S Interests Section in Havana, would like to invite the director and other representatives of the Observatory to a meeting, with the goal of finding out more about the group’s activities and projects. The second week of May would be preferable.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Gerardo Morin
Pol/Econ/Prot Assistant
USINT Havana
Dir. 833-2282;
833-3551/59
ext. 2406
This email is UNCLASSIFIED.
The Critical Observatory replied as follows:
Long Live May Day! Glory to the Martyrs of Chicago! Onward, Revolution!
Good afternoon. After becoming familiar with some unilateral policies of the U.S. government, well-known through blogs, the press, and UN resolutions, the Critical Observatory would like to inform Mr. Sr. Joaquin Monserrate and Mr. Gerardo Morin that for the time being we decline their invitation to a meeting.
Our activities and projects, like the revolutionary praxis that inspires them, and whose objectives are our own and do not concern foreign powers, can easily be discovered by reading our materials.
On the other hand, we are happy to inform you that if before the second week of May the North American blockade of our country is lifted, the Cuban Five are freed, and the restitution demanded by their government for material and human damages are transferred to Cuban banks, as well as if the NATO bombing of Libya is halted—we would by all means accept the invitation to meet with you, preferably around that date.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Red Protagónica Observatorio Crítico de la Revolución Cubana
Originally published April 30 at observatoriocriticodesdecuba.wordpress.com. Translation by NACLA.
Read the rest of NACLA’s July/August 2011 Cuba Issue.
