Note to Ban Ki-moon: Meet With the Victims

capitolhillcubans

Upon arriving in Havana last night for the CELAC Summit, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated:

"I look forward to hearing views on key issues from peace and security to sustainable development and human rights."

The most thoughtful and effective way to do so is by meeting with Cuban democracy activists and other victims of human rights abuses.

In other words, meeting with those who risk their lives and are imprisoned for defending the principles of the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights ("UNDHR").

(Many Cuban dissidents have been arrested simply for carrying a copy of the UNDHR.)

Will the Secretary General do so?

Or like his regional counter-part at the Organization of American States (OAS), will he be concerned not to "offend" the last totalitarian dictatorship of the Americas?

In that case, the Secretary General should revise his statement to clarify that he's only interested in one view: that of the aggressor.