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A proposal for change in Cuba

Oswaldo Payá and the Movimiento Cristiano Liberación

MCL

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What is the Movimiento Cristiano Liberación (MCL)?

• Civil society organization founded in 1988.• Led by Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas.• One of Cuba’s main internal opposition groups.• Substantial grassroots base, with members from all parts

of Cuba.• Aggressively persecuted by the government’s internal

security forces. – 23 of the 75 prisoners of conscience jailed during the 2003

“Cuban Spring” crackdown were key MCL organizers. • Committed to a peaceful solution determined by the

Cuban people.• Positive and hopeful vision of internally-driven peaceful

democratic change process through legal frameworks and inclusive participation.

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Who is Oswaldo Payá? • Born February 29, 1952. • Grew up in a deeply Catholic family in Havana’s “El Cerro” neighborhood; active in

church life from an early age. • Never joined the Communist Youth or the Communist Party and was never a “Youth

Pioneer.” • At age 17, he was sent (under guise of compulsory military service) to the Isle of

Youth to a forced labor camp for his religious and political beliefs.• B.S. pedagogy with a specialty in physics, and an Engineering degree from the

University of Havana with a specialty in telecommunications.• Works at Electromédica as a medical equipment specialist. • Active in the Cuban Ecclesial Reflection Process (REC) and in February 1986,

served as the delegate for the Cerro-Vedado vicariate to the National Cuban Ecclesial Encounter (ENEC).

• One of the founding members of the MCL in 1988, serving as its National Coordinator.

• Announced his intent to run for election as a delegate for Cuba’s National Assembly in the 1992 elections, but was detained by the police, who took him with State Security to a public repudiation act. The Community Party and the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution threatened him and all present at the meeting of the local candidate nomination commission and prevented his nomination.

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Who is Oswaldo Payá?A coalition builder and activist leader:• 1995: One of five organizers of Concilio Cubano (Cuban Council), a

gathering of over 130 opposition organizations; drafted the coalition’s joint statement and was detained by the police.

• 1996-1997: Drafted the Varela Project with other MCL members. • 1999: Proposed an assembly of Cuba’s internal opposition, which

succeeded in meeting despite intense repression. The group issued a joint manifesto: “Todos Unidos” (All United), which Payá drafted, and he was elected as the speaker for the Drafting Commission, serving 1999-2002. In March 2002, most of TU’s leaders were arrested; after this, the group has not established a new executive board.

• 2007: Drafted “Unidad por la Libertad” (Unity for Freedom), a joint statement of the opposition, proposed by the MCL and signed by opposition leaders, which reaffirms the core principles of the opposition.

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Who is Oswaldo Payá?

An internationally-recognized human rights activist:

1999Homo Homini Award, People in Need Foundation, Czech Republic2002Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by Czech President Vaclav Havel

W. Averell Harriman Prize, National Democratic Institute, U.S.A.Andrei Sakharov Prize for Human Rights, European ParliamentDoctor of Law, honoris causa, University of Miami, U.S.A.

2004Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by Czech President Vaclav HavelPríncipe de Asturias Prize nominee

2005Nominated to the Harmony Prize awarded by the Prince of Asturias2006Doctor of Law, honoris causa, Columbia University, New York, NY2007Liberty Oak Award, “New Generations” Popular Party youth, Spain2008Freedom Award, Kiwanis of Miami, FL, U.S.A.

Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by Swedish Parliamentarians2009Elected Honorary Vice President by the International Center Democrats2010Nominated to the Nobel Peace Prize by Swedish and Norwegian Parlamentarians

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Jimmy Carter Vaclav Havel

Msgr. Agustín Román

Colin Powell José María Aznar

H.H. Pope John Paul II

Madeline AllbrightRodolfo Seguel

Hans-Gert Pöttering Janusz Onyszkiewicz

Edward McMillan

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MCL/Payá’s Strategic Model

• Peaceful democratic change for Cubans and by Cubans, with the human person as the subject of development. – MCL’s proposals have been presented to the National

Assembly of Popular Power in Cuba with the request that they be debated in plenary and subsequently presented to the Cuban people in a referendum.

