Blogger tells Washington not to believe in Cuban reforms

When Yoani Sánchez appeared on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, she told lawmakers that she was there not as a politician or journalist, but as any other ordinary Cuban citizen. Sánchez was invited by a bipartisan, bicameral panel at the House of Representatives to discuss a range of issues, including the availability of internet technology in Cuba and reforms made by the Castro regime.

She was given a rock star’s welcome by Senator Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, who personally invited her to speak.

“In Cuba, if a person has access to a computer, they gain a lot of autonomy with respect to the Cuban government,” she said.

This was the first time that the award-winning Cuban blogger had visited Washington and met with US lawmakers. She described how the Cuban government has tried to put a muzzle on dissidents who have complained about injustice and a lack of freedoms.

“The regime has tried to impose a wall of censorship, but each tweet in which Cubans can relate what is happening opens a gap in that barrier,” she said. The 37-year-old blogger also brushed aside the announcement of reforms in Cuba and asked lawmakers not to believe in the regime’s promises.

“When I speak about changes in Cuba, I am not referring to the supposed economic reforms that were ordered from above; I am talking about the changes that are occurring with the people.

“It is important that you are not tempted to believe that President Castro’s measures are a symbol that Cuba is changing because if you are convinced by this and the international community looks the other way, things can only get worse for us in Cuba,” she added.

Among the lawmakers who attended the hearing were Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart, Republicans from Florida who have been leaders of Miami’s exile Cuban community.