Manifesto for the Democratic Resistance by Leopoldo López

 "He who tires loses" -  Leopoldo López Mendoza

Leopoldo López

Carlos Vecchio from the underground reads the Manifesto for the  Democratic Resistance written by Leopoldo López in original Spanish (Original language transcript here)

Manifesto for the  Democratic Resistance

Today no one can say that what there is in Venezuela is a democracy. The authoritarian, repressive, and criminal reaction to the protests have been a blow to freedom that leaves no doubt that we live in a dictatorship. A dictatorship that has been incubating for years, that no one can fail to see and recognize.

The call that I made from the Plaza Brión de Chacaito in Caracas a few days ago to take to the streets peacefully from February 12 has been more than overwhelming, in its commitment , in its massiveness , and in its permanence. Today I am in prison in Ramo Verde for making a call to raise our voice of commitment and of democratic struggle. Today before you I want to affirm that I do not regret the price I am paying with my freedom for having made the call to build together the change we require in Venezuela. It has been worthwhile.

If they applied to all citizens the same punishment they aim to impose on me with my physical imprisonment they would have to build prisons for millions of Venezuelans who are willing to make that sacrifice.

Within the constraints imposed by prison I have followed carefully the call for dialogue by those who are now in power and the opinions expressed by my colleagues in the Unity , and therefor, in that context, I propose the following path of action:

 1) Standing firm with the nonviolent protests, there is no reason to give up our struggle. We can not give up, we must go on for the fallen, for the tortured, for the prisoners,  for the entire Venezuelan people that today suffers the attacks of a completely autocratic system. We must remain steadfast. 

 2) We propose an agenda with specific acts framed in the constitution and justice. There can be no true peace without justice and freedom, these demands are:

a ) The release of all political prisoners and the return of the exiles.

b ) Justice for those killed by repression and abuse, both for the material authors and for those who gave the orders. 

c ) Reassemble the public authorities whose mandates expired according to the constitution , a new controller, new directors of the CNE , new judges of the supreme court.

It is justice, it is constitutional and should be undertaken as an immediate step for the call to dialogue to be credible with actions and not just with words.

d ) We demand the resignation of those responsible by action and by omission for the repression, the torture and the deaths. There is no way to lower the intensity of our protests the following do not resign: Miguel Rodríguez Torres, primarily responsible for the repression, and Luisa Ortega Diaz , primarily responsible for unjust imprisonments and impunity.

 e ) We demand justice for the fraud of 30 billion dollars stolen in CADIVI. That elite is to blame for  the terrible economic model that today has Venezuelans in lines for shortages, inflation and unemployment.

They stole the equivalent of the international reserves and nothing has happened . Identified as principles responsible for the theft to the nation are Rafael Ramirez , Nelson Merentes and Manuel Barroso. They are the ones who signed and turned in the liquidation of those dollars that stayed in their pockets and those of their friends. We demand jail for those corruptors who stole from the nation.

With this agenda, which includes the street protests of the democratic unity, we propose to send a clear message of what are our conditions for dialogue and bring these proposals to street assemblies to legitimize them and  to expand the petitions of the Venezuelan democratic people against the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro.

We call on all social, political movements and the Venezuelan people to together articulate a movement of popular strength to make our demands reality.To the regime and in particular to Maduro we say that not having a timely response to these democratic, just and constitutional demands we will have no choice but to assume the commitment to continue on the street, intensify the peaceful, but irreverent, and forceful protests until we see the birth of the country that we all deserve.

Tomorrow I invite you to support at ten in the morning concentration convened by Antonio Ledezma in the Alfredo Sadel de las Mercedes Plaza which then will head to the OAS to demand that the Venezuelan situation be discussed. Pay close attention because every day strong actions will be announced that will go from less to more. It will be the alternative leaders who will make that announcement.

A new stage of the struggle is coming. This is just beginning. I assure you that this awakening of the people of Venezuela will make our energies continue to grow.Finally to our committed youth, a message of admiration and respect, you are on the right side of history, a deeply patriotic history. It has been the cycle of history which again has called them to be at the forefront of this difficult and painful birth, but just the country we deserve, that better Venezuela.

