Dissident group marks 22 years of working for peace in Cuba

Havana, Cuba, Sep 9, 2010 / 09:51 am

This week, the coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement, Oswaldo Paya, renewed the commitment of his organization to bringing about a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba.

In a statement released this week, Paya said that after 22 years of existence, the CLM is entering a new era. The Cuban people are hopeful about the future, he explained, although they still do not enjoy their fundamental rights, and they live in poverty under a government that is run by a group of wealthy military officials under the leadership of two dictators.

Paya also reaffirmed the need for the Varela Project, which seeks a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba. “We want true dialogue, but we will not accept any kind of dialogue that is not part of a transparent process and is not expressly and directly oriented towards the legal recognition of all the rights of Cubans,” he added.

Paya invited Cubans to work for reconciliation, transparency and peaceful change in the country. “The Cuban people have the right to know about their own lives and their destiny,” he said.

“A generous spirit and desire to leave behind hatred and anger exists in most Cubans. All political prisoners must be liberated and not deported. Transparent dialogue and the exercising of rights will create an environment for forgiveness and understanding among all Cubans and thus bring about peace,” Paya said.

He concluded his statement calling for “an end to the discrimination against Cubans in their own country” and for free elections “in order to elect representatives and leaders who will do the will of the people.”