Column: Dissident says Cubans "long for change" (9/14/06)

By MARC R. MASFERRER

When I visit a free Cuba — notice I said “when,” not “if” — one of the first things I will do is look up Dr. Darsi Ferrer.

The man, whose energy and bravery seems to have no bounds, is a hero, for myself, and for Cuba. He is a patriot of the highest order, not thinking as much of his own safety and liberty, as he does the welfare of the nation. Freedom is his calling, Cuba is his love.

With leaders of men like Darsi Ferrer in Cuba, it is not a question of "if" Cuba will be free, just as it wasn't in Poland, with Lech Walesa, in South Africa, with Nelson Mandela or Czechoslovakia, with Vaclav Havel.

Ferrer has attacked the regime at two of its fundamental pillars. As a doctor, he operates the Center of Health and Human Rights, a clinic that he wrote me this week, “puts an end to the boastful myth about the successes of the government in the field of health.”

And more recently, Ferrer has lead the call for Cubans, and the rest of the world to reject the ongoing succession of power, from Fidel Castro to his brother Raul and others.

“I call on all Cubans to bury this regime,” Ferrer said earlier this month, as he called for a national election to decide whether Raul should be allowed to assume new powers.

"I reaffirm that change is necessary.”

We are about the same age, Darsi a few years younger.

I cannot imagine having his courage, and then using it on behalf of the nation the way he has.

The man is a hero, for myself, and for a nation.

In the eyes of the Castro dictatorship, that makes him a very dangerous man. More than they might let on, the Castros and their henchmen realize that someone with the vision and courage of a Darsi Ferrer could change Cuba — a change that would bring the end of their evil reign.

So they do whatever they can to shut him up. They harass him. They even arrest him. And, as we saw earlier this month, when they get really desperate, they try to kill his young son.

But they can’t shut him up.

Twice during a 36-hour period on Sept. 1-2, the Cuban secret police arrested Ferrer and held him for questioning. On the second occasion, he was picked up near the U.S. Interests Section, where he regularly visits and where American diplomats allow him to use a computer to access the Internet and write and receive e-mails.

As soon as word was out on Sept. 4 that he had been released, I sent him an e-mail expressing my support for his work and relief that he was OK.

I wrote, in part:

I fear that the regime is increasing the pressure on you and other members of the opposition. But I also have faith that you and others have the courage to stand up to the pressure.

As I have written on my blog, I believe that this is an important moment in the history of our nation, and that if there is to be change, the people must rise up. With leadership from you and others, I hope that revolt happens quickly.

I also sent him a few questions about his work and experiences that I hope he would answer.

Always gracious in previous communications, he did just that in an e-mail I received Wednesday.

The questions I asked were:

1) When you are arrested, did you worry that this time you would be tried and sentenced to prison?

2) Are you concerned that the regime may be about to launch a new wave of oppression against the opposition?

3) How receptive are the Cuban people to your calls for change?

4) What can people in the United States do to help you and the cause for freedom?

His e-mail, including his responses follows. (Many thanks to Tanya Wilder of the Coalition of Cuban-American Women for the translation.)

Dear Brother,

Pardon my tardiness in answering you but it’s been a while since I have been able to come here to the internet room of the office of the US Interest Section, the only place from where they give us access to the service a few hours as week.

I share your assessment. I am one of those who thinks that we must stop the succession of power at all cost through acts of disobedience that reach the population and achieve the transition to democracy at the same time.

With respect to the questions:

1) The goal of State Police is to incarcerate me in order to silence my voice. Its intention is to destroy the work that we are carrying out in the Center of Health and Human Rights that puts an end to the boastful myth about the successes of the government in the field of health. Therefore, when the arrest me, there is always the possibility that I will be sent to prison.

2) In fact, since the days prior to the beginning of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit that is taking place in Havana, repression against all society, especially against those persons that take a dissident stance has increased dramatically. This demonstrates the immorality and anti-democratic character of this totalitarian and decadent regime.

3) The immense majority of Cubans long for a change, including many of those that are currently in different levels within the power structure. We’ve had more than four decades of resistance to change, and the Cuban government has demonstrated its filthiness and failure in political, economic, and social arenas with the destruction of everything. If it still currently maintains our nation in submission, it is due to the mechanisms of terror that it has implemented. But, in the conscience of Cubans, it is now time to put an end to all the suffering; that’s what the change urges. Cubans desire to live in freedom with democracy and to have the opportunity to move ahead.

4) The cause of freedom for Cuba requires a lot of support and solidarity. Those of us on the island who are members of the opposition are victims of all the hatred and cruelty of the Cuban government. We are defenseless against the repressive mechanism of the regime. We are armed only with our conscience and good will. The people of the United States and other countries of the international democratic community would help us a lot by not recognizing and legitimizing a succession of power in our country that perpetuates totalitarianism, by condemning in whatever possible way the repression and abuses of the Cuban government, and by demanding, along with us, freedom for our country.

I wouldn’t even try to say it better myself.

Here is Dr. Ferrer’s e-mail, in Spanish:

Querido Hermano:

Disculpe la tardanza en contestarte pero es que llevaba tiempo sin poder venir acá, a la sala de internet de la oficina de intereses de los EE.UU., único sitio desde donde nos facilitan el servicio, unas horas a la semana.

Comparto tu valoración, soy de los que piensa que debemos impedir a toda costa la sucesión del poder mediante acciones de desobediencia que sumen a la población y logren de una vez la transición a la democracia.

Respecto a las preguntas:

1) El fin de la policía política es encarcelarme para acallar mi voz, su intención es destruir la labor que venimos realizando en el Centro de Salud y Derechos Humanos, que pone en entre dicho el cacareado mito de los logros de la tiranía en el sector de la salud. Así que siempre que me arrestan cabe la posibilidad de que sea enviado a prisión.

2) De hecho, desde los días previos al inicio de la Cumbre del MNOAL que se desarrolla en la Habana a aumentado vertiginosamente la represión contra toda la sociedad, en especial, contra aquellas personas que mantienen una postura disidente. Lo que demuestra la inmoralidad y el carácter antidemocrático de este régimen totalitario y decadente.

3) La inmensa mayoría de los cubanos ansía el cambio, incluso muchos de los que hoy están en diferentes niveles dentro de la estructura de poder. LLevamos más de cuatro décadas de inmovilismo, y la tiranía ha demostrado con la destrucción de toda la suciedad su fracaso en el ámbito político, económico y social. Si aún en la actualidad mantiene sometido a nuestro pueblo es debido a los mecanismos de terror que ha implementado. Pero en la conciencia de los cubanos ya es tiempo de acabar con tanto sufrimiento, urge el cambio. Los cubanos ansián vivir en libertad, con democracia y tener la oportunidad de progresar.

4) La causa de la libertad de Cuba requiere de mucho apoyo y solidaridad. Los cubanos que nos oponemos dentro de la Isla, somos víctimas de todo el odio y la crueldad de la tiranía. Estamos indefensos frente a la maquinaria represiva del régimen, armados solo de conciencia y de buena voluntad. El pueblo de los EE.UU y demás países de la comunidad democrática internacional nos ayudarían muchísimo no reconociendo ni legitimando una sucesión de poder en nuestro país que perpetue el totalitarismo. También condenando en cuanto escenario sea posible los atropellos y abusos de la tiranía, y exigiendo junto a nosotros la libertad para nuestra Patria.