Founding member of Free Cuba Foundation signatory to San Juan Declaration

One of the founders of the Free Cuba Foundation, Augusto Monge attended the first Cuban National Gathering and was one of the signers of the Declaration of San Juan. Below is an English translation of the document originally drafted in Spanish.

DECLARATION OF SAN JUAN

Between the 13th and 15th of August 2015, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the first Cuban National Gathering was in session. 23 organizations participated of the archipelago and 32 from exile, duly represented by more than one hundred of its leaders. The event was organized by Cubans United of Puerto Rico.

We were animated by the purpose of seeking ways to reconcile the work of the pro-democratic forces with the commitment to restore sovereignty to Cuban citizens and all their fundamental rights. To this end, we affirm that to achieve the full freedom of the Cuban people and a genuine rule of law, none of the following principles are negotiable:

• The unconditional release of all political prisoners and repeal of all laws that violate fundamental freedoms; 
• Freedom of expression, of the press, of association, of assembly, of peaceful protest, of profession and religion; and 
• The participation of the people in any decision of the nation, the legalization of all political parties and free and multiparty elections.

The Cuban National Gathering also agreed:

1. Working in the campaign for a binding plebiscite in favor of free, fair and pluralistic elections under democratic conditions that guarantee the sovereignty of citizens. 
2. To support and sign the Agreement for Democracy in Cuba, of 1998. 
3. To promote the strategy of non-violent struggle, facilitating the training of pro-democracy activists in the methodologies of civil disobedience. 
4. Work to demolish the cybernetic fire wall in Cuba and strive so that the internal opposition has the technological resources to continue citizen mobilization. 

Several works focused on the material and spiritual progress of the New Cuba work were presented, which will be defined in a second Cuban National Gathering.

A Coordinating Liaison Committee was established for a period of six months, whose main task will be to follow up the agreed points here and communicate them to all organizations, in the spirit of uniting the internal and external opposition.

For us today the phrase of Marti that we intend to observe is more relevant than ever: "Joining together is the watchword." 

San Juan, Puerto Rico, August 15, 2015

Signed on behalf of their organizations:

• Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina: Alianza Democrática Oriental
• Wilfredo Vallin: Asociación de Abogados Independientes
• Roberto Pizano: Asociación de Expresos Políticos Cubanos de Tampa
• Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo: Center for a Free Cuba
• Laritza Diversent: Centro Cubalex
• Pedro M. Peñaranda: Círculos Democráticos Municipalistas de Cuba
• Damarys Moya Portieles: Coalición Central Opositora
• Elizardo Sánchez Santa-Cruz: Comisión de Derechos Humanos y Reconciliación Nacional
• Josefa López: Comité Apoyo a las Damas de Blanco Laura Pollán
• Ricardo Roque: Comité Cubano Pro Derechos Humanos
• Luis Israel Abreu Villarreal: Comité de Ayuda a los Activistas por los Derechos Humanos
• Juan Carlos González Leiva: Consejo de Relatores de Derechos Humanos
• Diego Suárez: Consejo para la Libertad de Cuba
• Pedro J. Fuentes Cid: Consejo Presidio Político Cubano
• René Gómez Manzano: Corriente Agramontista de Abogados Independientes
• Luis Fernández Moreno: Cuba Corps
• Diddier Santos: Cuba Decide
• Rogelio Matos Araluce: Cuba Independiente y Democrática
• Andrés Candelario: Cubanos Unidos de Puerto Rico
• Marta Menor: Cultivo una Rosa Blanca
• Leticia Ramos Herrería: Damas de Blanco
• Germán Miret: Directorio Democrático Cubano
• Magdelivia Hidalgo: Federación Lationamericana de Mujeres Rurales
• Eugenio Llamera: Federación Mundial de Expresos Políticos Cubanos
• Roberto D. Ruiz Casas: Foro Promoción Continental Democrática
• Augusto Monge: Free Cuba Foundation
• Guillermo Fariñas: Frente Antitotalitario Unido
• Yris Perez Aguilera: Frente de Resistencia Orlando Zapata
• Francisco Hernández: Fundación Nacional Cubanoamericana
• Faisel Iglesias: Fundación Nuevo Pensamiento Cubano
• Omar Vento: Fundación para la Democracia Panamericana
• Mariana Hernández: Fundación para los Derechos Humanos en Cuba
• Pastor Herrera: Global Community Action
• Raúl Luis Risco Pérez: Instituto Cubano por la Libertad de Expresión y Prensa
• Ana Carbonell: Instituto de la Rosa Blanca
• Mario Félix Lleonard: Instituto PATMOS
• Sylvia Iriondo: M.A.R. por Cuba
• Rolando Infante: Movimiento 30 de noviembre
• Magaly Broche: Movimiento Cubano Reflexión
• Ramón Saúl Sánchez: Movimiento Democracia
• René Hernández Bequet: Partido Demócrata Cristiano de Cuba
• Saylí Navarro Alvarez: Partido por la Democracia Pedro Luis Boitel
• Adel Ramón López Napoles: Partido Republicano de Cuba
• Vladimiro Roca: Partido Social Demócrata Cubano
• Fernando Palacio Molgar: Partido Solidaridad Liberal Cubano
• Rafael León Rodríguez: Proyecto Demócrata Cubano
• Eliecer Ávila Cecilia: Somos Mas
• Angel Alfonso Alemán: Unión de Expresos Políticos Cubanos Zona Noreste
• María C. Werlau: Unión Liberal Cubana
• Ernesto García Díaz: Unión Social Comunitaria Cubana

