"The first victory we can claim is that our hearts are free of hatred. Hence we say to those who persecute us and who try to dominate us: ‘You are my brother. I do not hate you, but you are not going to dominate me by fear. I do not wish to impose my truth, nor do I wish you to impose yours on me. We are going to seek the truth together’. THIS IS THE LIBERATION WHICH WE ARE PROCLAIMING."
Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas (2002)
Will Cuba's dictatorship be the first communist regime to not survive beyond the founding generation?
A conversation with Professors Jaime Suchlicki and Carlos Eire
Transition is understood as the gradual replacement of
an autocratic regime by a democratic political order.
Succession denotes changes of power within the
boundaries of a given regime.
Communist Cuba is still ruled by leadership of the founding generation of the Castro dictatorship.
Communist regimes around the world have continued beyond first generation leadership. Will Cuba's regime be different?
Professor Carlos Eire
A Yale University scholar, writes often about Cuban politics and culture. His memoir Waiting for Snow in Havana received the National Book Award for Nonfiction. He is the author of several other books, including A Very Brief History of Eternity (Princeton University Press, 2010), and Reformations: The Early Modern World (Yale University Press, 2016).
Professor Jaime Suchlicki
The Director of the Cuban Studies Institute. Has written many articles and several books, including Cuba: From Columbus to Castro and Beyond (Potomac Books). Dr. Suchlicki
is often interviewed by TV, radio, and printed media on Cuba and Latin
American politics. One of his latest reports is Doing Business in Cuba:
Investors Beware.
Below is a copy of the advertisement circulated for the May 27, 2021 event with these two scholars.
Free Venezuelans gather in front of the White House on Saturday, March 16, 2019
This morning in Washington, DC joined with Free Venezuelans in a protest next to the White House in support of Juan Guaidó,
the interim president of Venezuela, and to explain the current situation in the country. Speakers called for three steps to normalization: 1) end Maduro's usurpation of the country, 2) a transition government, and 3) free and fair elections.
Free Venezuelans and their allies face off with pro-Maduro protest.
I carried a poster with the images Geraldine Moreno and Génesis Carmona,
two Venezuelan martyrs killed in February 2014. They were murdered by
Maduro's security forces, trained by Castro's intelligence services.
Génesis Carmona, a local beauty queen, was just 22 years old and
nonviolently expressing her desire for a better Venezuela when she was shot in the head on February 18, 2014 and died a day later.
Geraldine Moreno was shot in the head with buckshot on February 19, 2014 in Tazajal, located in Naguanagua, in the state of Carabobo while taking part in a protest and in one of her last tweets on February 17th explained what motivated her to take part in the demonstrations: "No one sends meI go becauseIwant todefend myVenezuela." She died from her injuries on Saturday, February 22, 2014. She was 23 years old.
Sadly, there have been many other young Venezuelans murdered at the hands of Maduro's security services and it is still happening.
MT @ElChinoTzu Venezuelans in Washington DC protest against the group of socialist gringos who hide behind the slogan HandsOffVenezuela and pretend to speak on our behalf. We made it very clear that Venezuela wants FREEDOM pic.twitter.com/lpImD0gUr4#CubaHandsOffVenezuela
We also peacefully faced off with supporters of the
Maduro dictatorship, who had been organized by the Answer Coalition, that included violent
communist revolutionaries.
During the pro-Maduro demonstration U.S.Hands Off Venezuela, a Chavista from the Answer Coalition attacked a Venezuelan who was filming in the area. Some Venezuelan activists were surprised by the violence. They shoudn't have been. One of the organizing groups of the pro-Maduro protest is the Workers
World Party (WWP), a revolutionary Marxist–Leninist political party that
by definition believes in violent proletarian revolution.
Despite repeated provocations we maintained our non-violent discipline, and carried out the objectives of the protest.
We protested for a free Venezuela, supported President Juan Guaidó, called for Cuba Hands Off Venezuela, for humanitarian aide to be allowed in, and for Maduro and his criminal lackeys to be out of power.
Free Venezuelans face off with Pro-Maduro protersters
Venezuelan protesters made it clear that the goal of the democratic opposition is the completion of a democratic transition with free and fair elections that restores the rule of law and freedom for Venezuelan citizens.This means that millions of Venezuelan exiles will be able to return home, and all political prisoners will be freed.
Venezuelan activists also called on those who wanted to know more about what is transpiring in Venezuela to ask a Venezuelan.
This SOS Venezuela protest in Washington DC was but one of many that took place around the world today in more than 200 cities and in Venezuela itself with hundreds of thousands participating.
The arbitrary arrest of the lawyer Yaremis Flores on November 7 was
followed by two waves, one repressive, taken to the extreme by the
regime against numerous activists of civil society, and the other,
impressive and appreciated by us, of solidarity with the victims.
Personally, what happened reaffirmed my vision of the fundamental
challenge that we face as a country: the articulation of all of its
parts in order to transition into a democracy in which the entire nation
participates.
Visualizing and working in support of a transition towards democracy
in the convoluted scenario in which we live is a process that implies,
above all, political and intellectual maturity, honesty, and a high
level of civic awareness. We need to understand that such dynamics would
not involve just one axis, just one angle. It is impossible to imagine a
transition that does not take into account Cubans in Cuba today who
hold different points of view. And a transition without full
participation of those Cubans outside the Island, who constitute an
essential part of our nation, is also inconceivable. It is not possible
to outline a transition without the workers, intellectuals,
professionals and entrepreneurs both inside and outside the country.
