Obama and Human rights in Cuba

President Obama's statement on Cuban human rights "Recent events in Cuba, including the tragic death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, the repression visited upon Las Damas de Blanco, and the intensified harassment of those who dare to give voice to the desires of their fellow Cubans, are deeply disturbing.
These events underscore that instead of embracing an opportunity to enter a new era, Cuban authorities continue to respond to the aspirations of the Cuban people with a clenched fist.
Today, I join my voice with brave individuals across Cuba and a growing chorus around the world in calling for an end to the repression, for the immediate, unconditional release of all political prisoners in Cuba and for respect for the basic rights of the Cuban people.
During the course of the past year, I have taken steps to reach out to the Cuban people and to signal my desire to seek a new era in relations between the governments of the United States and Cuba. I remain committed to supporting the simple desire of the Cuban people to freely determine their future and to enjoy the rights and freedoms that define the Americas, and that should be universal to all human beings."
 http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/03/obama-castro-cuba.html

All talk and no show

  Obama has begun to lift some of the restrictions on Cuban Americans contact with Cubans, such as allowing US telecom companies to operate to Cuba.  Thus opening Cuba too more cellular and satellite service.  However, Obama has not lifted the Trade Embargo on Cuba, which seems to be most detrimental to Cuba's current state.  Obama has taken some action on defending Cuba's human rights, however, as of now he has spoken without actually acting on his words.

 http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/04/13/obama_to_lift_cuba_travel_rest.html 

U.S.-Cuba relations under Obama fall to lowest point, by Jeff Franks  

HAVANA | Wed Mar 31, 2010 10:36am EDT

HAVANA (Reuters) - U.S.-Cuban relations have fallen to their lowest point since Barack Obama became U.S. president and are in danger of getting worse unless the two countries take serious steps toward ending five decades of hostility, according to Cuba experts.
After a brief warming last year, both countries appear to be falling back into old, antagonistic ways, obscuring whatever progress that has been made and hindering further advances, the experts said this week.
"The past year has proven that when it comes to U.S.-Cuba relations, old habits die hard," said Dan Erikson of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank in Washington.
Obama, who took office in January 2009 and has said he wanted to recast U.S.-Cuban relations, lifted restrictions on travel by Cuban Americans to the communist-ruled island and initiated talks on migration issues and direct postal service.
Since then, Cuban Americans have flooded the island and the two longtime ideological foes have held their first high-level discussions in years. But recent developments have been mostly negative.
Cuba jailed U.S. contractor Alan Gross in December on suspicion of spying and continues to hold him without charges.
Cuba's government has been condemned internationally for its treatment of opponents, including imprisoned dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who died in February from a hunger strike, and the "Ladies in White," wives and mothers of imprisoned dissidents, were shouted down by government supporters during protest marches this month.
Obama rebuked the Cuban government in a strongly worded statement on March 24, saying Cuba continues "to respond to the aspirations of the Cuban people with a clenched fist."
U.S. officials think they have done enough to elicit a more positive response from Cuba, while Cuba complains that Obama has done too little. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62U34W20100331