|
By Nancy San Martin.
The Miami Herald. June 13,
2002.
Leading a march of hundreds of thousands of people along Havana's
waterfront, Fidel Castro on Wednesday resoundingly rejected the possibility of a
political opening within Cuba, dashing the hopes of dissidents encouraged by the
recent visit of former President Jimmy Carter and the success of a grass-roots
petition drive.
Castro had called for massive marches in cities across the island to show
support for his ''untouchable'' one-party socialist system.
The mobilization appeared to be a response to a petition, known as the
Varela Project, offered by activists a month ago to oblige the government to
submit political issues to a public vote, a first for Cuba in four decades. The
petition -- despite government opposition -- was turned in with more than 11,000
signatures.
Most Cubans learned about it when Carter openly praised the project in a
nationwide speech last month and urged the government to allow political
activity in support of democratic change.
Carter's polite reception by Castro and the opposition's ability to mobilize
a petition drive gave rise to optimism that the aging leader of the Cuban
Revolution might be ready to adopt a more flexible political stance.
DEFINITIVE ANSWER
But on Wednesday, the Cuban government, led by Castro, delivered an
unmistakable reply: No way!
Castro blamed ''rude measures'' proposed by President Bush during speeches
in Washington and Miami last month that the Cuban government says were
encouraged by the "Miami terrorist mob.''
''Long live socialism! Down with the lies!'' Castro shouted during the
Havana march. He was referring to Bush's speeches on May 20, Cuba's Independence
Day, in which the president promised not to lift American trade and travel
restrictions until Cuba holds competitive elections and undertakes other
democratic changes.
Even though rallies have become a standard tactic used by Castro to condemn
the United States, this one appeared to have slammed shut any possibility for a
referendum asking voters if they favor civil liberties, such as freedom of
speech and assembly, the right to own a business, an electoral overhaul and
amnesty for political prisoners.
Also, on Monday, leaders of organizations proposed their own constitutional
amendment to ratify as ''untouchable'' the one-party socialist system currently
in place.
Castro has said nothing publicly about the Varela Project. Still, the
amendment proposal was delivered to the National Assembly exactly one month
after Cuban activists turned in their petition on the political changes.
Dissidents described the rallies as a ''classic tool used by totalitarian
regimes,'' to instill their will upon the population, said Regis Iglesias, a
Varela Project coordinator in Havana.
''The government is using the Bush speech as an excuse to avoid democratic
reform,'' Iglesias said. "They won't even dare to acknowledge that this is
their response to our referendum.''
Analysts said this week's events were Castro's attempt to nullify the Varela
Project. The amendment seeks to maintain Cuba's economic, social and political
foundations -- precisely what the Varela Project aims to change.
The amendment, if approved as expected, would "ratify that economic,
political and diplomatic relations with any other State will never be negotiated
under aggression, threat or pressure from a foreign power.''
The Cuban government has accused the United States, and the U.S. Interests
Section in Havana in particular, of orchestrating the Varela campaign. The
proposed constitutional amendment also accuses Bush and Cuban Americans in Miami
of aspiring to "overthrow the Cuban political system and destroy the work
of the Revolution.''
''Typical hard-line Castro response,'' is how Vicki Huddleston, chief of the
Interests Section, characterized Wednesday's events. "Nobody really thought
there would be a referendum, but we had hoped . . . [Castro] doesn't even want
to give it a platform.''
Huddleston said Castro was using Bush's speech in Miami because "he
doesn't even want to mention Project Varela.''
ECONOMIC EMBARGO
Bush has said the economic embargo against Cuba would not be lifted until
Havana holds ''certifiably free and fair'' elections and undertakes other
democratic changes.
Wednesday's rallies were a culmination of protests in various cities in
eastern Cuba during the past three weeks where Castro has railed against U.S.
policy toward Cuba. Surrounded by security men and other top communist
officials, Castro walked about one mile along the Malecón coastal
boulevard that leads to the U.S. Interests Section.
The Havana event coincided with about 800 marches around the island. TV
broadcasts showed millions of people joining in the protests.
Meanwhile, Varela organizers vowed to continue to fight for the project,
saying "what's untouchable is liberty.''
This report was supplemented with material from The Associated Press. | 
