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Pillars of Consenso Cubano
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Consenso Cubano
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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.
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