La Guantanamera: mercanerios

Por Armando Santana Martínez

Un cable de Wikileaks revela las conversaciones que sostuvieran en La Habana la bloguera Yoani Sánchez y Michael Parmly, quien fuera el jefe de la Sección de Intereses Norteamericanos en La Habana en 2007.

Yohandry Fontana, bloguero cubano, puso hoy a disposición de sus seguidores en Twitter el material, y recordó las declaraciones de Parmly con respecto a las filtraciones: “Me pondré muy bravo si publican las múltiples conversaciones que tuve con la bloguera Yoani Sánchez”.

En el cable, publicado este primero de septiembre por Wikileaks, y que ya corre como pólvora por la Red, Parmly informó a Washington de su encuentro con Yoani Sánchez y Reinaldo Escobar, un matrimonio que visitó al diplomático en su residencia para explicarle los futuros pasos de la Revista Consenso, la cual elogió profusamente.

“Si en ese tiempo hubiera podido prever la filtración de Wikileaks, hubiera limitado a la mitad los nombres en los cables” expresó Parmly a una publicación, en referencia a los informantes que con frecuencia utiliza la SINA en su labor de espionaje contra Cuba.

El fechado, clasificado como confidencial en junio de 2007, sostiene que el matrimonio regresó de una exitosa carrera en Europa para propiciar el "cambio" en Cuba.

Ver cable

Reference id ? aka Wikileaks id #113787

Subject Consenso On-line: An Impartial Forum In Cuba?
Origin US Interests Section Havana (Cuba)

Cable time Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:13 UTC

Classification CONFIDENTIAL

Source http://wikileaks.org/cable/2007/06/07HAVANA622.html

History First published on Thu, 1 Sep 2011 23:24 UTC
Media

VZCZCXRO8756 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHUB #0622/01 1791613 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 281613Z JUN 07 FM USINT HAVANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1909 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 0143 RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0123 RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RUCOGCA/NAVSTA GUANTANAMO BAY CU RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUESDM/JTLO MIAMI FL

Hide header C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000622 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA/FO FOR DAS KIRSTEN MADISON WHA/PD FOR MARY DEANE CONNERS WHA/PA FOR ERIC WATNIK WHA/CCA S/CRS FOR MICHELE SCHIMPP E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2017 TAGS: CU [Cuba], PGOV [Internal Governmental Affairs], PROP [Propaganda and Psychological Operations], SCUL [Cultural Affairs] SUBJECT: CONSENSO ON-LINE: AN IMPARTIAL FORUM IN CUBA? HAVANA 00000622 001.3 OF 002 Classified By: COM MICHAEL E. PARMLY FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D

¶1. (C) SUMMARY: REINALDO ESCOBAR AND YOANI SANCHEZ, TWO OF THE DRIVING FORCES BEHIND THE INNOVATIVE AND INCREASINGLY POPULAR ON-LINE MAGAZINE CONSENSO (CONSENSUS), DISCUSSED ORIGINAL APPROACHES TO CIVIL DIALOGUE IN CUBA WITH COM MICHAEL PARMLY AND A/PAO JOHN VANCE. CONSENSO FOSTERS DISCOURSE FROM ALL POLITICAL AND CIVIC POINTS OF VIEW IN CUBA'S BARREN, STRICTLY CONTROLLED MEDIA LANDSCAPE. THE VERY EXISTENCE OF CONSENSO, WHICH PAYS NOTHING TO ITS STAFF OR CONTRIBUTORS, IS GROUNDBREAKING IN CUBA AND POSES A THREAT TO A CUBAN GOVERNMENT WITH LITTLE TO GAIN AND MUCH TO LOSE FROM OPEN DEBATE. RECOGNIZING THE TIGHTROPE ON WHICH IT HAS WALKED SINCE THE MAGAZINE'S 2004 ESTABLISHMENT, CONSENSO'S EDITORIAL BOARD AVOIDS AFFILIATIONS WITH SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS, ESCHEWS DONATIONS GIVEN WITH CONDITIONS AND ADHERES TO A RIGIDLY NON-PARTISAN EDITORIAL POLICY IN ITS ENDEAVOR TO ANSWER TWO QUESTIONS: WHAT KIND OF CUBA DO WE WANT? HOW DO WE ARRIVE? END SUMMARY. ------------ HERE TO STAY ------------

