Over 300 Democracy Activists Concerned With Obama-Castro Deal, Create Democratic Roadmap Published (and translated?) by Capitol Hill Cubans January 27, 2015
Forum for Rights and Freedoms
The announcements made by U.S. President Barack Obama and his administration have triggered an intense debate about the Cuban problem. Many of those in the opposition and activists from civil society, both inside the island and in exile, have lamented, above all, the lack of transparency and unilateral and unconditional character of the new measures announced.
It is indisputable and indispensable that Cubans be primarily responsible for the fate of our nation, but we also expect an effective commitment from the democratic community for the defense of fundamental freedoms and the establishment of the rule of law in Cuba.
Those of us who experience the abuses of the Cuban regime daily and those in exile who suffer and have suffered from the totalitarianism in their home country, are vital players in the process of transition. Ignoring many of our voices and acting from only one perspective of the problem weakens objectivity and endangers any political dialogue.
We are faced with two options. First, to accept the transformation of the regime to authoritarian capitalism where Cubans will have to settle for meager handouts, while the inheritors of Castroism dispose of our rights ans wealth. Second, to demand concrete and measurable changes that are conducive to the establishment of a true democracy.
The demand for the restoration of our freedoms is a necessary prerequisite for achieving a successful political transition. During these 56 long years of one-party dictatorship, activists and the opposition have repeatedly demanded the full exercise of freedoms inherent to human beings, often paying a high price for such claims.
The violation of fundamental rights in our country is validated under the current legal system. We therefore believe that the ratification and particularly the legal implementation of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, with their optional protocols, serves as a key instrument and road-map for solving the Cuban problem. Similarly, the guidelines of the International Labor Organization will provide us with an accurate idea of how to work on the legal system regarding labor issues and trade union freedoms.
We hope that Latin American countries, the European Union, Canada, the Holy See and the United States, as important political actors in the Cuban issue, join us in this fair and urgent demand. We have used as a reference the association agreement signed between the EU and Central America in 2012, with a clear emphasis on respect for human rights and democracy promotion.
Upon ratification of these agreements, we propose the following road-map to ensure the effective and prompt implementation of the commitments made:
•The immediate release and cancellation of sentences against all prisoners arrested for political reasons (to decree amnesty) •On the Constitution, laws, regulations, procedures and administrative practices: the abolition of all articles that violate the International Covenants and restrict liberties on freedoms of expression, association, assembly, movement, conscience and religion, economic and cultural rights. To establish full guarantees for the exercise of those freedoms •On the Penal Code: the elimination of the clause of pre-criminal dangerousness, as well as all rules that can contribute to arrests, arbitrary detentions and acts of harassment that violate the agreements made •The restoration of constitutional-level judicial guarantees and the right to due process •New Law of Association that includes a multiparty system and guarantees for freedom of assembly. Concerning trade union rights, standards set by the International Labor Organization should be taken into account •New Media Law guaranteeing freedom of expression and the free flow of information •New Election Law (Restoration of National Sovereignty) We believe that every step should be conditioned on the progressive advance of the road-map indicated above, sustained on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Our ultimate goal is to move toward becoming a true democracy, with political pluralism, judicial independence, freedom and human rights. Where a Cuban, through consultations and a process of free and transparent elections, as well as the creation of a constitutional assembly, can define the destiny of our nation.
All genuine actors of the opposition and civil society, through their projects and demands both on the island and in exile, must play an active role in any process that seeks a solution to the Cuban problem.
At stake is the very future of the nation. We exercise this great responsibility which has fallen to us.
