Agence France Presse reported that Kofi Annan asked NOAL members at their meeting in Havana to end repression against opposition and communication media. He reportedly called the NOAL member states to be in compliance with their obligation to protect human rights of their citizens.

That was double talking at its best. A smiling Kofi was shown in a photo portraying a friendly handshake with Dictator Castro at the hospital where Castro is confined. But Kofi did not go to see the Ladies in White or the Cuban dissidents.

Kofi’s words were not intended for Cuba. For him, the Castro brothers do not abuse human rights in Cuba.

Last night I talked by phone to Paco Puentes. He is in Panama and I am in Raleigh, NC. Paco is the brother of Laurentino (Tino,) who passed away a few months ago in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. We all went to Benito's school and used to play baseball at La Asunción park (late forties and early fifties.) At night we would hang around La Asunción cafeteria, at Calzado de Luyanó and Juana Alonso.
Baseball was our favorite subject; the Cuban winter league or the Major leagues.

Paco gave me un update of many of our friends from our childhood in Cuba, now living in Miami.