WINDOWS OF THE WORLD

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 172, 22 July 1936, Page 15

WINDOWS OF THE WORLD

THE NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS.

CUBA'S TERRORISTS.

AMNESTY PROPOSALS.

FACTION'S DISAGREE ON EXTENT. HAVANA. The question of amnesty for political prisoners and exiles, which now is facing the _ Government of President Miguel Mariana Gomez and the Cuban Congress, not only may result in a long and bitter struggle among members of Congress but may have a bearing on the future political situation. Many Cubans have voiced the necessity for immediate enactment of an amnesty bill to obtain political peace. However, wide differences of opinion over the extent of the amnesty and to whom it should be applied have brought fears to many that the amnesty question may be ail obstacle to political amity.

There are three amnesty bills, in Congress. One would provide amnesties for all persons serving sentences or accused of revolutionary activities and propaganda, fomentation of strikes and other labour movements, and all other offences of a purely political or social nature, except crimes of terrorism or gangsterism.

Another, a bill by Senator Octavio llivero, is nearly identical except that it also favours violators of the antigangsterism and anti-terrorism laws, providing the motive of the offence was purely political or social.

A third, introduced by Congresswoman Rosa Anders, Liberal, is the niost sweeping, for it provides full amnesties for all persons accused of crimes, offences and misdemeanours of a political nature, including those tried and sentenced by the National Sanctions Courts, established expressly to liquidate the alleged crimes of the Machaclo regime. Members of the Cuban Revolutionary party, the A.B.C. politico-revolutionary organisation, and other radical revolutionary groups demand that the Rivcro bill be enacted, as it would extend to many adherents of these groups. On the other hand, the army is willing to countenance a bill which does not include terrorists and gangsters. Colonel Fulgencio Batista, chief of staff, and other army leaders have declared steadfastly that terrorists and gangsters would have to serve the terms imposed by the Courts, and it is believed that the army will do everything within its power to keep them in gaol.

International Scenes and Affairs.