To think that change in our country will happen magically, that in
the blink of an eye we will generate a modern society, a state of
rights, is too simple and deceitful a fantasy. We, the totalitarian
regime’s opposition, have the duty and responsibility to show all
segments of society the nature of the plural and inclusive country we
are advocating and what we expect of democracy.
The strategy of the regime has always been the same. It has
systematically tried to prevent by all possible means the growth of a
civil society. Intimidation, repression, imprisonment, bleeding the
country, generating mistrust within the opposition, creating internal
conflict to undermine our work, “distracting” us so as to leave us
little time to effectively advocate in society, is a strategy that has
always borne fruit and should be dismantled now. We have to fix our
ethics, our suppositions, our rhythm.
To responsibly work on a transition implies a true knowledge of the
scenario confronting us in which are manifested the particularities of
groups and individuals from a global perspective. To guarantee this
range of interests and visions it is necessary they every Cuban enjoy
his or her fundamental rights, thus the importance of the campaign “For
Another Cuba” and our request for support from all Cubans and
international public opinion.
Facing this peaceful citizen initiative, the government has responded
by intensifying the repression and excessive use of violence, slamming
the door on yet another civic proposal. Nevertheless, this violent
scenario begins to profile factions in society; on the one hand there
are those who, although inside the system, believe a prosperous nation
is possible, one where political and ideological differences are part of
everyday life, where respect and decency are paramount; on the other
there is a rarefied segment, formed by mixed interests, cynicism, and
low ethical morals, which tries, with its irresponsible and arrogant
acts, to lead us down a bruised path at the hands of violence and
brutality.
It is time for Cubans to decide which side we are on, from
which perspective we wish to advocate and act.
"This should be the first step for the prompt release of all political prisoners and to begin the change"
By Oswaldo Paya Sardiñas Havana, July 7, 2010 Christian Liberation Movement Coordinator
Before the announcement of the liberations in the coming months, of all Prisoners of the Primavera de Cuba, we give thanks to God.
We thank all those heroes who on one day were abducted from their homes unjustly imprisoned solely for defending human rights. The people of Cuba and all who love justice must be grateful to those Cubans who have been symbols of dignity and hope shining from the shadows. They and their families have suffered immensely without declining. Thanks to the heroic Ladies in White and all the families of political prisoners who both suffered so much for this cause.
We give thanks to all Cubans inside and outside Cuba that all this time in any ways have been supportive with the Cuban political prisoners and their families and all governments, individuals and institutions worldwide that have supported the liberation of the Cuban political prisoners. We demand the release of all human rights defenders that remain in prison; Agustín Cervantes García was sentenced to two years in 2009 just for promoting the Varela Project.
We give a very special thanks to the Catholic Church in Cuba for this measure for the release of our brothers and also for their accompanying solidarity, comfort and assistance that many religious figures, laity, priests and bishops throughout Cuba gave through all these years and continue to provide political prisoners and their families.
We give thanks to all those in Spain from the government, opposition and society who have maintained concern, solidarity and have made efforts for the release of these peaceful political prisoners.
We greet that the government of Cuba place in liberty these prisoners, but without conditions, so that they can freely decide about their lives. This should be the first step for the prompt release of all political prisoners and to begin the changes that all the people want. And changes mean rights, freedom, and reconciliation. This we can achieve among all Cubans.
Dear brothers in the struggle for liberation, the Homeland contemplates you proudly!
Ante el anuncio de la liberación, en los próximos meses, de todos los Prisioneros de la Primavera de Cuba, damos gracias a Dios.
Damos gracias a todos estos héroes que un día fueron secuestrados de sus casas y encarcelados injustamente solo por defender los Derechos Humanos. El pueblo de Cuba y todos los amantes de la justicia deben estar agradecidos a estos cubanos que han sido antorchas de dignidad y esperanza brillando en las sombras. Ellos y sus familias han sufrido inmensamente sin declinar. Gracias a las heroicas Damas de Blanco y a todos los familiares de los prisioneros políticos que tanto sufrieron por esta causa.
Damos gracias a todos los cubanos de dentro y de fuera de Cuba que todo este tiempo han sido solidarios de alguna manera con los prisioneros políticos cubanos y sus familiares y a todos los gobiernos, personas e instituciones que en todo el mundo han apoyado la libración de los prisioneros políticos cubanos. Demandamos la liberación de todos los defensores de los Derechos Humanos que quedan en prisión, como Agustín Cervantes García que fue condenado a dos años en el 2009 solo por impulsar el Proyecto Varela.
Damos gracias de manera muy especial a la Iglesia Católica en Cuba por esta gestión por la liberación de nuestros hermanos y también por el acompañamiento solidario, el consuelo y la asistencia que tantas religiosas, religiosos, laicos, sacerdotes y obispos en toda Cuba brindaron todos estos años y siguen brindando a los prisioneros políticos y a sus familiares,
Agradecemos a todos los que en España, desde el Gobierno, la oposición y la sociedad han mantenido la preocupación, la solidaridad y han hecho esfuerzos por la liberación de estos prisioneros políticos pacíficos.
Saludaremos que el gobierno de Cuba ponga en libertad a estos prisioneros, pero sin condiciones y de manera que puedan decidir libremente sobre sus vidas. Este debe ser el primer paso para liberar prontamente a todos los prisioneros políticos y para comenzar los cambios que todo el pueblo quiere. Y cambios significa derechos, libertad, e reconciliación. Eso lo podemos lograr entre todos los cubanos.
¡Queridos hermanos en la lucha por la liberación, la Patria os contempla orgullosa!
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