Easing the embargo would ease life for Castro

Shortages created by the U.S. embargo certainly are felt exclusively by the average Cuban and not by those in power. Fidel Castro and his highest officials have first call to whatever is imported with the dollars available.

Ending the embargo will not help the average Cuban until the regime allows those items to be purchased with the pesos with which working Cubans are paid.

The only reason why Cuba faces food shortages is the absence of a free-market economy. Cuba has some of the world's most fertile lands. In 1958, prior to the Castro regime, Cuba virtually was self-sufficient in food. As for medicines, just last month Castro gave Peru more than a ton of medicines.

What are these ``visible cracks in Cuba's system'' that the editorial mentions? Right after the Pope's trip and his message of hope, a new campaign of terror took place. Youths active in an opposing group requested a Mass commemorating the deaths of the four Brothers to the Rescue pilots shot down by Castro's planes on Feb. 24, 1996. Castro's secret police persuaded the priest at Havana's Iglesia del Carmen not to say the Mass and then beat and imprisoned 14 youths.

As to easing travel restrictions, more than 100,000 Cubans travel to Cuba every year. Any increase in visitors reduces the availability of locally produced food even more to the average Cuban.

Any dollar profits from such tourism enables Castro to maintain his forces of repression. Castro never has been willing to share his wealth with the average Cuban. What makes anybody think that he will start now?

Carlos F. de Mendia
Coral Gables