¶2. (C) HUSBAND-AND-WIFE TEAM REINALDO ESCOBAR AND YOANI SANCHEZ VISITED THE U.S. CHIEF OF MISSION'S RESIDENCE TO SHARE THEIR IMPRESSIONS OF CUBA'S MEDIA ENVIRONMENT AND EXPOUND UPON THE UNIQUE POSITION THEREIN OF THEIR ON-LINE PUBLICATION, CONSENSO. ESCOBAR (WHOSE LONG AND WELL-DOCUMENTED TRACK RECORD OF STUBBORNLY INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM ONCE EARNED HIM A RIDE ON A DOWNBOUND ELEVATOR FROM A LOFTY POST AT GOC MOUTHPIECE "JUVENTUD REBELDE" TO A LIFT REPAIRMAN JOB) IS CONSENSO'S CHIEF EDITOR. YOANI SANCHEZ, A PHILOLOGIST, IS CLOSELY INVOLVED IN CONSENSO'S DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS. THE DUO IS UNIQUE AMONG CUBA'S INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS IN THAT THEY VOLUNTARILY RETURNED TO CUBA TO HELP EFFECT CHANGE AFTER HAVING ESTABLISHED SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN EUROPE. INDEED, CITING THE FACT THAT "THE BATTLE MUST TAKE PLACE IN CUBA," MS. SANCHEZ CLAIMS TO HAVE DISCARDED HER PASSPORT. --------------- CARVING A NICHE ---------------

¶3. (C) CONSENSO IN ITS CURRENT FORM WAS BORN AS THE RESULT OF AN EDITORIAL SPLIT AT ITS PRECURSOR BETWEEN FACTIONS LED BY CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVIST (AND ALLEGED REGIME FLACK) MANUEL CUESTA MORUA AND REINALDO ESCOBAR. UNWILLING TO FOLLOW CUESTA MORUA'S EDICT FAVORING A PARTISAN EDITORIAL TACK, ESCOBAR LED A SPLINTER GROUP'S MIGRATION FROM THE BOARD.

¶4. (C) WHEN CUESTA MORUA'S PUBLICATION SUBSEQUENTLY LOST ITS EDITORIAL BEARINGS AND FOUNDERED IN 2004, ESCOBAR CLAIMS SEVERAL MEMBERS OF ITS BOARD ASKED THAT HE TAKE THE REINS AND RESTORE ITS LUSTER. ESCOBAR ASSENTED WITH THE CAVEAT THAT THERE MUST BE NO FORMAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND THAT HIS ROLE, GIVEN HIS JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE, WOULD PRINCIPALLY BE THAT OF A STYLE AND NOT A CONTENT EDITOR. THE RESULT WAS CONSENSO.

¶5. (U) ACCORDING TO ESCOBAR, CONSENSO BEGAN ACQUIRING WIDER READERSHIP ONLY AFTER ITS UNBLINKING JOURNALISM (MOST RECENTLY SHOWCASED IN CONSENSO'S POWERFUL CONDEMNATION OF THE GOC, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE VATICAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE DISAPPEARANCE OF CATHOLIC LAY LEADER DAGOBERTO VALDEZ' INFLUENTIAL PERIODICAL "VITRAL") AND NON-PARTISAN NATURE GAINED CREDIBILITY WITH BOTH POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTORS AND ITS READERSHIP. ESCOBAR BELIEVES THE FACT THAT NEITHER THE EDITORIAL BOARD NOR CONTRIBUTORS ARE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR WORK IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT, ALTHOUGH HE ACKNOWLEDGES IT REDUCES CONSENSO'S POOL OF CONTRIBUTORS, MANY OF WHOM WOULD RATHER SUBMIT THEIR ARTICLES TO PARTISAN--BUT PAYING--PUBLICATIONS.

