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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Border Patrol Seizes Computers Destined for Cuba |
| 2005-07-29 |
| Jul 28 - Last Thursday, United States Customs and Border Patrol Agents halted members of a New York City-based humanitarian group near the Mexican border and confiscated a number of computers and computer accessories destined for Cuba. The Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Cuba Caravan was well into its 14th annual trek to deliver humanitarian aid to Cubans suffering under a US economic embargo when officers with the Border Patrol stopped them near Hidalgo, Texas, searched the vehicles and seized 43 boxes of computer equipment, according to a statement released by the organization. Agents allowed the majority of the eleven-vehicle caravan – carrying millions of dollars worth of goods -- to cross into Mexico, reported Reverend Lucius Walker, executive director of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, the parent group behind the Pastors for Peace Project, in an interview with Democracy Now!. Lucius noted that 400 computers were seized from the Caravan in 1996. Participants held a 94-day fast and secured their release, he said. The group is issuing a broad call for public support to force federal authorities to return the electronics and allow them to finish their quest to deliver the items to Cuban children with special needs. In a press statement, Pastors for Peace said seven members of the caravan remained in Hidalgo to drum up support for the release of the equipment. The statement called on people to contact government officials and Congress members to express their disappointment at the Border Patrol’s actions. Note: The Commmerce Department's Bureau of Industry & Security is responsible for controlling and licensing exports and reexports to Cuba (warning: pdf takes a while to download). The limit of computers that may be approved for export can't exceed 24.8 MTOPS (millions of theoretical operations per second). That's equivalent to a 486 microprocessor. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #6 ...and allow them to finish their quest to deliver the items to Cuban children with special needs. Wow. It's for... the children! Couldn't see that coming... And do The Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Cuba Caravan also have a Showband and Revue? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-07-29 11:05 |
| #5 Hmmm, I wonder if Fidel would be interested in a shoebox full of buggy Pentiums? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2005-07-29 10:58 |
| #4 I recall SPoD was trying to move some dual 486s motherboards just the other day. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-07-29 09:06 |
| #3 Not only that, Mike. They have relations with Europe and South America and Mexico and can't buy them there!!!???!!?!?!! Fifth column indeed |
| Posted by: AlanC 2005-07-29 09:03 |
| #2 Gee, you mean they have universal literacy, universal health care, and they can't produce their own microchips? Inconcievable! [/Vizzini] |
| Posted by: Mike 2005-07-29 06:23 |
| #1 The Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Cuba Caravan Life in the fifth lane should make you lose your freedom. |
| Posted by: Red Dog 2005-07-29 01:13 |