PILLARS OF CONSENSO CUBANO

PILLARS OF CONSENSO CUBANO

Infosearch:
Máximo Tomás
Research Dept.
La Nueva Cuba
December 9, 2006

Preamble

We are a group of Cuban political, social, labor, cultural,
intellectual, religious and human rights organizations, committed to a
process of reconciliation and to a non-violent transition in Cuba to a
sovereign state under the rule of law.

We aspire to a future for Cuba full of hope and optimism. To achieve it,
Cuba and all Cubans must change. We should not fear change. Change, as
we propose it, is positive and necessary. We have faith in the Cuban
people, those inside and outside the Island, and we trust that we will
be capable of achieving all necessary changes through non-violent means.

We will endeavor to establish a new Cuba, better than the Cuba of today
and better than yesterday's. We envision a democratic Cuba, where
sovereignty rests with the people, endowed with a constitution that
protects and promotes all human rights—political, civil, economic,
religious, social and cultural—and that guarantees a secular state under
the rule of law with proper separation of powers.

In the new Cuba we envision, all citizens will be equal before the law,
within a framework of equal opportunities and social justice for all.
Discrimination and intolerance due to race, gender, political ideas,
creed, or nationality, will not be permitted, and we will all work
emphatically to eradicate the cultural roots, which have allowed
discrimination to occur, historically and at the present time.

We stand convinced that the new Cuba will have a productive and
energized economy which will allow for sustainable development, and
because of that, will be able to extend special consideration to
society's most vulnerable sectors. The new economy shall be constructed
on the intellectual capital of all the Cuban people—the product of their
education and experience, acquired both in the Island and the
Diaspora—and shall be based on the work of all Cubans, in full respect
for the workers' dignity. We envision a free-market economy, yet paying
special consideration to the fundamental principles of social justice,
where all Cubans will find equality of opportunities to craft their own
future, based on their toil, knowledge and effort.

Pillars of Consenso Cubano

The organizations which subscribe this document have reached consensus
on the following points which we believe will constitute essential
pillars to underlie the processes of change--political, economic, and
social--that will be necessary for Cuba's future:

1. We believe in the integrity of the Cuban nation. Cuba's future must
be inclusively crafted by all Cubans, wherever they may live, sharing
the same rights commensurate with the responsibilities that they are
willing to assume.

2. We uphold the right of all Cubans to determine our future in full
independence and sovereignty, without imposition or intrusion by any
other nation. Relations between nations must be based on mutual respect,
dignity and sovereignty.

3. We demand the immediate elimination of the death penalty, the
unconditional release of all political prisoners, and the full respect
for the fundamental rights of all Cubans. We advocate the immediate
adjustment of the penal, civil, and labor codes to those principles
enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and by the
International Labor Organization.

4. We favor all political and economic reforms which lead to new
opportunities and freedoms for Cubans and which constitute steps towards
the establishment of a sustainable development model, based on
democracy, the rule of law, and a productive economy framed in social
justice.

5. We pursue, promote and are fully committed to a non-violent, pacted
transition towards democracy, which devolves sovereignty and rights to
the Cuban people. We deem it imperative to seek the start of the
transition as a condition precedent to its realization. In the absence
of the political will to achieve such an objective, we support other
non-violent actions to which the Cuban people might resort.

6. We seek a future based on reconciliation, peace, and harmony, and
reject hatred and division. We shall promote reconciliation, fraternal
love, dialogue and family reunification. The dialogue we propose shall
be among those Cubans who are committed to achieve a non-violent
transition towards a fully democratic state, replete with civil
liberties under the rule of law. To achieve this end, dialogue must be
respectful, honest, critical, substantive and plural.

7. We deem it necessary to seek the truth about history, in order to not
repeat it. We propose a general amnesty for all political crimes within
the boundaries established by international law, and based on the
establishment of a process to document the truth and the preservation of
historical memory.