¶6. (U) IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETAIN IMMEDIACY AND GAIN RELEVANCY, AT THE BEGINNING OF 2007 CONSENSO INCREASED ITS ANNUAL OUTPUT FROM TWO TO TWELVE EDITIONS. IF THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IN CONSENSO'S WEBSITE'S (WWW.DESDECUBA.COM) PAGEVIEWS IS ANY HAVANA 00000622 002.3 OF 002 INDICATION, IT WAS A WISE MOVE. BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND MAY THE NUMBER OF VISITS INCREASED FROM 11,800 TO 67,422--AND JUNE IS ON TRACK TO EXCEED MAY'S RECORD BY A HEALTHY MARGIN. (COMMENT: BECAUSE CONSENSO IS WEB-HOSTED OFF THE ISLAND, WE EXPECT MOST CUBANS ON THE ISLAND ARE UNABLE TO BREAK THROUGH GOC INTERNET FILTERS TO ACCESS IT. STILL, WE HAVE HEARD FROM CUBANS ON THE ISLAND THAT THEY ARE FAITHFUL READERS.) --------------------------------------------- "PLURAL, RESPECTFUL, SERIOUS AND INDEPENDENT" ---------------------------------------------

¶7. (U) BILLING ITSELF AS "A SPACE FOR REFLECTION AND DEBATE ON PROGRESSIVE CUBAN THINKING" CONSENSO ADDRESSES ISSUES ACROSS THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, ECOLOGICAL, HISTORICAL, ETHICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND SPIRITUAL SPECTRA. CONSENSO CLAIMS TO BE "MORE A PARLIAMENT THAT EXAMINES AND DISCUSSES THAN A TRIBUNAL WHERE ONE DENOUNCES AND ASSEMBLES...AND MORE AN OBJECTIVE SEARCH THAN A PARTISAN INTENT; WITHOUT HEROIC HASTE BUT WITHOUT FEAR OF THE TRUTH OR THE CONSEQUENCES OF SPEAKING IT." CONSENSO'S BOARD VALUES ITS PLURALISM, NOTING CONSENSO "WILL ALWAYS HAVE SPACE FOR ALL TENDENCIES WITHIN THE BROAD MEASURE OF DIFFERENT PROGRESSIVE CURRENTS...WORKING FOR CUBA'S AND THE WORLD'S WELFARE, CULTURE, DEMOCRACY AND PEACE;" RESPECT, "BECAUSE (CONSENSO) ALWAYS AVOIDS PERSONAL ATTACKS, VERBAL VIOLENCE AND INSULTS OF ANY TYPE, SUCH AS THE VICE OF DISQUALIFYING THOSE WHO THINK DIFFERENTLY;" SERIOUSNESS, BECAUSE CONSENSO INSISTS THAT ITS CONTRIBUTORS SPECIFY WHERE THEY OBTAINED THEIR FIGURES OR STATE WHY THEY WERE UNABLE TO ACCESS RELIABLE SOURCES; AND ITS INDEPENDENCE, "BECAUSE CONSENSO IS NOT OVERSEEN OR AFFILIATED WITH ANY POLITICAL PARTY, ORGANIZATION OR UNION--NOR DOES IT RECEIVE FINANCING FROM ANY CUBAN INSTITUTION OR ANY FOREIGN GOVERNMENT."

¶8. (C) COMMENT: NOBODY LOOKS BAD IN THEIR OWN MEMCON. ESCOBAR HAD A STORY TO TELL AND DID SO PERSUASIVELY. MOREOVER, ESCOBAR'S WEBSITE "WALKS THE WALK" TO MATCH HIS "TALKING THE TALK," IN TERMS OF TAKING ON HOT TOPICS. ACCEPTING VIEWS FROM ALL POINTS OF THE IDEOLOGICAL COMPASS WHILE ENDORSING NONE OF THEM, CONSENSO'S EDITORS ARE STAKING THE PUBLICATION'S SURVIVAL ON ITS IMPARTIALITY. THAT SAID, ONE WHO SPENDS ANY LENGTH OF TIME IN CUBA DEVELOPS A HEALTHY CYNICISM. CONSENSO'S AIM TO CREATE A MARKETPLACE FOR THE UNTRAMMELED EXCHANGE OF IDEAS IS UNPRECEDENTED IN CUBA. THE MOST RECENT ISSUES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATE CONSENSO'S EDITORS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THE EFFORT. INDEED, CONSENSO'S UNEQUIVOCAL STANCES ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES MAY SPELL AN UNTIMELY DEMISE FOR CONSENSO BUT THE CONCEPT ESCOBAR AND HIS TEAM ESPOUSE WILL NOT BE SO EASILY QUELLED IN THE LONG TERM. AT THE CLOSE OF HIS VISIT, ESCOBAR SUBMITTED AN INTERVIEW REQUEST SOLICITING RESPONSES TO EIGHTEEN QUESTIONS (SEPTEL). IT WARRANTS SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. PARMLY

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