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Super-spy Vilma drops cover
A top Cuban dissident has revealed herself to have been a longstanding spy for Fidel Castro's security service infiltrated into the opposition movement. Most Cubans knew of Aleida Godinez, but not her codename "Agent Vilma". Her cover was blown after 78 political activists and journalists were detained and jailed earlier this month for between six and 28 years for 'anti-state' activities. Godinez had been secretary-general of the Cuban Independent Federation of Trade Unions and editor-in-chief of the dissident magazine "Lux", which was printed in Miami and brought into Cuba in the US diplomatic bag. Godinez said her double-life of nearly 13 years had required a "great personal sacrifice", but had resulted in a "fatal blow against subversion in Cuba". "The evil known as dissidence can no longer act with impunity as it has done until now," she said. She's a true believer Through her anti-Castro sham, Godinez became a close confidante of leading dissident economist Marta Beatriz Roque, who was sentenced this month to 20 years in jail - and was leader of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society. But, speaking in her 'true' voice, Godinez dismissed the anti-Castro opposition as "mercenaries" on Washington's payroll. "They are not dissidents, because dissidents are those who do not agree with the policies of the Cuban revolution; these people are mercenaries because they receive money from the United States," she said. In her guise as a dissident leader, she won the confidence of US officials at the US interests section in Havana, where she claims to have had a permanent access pass since 1996. No doubt there will be a few red faces at State, oh wait.... She said the US government "organises, directs and finances the counter-revolution in Cuba", with certain groups having received up to $35 000 (about R256 000) a month from USAid, the US government agency for international development, along with computers, fax machines and tape recorders. The Cuban government has long accused the US diplomatic office of funding the opposition to the communist authorities. State prosecutors accused the dissidents jailed this month of acting as a US "fifth column" to conspire against Castro. Agent Vilma's revelation is one of several orchestrated by the Cuban government after last month's crackdown. Public television has shown extended footage of revelations by other double-agents, portraying them as "heroes" and the "true face of the country" who "exposed the unpatriotic attitude" of "counter-revolutionary elements". Cubans have also learned about 'Agent Ernesto', or Pedro Luis Veliz, a doctor, who infiltrated the dissident movement in 1996; and also 'Agent Tania' or Odilia Collazo, whose double identity was president of the Party of the Rights of Man. No wonder Fidel has lasted so long. Veliz said the US interests section had sought to destroy the Cuban health system, regularly held up as one of the communist government's top achievements. Collazo said she had been "proud to have followed in the footsteps of my father" who, she added, was also an undercover agent. Oliver Stone will be after the movie rights to her "heroic" story. Posted by: Steve 2003-04-29 |
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