Message from Cuba from the Cuban Democratic Project

Message from Cuba from the Cuban Democratic Project / Rafael León Rodríguez
Posted on December 25, 2014

The latest developments in negotiations between the authorities of the
Cuban government and those of the United States augur interesting
expectations for peoples on both sides of the Straits of Florida in the
coming year of 2015. The announced normalization of diplomatic relations
at the level of embassies will certainly strengthen the creation of new
and significant bridges for both societies.
To what extent this new political context will help the empowerment of
civil society in Cuba will depend, primarily, on whether Cubans will be
able to continue working peacefully to achieve Cuba's return to
democracy, freedoms and the rule of law.

The Cuban regime must recognize, finally, that human rights constitute
an indivisible whole. The ratification and implementation of the
International Treaties on Civil and Political rights and Economic,
Social, and Cultural Rights, signed by the government of the island in
2008, and they are still a crucial unresolved issue this, they must
endorse the law.

If the blockade or embargo of the United States against Cuba is one more
violation of the human rights of the Cuban people, this hiding behind
the adoption of a Constitution in 1976, now disregarded, to legitimize a
singular government party and discriminate against political plurality,
is also. Both violations must cease.

We so-called Cuban political minorities have inalienable rights that
must be respected by the authorities of the regime, which, after 56
years of totalitarian power, show that in the interior of the country
the only things "updated" are the poverty, hopelessness, failure,
corruption and escapism.

Many people in the world, because of goodwill, accompany the Cuban
people in an attempt to facilitate the recovery of their freedoms and
improve their situation through dialogue and negotiation. Pope Francis
sublimely represents all of them. We thank you.

We are confident that the coming year will bring Cubans to the so
long-awaited national reconciliation, with justice and peace. We wish
everyone a Merry Christmas and a bright New Year 2015 of our Lord.

Rafael León Rodríguez, General Coordinator
Cuban Democratic Project

Translated by: Hombre de Paz

24 December 2014

Source: Message from Cuba from the Cuban Democratic Project / Rafael
León Rodríguez | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/message-from-cuba-from-the-cuban-democratic-project-rafael-leon-rodriguez/