Signatories:
Ada María López Canino Adelma Guerra Adis Niria Dallet Argüelles Adnaloy Rodríguez Díaz Adonis Castro-Ruz Campello Adonis Salgado Pérez Adrian Perez Mendoza Agustín López Canino Aida Norma Roque Aidé Gallardo Salazar Ailer González Mena Aliette Padrón Antigua Alberto Sanchez Martiatu Alejandro Raga Alejandro Garcia Arias Alexis Pérez Lescailles Alexis Jardines Alfredo Guillermo Rodríguez Alina Brouwer Ana María Socarras Piñón Ana Olema Alexander Perez Rodriguez Alina de la C García Aliuska Gómez García Amelia Suarez Naranjo Ana Torricella Morales Anay Peñalver Subit Andrés Pérez Suarez Ángel Luis Díaz Ángel Luis Martín Ángel Moya Acosta Ángel Santiesteban Prats Anislay Escalona Polo Antonio G. Rodiles Antonio Jose Ponte Arelis Blanco Coello Arelis Rodríguez Silva Ariadna Mena Rubio Ariel Gonzalez Cuevas Ariobel Castillo Villalba Armando Abascal Serrano Armando Peraza Hernández Bárbara Rodríguez Vizcaíno Barbara Viera Rodriguez Benito Fojaco Iser Berta Soler Fernández Borris Larramendi Camilo Ernesto Olivera Peidro Caridad Ramírez Caridad Valdés Soriano Carlos Lázaro Tamayo Frías Carlos M Figueroa Álvarez Carlos M Hernández Carlos Manuel Figueroa Carlos Orlando Olivera Martinez Carlos Rodríguez Seruto Cecilia Guerra Alfonso Cesar Reynel Gomez Ciro Javier Diaz Penedo Claudio Fuentes Madan Cristina Xiomara Duques Dairon Moisés Torre Paz Dairy Coello Basulto Daisy Artiles del Sol Damaris Reve Rodríguez Damarys Moya Portieles Damián Albert Suviaut Danai López Perdomo Danaise Muños López Dandy Lazo David Águila Montero Delises González Borrego Digna Rodriguez Ibanez Duvier Blanco Acosta Edely Orlando Suarez Hirain Alvarez Gálvez Eduardo González Molina Eduardo Marcos Pacheco Ortiz Egberto Ángel Escobedo Morales Elena Larrinaga Elías Amor Enrico M. Santí Enrique Díaz Rodríguez Enrique Martínez Marín Enrique Rafael Valido Enrique del Risco Eralidis Frometa Polanco Ernesto Gutiérrez Ernesto Fonseca Garcia Ernesto Hernandez Busto Esteban Ajetes Abascal Eugenia Díaz Hernández Eugenio Hernández Hernández Evelin Pineda Concepción Félix Navarro Félix Perez Palenzuela Francisco Rangel Manzano Francisco Valido Frank Cosme Valdés Gerardo Sánchez Gisela Sánchez Baños Gladis Capote Roque Gloria Samper Oliva Gorki Águila Guillermo Fariñas Hernández Guillermo García V Gustavo Garabito Gómez Haymee Moya Montes de Oca Hugo Damian Prieto Blanco Igdariz Pérez Ponciano Ignacio Blanco Jimenez Iris Quindelan Iván Founier Costa Iván García Quintero Ivonne de las Mercedes Abreu Jaime Bravo Jaqueline Bone Hechevarria Jaqueline Cutiño Leite Jeovani Díaz López Jeovany Jimenez Vega Jesús Aristides Hernandez Pérez Joel Brito Jordanca Borquinelis Jorge Luis Cuervo Jorge Enrique Carbonell Jorge Luis Artiles Montiel Jorge Luis García Ostia Jorge Luis Romero Becerra Jorge Luis Trujillo González Jorge Olivera Castillo Jorge Rodríguez Rivero Jose Alberto Gutierrez José Agustín Benítez López José A. Zamora García Jose G. Ramón Castillo José Díaz Silva José Hernandez Lopez José Ignacio Brito José Luis León Pérez José Ramón Polo Borges José Raúl Rodriguez Rangel Juan Alberto de la Nuez Ramirez Juan Antonio Blanco Juan Carlos Linares Balmaseda Juan González Febles Juan Manuel Lora Vidal Julia Herrera Roque Julio Aleaga Pesant Julio Antonio Ramírez Julio Herrera Roque Julio Rojas Portal Kessell Rodríguez Rodríguez Kirenia Molina Laritza Olivares Dinza Laudelina Alcalde García Laura Marante Laura Marante