Center for a Free Cuba

The Center for a Free Cuba is a Washington, DC-based Cuban democracy organization. It states that it is "an independent, non-partisan institution dedicated to promoting human rights and a transition to democracy and the rule of law on the island. Established in November 1997, the Center gathers and disseminates information about Cuba and Cubans to the media, NGOs, and the international community. The Center also assists the people of Cuba through its information outreach and humanitarian programs on the island."[1]

Among the organization's activities it supports the France-based non-governmental group Reporters Without Borders. Reporters Without Borders also receives funding from George Soros and numeorus other NGOs.[2]

In 2008, USAID suspended finance for its Cuba programs while it investigated embezzlement at the Center for a Free Cuba[3] The Center's Executive Director reported the embezzlement to USAID and an employee of the Center was subsequently imprisoned for two and half years for stealing from the Center.[4]

Felipe Sixto, a Cuban, was appointed by President George W. Bush as a Special Assistance to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs as well as the Deputy Director of the Office of Public Liaison. Sixto resigned a few weeks later on March 20, 2008 because of his alleged misuse of grant money from the U.S. Agency for International Development which was directed for use by the Center for a Free Cuba. Sixto overcharged the agency for radios and flashlights and kept $570,000 for his own use.[5] He was sentenced to 30 months in prison.[6] The money was eventually repaid.

In 2014, National Endowment for Democracy claims to support the Center for a Free Cuba[7]

References

  1. ↑ About Us, Center for a Free Cuba
  2. ↑ Reporters Without Borders Unmasked, Counterpunch, 17 May 2005
  3. ↑ Washington Post
  4. ↑ Associated Press
  5. ↑ Bush aide resigns over misuse of money in Cuban democracy organization by The Associated Press, Friday, March 28, 2008
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ Cuba NED via web.archive.org
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