They will not be able to defeat he who does not give up. Strength and faith brothers, strength and faith brothers, he who tires loses. 

God be with you in this fight, Venezuela deserves more from us.

 Thank you very much and good night.

Leopoldo López

Ramo Verde Military Prison . March 3, 2014. 

Óscar Elías Biscet Presents Manifesto for Democracy in Cuba

Cuban opposition figure Oscar Elias Biscet on Wednesday presented a manifesto on which he intends to collect signatures to promote a move toward democracy on the Communist-ruled island. Accompanied by about a dozen dissidents, Biscet read the document at an appearance before international media where he demanded a “total change” in Cuba because “the people are tired of tyranny.” The initiative is called Proyecto Emilia, in remembrance of Emilia Teurbe Tolon, who embroidered the first Cuban flag in the mid-19th century.  Biscet, a physician and veteran human rights activist, was among the “Group of 75” dissidents jailed amid a harsh crackdown in March 2003." - EFE & Latin American Herald, "Cuban Opposition Figure Promotes Democracy Manifesto"

Emilia Teurbe Tolón

PROJECT EMILIA

This project, imbued with a deep love of country, bears the name of one of the Cuban heroes who devoted the best of her fruitful life to the struggle for the independence and freedom of Cuba.

We refer to Emilia Teurbe Tolón,  designated in 1950 by the Congress of the Republic of Cuba, to mark the centenary of our national flag, as the incarnation of the Woman of Cuba.

Emilia was the first Cuban woman banished from our country for political reasons. She also had the honor of working on the original Cuban flag that was designed by her husband and poet Miguel Teurbe Tolón,  on the initiative of General Narciso Lopez. Born into a wealthy family in the city of Matanzas, she had the human sensitivity to donate her property to benefit the education of the poor.

Those of us who sign this document, inspired by her patriotic example, propose to carry out this project whose main objectives are: the conquest of fundamental human rights, democracy and freedom of the Cuban people.

We assume that Cuba's communist regime bases its legality in the 1976 Constitution, as amended in 2003. In article 69, the Constitution refers to the People's National Assembly as the organ of state power. It also adds that the assembly represents and expresses the sovereign will of the people. To leave no doubt, Article 70 states that the National Assembly of People's Power is the only body with constituent and legislative authority in the Republic of Cuba.

Whereas: We have confirmed for years that the National Assembly of People's Power has transgressed to cede their sovereign rights and power the Council of State.

Whereas: We verified that the National Assembly of People's Power has complied passively and given legal force to all Decree-laws adopted by the Council of State.

Whereas: The National Assembly of People's Power has lost its sovereign power by accepting the mandate of the Council of State in convening extraordinary sessions. 
Whereas: The National Assembly of People's Power has infringed on the freedom of our people by allowing the Council of State to declare as irrevocable in the National Constitution social, political, and ideological ideas contrary to the interests of the Cuban people.

Whereas: The National Assembly of People's Power has violated the respect for the views of minorities enshrined in the world's most advanced constitutions and granted extreme power to docile majorities.

Whereas: The National Assembly of People's Power, violating the constitutional principle of the separation and independence of powers, has given the Council of State the power to issue guidelines and impose decisions on the Judiciary.

Whereas: The National Assembly of People's Power has ignored the popular will and limited civic freedom by subordinating it to the Local Assemblies of People's Power.

Whereas: The National Assembly of People's Power has stipulated that the Local Assemblies of People's Power are subordinated to the Council of State.

Whereas: The National Assembly of People's Power has stifled freedom of expression, association, speech and press to those not aligned with the policy and ideology of the state.

Whereas: The National Assembly of People's Power has given the government the power to strip Cubans born in our country of their citizenship .

Whereas: The National Assembly of People's Power, in not objecting to the measures of the Council of State that have sunk into misery and desperation our people, it has become complicit in this infamy. 

Whereas: The National Assembly of People's Power has exalted one Party above the state and the nation. 

