June 17, 2001

SYMPOSIUM FOR THE STUDY OF THE INTERNET:

A NEW FORCE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CASTRO

Por Mariana Talleda Gitomer

On June 2-3, 2001, in Los Angeles, California, Alpha 66 sponsored a symposium to study new ways of using the Internet as one more weapon in the struggle to liberate Cuba. The purpose is to create a new force through the Internet capable of confronting the tyranny in Cuba and breaking the barriers that today keep the Cuban people in a state of ignorance. There were various presentations and proposals from a panel made up of experts in the field of the Internet. Several panelists traveled from out of state to present their ideas. They represent a new generation of Cuban young people that carry the pain of our suffering homeland very deep in their hearts.

The symposium opened with an introduction by Pedro Sánchez, one of the webmasters of the Alpha 66 web page, who explained the importance of the Internet and why we were having this symposium. The first panelist was the journalist and geologist from Miami, Florida, Rafael Coutín. Mr. Coutín presented some of the characteristics of the cyber struggle for freedom and gave a brief history of the beginnings, evolution, and development of the current struggle. He gave concrete ideas on how to use the Internet to weaken the propaganda arm of the Castro regime, not only here in the U.S. but internationally as well. Next, educator, Máximo Gómez from Monterey, California discussed the importance of the Internet for Cuban-American young people and the need to get them involved in the struggle for liberation. One of his proposals was for ways of making "web" pages more attractive to this group.

Another panelist was José Luis Fernández, director of the electronic magazine "La Voz de Cuba Libre, edited in Los Angeles. Mr. Fernández spoke directly to those who are still not connected to the Internet, particularly the older generation, and showed how little time is needed and how easy it is to use the Internet in the fight for liberty and justice in Cuba. Following Mr. Fernandez, Santiago Martin Triana, member of the "Elian's Dolphins in the U.S.A" gave an account of the role played by the Internet during the struggle in this country to keep Elián González free.

Evelio Pérez of Los Angeles and Captain Enrique Acosta of Miami, presented the more technical parts of the symposium. They discussed specific proposals on how to use the Internet more efficiently in the struggle for the liberation of Cuba. It was agreed that Alpha's radio program, "La Voz de Alpha 66" would be put on the Internet in order to continue nurturing the voice of a free Cuba that has always been the basis of this organization.

The symposium concluded with a luncheon where, Miguel Talleda, Coordinator of Alpha 66 in California, gave a summary of the presentations and ideas presented by the panel of experts. Finally, Andrés Nazario Sargén, Secretary General of the organization succeeded one more time with his message of hope in inspiring the large group in attendance to evolve in this new field of technology we are living and continue the fight for the freedom of the Cuban people.