Rosa María Rodríguez Torrado, Translator: Unstated
There are expectations on Cuba's "multiple shores" regarding the new
immigration law that the government of Raul Castro is working on. It's
not the first time we've heard about it; it's already been alluded to
more than once and the news has leaked out that it is in advanced
stages. I wonder how much so. Because there is a precedent in a "memo"
published by a news agency a few years ago about the sale of Russian
Lada cars, which turned out to be a fiasco.
It's likely that this trick to learn about public opinion on a topic is
part of the strategy of the administration that took the helm in 2006.
It's a recourse that is becoming repetitive and that arouses suspicions.
Perhaps he's waited so long to make reforms that now he turns to tactics
to tranquillize and entertain the population in order to gain time for
his team to move the pieces of the legal framework to arm the new
puzzle. How to return to Cubans the travel rights they enjoyed before
1959 that were violated? Therein lies the dilemma.
They have scammed us so many times for so long that people wonder
whether the new measures won't also be saddled with restrictions. Most
of the people you talk to about the issue display their skepticism
regarding a right. If they don't publicly and legitimately respect all
the rights of Cubans, it would be discriminatory, unfair and misleading
— repeating the historic error of droit de seigneur in the matter —
leaving it to State's different agencies of control to decide what to
implement and what not to.
Thus, they would establish a legislation of doubtful guarantees of the
capabilities and dignity of Cubans in opposition, relative to the known
and accepted norms of the international community, in which they
selectively support the authorities when and how it corresponds to their
interests.
On the other hand, Cubans need to be educated on this fundamental topic
to establish a culture of rights in our society — contrary to the
intolerance and outrage fomented — and this is achieved by recognizing
and respecting everyone. This happens, as is natural, by implementing
human rights, which are inalienable and indivisible and which the
government has "no right" to continue violating. They cannot legitimize
some few without transgressing others.
They have subjected people to so many abuses of power, that we are
justified in distrusting reforms in general and those relating to the
new immigration law now in progress. I hope they won't repeat the old
carrot-and-stick trick where, in Cuba, the carrot is usually rotten.
They have subjected people to so many abuses of power, that we are
justified in distrusting reforms in general and those relating to the
new immigration law now in progress. I hope they won't repeat the old
carrot-and-stick trick where, in Cuba, the carrot is usually rotten.
Translator: Unstated
December 27 2011
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