Therefore: We declare that these laws, compiled in the 1976 Constitution, constitute an abuse of power that flagrantly violates the dignity of Cuban citizens.

Therefore: The 1976 Constitution, as amended in 2003, permanently institutionalizes the communist regime of Cuba.
 

Therefore: The National Assembly of People's Power has no validity whatsoever and ceases to be the expression of the will of the people by giving the Council of State all the prerogatives enshrined in the Cuban Constitution.

We consider that the current communist constitution violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Human Rights Covenants on Civil and Political Rights of the United Nations.

We agree to declare illegitimate the Communist Constitution and the National Assembly of People's Power with its organs of state power.

We call on the Cuban people to subscribe to this project to take steps toward a sovereign, democratic, free and just Cuba.

We proclaim that the new democratic and free Parliament that emerges from these exigencies is declared in Constitutional Assembly; and ratify a constitution that respects the dignity of all Cubans.  

We insist that the Constitution contain the bases for the democracy and freedom that so many of our compatriots from our wars of independence have fought and given their lives for.

We demand that the legal system of our country has as a base the democratic principles that prevail in other nations of the civilized world. These are: sovereignty of the people, government based on the consent of the governed, majority rule, minority rights, guarantee of basic human rights, free and fair elections, equality before the law, due process, constitutional limits on government, independent balance of powers, social , economic and political pluralism; as well as the values ​​of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation and compromise.  

Unfortunately, we have seen through more years than we would like to recall how Cuba's communist regime has not conceded even one atom of freedom and has rigidly and arbitrarily resisted any changes that would ensure a decent life for our people.

Consequently, we have no alternative but to launch the non-violent political challenge to realize the freedom of our people. To do this, we ask the assistance and protection of God, and we ask the Creator to guide us in this just cause for the freedom and prosperity of the Cuban people.

VIVA CUBA LIBRE!

Given in Havana, Cuba, on January 9, 2013 

Source: Blog Punt de Vista

Original Text in Spanish: 

 

PROYECTO EMILIA

Este proyecto, imbuido de un profundo amor patrio, lleva el nombre de una de las heroínas cubanas que dedicó lo mejor de su vida fructífera a la lucha por la independencia y la libertad de Cuba.

Nos referimos a Emilia Teurbe Tolón, designada en 1950 por el Congreso de la República de Cuba, con motivo del centenario de nuestra Bandera Nacional, como la Encarnación de la Mujer de Cuba.

Emilia fue la primera mujer cubana desterrada de nuestra patria por motivos políticos. Tuvo además el honor de laborar en el original de la bandera cubana que fuera diseñada por su esposo y poeta Miguel Teurbe Tolón, a iniciativa del General Narciso López. Perteneciente a una acaudalada familia de la ciudad de Matanzas, tuvo la sensibilidad humana de donar sus bienes en beneficio de la enseñanza de los pobres. 

Quienes suscribimos este documento, inspirados en su ejemplo patriótico, nos proponemos realizar este proyecto cuyos objetivos esenciales son: la conquista de los derechos humanos fundamentales, la democracia y la libertad del pueblo cubano. 

Partimos de la base de que el régimen comunista de Cuba fundamenta su legalidad en la Constitución de 1976, con sus modificaciones de 2003. En su artículo 69, esta Constitución designa a la Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular como el órgano de poder del Estado. Asimismo añade que dicha asamblea representa y expresa la voluntad soberana de todo el pueblo. Para no dejar dudas, en su artículo 70 afirma que la Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular es el único órgano con potestad constituyente y legislativa en la Republica de Cuba. 

Por Cuanto: Hemos confirmado durante años que la Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular ha prevaricado al ceder sus derechos soberanos y su poder al Consejo de Estado. 

Por Cuanto: Hemos verificado que la Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular ha acatado pasivamente y dado fuerza legal a todos los Decreto-leyes adoptados por el Consejo de Estado. 

Por Cuanto: La Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular ha perdido su poder soberano al aceptar el mandato del Consejo de Estado en la convocatoria a sesiones extraordinarias. 

