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Today, May 21, a group of European countries
and the United States celebrate the courage and determination
of the Cuban people as they seek their freedom and voice in
establishing a democratic future for their country. On this
day we commemorate a Day of Solidarity with the Cuban People.
We call for Cuba to conform with international norms and
allow its people to exercise the same rights and freedoms
that the rest of the Western Hemisphere has embraced – freedom
of expression, of movement, and of conscience. We call for
Cuba to honor its commitments to international agreements
like the UN Declaration of Human Rights, to which Cuba is
an unrepentantly noncompliant signatory. We call for the release
of all Cuban political prisoners and repeal of all measures
that allow the Cuban government to arrest citizens for carrying
out acts of peaceful dissent.
The repressive apparatus that took hold of Cuba fifty years
ago is still alive and kicking. In December, Cuban authorities
stormed a Catholic church, tear-gassed parishioners, and dragged
18 worshipers out. A Catholic official called the episode,
"the worst attack against a church in 45 years."
Just a few weeks ago, the “Ladies in White,” who march peacefully
each Sunday on behalf of freedom for their unjustly imprisoned
loved ones, were beaten and dragged away from the “Plaza of
the Revolution” when they sought to deliver a petition to
their government asking for the release of political prisoners.
Is this change?
Yes, Raul Castro has replaced his brother in some of his
positions of authority, but this is a process in which Cuba’s
citizens had no say. And yes, Cubans can now buy cell phones
and microwave ovens and stay in five star hotels. But these
cosmetic changes have not changed the reality that the Cuban
people still live under a level of repression that most of
us can hardly imagine and would not tolerate.
So how will we know when real democratic change is underway
on the island? We will know there is a new Cuba when Cubans
have the freedom to organize, assemble, and speak their minds.
We will know there is a new Cuba when a free and independent
press has the power to operate without censors. We will know
there is a new Cuba when the Cuban government allows Cubans
to open their own businesses and improve the economic well-being
of their families. Above all, we will know there is at least
a start towards a new Cuba when the regime releases its political
prisoners and engages the Cuban people in an open and comprehensive
dialogue about the future of their country.
Solidarity with the Cuban people means supporting their struggle
to obtain all the freedoms enumerated in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights. As any Cuban political prisoner can attest,
the Cuban state hasn’t implemented the provision that says
“Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.”
Indeed, Cubans have been arrested and foreigners expelled
for handing out copies of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights itself.
Today May 21st, the United States Government joins in solidarity
with the Cuban people, particularly the prisoners of conscience
on the island who remain behind bars. Cubans need to know
that they have international support in their struggle for
freedom and human rights, as the people in Central Europe
once did. We hope the people of Mexico, too, will join in
solidarity with the people of Cuba who continue to fight for
the right to be free.
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