Posted on 06/15/2002 7:50:13 AM PDT by CounterCounterCulture
Cubans asked to declare Castro socialism 'untouchable' in future
Fri Jun 14, 7:02 PM ET
By ANITA SNOW, Associated Press Writer
HAVANA - Millions of Cubans are being asked to publicly affirm Fidel Castro's four-decade-old socialist system as "untouchable" in a government campaign defying calls for democratic reforms.
Over four days beginning Saturday, all Cubans 16 years of age and older will be asked to sign a petition saying they support a constitutional amendment declaring the nation's economic, political and social systems "untouchable" — meaning they cannot be changed.
Opposition activists say the effort is Castro's answer to their own civil liberties campaign, known as the Varela Project. Most Cubans first heard of Varela last month in a speech by former President Jimmy Carter, who was visiting the island.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Phil Reeker said Castro's proposal is obviously a reaction to the Varela Project's success.
"Instead of addressing this peaceful plea for change, Castro has chosen to manufacture an alternative petition supporting the current constitution and to intimidate the population into signing it," Reeker said.
Government officials expect most Cubans to sign, but a number of island dissidents complained that no political or economic system should be engraved in stone for future generations.
"We believe that no generation of Cubans has the right to declare untouchable any economic, political and social system, even when it is already consecrated in the constitution," the Moderate Opposition's Reflection Group said in a fax to The Associated Press. "This is an extremely grave affair for the present and future of Cuba."
The signature campaign at 120,000 stations nationwide will be run by groups representing women, university students, workers and every neighborhood block on the island, among others.
"No compatriot will be denied the opportunity" to back the amendment, said Castro, who established the socialist system two years after his 1959 revolution.
Hundreds of workers labored Friday in suburban Cacahual, cleaning streets and building a stage for a Saturday morning political rally.
While the campaign will be supported by Cuba's Communist Party and Union of Young Communists, Castro insisted, "It will not be a state activity."
Cuba's Communist Party — the only political party legally recognized here — is linked strongly with the state, with many top leaders holding both government and party posts.
The mass organizations — including the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution that watch each block, the Federation of Cuban Women and the Confederation of Cuban Workers — officially are autonomous, but play key roles in supporting and protecting the socialist system.
Castro, 75, repeatedly insists Cuba will remain socialist after his death. His designated successor is his brother, 71-year-old Defense Minister Raul Castro.
Opposition activists have mounted a signature campaign for a referendum asking voters whether they favor such civil liberties as freedom of speech and assembly, the right to own a business, electoral reform and amnesty for political prisoners.
"It's sad that the government keeps feeding the image of popular support," said veteran human rights activist Elizardo Sanchez.
Signatures gathered in the campaign for the constitutional change will later be delivered to the National Assembly.
The National Assembly will hold a regular session July 5, official media said Friday. Presumably, the proposals for the constitutional amendment and the Varela Project will be discussed then.
Castro has said nothing publicly about the Varela Project. Its backers collected more than the 10,000 signatures constitutionally required to propose a referendum and submitted them to the National Assembly last month, but have received no formal response.
When Carter mentioned the project during an uncensored televised address, he suggested the reform plan be published in the state media, but that has not happened.
Communist officials accused Varela Project organizers of being on the U.S. government payroll, which activists deny. Cuban authorities also said there were legal and technical problems with the proposal, giving it little hope for success.
No, I imagine not.
This action is the equivalent of a billionaire demanding that a way be found for him to take it all with him when he dies.
It will have exactly the same effect.
I don’t know if the reporter and editors are dishonest or just stupid.
I guess if more than 50% sign, that's "proof" that the Cuban people have chosen communism.
Great Article! I'm proud of our press! Way to really dig in and investigate!!!
Communism and CPSU leadership role were written into FSU constitutions - it did not help much.
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