8. We call on all Cubans to avoid bloodshed and acts of violence,
especially those directed against innocent civilians.

9. We support the fundamental right of all Cubans to freely leave and
re-enter Cuba without any restriction or impediment. We advocate the
elimination of all existing restrictions, regardless of their origin,
which restrict the full exercise of this right.

10. We recognize the professional and apolitical role of the armed
forces as guarantors of Cuba's sovereignty and national security,
subordinated to the will of the people expressed through democratically
elected institutions.

11. We reject discrimination and intolerance by reason of race, gender,
sexual orientation, creed, ideas, disability, political ideals, or
national origin. The dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, and
the full participation in society of each and every Cuban shall be
exalted, constitutionally protected, and institutionally promoted.

12. We recognize the fundamental right of a person to own property. We
advocate for the right of all Cubans to self-employment and to form
their own enterprises.

13. We recognize that all expropriated properties present a complex
ethical and pragmatic dilemma of multiple rights and claims, which
involve issues of equity and justice. Notwithstanding, the specific
situation of residential property and small farms require special
consideration. Accordingly, we advocate the recognition and granting of
clear and unhindered title to those persons who currently occupy those
properties. Thus, such families and persons shall finally enjoy full,
unhindered possession of those properties as capital assets, without
current restrictions and without fear of eviction, claims or levies by
former owners. We also advocate for the right of the former owners or
their descendants to claim compensation from the state.

14. We feel fully committed to uphold the principle of universal access
to healthcare and education as national priorities, and to seek to
improve the quality of such services.

15. We seek and ask for international solidarity with the Cuban people
in their quest for their fundamental rights. We hold multilateralism as
an effective tool to promote change in Cuba. We favor all efforts by the
international community to support the Cuban people and to intermediate
in the search for non-violent solutions.

16. We support the right of all Cubans to have access to the
information, contacts and resources that are necessary to construct an
independent civil society and to enable the Cuban people to have the
resources that are necessary to enjoy a full peaceful and plural
participation in civil society and in national politics. Therefore, we
agree with the words of Pope John Paul II, asking for the world to open
up to Cuba and for Cuba to open up to the world, as the way to end the
isolation of the Cuban people.

17. We support Cuba's internal opposition in all their manifestations,
as well as all Cubans who seek and promote non-violent change. We shall
always promote collaboration—never foster division. Within this context,
we firmly support the plurality of projects for change.

18. We fully advocate for the free expression and debate of ideas. We
energetically reject any form of intolerance, intimidation and
exclusionary attitudes.

SIGNATARIES
Political Parties

Coordinadora Social Demócrata Byron Miguel
Partido Demócrata Cristiano de Cuba Marcelino Miyares
Partido Social Demócrata de Cuba Antonio Santiago
Unión Liberal Cubana Carlos Alberto Montaner

Academic and cultural institutions

Bibliotecas Independientes de Cuba Ramón Colás
Instituto de Estudios Cubanos Enrique Patterson
Instituto Jacques Maritain José Ignacio Rasco

Other organizations

Acción Democrática Cubana Juan Carlos Acosta
Agenda Cuba Tomás Rodríguez
Arco Progresista Lino Fernáandez
Christian Commitment Foundation Lorenzo de Toro
Comité Cubano Pro Derechos Humanos Ricardo Bofill
Confederación Campesina de Cuba José M. Pou Socarrás
Cuba Study Group Carlos A. Saladrigas
Fundación Nacional Cubano Americana Jorge Mas Santos
Grupo por la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa en Cuba Joel
Brito
Hermanos al Rescate José Basulto
Movimiento Democracia Ramón Saúl Sánchez
Todos Unidos Juan Carlos Acosta
Women For Human Rights International Mariví Prado

Organizations that participate as observers

Movimiento Cristiano Liberación Julio Hernández
Raíces de Esperanza Tony Jiménez
Solidaridad de Trabajadores Cubanos Pedro Pérez Castro

http://www.lanuevacuba.com/nuevacuba/notic-06-12-1071.htm