– The MCL’s proposals are solutions that are drafted within the legal framework of the existing constitution, and which are designed to allow for inclusive popular participation.

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MCL’s/Payá’s Strategic Initiatives• Varela Project (1996-2002, and 2008-Present)• National Dialog (2003) “All Cubans” Program (2006)• Legislative Proposals:

– Re-drafted Constitution, – “Cuba Primero” (Cuba First) “change” plan, – Re-drafted Electoral Law, (revised 2007), and – Re-drafted Associations Law,– Amnesty Law (2007), and – National Re-connection (“Reencuentro”) Law (2007)

• Cuban Forum Campaign (2007-present) (internal)• Relaunch of the Varela Project (2008-Present)• “More Voices” dialog (2009) (coalition)• National Dialog (2009) --> “Unidos en la Esperanza”• “All Cubans” Forum (2010) (external)

– www.contodosloscubanos.com

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Ch. X, Art. 86 (now 88) of the Cuban Constitution of 1976

• The following have authority to present a legislative initiative: a) the representatives of the National Assembly for Popular Power;b)the Council of State;c) the Council of Ministers;

ch) the committees of the National Assembly for Popular Power;d)the national Committee of the Cuban Workers Central, or the national

Directorates of other social and mass organizations; e) the Supreme Popular Tribunal in matters regarding the administration

of justice;f) the Attorney General of the Republic, in matters of their competence;g)the citizenry. In this case it is an indispensable requisite that the

initiative be exercised by ten thousand citizens, at least, who are members of the electorate.

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Varela Project (1996-2002, and 2008-Present)• The Varela Project is a constitutional

petition, which urges Cuba’s legislature to organize a national referendum on five key issues: – Freedom of speech,– Freedom of association,– Amnesty for political prisoners,– Freedom to organize corporations, and – A new electoral law.

• Over 25,000 signatures delivered to Cuba’s National Assembly (11,020 in 2002 and 14,384 in 2003).

• Article 88 of the current Cuban Constitution creates a substantive duty in the Assembly to address any citizen petition of over 10,000 signatures. At present, the legislative debate of the Varela Project is still pending.

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Cuban Government’s Reaction• Constitutional Modification. In june 2002, Fidel Castro declares

Socialism and the Revolution are “irrevocable.”– The government promotes constitutional changes and organizes a vote in

which 99% of the electorate ratify this by constitutional amendment. – An anti-imperialist march of over one million is held in front of the U.S.

interests section in Havana. – Although the Constitution was modified, the text in the original Article 88g

was left untouched. The Varela Project, therefore, maintains its validity. • Dissident Crackdown - “Cuba’s Spring.” Between March 18 and

20, 2003, with the world focused on Iraq, the Cuban government retaliates against the Varela Project. – Cuban Intelligence Services arrested 75 key dissidents.

• 23 of 75 were key MCL leaders, including the entire executive committee of MCL except for Payá.

• 41 of 75 arrested were Varela Project leaders (MCL & other groups)– In April, they are summarily tried, with sentences of 8 to 28 years.– There are still 53 men behind bars, and they are almost all MCL.

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The Varela Project… and response

May 10, 2002: Delivering the first 11,020 signatures to the Cuban parliament.

June 2, 2002: The government organizes massive counter-demonstrations, without any public discussion of the Varela Project’s content.

October 2003: Payá and Ofelia Acevedo delivering 14,384 additional signatures. By this date, Regis Iglesias and Antonio Díaz (the two men with boxes in the top left photo) are in jail, along with 73 other key activists.

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Nat’l Dialog All Cubans Program

• National Dialog (2003)– A dialog process involving over 11,000 Cubans,

(10,250 inside and 750 outside Cuba).– Dialog gathered information on what Cubans wanted

to see in their country.– Conducted during a period of intense repression.

• “Todos Cubanos” (All Cubans) Program (2004)– Detailed social change “road-map.” – Developed from feedback gathered through the

National Dialog.