Conference participants signing as individuals

• Guillermo Toledo Casasús (Moderador) Coordinador del Encuentro Nacional Cubano
• Edgardo Ronda (Observador) Asociación Iberoamericana por la Libertad
• Vanesa Colmegna (Observadora)  Asociación Iberoamericana por la Libertad
• Alexis Jardines
• Alicia Hernández Cabeza
• Ana María Socarrás
• Andres Barbeito
• Andrés Pichs
• Ariel Gutiérrez
• Arturo Sánchez Antón
• Asunción Carrillo Hernández
• Camilo Ernesto Olivera Peidro
• Caridad María Burunate
• Catalina Mayoral
• Conrado Ferrer
• Domitila Valls
• Emilio Guede
• Federico Delgado
• Francisco Talavera
• Gerardo Morera del Campo
• Guillermo González Alcázar
• Isis Longo
• Jerónimo Esteve Abril
• Jorge Bringuier
• José Conrado Rodríguez Alegre
• José García Pino
• José Vilasuso
• Lianelis Villares Plasencia
• Luis Alberto Martínez
• Maitá Carbonell Acosta
• Manuel Acosta
• Manuel Fernández
• Marcelino Miyares
• Mari-Vahn de Vicens
• María Isabel García de Toledo
• Marisela Rodriguez
• Michael Acevedo Reinoso
• Nieves Gonzalez Abreu
• Osvaldo Bencomo
• Patricia Toledo García
• Raoul Vicens
• Rosa María Payá
• Rosalina Colón Gómez
• Sergio Ramos Suárez
• Severiano López Sicre
• Vaclav Maly
• Vicente Echerri
• Vilma del Prado
• Wenceslao Fernández
• Xiomara Ledón

Christian Liberation Movement Letter to the European Union: A Defining Moment

Honorable Foreign Ministers of the European Union:

We are writing to you with the certainty that our position is properly valued, as befits the responsibility of the position that you hold. We Cubans are going through a defining moment in our history. The economic crisis and the rise of the opposition movement are converging, despite the dangerous escalation of violence, arbitrary arrests, beatings and suspicious deaths in the last two years as numbers indicate especially against members of civil society. A government that has ever been elected by its citizens is now trying to convince the international community that it is making democratic changes. Reforms realized in Cuba to date, alleviate or do not the situation of a small percentage of the population. They do not guarantee recognition of human rights kidnapped for 55 years , but what they have done is increase social inequality and establish themselves with new mechanisms of control, because the government provides privileges and permissions but not rights . Reforms that serve to excuse those who on behalf of their economic interests seek to justify the totalitarian regime in Havana .

We do not understand the reasons which led to the lifting of obstacles to negotiate a treaty of cooperation with the Cuban government and the possible lifting of the common position. We put to you two questions without which a dialogue between democracies and those in power in our country could hinder the possibility of a democratic transition in Cuba. We hope that the sunset clause on human rights that is negotiated contribute to:

1.Put an end to the impunity of State Security of the Cuban Government , noting the willingness of the European Union to promote an independent investigation in an International Court or with the UN framework to clarify the circumstances in which Oswaldo Payá (Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament ) and Harold Cepero died. We hope that in ethics and consistency in ethics you will support the resolution of the European Parliament (Article 69) of December 11, 2013, (2013 /2152 ( INI ) ) to prevent similar incidents continuing to occur on the island. We consider that one should require the immediate stop to the violence against members of civil society , the release of political prisoners and the possibility of an independent investigation into the suspicious deaths of O. Payá and H. Cepero .

2. Enable the realization of a plebiscite that offers the option to citizens of expressing if they want to participate in a process of free and pluralistic elections with democratic guarantees. In this manner we ask you to support effective citizen participation, taking into account the recognition given by the European Union to the Varela Project. An initiative of legal change supported by more than 25,000 citizens, based on the current Constitution, proposed the realization of the plebiscite.

We are not opposed to the negotiation process that is a fact and we offer our participation as free agents of Cuban civil society, representing a political alternative, with over 25 years in the island and in exile. Respectfully we want to warn that there are still many reforms that the Cuban government can make, even internationally, without starting a real democratic transition. In the confidence of the fidelity that you profess to democratic values ​​we know that you understand that the absence of both above points that we proposed in the process of negotiations could signify a support for the maintenance in power of the oppressors. Cubans have been capable of designing a path for the transition, we have the hope that you will accompany them through it.

Coordinating Council of the Christian Liberation Movement.

ABC ......... However, opposition organizations like the Christian Liberation Movement have already made it known from inside Cuba that " we do not understand the reasons which led to the lifting of obstacles to negotiate a treaty of cooperation and the possible lifting of the common position common " considering the dangerous escalation of violence , especially against members of civil society as the numbers of arbitrary arrests , beatings and suspicious deaths in the last two years indicate. "

Original Spanish text and slightly different version by Rosa Maria Payá Acevedo published in El Mundo on January 30, 2014.

Yoani at Florida International University in English and Castellano

Yoani Sánchez, Cuban, Citizen, Journalist and Blogger

On the evening of April 1, 2013, Florida International University (FIU) was honored with the presence of Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez. Below are the recorded live video streams provided by FIU in both Spanish and English.




Yoani Sanchez at Florida International University (in the original Spanish above ) speaking on the relationship between the internet and the real world and how one can make a real impact. It was a powerful presentation followed by an equally engaging question and answer session that pulled no punches.


It was an extraordinary evening in which the subject of Cuba was discussed on a high plane of civility and decorum.

Yoani speaking at Florida International University