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Interestingly, one proposal placed before the Commission by the PT representativefor Rio de Janeiro State, Fernando Gabeira, called for the Government’scondemnation of the imprisonment in early 2003 of 77 Cuban dissidents, and forspeedy action by the Government in pursuit of their release. 309 What is interestingabout the PT representative’s remarks on this matter, is that they show anawareness of, and intent to utilise, PT’s capacity to interfere in the domestic affairsof neighbouring states through party-political links. This is in stark contrast toBrazil’s official position of non-interference in the domestic affairs of other states.PT recognises the governments of Colombia and Mexico, but holds strong linkswith opposition movements, namely Pólo Democrático Alternativo (PDA) and Partido doAcción Nacional (PAN), respectively. 310As the state president cannot simultaneously hold executive office in a politicalparty, this acts as a measure of limitation of party influence on foreign policy, as ameasure of distance is created between the President and the party he represents.PT is adamant that Lula’s foreign policy has not been a petista foreign policy. “Theforeign policy of the Lula government is positively evaluated by the PTmembership, as there are many similarities between it and international policyadvocated by the Party”. 311 This is ostensibly in response to criticism that Brazil’sforeign policy has become highly ideologised under the Lula administration. Thismay be true as PT and its ideological soulmates, CUT and Movimento dosTrabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST), for example, have not had things their ownway. MST have not succeeded in convincing the Lula administration to increase thepace of land redistribution. Instead, funds earmarked for the expropriation andredistribution of unutilised land were redirected toward the financing of Brazil’sexternal debt. 312309 Report on Activities 2004, p47.310 PT, no. 72 and 73.311 PT, no. 71.312 Reuters. 2004. “Land reform in Brazil turns violent”, Independent Online. Accessedonline at:http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=qw1101426120439B216 on10 August 2010.135