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“Todos Cubanos” (All Cubans) Program and Additional Legislation• The Program (2004) contains four proposals:

– Re-drafted Constitution, – “Cuba Primero” (Cuba First) “change” plan, – Re-drafted Electoral Law, (revised 2007), and – Re-drafted Associations Law,

• Additional draft laws have been prepared and proposed:– Amnesty Law (2007)– National Re-connection (“Reencuentro”) Law (2007)

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Cuban Forum Campaign (2007-Present) • Renewed grassroots initiative launched in 2007.• Builds on and implements the goals and proposals of the

Varela Project and the All Cubans Program. • The Cuban Forum Campaign has four priority goals:

– Freeing the political prisoners, – Achieving legislative changes/proposals,– Free elections, and – Promoting national reconciliation for all Cubans.

• Two-pronged implementation structure: – Establish a forum for Cuba’s civil society by organizing several

local and one coordinating Civic Dialog and Reconciliation Committees, and

– Promote a Cuban Forum National Meeting, with participation from the civil society forums as well as the Cuban government.

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National Dialog 2009 “Unidos en la Esperanza”

• Consultation among opposition leaders launched in January 2009, in which over 700 leaders participated.

• “Unidos en la Esperanza” (United in Hope) gathers their feedback, and calls for:

1. Freedom withou exile for the political prisoners2. The creation of a New Electoral Commission to supervise

free elections which include independent civil society 3. The creation of a Commission to guarantee free access to

media and means of communication 4. A new Constitutional assembly 5. Freedom of religion, expression, and association 6. Freedom of movement, including free entry and exit to

Cuba 7. Non-discrimination against Cubans 8. Free health care and education

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“All Cubans” Forum (2010)

• Effort to organize mass participation, around the vision of United in Hope and further individual contributions.

• Proposes discussion and dialog questions geared to motivate and promote the formation of small working groups that can act in support of the movement, and of building a more free and just Cuban society, on the path to reconciliation.

• Establishes essential values like loving your neighbor and your country, inclusiveness, peace, fraternity, reconciliation, and mutual respect.

• Reiterates the desire to achieve the ends expressed in previous documents (I.e. freedom for prisoners, guaranteed liberties, free elections, a new Constitutional Assembly)

• Digital component: www.contodosloscubanos.com.

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“All Cubans” Forum

With Cubans inside Cuba….

…and CubansOutside Cuba.

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Crafting and Disseminating MCL’s Message

VARELA PROJECT

NATIONAL DIALOG (2003, 2009)

PROGRAMA TODOS CUBANOS

FORO CUBANO – LOCAL COMMITTEES

FORO CUBANO – NATIONAL MEETING

UNIDOS EN LA ESPERANZA

FORO TODOS CUBANOS

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What’s next for the MCL?

• Continue promoting participation in and information about the Proyecto Varela until it is recognized.

• Advocate for the liberation of the political prisoners.

• Strengthen and support internal leadership.

• National mobilization of citizen consciousness that a peaceful change is possible.

• That the cuban people claim their place as protagonists of change, without waiting for those who are in power to act.

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How can you help?Learn more about the work of the MCL and disseminate their work. Human rights defenders are facing 20 years in jail because of their work in preparing

these documents. Please support them!• Varela Project:

– http://www.oswaldopaya.org/es/proyecto-varela/• National Dialog 2003:

– http://www.dialogonacionalcuba.org/ (click on “documento de trabajo”)• “All Cubans” Program:

– http://www.oswaldopaya.org/es/up/programa%20todos%20cubanos.pdf• Amnesty Law

– http://www.oswaldopaya.org/es/proyecto-de-ley-de-amnistia/ • Re-Encounter and Reconciliation Law:

– http://www.oswaldopaya.org/es/proyecto-de-ley-de-reencuentro-nacional/• Cuban Forum Campaign:

– http://www.oswaldopaya.org/es/campana-foro-cubano/campana-foro-cubano-contenido/ • National Dialog 2009:

– www.cubadialogo2009.org• Unidos en la Esperanza

– http://www.oswaldopaya.org/es/2009/06/19/unidos-en-la-esperanza/• “All Cubans” Forum 2010:

– http://www.contodosloscubanos.com • General MCL updates:

– www.oswaldopaya.org

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Without hope there is no future.