The Castro regime may have rounded up and jailed 75 dissidents during the "black spring" of March 2003.
But the regime, writes Oswaldo Payá in today's Washington Post, has failed to stop the Cuban campaign for freedom.
Some may argue that Payá is too conciliatory towards the regime — and even wonder why he, like other members of his Christian Liberation Movement are, is not in prison.
But there is no denying that his message, and that of the Varela Project, is vital to shaping a free and democratic post-Castro Cuba.
The Unstoppable Cuban Spring
HAVANA -- In March 2003 dozens of leaders of Cuba's Varela Project and other human rights defenders were detained, subjected to summary trials, condemned to many years in prison, and confined in the most inhumane and cruel conditions. They were treated like -- and held in cells with -- dangerous common criminals. In this way the regime attempted to suppress the rebirth of the Cuban Spring initiated by thousands of Cubans who overcame a debilitating culture of fear by including their names, addresses and identification numbers in the text of the Varela Project, a document later presented to the National Assembly asking for a referendum on its human rights principles. Despite inhuman treatment and illegal detention, the regime could not stop the rebirth of the Cuban Spring: Many Cubans continue to support the Varela Project even amid repression that includes death threats and physical assault.
Later in 2003 we announced that we had developed a working document of about 50 pages that would serve as a guide for a National Dialogue (a discussion in which all Cubans could freely express their thoughts, desires and goals for Cuba). At the same time, state security forces persecuted us throughout the country. Moreover, individuals inside and outside Cuba used whatever means were at their disposal to attack and discourage us from bringing this dialogue to fruition. Once again Cubans persevered, and thousands of them, in Cuba and in exile, participated in the National Dialogue. (Read the rest here.)
(H/T to El Confeti.)
UPDATED, 1:17 p.m., July 3
Val at Babalú offers a useful reality check, of sorts, to use when reading Paya's column, on the chance for Cuban reconciliation.
Val writes:
There will be no reconciliation in Cuba as long as (F)idel (C)astro is in power simply because fidel castro doesnt have the need for reconciliation to remain in power. (F)idel (C)astro doesnt believe in reconcialition. (F)idel (C)astro believes only in (F)idel (C)astro.
Cuba's spring is undoubtedly unstoppable, but before that spring comes, Cuba's Old Man Winter, along with his cadre of abominable snowmen, must be a memory.
I agree, and deep down, I think Payá and other Cuban dissidents would, too. If Cuba is to be free, freedom's advocates have to be realistic, especially about the dictator.
They know full well that Castro's days, if only biologically, are numbered.
Until then, it might be useful to soften their rhetoric — as Payá does in his piece — to have as wide appeal as possible.
Their goal, though, is the same as that of the harshest anti-communist firebrands:
A free and democratic Cuba.
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