The "new thaw" is about two weeks old, but things in Cuba are not changing – not even on the surface to make President Obama look good.

Let's just say that there is "no thaw" in the relationship between the Castro regime and dissidents, as reported by The Miami Herald via Babalu Blog:

Cuban authorities arrested several dissidents and independent journalists Tuesday in an apparent attempt to prevent them from attending a rally in Havana’s revolutionary square organized by a new movement that calls itself #YoTambienExijo (IAlsoDemand).

Among those detained as of early afternoon were journalist Reinaldo Escobar, editor of the online 14ymedio publication and husband of prominent blogger Yoani Sánchez. Eliecer Ávila, an activist, and Antonio Rodiles, who directs a human rights group called Estado de Sats, also were taken into custody. The arrests were reported via Twitter by Sánchez, who founded 14ymedio.

Sánchez said she was placed under house arrest and also reported that several other 14ymedio contributors were visited by State Security officers, who warned them not cover the event, which was scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. at the Plaza de la Revolución. The demonstration called for participants to go before a microphone for one minute to share their thoughts, concerns or ideas about how Cuba’s future should unfold.     

The rally was promoted via social media after the historic Dec. 17 announcement of renewed diplomatic ties between Washington and Havana. Hundreds of people said they planned to attend even though Cuban authorities denied permission to organizers, headed by prominent Cuban artist Tania Brugera.

Cuban government opposition leader, Angel Moya, also reported the arrest of Aliuska Gómez, a member of the Ladies in White group, and said several other human rights activists had gotten visits by State Security officers at their homes.

Several opponents and independent journalists said they were receiving fake text messages on their cell phones stating that the event had been cancelled.

So much for reforms.     

At the same time, Raul Castro did say recently that Cuba was not changing. 

I guess that we know now that Castro was dead serious.

It's the same old Castro regime, except that they've found a new lifeline courtesy of President Obama!  The Castro regime has a new source to finance their corrupt enterprise.  I hope that Americans think of that when they rush to Cuban beaches.

P.S. You can hear CANTO TALK here & follow me on Twitter @ scantojr.