Center for International Policy

The Center for International Policy Releases Rare Statement from Cuban Political Dissidents Asking International Support for Cuban Prisoners

Washington, D.C. (July 9, 2003) - The Center for International Policy (CIP) today released a statement by Dr. Rene Gomez Manzano, speaking on behalf of two of Cuba's largest coalitions of political dissidents, his own organization, "Asamblea para Promover la Sociedad Civil" (Assembly for the Promotion of Civil Society), and "Todos Unidos" (All United), led most notably by Vladimiro Roca and Elizardo Sanchez.

In his statement, recorded on camera June 30, 2003 for an upcoming conference in Washington by representatives of CIP visiting Havana, Dr. Gomez Manzano urges international support for those arrested in the 100 days since the Cuban government's crackdown against political dissent began - especially for prisoners in need of medical assistance. "Their situation is extremely difficult," said Gomez Manzano. "They are in jails faraway from their homes; they receive inadequate food, inadequate water, inadequate medical assistance."

Informed that human rights organizations, business groups, public policy groups, congressional leaders and other representatives of U.S. public opinion-all of whom fully support the right of Cubans to travel freely, i.e., to leave and return to their island without restrictions-have launched a campaign to lift the ban on the travel of American citizens to Cuba, Dr. Gomez Manzano said: "My colleagues, and the internal dissidents and I are sure that this question will be solved in accordance with the secular traditions of the United States: traditions of freedom, tradition of democracy, and tradition, traditions of respect for human rights and traditions of international solidarity

"Dr. Gomez Manzano is right," said Dr. Wayne S. Smith, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy. "The issue will be resolved within the traditions of our democracy. It is clear that the majority of Americans do not support the travel ban, which is an infringement of their fundamental rights and counterproductive in terms of bringing about greater freedoms in Cuba. How can we consistently urge freedom to travel for Cubans at the same time that we deny it to the vast majority of American citizens wishing to travel to Cuba?

"The issue will of course be fully debated in the Congress, and, as a prelude to that debate, on July 15, the Center for International Policy - along with ATRIP, the Lexington Institute, and USA Engage - will host a "Freedom to Travel Forum and Day of Action" on Capitol Hill," Dr. Smith said.

"Because of the importance of Dr. Gomez Manzano's statement," Smith added, "we thought it should be made public now."

The Center for International Policy (http://www.ciponline.org), founded in 1975, promotes a U.S. foreign policy based on international cooperation, demilitarization and respect for basic human rights.

###

Below is the complete and unedited transcript of Dr. Rene Gomez Manzano's statement, recorded on June 30, 2003 in Havana.

My name is Rene Gomez Manzano. I am the president of the Corriente Agramontista, an association of independent Cuban lawyers. I am also a member of the Assembly for the Promotion of the Civil Society. I am talking to you on behalf of this Assembly for the Promotion of Civil Society and its principle organizer Mr. Felix Bonne Carcasses and also for myself and also on behalf of the second most important coalition of dissident forces here in Cuba "Todos Unidos" that is "All United" and on behalf of its leaders Vladimiro Roca and Elizardo Sanchez.

I am addressing you just 100 days after the recent crackdown of the communist Cuban government against the internal dissidents. As consequence of this crackdown, we have now scores of political prisoners. They are in jail just for peacefully speaking their minds and for expressing its opposition to the present government; therefore they are prisoners of conscience.

Their situation is extremely difficult; they are in jails faraway from their homes; they receive inadequate food, inadequate water, inadequate medical assistance. They are not allowed to freely express their opinions. They can receive visits only from relatives, and only once every few months-every several months. Some of them are severely ill. Therefore, we are asking respectfully for your solidarity with these fellow countrymen, and for your solidarity with other internal Cuban dissidents who are still out of jail.

We understand that your conference is also interested in travels between the United States and Cuba. About that matter, I would like to say first of all that the Cuban government systematically violates the human rights recognized in Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the right to-of every person to leave its own country and to return to its country-to his/her country.

Cubans living in Cuba have to ask the permission of the totalitarian Cuban government in order to visit other countries. Cubans living abroad have to ask the permission of the Cuban government in order to visit their own country. Of course this is not the situation with the United States. Americans can travel to any country except one: Cuba. And Americans, of course, are free to return to their own country. Therefore, the situations between our two countries in this matter are completely different. In Cuba, I repeat, we have a violation of Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is not the case of the United States.

Nevertheless we understand that several very prestigious human rights organizations and also different leaders, political leaders, influential political leaders in Congress, are-belonging to both parties-are interested in lifting the ban on the travels to Cuba.

We think that the present limitations, that is, that these persons, that is-I can repeat?

We understand that several very influential human rights organizations as well as important politicians, and political leaders in Congress from both parties are interested in the lifting on the ban of travels to Cuba.

My colleagues, and the internal dissidents and I are sure that in the end that this question will be solved in accordance with the secular traditions of the United States: traditions of freedom, tradition of democracy, and tradition, traditions of respect for human rights and traditions of international solidarity.

Thank you very much for your attention.