After people from all over the US, including the Finger Lakes area spent months collecting urgently-needed medical supplies and other humanitarian aid for the people of Cuba, the US Department of Commerce has put a halt to the shipment’s progress and announced that they will inspect each and every box included in the 140 ton caravan. US officials insist that any “un-licensable” items, such as computers or calculators will be confiscated. Medical supplies will be allowed to pass once proper licensing is secured.

As a matter of principle, Pastors for Peace, the organization that has coordinated the annual shipment since 1993 has consistently refused to acquire a license from the US government. “To act upon Biblical command to ‘act not in word, but in deed,’ and to ‘feed the hungry, clothe the naked and provide shelter to the homeless’ is a matter of faith and conscience” and therefore out of the jurisdiction of the Federal government according to Linda Beckiel Ratcliffe, legal council for Pastors for Peace.

As of midnight, Thursday night, “One bus was inspected and Commerce Department officials seized computers, keyboards and anything they considered electronic,” According to Reverend Lucius Walker, who is leading the humanitarian effort. “The second bus was emptied of aid by caravanistas who carried our precious humanitarian cargo over the border by hand into Mexico. There are now two busses that have crossed over into Mexico.” Walker added, “It's amazing, that in 2005, our government would expend this much energy and so many resources trying to prevent us from delivering much needed aid to our brothers and sisters in Cuba. We are united. We are resolved and we are ready to deliver this aid to Cuba!”

The Rochester Committee on Latin America (ROCLA) coordinated the collection of humanitarian aid in the Finger Lakes area. Spokesman John Locke said, “While the Bush Administration talks about ‘the culture of life,’ their policies toward Cuba have consistently shown that it is little more than talk. Meanwhile, the people of Rochester and the surrounding area know that compassion means putting politics aside and helping our neighbors.”

After the devastating effects of Hurricane Dennis, which killed at least 16 people and destroyed 150,000 homes and buildings in Cuba, prompt delivery of the humanitarian aid is especially crucial. “The US Government is hindering our efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people of Cuba,” Locke said. “Of course, they’ve had 46 years of practice, so they’re extremely efficient at it.” Locke was referring to the 46-year-old US Embargo, which has been condemned by the international community and has had devastating effects on the people of Cuba, while doing little to achieve US foreign policy goals.

ROCLA, a task force of Metro Justice has mobilized their membership, as have other humanitarian groups associated with Pastors for Peace all over the world, and will spend the next 24 hours calling and emailing government officials and requesting that the caravan be allowed to cross into Mexico, where the cargo will be shipped on to Cuba. “This is not about Fidel Castro, Communism, or the Cuban-American community,” Locke said. “It’s about Americans helping those who desperately need it. Aside from being the right thing to do, it’s also simply good diplomacy.”

For more information on Pastors for Peace, go to www.ifconews.org.