Scottish Socialist Party parliamentarian Rosie Kane, recently returned from Cuba, reported in the June 12 Sunday Mail on her visit to a bar in the Cuban capital: "Over a rum and ice, I got chatting with the locals. They wanted to know about Scotland, the parliament and Rabbie Burns. We started talking about 'freedom' and the debate gathered a crowd of about 20 people — it was amazing. And everyone had something to say. Some loved Fidel, others did not — and were not afraid to say so. One man loved Cuba and Socialism but was critical of Castro. I asked if he was free to speak up like this and he assured me the days of silence were long gone. I chirped up: 'Raise your hand if you have been imprisoned for publicly objecting to your government's policy?' The only hand that went up was my own."
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, June 22, 2005.
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