Por Cuanto: La Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular ha atentado contra la libertad de nuestro pueblo al permitir que el Consejo de Estado declare como irrevocables en la Constitución Nacional ideas políticas, sociales e ideológicas contrarias a los intereses del pueblo cubano.

Por Cuanto: La Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular ha violado el respeto a la opinión de las minorías plasmado en las constituciones más avanzadas del mundo y otorgado extremo poder a mayorías dóciles. 

Por Cuanto: La Asamblea Nacional de Poder Popular, violando el principio constitucional de la separación e independencia de poderes, ha otorgado el Consejo de Estado el poder de dictar pautas e imponer decisiones sobre el Poder Judicial. 

Por Cuanto: La Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular ha desconocido la voluntad popular y limitado la libertad ciudadana al subordinar a ella las Asambleas Locales del Poder Popular. 

Por Cuanto: La Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular ha estipulado que la Asambleas Locales del Poder Popular están subordinadas al Consejo de Estado. 

Por Cuanto: La Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular ha asfixiado la libertad de expresión, asociación, palabra y prensa a los que no se alineen a la política e ideología del Estado. 

Por Cuanto: La Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular ha otorgado al gobierno la potestad de despojar de su ciudadanía a cubanos nacidos en nuestro territorio nacional. 

Por Cuanto: La Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular, al no objetar las medidas del Consejo de Estado que han hundido en la miseria y la desesperación a nuestro pueblo, se ha hecho cómplice de esa infamia. 

Por Cuanto: La Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular ha exaltado a un Partido por encima del estado y de la nación.



Por Tanto: Declaramos que estas leyes, compiladas en la Constitución de 1976, constituyen un abuso de poder que viola flagrantemente la dignidad de los ciudadanos cubanos. 

Por Tanto: La Constitución de 1976, modificada en el 2003, institucionaliza de manera permanente al régimen comunista de Cuba.

Por Tanto: La Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular carece de toda validez y deja de ser la expresión de la voluntad del pueblo al otorgarle al Consejo de Estado todas las prerrogativas consagradas en la Constitución Cubana.

Consideramos que la vigente Constitución comunista viola la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos y los Pactos de Derechos Humanos Civiles y Políticos de las Naciones Unidas. 

Concordamos en declarar ilegitima a la Constitución Comunista y a la Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular con sus órganos de poder del Estado. 

Convocamos al pueblo cubano a que suscriba este proyecto para dar pasos hacia una Cuba soberana, democrática, libre y justa. 

Proclamamos que el nuevo Parlamento democrático y libre surgido de estas exigencias se declare en Constituyente; y rubrique una Constitución que respete la dignidad de todos los cubanos.

Insistimos en que esta Constitución contenga las bases de la democracia y la libertad por la que han luchado y ofrendado sus vidas tantos de nuestros compatriotas desde nuestras guerras de independencia. 

Demandamos que el ordenamiento jurídico de nuestra patria tenga como base los principios democráticos que predominan en otras naciones del mundo civilizado. Estos son: Soberanía del pueblo, gobierno basado en el consentimiento de los gobernados, gobierno de la mayoría, derechos de las minorías, garantía de los derechos humanos básicos, elecciones libres y transparentes, igualdad ante la ley, debido proceso judicial, límites constitucionales al gobierno, equilibrio de poderes independientes, pluralismo social, económico y político; así como los valores de tolerancia, pragmatismo, cooperación y compromiso.

Por desgracia, hemos visto a través de más años de los que quisiéramos recordar como el régimen comunista de Cuba no ha concedido ni un átomo de libertad y ha resistido de manera rígida y arbitraria cualquier cambio que garantice una vida digna para nuestro pueblo. 

Por consiguiente, no nos queda otra alternativa que poner en marcha el desafío político no violento para hacer realidad la libertad de nuestro pueblo. Para ello, suplicamos la asistencia y la protección de Dios, así como le pedimos al Creador que nos guie en esta justa causa para lograr la libertad y la prosperidad del pueblo cubano. 

¡VIVA CUBA LIBRE! 

Dado en La Habana, República de Cuba, el 9 de enero de 2013

Fuente: Blog Punt de Vista