April 13, 2005
20 de Mayo
While I will be live blogging from the Cuba Nostalgia Convention during the weekend of May the 20-22, there will be something else happening that weekend, May 20th specifically, that will be of major consequence and importance to all of those who desire and work for a Cuba free of oppression and despotism.
Last month, recently released Cuban dissidents Rene Gomez Manzano and Martha Beatriz Roque-Cabello issued a press release stating plans to have independent groups and organizations gather peacefully in Havana on May 20 to debate ways to democratize Cuba.
These dissidents and other Cubans living in exile have formed the Assembly for the Advancement of Civil Society in Cuba and are working tirelessly to make the May 20th gathering an unprecedented showing of solidarity for the cause of human and civil freedoms in Cuba.
What is the Assembly to Promote Civil Society?The Assembly to Promote Civil Society in Cuba is a coalition of 365 independent civil society groups within Cuba, which can be truthfully called non-governmental organizations.
All these groups – although having solicited official recognition, have been unable to obtain it, because, as it is well known, dissent is not permitted in Cuba -- not even within the Constitution of the Republic.
The Assembly is a learning means, to help educate the social self towards the re-establishment of civil society, aimed at establishing a democratic system in our country.
The Assembly’s course of action is based upon:
-The formation of a democratic culture
-The development of a social movement
-The strengthening of the Assembly’s organization
-The communications among groups to promote the civil society
-The use of all available means to combat poverty and seek the betterment of the community’s life conditions
-The development of a true knowledge of Cuba’s history, in all its dimensions: economic, social and political.
-The undertaking of activities and projects aimed at the protection and conservation of natural resources and the ecosystem.
-The promotion of a true culture on labor rightsWe are calling upon all members of the Assembly to participate in a General Meeting scheduled for this year’s first semester, in order to discuss the joint work we need to undertake towards this end in the future. The tyranny that rules our country has always been opposed to all types of activities of independent groups, and more so, to those activities which represent the unity within Cuba and with the exile community.
Notwithstanding the risks we face under this repressive system, we believe it is necessary to carry out this massive event that constitutes a vital sign in the history of this bloody dictatorship.
This is why we are soliciting international support to carry out this important expression of self-determination that represents the dignity and the will of the Cuban people.
I believe it is imperative for the cause of freedom in Cuba to have the support of the outside world. I urge each and every one of you that reads this blog to click the following link and sign your name to this petition of solidarity with this cause. For over 4 decades the present regime in Cuba has maintained itself in power by usurping the will of its people through oppression while the rest of the world has turned a blind eye. Let fidel castro and his regime know that the world is watching.
Petition for Solidarity with the Assembly for the Advancement of Civil Society in Cuba
While all of the messages from those that have signed on are in Spanish, it's important that those working for freedom on the island know that they have many English speaking friends- as well as others - who support their cause. Please take a few minutes to not only sign the petition but to send them a message of support, of solidarity and of hope. Let them know that freedom knows no linguistic barriers.
Here are the fields translated into English for those of you who do not speak Spanish. You do not have to enter information in all the fields, only those that you feel comfortable with.
-Full Name
-Address
-City
-State
-Postal Code
-Country
-Email
-Telephone
-Organization
-Message
Enviar=Send
Again, please take a few moments and show your support. Let the oppressors know that there are those on the outside that are willing to take a stand against their brutality and violation of basic human and civil rights. We all know the importance of having friends at our side during the most trying of times.
Posted by Val Prieto at April 13, 2005 10:14 AM
Comments
You're the best!
Keep on blogging for the freeworld!
Posted by: CB at April 13, 2005 10:30 AM
This is so important. Please i urge everyone who comes to this blog to please support these people. This if the first time something like this has been tried in castros Cuba. For those of you in Miami the offices are on i believe N.W. 8th Street and Lejeune(42nd Ave). Go by there and sign up in support of these brave souls who face that brutal regime everyday of thier lives. Thanks Val!
Posted by: Miguel at April 13, 2005 10:46 AM
This is a good thing.
But we make the same mistakes always - a mistake that my English speaking friends who are for a free Cuba tell me all the time. They always feel left out and like outsiders because of the language thing. It should also be in English.
Posted by: Mario at April 13, 2005 12:06 PM
Mario, good point. I only speak a little Spanish so it takes a lttle work. There are a lot of easy to use online translators although they are not perfect, (especially for Cuban!) they will give a fairly accurate translation. I also think that anyone who cares enough to fill out the form won't let the language thing stop them. Val, you should add to your list of fields that Enviar means send.
Posted by: Kathleen at April 13, 2005 12:26 PM
Thanks for giving me a way to help.
What does pais mean?
Posted by: Emily Nelson at April 13, 2005 02:30 PM
Emily
pais is country
Posted by: Kathleen at April 13, 2005 03:02 PM
Mario,
I agree with you about the English thing. In all fairness, however, there is an English page on the web site, it's the third item on the sidebar on the left.
Posted by: Robert at April 13, 2005 03:27 PM
Mario - isn't it Cubans' country, though? Shouldn't their efforts to hash out a free country be theirs and theirs alone? Of course we should send good wishes, and it's ok if we do it in our own languages, but on something like this, I think it belongs to the Cubans and there's no need to translate it for us. Other stuff, sure, but not the things that make Cuba a nation. You recall of course how well that well-meaning UK effort to lobby Ohio voters by letter went down, don't you? It won Bush the election, quite the opposite result of what they had hoped. It probably wouldn't be any different for Cubans and well-meaning outsiders. I always want to hold up my middle finger to outsiders who say that since what happens during the US election affects their country too, they should be permitted to vote. To heck with that, go vote in your own country, I want to reply!
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at April 13, 2005 03:33 PM
AM Mora y Leon, I believe that the point is not to dictate how Cubans vote, but to support their rights to self determination.
If the Cubans were given the opportunity for a truly unfettered plebiscite and chose Castro's form of communism, well, that would be their choice, and more power to them.
(I'd bet almost anything that that would not be the outcome...)
Posted by: Bish at April 13, 2005 08:39 PM
Bish: Yes, somehow things just don't work out that way, do they? Life is mysterious! ;)
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at April 14, 2005 01:31 AM
Ok, my spanish is so bad I had to look up enviar to make sure I clicked the correct button. But......I like to voice my opinion even if people don't like it.
So I wrote my comments on the petition. I said that every human being has a right to voice their opinion. Any regime that kills people for using their voice deserves to fail. The only way for a better world is for everyone to have the freedom to speak.
Posted by: Brenda at April 15, 2005 10:18 PM
I lent my name to the petition. The website
does let you click on an english version.
However, It does not let you know how to
contribute money(at least in english). Don't
have alot of money but would gladly drop a
$100.00. If someone would let me know I would
appreciate it.
Posted by: baldwin at April 16, 2005 12:14 AM
I'm soooo excited about this conference I could jizz... Well, maybe not that excited... Anyhow, it'll get my petition!
Posted by: Songuacassal at April 17, 2005 09:52 PM
Brenda:
As always, there's nothing more eloquent than succinctness. You hit it right on the head!
Posted by: KillCastro at April 19, 2005 02:34 PM
First of all we can help by bringing international attention to this event. The more scrutiny Cuba is under, the better.
Secondly I hardly think any foreign attempt to influence our election resulted in Bush winning Ohio (whether by design or backfire). The Republicans and conservatives mobilized more people on that day. Plain and simple.
Posted by: fishfan at April 19, 2005 05:13 PM