All Cubans, roadmap for liberation
Vision
It corresponds to the Cubans themselves to define their national project with sovereignty. In order for the citizens to be able to truly design, decide and build their future, they must first have rights guaranteed by law to speak, associate, choose, travel; rights needed to participate democratically in the process. In this roadmap, the rights are the road and the objective, but not exclusively. There is also a need for solidarity, the respect for others and the participation of all, to achieve reconciliation, justice, peace and full freedom. In this way we can create a genuine national dialogue and begin the process of legal changes without exceptions, so that the people can keep everything positive that they have created and change with sovereignty what they decide to change.
Neither the state nor the market can dominate the society, or be above the decisions of the people, or the freedom and dignity of the people. Freedom and life!
Steps
1. Changes in the laws so that they guarantee freedom of speech, press and association, the right of Cubans to settle in any part of our country where they choose to live, the right of Cubans to freely leave and enter Cuba, the right of all Cubans to have businesses and private enterprises in our country, all the rights of workers, the right of Cubans to elect and be elected to public offices by a new electoral law and an end to all discrimination against Cubans in their own country.
2. Achieving spaces for participation through these changes in the laws and with the respect in the practice for the rights of the citizens, to convene a National Dialogue and free elections for all public offices and for a Constituent Assembly.
Mechanisms for the implementation
I. Freedom of expression
a) Create a National Commission that consists of members from the government and from the democratic opposition and other components of the civil society, including representatives from trade unions, churches and fraternities, which guarantees the right to access, and equal opportunities, to mass media, for all Cubans individually, their opinions and ideas, for political and civic groups, churches, fraternities, social organizations and citizen groups.
b) Changes in the Penal Code and other corresponding laws in order to guarantee this right so that no state institution, organization or citizen can violate it. Decriminalization of free opinion.
c) Free access to domestic and foreign information. Right for the citizens to the internet. Prohibition of mechanisms and actions of vigilance, classification and repression against citizens for expressing their ideas and beliefs.
d) Termination of control by the Communist Party and the Communist Youth in schools, workplaces, unions and other social organizations.
e) Public statement by the authorities at all levels and commitment of the respect for free speech and all rights, and guarantees to protect this citizen rights by the authorities, as well as courts, police, soldiers and officials.
f) Promoting the respectful dialogue and tolerance in all areas of society, the right to legally form private and social media. No privatization of the existing mass media, that would be to put it in the hands of a minority with power and money when it should be of service to all citizens.
II. Freedom of Association
a) The rights of free assembly and association must be guaranteed for persons in political parties, electoral movements, associations, financial corporations, private companies, unions, labour movements, institutions, social organizations, environmentalists, professionals, religious and all sorts of lawful purposes of life. This would be done through laws and procedures that facilitate rapid legalization and allow it to function with true respect for the pluralism and diversity present in the society.
b) Facilities, spaces and respectful environment for students, workers, neighbours, farmers and other groups to gather and organize democratically, without interference or control of others.
III. Mobility and the right to travel freely
a) Termination of restrictions on Cubans to travel within the country or to settle in a different province to that in which they reside.
b) Prohibition of persecution, abuse and deportation of citizens exercising this right.
c) The abolition of all restrictions and prohibitions that controls Cubans to exercise the universal right to travel freely from Cuba to another country and freely enter Cuba.
d) Elimination of exit permit and the confiscation of homes, cars and other goods and resources to citizens who choose to live in another country.
e) End of the category final exit, all Cubans should be able to enter and leave Cuba when they want and to keep all their rights as citizens, with no other requirement than the presentation of passport and visa where applicable.
f) End of payment in foreign currency for passports and other documents such as certifications and graduate degrees that Cubans wish to take or send abroad.
g) Every Cuban is entitled to continue living in their home and no one can evict, or take or deprive them of the property that they own or where they lawfully are living, nor claim any compensation whatsoever on account of being the former owner.
h) Facilitate free contact and meetings between members of Cuban families and their voluntary reunification in our country.
IV. Against Discrimination
a) End all discriminatory practices against the Cubans for their ideas or political affiliation or religious beliefs.
b) End of restrictions and investigations against Cubans who want to move to neighbourhoods defined as frozen areas. End this category.
c) Right of all Cubans to use and install media such as satellite TV, internet and other technological advances.
d) End all discrimination against Cubans in their capacity as Cubans and the privileges of foreigners. This includes the right of Cubans to set up and operate their own private businesses.
e) Recognition of the civil rights for Cubans living abroad, including to enter Cuba without restrictions or time limits.
V. Free elections by New Electoral Law
a) New electoral law that guarantees the exercise of popular sovereignty, so that all voters can be nominated for all elective offices, directly by the citizens, without charge for applications so that they can freely and democratically elect their representatives for each position between several candidates in each province.
b) A new National Electoral Commission composed by citizens proposed by the government, the democratic opposition and other members of civil society. The Commission, in addition to comply with its functions, should recommend the date for new elections within the near future.
Instruments
Some effective tools that can be peacefully demanded by the people are:
• Realization of a plebiscite: a formula to begin the transition can be to present the following question to the people:
Do you approve to convene free and democratic elections on the basis of a new electoral law and an environment that will entitle all Cubans to be nominated and elected democratically, exercising freedom of speech and press, and organizing freely in political parties and other organizations with total plurality? Yes or no?
• Changes in laws to guarantee the rights requested by the Varela Project or holding a referendum for the people to approve these changes.
• Changes in laws to guarantee the rights requested by the Heredia Project or a referendum for the people to approve these changes.
• New Law of Association. (A bill has been drafted that soon will be published)
• New Electoral Law. (A bill has been drafted that soon will be published)
The Citizens Committee for Reconciliation and Dialogue is being organized to promote this process of peaceful change. This steering committee is forming teams in all of Cuba and its intention is to work with love for a change in the social environment, by opening minds and hearts, forgiveness and solidarity, promoting dialogue, to overcome hatred, fear, intolerance, mistrust and to reach reconciliation in respect of each person to have, and to express, their own ideas and beliefs. The committee will also promote public participation in this roadmap, to evoke the Apostle (José Martí): establishing a new nation of sincere democracy.
Christian Liberation Movement
Cuba, March 2011
(The previous proposal is open for dialogue in order to improve and enrich it. A broader view of economic, political, legal and structural changes, as a proposed transition plan can be found in the Program for All Cubans (Programa Todos Cubanos), www.oswaldopaya.org, or you can request and we will send it to you.)
Translation: KIC