HAVANA, 10 July 1996
By Nicolas Rosario Rozabal
Independent Press Agency of Cuba, (APIC).
Cuba, our motherland, and her population of 11 million humans, languish under a totalitarian military regime. It is an intransigent regime in terms of the mistreatment of those who deviate from its official doctrines. It disdains all notions of human rights. It has perfectly centralized everything, from the economy to social matters, to even the private life of each of its citizens. And its repressive methods are perfect, comparable to none in their ability to silence dissent.
The emerging Cuban civil society has no option other than to continue in its peaceful solidarity and non-violent resistance. The road we must follow is that of searching for political alternatives, and proposing democratic changes, amnesty for political prisoners, a multi-party system and a state of Law.
Our country already boasts a growing internal opposition movement which is becoming stronger everyday in its struggle for a political opening. The government, obsessed with total control, however, has not recognized us as a legitimate force. This government maintains a militaristic and repressive stance against the peaceful opposition and human rights activists, whose day-to-day reality has been imprisonment or forced exile.
So many noble Cubans have fought for unity over the last 37 years, but it is only now, at this juncture in our history, that over 100 civil organizations, political parties and other democratic forces in every province have joined hands to create the Cuban Council. This Council has evolved into a permanent forum, imbued perhaps with the spirit of the Creator and inspired by the teachings of Martin Luther King and Mahatma Ghandi. This Cuban Council seeks to show the government in Havana that there are viable options for solving Cuba's problematic situation. The Cuban Council manifests the spirit of Jose Marti, exactly one hundred years after his death in combat. The Cuban Council has demonstrated true national unity, where the only goal is saving the people from the tragic cycle of suffering in which we are trapped.
Let us lovingly bring together our talents and energy. It is imperative that we bring back home our traditions of democracy and freedom as a just homage to those who throughout our history have given everything they had for the well-being of all Cubans.
"Solo la opresion debe temer el ejercicio pleno de las libertades" "Only oppression should fear the full exercise of freedom."