Capitalist
7th March 2002, 20:15
Cuba Dissidents Say 10,000 Sign Referendum Appeal
Thu Mar 7, 1:28 PM ET
By Isabel Garcia-Zarza
HAVANA (Reuters) - In an apparently unprecedented move during President Fidel Castro's 43-year rule, a group of dissidents says it has gathered 10,000 signatures to ask the Cuban parliament for a referendum on political reforms.
"We are proposing a consultation with the people so they decide about change,"
The project is based on article 88 of the Cuban constitution, which says new legislation may be proposed by citizens if more than 10,000 voters support them.
The proposed referendum, Paya said, would be on the need to guarantee the rights of
free expression and association;
an amnesty for political prisoners;
more opportunities for private business;
a new electoral law;
and a general election.
Havana, which scorns dissidents as "counter-revolutionary" has publicly ignored the project.
"Authorities are acting like gangsters," said Paya, who has a long list of alleged verbal and physical abuse against Varela Project activists.
'GOVERNMENT AFRAID' -- PAYA
"The government is afraid of this liberating gesture, where a social vanguard is showing it has no fear. The government is afraid when the people are not afraid,"
The signatures, gathered by activists across the Caribbean island of 11 million inhabitants over the last year, will be presented to the National Assembly in a few weeks, once all 10,000 signatures have been checked and ratified, Paya said.
"This has never been done before, it has no precedent," he added. "It shows Cubans not only want changes, but also are ready to face the risks to show they want changes."
According to Paya, more than 100 small opposition groups have backed the initiative.
Paya did not say what Varela Project backers will do if the initiative is rejected by the National Assembly, something analysts and diplomats think is virtually certain.
"We are ready to keep demanding our rights," he said.
Over the four decades since the 1959 revolution, Cuba's scattered and marginalized internal dissident movement has made little headway against Castro's grip on power.
Castro again scathingly lambasted dissidents this week, in a three-hour TV speech, as nonrepresentative of the Cuban people.
Thu Mar 7, 1:28 PM ET
By Isabel Garcia-Zarza
HAVANA (Reuters) - In an apparently unprecedented move during President Fidel Castro's 43-year rule, a group of dissidents says it has gathered 10,000 signatures to ask the Cuban parliament for a referendum on political reforms.
"We are proposing a consultation with the people so they decide about change,"
The project is based on article 88 of the Cuban constitution, which says new legislation may be proposed by citizens if more than 10,000 voters support them.
The proposed referendum, Paya said, would be on the need to guarantee the rights of
free expression and association;
an amnesty for political prisoners;
more opportunities for private business;
a new electoral law;
and a general election.
Havana, which scorns dissidents as "counter-revolutionary" has publicly ignored the project.
"Authorities are acting like gangsters," said Paya, who has a long list of alleged verbal and physical abuse against Varela Project activists.
'GOVERNMENT AFRAID' -- PAYA
"The government is afraid of this liberating gesture, where a social vanguard is showing it has no fear. The government is afraid when the people are not afraid,"
The signatures, gathered by activists across the Caribbean island of 11 million inhabitants over the last year, will be presented to the National Assembly in a few weeks, once all 10,000 signatures have been checked and ratified, Paya said.
"This has never been done before, it has no precedent," he added. "It shows Cubans not only want changes, but also are ready to face the risks to show they want changes."
According to Paya, more than 100 small opposition groups have backed the initiative.
Paya did not say what Varela Project backers will do if the initiative is rejected by the National Assembly, something analysts and diplomats think is virtually certain.
"We are ready to keep demanding our rights," he said.
Over the four decades since the 1959 revolution, Cuba's scattered and marginalized internal dissident movement has made little headway against Castro's grip on power.
Castro again scathingly lambasted dissidents this week, in a three-hour TV speech, as nonrepresentative of the Cuban people.