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To
the Cuban people on Human Rights Day
Posted on Wed, Dec. 10,
2003 in The
Miami Herald.
Fifty-five years ago, on Dec. 10, 1948,
the General Assembly of the United Nations
adopted the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. It stated in its preamble:
o Recognition of the inherent dignity and
of equal and inalienable rights of all members
of the human family is the foundation of
freedom, justice and peace in the world.
o Disregard and contempt for human rights
resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged
the conscience of mankind [and] the advent
of the world in which human beings shall
enjoy freedom of speech and belief, and
freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed
as the highest aspiration of the common
people.
o It is essential, if man is not to be
compelled to have recourse, as a last resort,
to rebellion against tyranny and oppression,
that human rights should be protected by
the rule of law.
With these plain and indeed self-evident
truths in mind, we, both Cubans and non-Cubans
living in the democratic world, would like
to express our solidarity with all brave
men and women of Cuba still struggling for
their inalienable rights and human dignity
under the difficult conditions of an oppressive,
totalitarian regime.
Our thoughts and prayers go first to the
political prisoners sentenced to long terms
in prison just for their commitment to the
universally recognized rights and freedoms,
and to their families. We call on all democratic
governments of the world to express their
strongest possible condemnation of these
inexcusable acts of repression, blatantly
violating international obligations of Cuba
and urge them to ask the Cuban government
for their immediate release.
We share the conviction that the time of
dictatorship in Cuba is coming to an end.
There will be no succession after Fidel
Castro, no cosmetic changes of totalitarian
system after he is gone, but the genuine
return of Cuba from the totalitarian captivity
to the family of the world's democracies.
We are committed to do our best to support
your noble cause. Let us work together,
inspired by the ideals of José Martí,
a genuine revolutionary and voice of Cuba
within the community of nations. Cuba must
not and will not remain a forgotten remnant
from the Cold War, a kind of open-air museum
of a system that discredited itself and
failed. We believe that the dreams you inherited
from Martí will come true sooner
than your jailers and persecutors would
wish, and you and all Cubans will be free.
Vaclev Havel, former president Czech
Republic; Madeleine Albright, former secretary
of state, Washington, D.C., Mario Vargas
Llosa, writer, and 36 others.
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