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Miami Cubans Feud Over Havana Peace Concert

Cuban regime using Juanes, critics say

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 5, 2009 3:32 PM CDT

(Newser) – Juan Esteban Aristizábal, the Colombian pop star better known as Juanes, has sparked a generational spat among Cuban-Americans by agreeing to sing at a “peace concert” in Havana, the Economist reports. Many elders view the event as the Cuban regime’s latest attempt to manipulate public opinion, but 26-year-old Felice Gorordo, the co-founder of one youth organization, says that "for many of our generation, it’s just not an issue.”

Some hope the Sept. 20 concert will mark a watershed in US-Cuban relations, which have been improving since the Obama administration eased restrictions on travel and remittances. In Havana, Juanes will be careful to avoid performing alongside controversial landmarks like an image of Che Guevara or the offices of the Cuban Communist party. Adds Gorordo, “A lot of our members say, ‘Let him go and we’ll judge when he comes back. It’s worth a shot.’”

[Images (5)]

[Quotes (1)]

Juanes poses with his 5 Latin Grammy awards at the 9th annual Latin GRAMMY awards, November 13, 2008. (Getty Images)

Latin pop star Juanes is at the center of a fiery dispute between Cuban Americans in Miami over a "peace" concert in Cuba. (Getty Images)

In this image released by the U.S. State Dept., Colombia singer Juanes poses with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Washington, Wednesday, June 10, 2009. (AP Photo/U.S. State Department)

Latin pop star Juanes is at the center of a fiery dispute between Cuban Americans in Miami over a "peace" concert in Cuba. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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This is not about politics. Our only message is one of peace, of humanitarianism, of tolerance, a message of interacting with the people. - Juanes, Miami Herald

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Miami Cubans Feud Over Havana Peace Concert