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January 1, 2010 marked the 51st anniversary of the Cuban revolution and over a half of century of rule by the Castro brothers. Despite hopes that the change in power from Fidel to Raúl Castro in February 2008 would bring reform to the Western Hemisphere’s only dictatorship, Raúl’s government has proved to be at least as repressive.While instituting minor economic reforms, such as allowing private farmers to purchase goods directly from suppliers, turning over state-run beauty shops to employees, and experimenting with taxi drivers leasing their vehicles, the Cuban government continues to control all aspects of society and represses any attempts by independent-thinking Cubans to advocate for democratic reforms.
Political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo died on February 23 after an 83-day hunger strike protesting his prison conditions. His death sparked similar protests by other prisoners and human rights activists and as well as demands for their release. Foreign governments and representatives of the Catholic Church in Cuba have approached the Cuban Government concerning human rights issues and treatment of Cuba’s political prisoners
Cuba holds approximately 200 total political prisoners. Fifty-five have been named prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International. In June, the Cuban Government released Ariel Sigler, a paraplegic political prisoner with severe health problems.
NDI’s seeks to promote international awareness of the activities of Cuban democratic activists by conducting outreach to political and civic leaders, and international organizations around the world to provide recognition, support and solidarity for those struggling peacefully for democracy on the island. NDI also shares lessons and information from other democratic transitions with Cubans on the island.
Political Context
Despite hopes that the change in power from Fidel to Raúl Castro in February 2008 would bring reform to the Western Hemisphere’s only dictatorship, Raúl’s government has proved to be at least as repressive. March 18, 2010 marked the seventh anniversary of the Cuban Black Spring, when 75 democracy and human rights activists in Cuba were rounded up and sentenced to lengthy prison terms during summary trials.
The death of political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo after an 83-day hunger strike led to a wave of international calls for release of political prisoners. Efforts by activists on the island to protest prompted retaliation by the Cuban government, including forceful measures to halt the weekly peaceful marches in Havana by the female family members of the Black Spring political prisoners, known as the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco). After Cuba’s Cardinal Jaime Ortega intervened, the Cuban government allowed the peaceful marches to resume.
After intervening on behalf of the Ladies in White, Cardinal Ortega met with Raúl Castro to discuss the release of political prisoners. To date, the talks have resulted in the transfer of several political prisoners to jails closer to their homes and were credited with the decision on June 12 to release Sigler. The active role of the Catholic Church has raised expectations for additional changes.
Despite the many challenges faced by Cuban civil society, Cubans on the island have found creative ways to express themselves and promote their views about society and desire for peaceful changes. Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez has garnered international recognition for her blog, Generation Y (Generación Y), which openly criticizes the daily challenges of life in Cuba and the restrictions that the Cuban government places on its citizens. Musician Gorki Águila, who has been arrested for lyrics that are critical of the Cuban regime, has become a symbol of the Cuban youth’s desire for change.
Other Cuban advocates for change have taken advantage of loopholes in the Cuban government’s legal system to call for democratic reforms. For example, in 2002 and 2003, Oswaldo Payá and members of his Christian Liberation Movement (Movimiento Cristiano Liberación, MCL) used an article in the Cuban constitution that allows for a citizen’s referendum with the support of 10,000 signatures to call for free elections, freedom of assembly, free enterprise, freedom of speech and freedom for Cuba’s peaceful political prisoners.
Despite the Cuban government’s rejection of the Varela Project and the arrest of more than 50 of its organizers during the Cuban Black Spring, other groups have modeled their projects for change after the Varela Project initiative. In 2007 and 2009, the Latin American Federation of Rural Women – Cuba (Federación Latinoamericana de Mujeres Rurales – Cuba FLAMUR) submitted more than 10,000 signatures to the Cuban National Assembly in support of their “With the Same Currency” (“Con la Misma Moneda”) campaign, which calls on the Cuban government to abolish the dual currency system and accept the Cuban national peso for all goods and services. Similarly, the University Students without Borders Project collected 5,000 signatures to press for independent universities and freedom of speech, which led to the temporary arrest of several student leaders.
NDI Activities
NDI’s efforts with the Cuban pro-democracy movement began in 1991, when the Institute assisted the Cuban Democratic Platform—a coalition of exiled political party leaders from across the ideological spectrum—in providing Cubans with comparative lessons about democratic transitions in Eastern Europe and Central America.
NDI’s current Cuba program seeks to promote international awareness of the activities of Cuban democratic activists by conducting outreach to political and civic leaders, and international organizations around the world to provide recognition, support and solidarity for those struggling peacefully for democracy on the island. NDI also shares lessons and information from other democratic transitions with Cubans on the island.
Contact Information
For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:
Washington, D.C.
Rebecca De Mar, Program Manager
(202) 728-6319
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