Delgado Lazara B. Sendiña Recalde Lazara M Borrego Guzmán Lázaro Díaz Sánchez Lazaro Mendoza Garcia Lázaro Fresneda Fernández Lázaro Luis Ruíz Hechevarria Lázaro R Armenteros Martorel Lázaro Yosvani Montesino Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca Liu Santiesteban León Padrón Azcuy Lia-Lianelis Villares Liset Naranjo Lismeirys Quintana Ávila Livan Serafín Lourdes Esquivel Lucia Molina Villegas Lucinda González Gómez Luis Alberto Cruz Silva Luis Bárbaro Ortega Avenza Luis Cino Álvarez Luis Enrique Labrador Díaz Luis Felix Fernandez Moreno Luis Jesús Gutiérrez Campos Luisa R Toscano Luis Trapaga Lupe Busto Maikel Norton Cordero Mailen González González Manuel Aguirre Labarrere Manuel Zayas Martínez Marcelino Lorenzo Fernández Margarita Rodríguez Díaz María Acon Sardiñas María Cristina Labrada Varona María Josefa Sardiñas María Rosa Rodríguez Molina Marislaidys Sánchez Vargas Maritza Concepción Salmiento Mark Alonso Parada Marta Belquis Rodríguez González Mayelin Peña Bullain Mayelin Santiesteban López Maylin González González Melvia Aguilera Mercedes Pérez Merenis Herry García Mijail Bonito Miguel Ángel Tamayo Frías Miguel Daniel Borroto Vázquez Miguel Farinas Quey Mista Ricardo Torres Nelson Rodríguez Chartrand Nilo Gilbert Arencibia Noelvis León López Normando Hernandez Gonzalez O Díaz Becerra Odelin Alfonso Torna Olaida del Castillo Trujillo Olga Lidia Torres Iglesias Omar Suarez Campo Orlando Rodriguez Rodriguez Orlando Villar de Armas Oscar Luis Milian Reinoso Oslien Noda Fonseca Osmal Laffita Rojas Osmani Díaz Cristo Oylin Hernández Rodríguez Pablo J.Hernandez Gonzalez Paulino Estévez Jiménez Pedro Fontanal Miranda Pedro Benítez Quirenia Díaz Argüelles Rachel Gamboa Campos Rafael Hernández Blanco Rafael Rodríguez Rivero Raisel Rodríguez Rivero Ramon Alejandro Munoz Gonzalez Ramon Chavez Gonzalez Ramón Jiménez Arencibia Ramón Mor Hernández Ramon Zamoza Rodriguez Raquel María Rodríguez Morejón Raúl Borges Álvarez Regla Ríos Casado Reinaldo Figueros Reinaldo Martínez Ricardo Almira Ricardo Mansilla Corona Roberto Arsenio López Ramos Roberto Pupo Tejeda Rogelio Fabio Hurtado Rodríguez Rolando Ferrer Espinosa Rolando Pulido Rolando Reyes Rabanal Rolando Rodríguez Rivero Ronny Gámez Luna Rosalinda Visiedo Gómez Roxilene Sotolongo Cruz Saúl González Santiago Jordan Rios Sebastian Arcos Serafín Moran Santiago Serafín Moran Santiago Sergio Girat Estrada Smith Cantillo Pérez Sodrelis Torruella Poncio Sonia Álvarez Campello Sonia Garro Alfonso Stewe Maikel Pardo Valdez Tamara Rodríguez Quesada Ubaldo Herrero Hernández Vicente Campanioni Vicente Sebastián Borges Virgen Coello Basulto Vikingo Ferrari Vladimir Ortiz Suarez Vladimir Turru Paez Xiomara de las M Cruz Miranda Yadelys Montano León Yaimel Rodríguez Arroyo Yamile Borges Hurtado Yamile Garro Alfonso Yamile Naranjo Yaneisi Herrera Cabrales Yanisel Bosa Garrido Yanitza Estrada Liranza Yasil Fernández Denis Yasmani Barroso Bergolla Yasmani Barroso Pergolla Yasmani Cuesta González Yelky Páez Rodríguez Yeniset Aguilera Yoan Guzmán Díaz Yoisy Jaramillo Sánchez Yolanda Santana Ayala Yoraida Peña Padilla Yosbani Arce Blanco Yuleidis Ortiz Yuliet Margarita Rodríguez Báez Yulinne Tamayo Frías Yuneisis Coto Casino Yuniesqui Gainza Yuniset Amores Aguilera Yurineisi Alemán Yurleani Tamayo Martínez Yuslaidis Balero Concepción Zaqueo Báez Guerrero Zenen Daniel Cruz Zulema Lay
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