PLEBISCITE NOW

Should there be free and democratic elections based on a new electoral law and in an environment that allows for all Cubans to have the right to be nominated and elected democratically, exercising freedom of expression and of the press, and organizing themselves freely in political parties and social organizations with total plurality? Yes or no?

On January 13, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement containing insults and threats against the peaceful human rights and democracy movement in Cuba, only because several members spoke with a delegation from the United States government, at the delegation’s request. With this request, the visitors recognized that in Cuba, outside of the government, there is a population with a diverse range of opinions.

Cuban government officials spoke with this delegation, which is now labeled as interventionist, because they dared to meet with these Cuban dissidents. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) made its greatest insult against itself, when in its statement, demonstrates a great interest in “reiterating the position already expressed by the Cuban government of maintaining a respectful dialogue on whatever subject with the US government always provided that it is among equals.”  It is painful that the Cuban government should offer dialogue “among equals” and “on whatever subject” with this foreign government, and yet should reject and exclude Cubans, not only dissidents, but also to the people in general who are denied the ability to exercise many of their rights.

Therefore, it seems that the issue is that the foreign governments and personalities or representatives of institutions are bad or good, dependent on whether they recognize or do not recognize and speak with or do not speak with those in Cuba who defend human rights. Thus the essence of the contradiction between the government and the people is revealed, as well as the reason for the marginalization and persecution of dissidents. This is because it is the dissidence that promotes real changes: freedom, reconciliation and recognition both in law and in the practice of all the rights of Cubans.

The newspaper El País, on Friday December 17, 2010, published information that Wikileaks attributes to reports from the United States Interest Section in Cuba, in which it is affirmed that the opposition does not have “programs designed to capture a broad spectrum of Cuban society.” According to El País, the United States considers that Cubans are interested in traveling and living comfortably and that for them human rights are not a priority. The aforementioned newspaper cites this Interest Section report in which the following recommendation is made to the government: “we should look in other areas, including within the government itself, to identify possible successors to the regime.”

Although in a different language, there are several parallels between the reports mentioned and the doctrine of the regime in the disqualification of the democratic opposition and in the choice not to identify freedom and rights as priorities of our people. To all we affirm that the Cuban people have a right to rights, and we declare: that these announced successors to the regime will not be successors, because there will be no regime, but instead there will be, like all Cubans, free men and women with rights and living in peace in their own country, which is better than to live with privileges and power supported by an oppressive order. This is our hope and our determination.

No one should question that the changes that the people want are freedom, reconciliation and all rights. It is for these goals that the opposition fights and works peacefully within and outside of Cuba. But that which Cubans lack most is that we have no voice, nor democratic means to express ourselves while the government and some in the world pretend to speak for our people. For this, our demand to the Cuban government is that it holds a plebiscite so that the people may express themselves and so that they can finally approve or reject:

Should there be free and democratic elections based on a new electoral law and in an environment that allows for all Cubans to have the right to be nominated and elected democratically, exercising freedom of expression and of the press, and organizing themselves freely in political parties and social organizations with total plurality? Yes or no?

The language may change, but holding this plebiscite would show respect for the sovereignty of our people and supporting it would show the world’s respect for the self-determination of the Cuban people. That no one should continue to speak for all Cubans.  Ask them in a plebiscite.

Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas

In the name of the Christian Liberation Movement

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