In the German Paper Tageszeitung

By Knut Henkel

December 5, 2007- In Cuba liberty of expression is suppressed. Opposition leader Oswaldo Payá is dedicated to the struggle for democracy and freedom. But if the regime continues to ignore the call, it could be an impossible struggle.

Mr. Payá, recently you have established the “Committee for reconciliation and dialogue.”  What are its objectives?

We are calling for the rights of Cuban citizens and for the release of the peaceful political prisoners in Cuba. We have set as our basis the right to free expression of opinions, which should include the right to association and the right to real participation for citizens, as well as dialogue. For us, that is the foundation for dialogue and national reconciliation that we would like to achieve.

In January Cuba will have elections for the National Assembly. What significance does this election have?

In Cuba one cannot speak of democratic elections, because Cubans are denied freedom of expression and freedom of association.  In addition, the national electoral law dictates that candidates can only be chosen by a Candidature Commission and not by the population. The electoral law also specifies that the number of delegate seats must be the same as the number of candidates. These facts speak for themselves, from which every person is entitled to reach their own conclusions.

Is the electoral law part of the referendum over the future of Cuba that is proposed by the Varela Project?

Yes, the Varela Project and the Christian Liberation Movement to which I belong presented to the delegates of the Cuban National Assembly a proposal for a new electoral law on August 30. We protested in front of the Cuban Assembly against the current law because it does not abide by the Constitution.

Has the government reacted?

No. In terms of the electoral law and the government’s intolerance nothing has changed. The number of political prisoners has not decreased substantially and the Cuban opposition is still watched over and intimidated. Besides, there has not been substantial change in the political discourse of those responsible. Fear dominates daily life and the population waits for the change.

The government praises the high election turnout.

Many said the same thing under Honecker in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). In Cuba it is not that different. There is no possibility to establish and elect our own candidates.  That is simply the truth. We want to change that with the Varela Project. We are in favor of reconciliation, the preservation of a system of free healthcare and education, and national self-determination. Cubans should decide their own future- in complete freedom.

The opposition is considered to be divided. Have the calls for unity led to some agreement among you?

Most of the most-well known dissidents in Cuba have signed onto our appeal “Unity for Freedom,” in which we call for reconciliation, peaceful change and genuine participation. That was an important step.

Does the population have any notion of the existence of these “agreements” among the opposition?

The Cuban population wants changes and may times much more is known within Cuba than what one might imagine from outside. The Varela Project is well-known, although we have no way of coming out into the public.  The state-run media in Cuba does not report anything about us. We are silenced. Also in Miami there is a lot of resistance to our project because the groups with great influence do not share our objectives. However, the number of people in Cuba that profess themselves openly to us has grown.

Hector Palacios, which besides you is perhaps the most well-known dissident in Cuba, has recently said that the opposition is constantly growing in Cuba. He spoke of approximately 5,000 dissidents.  Do you agree with that estimate?

It is possible that the number has already gone up. From my point of view it is much more important for the number of individuals who openly ask for change to grow.  For me this has less to do with the formation of political blocks but rather with the fact that citizens are asking for their rights. Cubans must be the protagonists of change, not a few politicians.

Has the state security’s pressure on you and your organization decreased in the last few months?

No, it remains the same and many activists remain in degrading conditions in prison. This is an act of intimidation against the population and our movement. The official slogan is still “socialism or death.” However death is not an option for us and we will continue to struggle for life and liberty.

What do you think about the European Union’s policy toward Cuba?

It is good for the European Union to advocate for human rights, the rights of Cubans and democracy in Cuba. Nevertheless the European Union takes a cautious attitude. It offers no active support for our peaceful alternative or for the release to the political prisoners. Today there exists, I think, two wings within the European Union. One side argues rapprochement with Havana and reduced pressure, the other side maintains distance. From our point of view, neither position will necessarily achieve peaceful change. Nevertheless, a better relationship will of course help the businessmen who make deals as well as the tourists who come to Cuba to relax.

The UN abolished the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Cuba. What do you make of this?

It is shameful and moral evidence of the incapacity of the UN, because we have always been against the US commercial embargo, and at the same time we have always called attention to the lack of basic liberties and the situation of the political prisoners. The Varela Project has twice submitted lists of signatures in order to establish a referendum over the political future of the island.

Was there ever a response?

No, no direct answer. Instead many of our members were arrested and sentenced. They also spread a drape of silence over the truth, because the government in Havana could not and did not want to answer the uncomfortable questions we raised.

How do you judge the perspectives in Cuba?

There exists a real danger that the Cuban government might continue to ignore the desire for change and can maintain power through constant oppression. There is no perspective for the population and no signals of change and that is a risk. On the contrary, there is our proposal for a referendum- a true alternative to build a more humane, just and free society.

On Sunday it was announced that Fidel Castro will run as a candidate in the January elections for the National Assembly. What will this mean for Cuba’s political future?

I do not want to speculate about it. For nearly fifty years there is only talk about one man, but there are more than eleven million inhabitants in Cuba. They should also have the possibility to speak for once because they have that right.