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Posted on Sun, Jun. 16, 2002 in
The Miami Herald
When former President Jimmy Carter spoke about the Varela Project on Cuban
television last month, a strong reaction was inevitable. Many awaited Fidel
Castro's response to the project. The attack arrived last week with the regime's
organized marches and ''constitutional modification'' petition.
But these moves are nothing more than ploys to divert attention from both
the Varela Project and the Cuban opposition, which steadily are gaining
international support.
Of course, in all the hours of criticizing President Bush for his May 20
call for a democratic opening in Cuba, not once has Castro mentioned the Varela
Project or Mr. Carter.
VALIANT DISSIDENT EFFORT
To his credit, Mr. Carter introduced the project to the Cuban people in his
live television and radio broadcast from Havana. Notably, this was the first
time that regime-owned media carried any criticism of the regime, much less an
endorsement of the valiant dissident effort to use constitutional means as a
path toward democratic reforms.
Endorsements of the Varela Project soon came from President Bush, Spanish
Prime Minister José María Aznar and last week from the U.S.
Senate. Even the European Union issued an official declaration asking the regime
to accept the Varela petition and "open a debate that would favor a
peaceful process of transition toward a pluralistic democracy and a
reconciliation of Cuban society.''
Still, thanks to the police state's media monopoly, many on the island
remain in the dark about the details of Project Varela. Based on a provision in
the current Cuban Constitution allowing popular initiatives, the project's
petition, signed by 11,020 Cubans, asks the National Assembly to put certain
democratic reforms to a vote by the Cuban people. Voters then would approve or
reject rights to free speech, assembly, to own a business and to free and fair
elections and amnesty for political freedoms.
Castro's counter-petition now seeks to confirm what he's made de facto:
''The economic, political and social regime, consecrated in the Constitution, is
untouchable.'' No better expression of totalitarianism exists.
Varela Project organizer Oswaldo Payá aptly noted: ''What is
untouchable is liberty.'' That's why the Cuban opposition gains momentum daily.
SUPPORT PEACEFUL PATH
After 43 years of absolute power, Castro still sells the notion that the
United States and Miami's exiles are to blame for all of Cuba's failures --
economic and otherwise. Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and a host of other countries that
have tried engagement have discovered that the problem is Castro and his
totalitarian system.
Latin American nations commendably voted at the United Nations Human Rights
Commission to push Cuba's regime for improvement. They and others in the
international community need to continue to press the regime. Pressure on Castro
and his inner circle is the only hope for the Varela Project or any other
peaceful path to end Cuba's tyranny. | 
