Cuba's tired excuses

June 22, 2006
The Miami Herald
Original Source: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/14873278.htm

Tuesday's opening of the new U.N. Human Rights Council inspires little hope that much will change. It was bad enough that Cuba was elected to the panel along with other serial violators that discredited the U.N.'s old human-rights body. The Cuban foreign minister only added to the injury by insulting the United States in his first remarks. Some things just never change.
Cuba should be judged by its deeds, not its words. No excuse changes the fact that the same dictator has ruled the island for 47 years. That Cuba landed a seat on the council doesn't absolve this tyrant of his systematic denial of basic liberties to 11 million people.
Let's hope others on the council stop Cuba and fellow abusers from hijacking the mission to protect and promote human rights.