Spotlight on Cuba: Planning for the Post Castro Era

Opposition organizations

Algunas visiones generales sobre la actualidad cubana
Date: August 2008
Location: Havana
After a six-month ruling, the Christian Democrat Project (Proyecto Demócrata Cristiano) analyzes the actions taken by President Raul Castro’s Government, and identifies several “urgent” changes: the adoption of only one currency, the lifting of exit and entry permits for all Cubans, and the transformation of State institutions.  The PDC admits that a new “social synergy” exists in Cuba; it urges the Government to free all political prisoners.
URL: http://www.concuba.org/documentos/democristianos_ doc.pdf (Spanish)

Plataforma Básica Socialdemócrata
Date: July 19, 2008
Location: Havana
Description: The document was adopted during the first Convention of the Progressive Arch (Arco Progresista) in Cuba, after a coalition of socialist and social-democrat organizations opposed to current regime, decided to join together under a social-democrat party. The new party admits Cubans in exile and living in the island. It reiterates a policy towards dialogue, non-violence, national reconciliation and respect to political diversity, as a core value.
URL: http://www.concuba.org/documentos/platform_arco.pdf (Spanish)

Agenda para la Transición
Date: April 10, 2008
Location: Havana
Description: A group of 18 well-known Cuban dissidents announce a political platform for the process that "is approaching" and which should take place in an "atmosphere of national reconciliation”. Martha Beatriz Roque and Vladimiro Roca are among the signatures supporting the Agenda not as leaders of their respective organizations, but as individuals. 
URL: http://www.netforcuba.org/espanol/News-SP/2008/Apr/Noticia10949.htm

Cuban Forum: The First Steps Toward Change
Date: April 9, 2008
Location: Havana
Description: Dissident Oswaldo Paya issues a call for national dialogue based on his initiative Cuban Forum. According to Paya, “during these times, the alternative to change cannot be continuity of a status quo that Cubans want to change and leave behind. The people’s alternative is a new life”.
URL: http://www.oswaldopaya.org/es/2008/04/10/cuban-forumthe-first-steps-toward-change/#more-1106

Diez claves o enfoques de Seguridad Nacional, Concertación Pro Diálogo y Concertación
Date: August 8, 2007
Description: The Concertación, a coalition of dissident organizations comprised of the liberal Partido Solidaridad Democrática and the social democrat coalition Arco Progresista, calls the 26th of July speech by Raul Castro an act of “revolutionary realism”. Its analysis is based on the premises that the Cuban leadership under Raul maintains a “pragmatic approach” within a “new context”. The Concertación considers that, after the 26th of July speech, a discussion has been opened in the Cuban society on what are the “necessary, desirable and possible” changes that should be implemented. Towards that end, it identifies ten “keys” or fundamental “approaches” that should be taken into consideration.
URL: http://www.cubasource.org/pdf/CPDR_Concert... (Spanish)

Cuban Forum Campaign, Christian Liberation Movement
Date: June 26, 2007
Description: The Forum calls for a dialogue among all Cubans including the government. It describes itself as “a civic and peaceful process” with four main goals: 1) The release of all political prisoners; 2) reforms that could guarantee the exercise of fundamental rights of all Cubans, whether living inside or outside of the island; 3) celebration of free elections for a Constituent Assembly; and 4) reconciliation among all Cubans.
URL: http://www.oswaldopaya.org/es/2007/06/26/...

Unidad por la Libertad, several opposition organizations and individuals
Date: April 15, 2007
Description: After the visit of Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos to Cuba, several dissident leaders issue the document known as “Unity for Liberty”. In it, they affirm their “unity” in the fight for “liberty” and “democracy” on the island. “Unity for liberty exists among us” –they say-- “but it is not necessarily expressed in a pact, or in the formulation of an alliance structured in a single bloc”, says the statement titled “Message to the People of Cuba and to the Peoples of the World”. In it, dissidents demand the release of political prisoners and respect for plurality. They also stress that it is up “to Cubans, and only to Cubans”, to achieve change in their society and to define freely and democratically the future of their country.
URL: http://www.cubasource.org/pdf/Unidad...pdf (Spanish)

Para Propiciar el Día Después, Assembly to Promote Civil Society in Cuba
Date: August 17, 2006
Description: Released by the Assembly to Promote Civil Society in Cuba (APSC), lead by Martha Beatriz Roque, this proposal “it is not a program, or a project”, but “ideas” to help during a transition process towards democracy. These “ideas” are based on the results of the APSC meeting held on May 20, 2005, when 15 commissions worked on topics like, mandate, legal and economic issues, public relations, media, public health, unions, ecology and environmental issues, religion, exile community, free ideological expression, youth and childhood, historical affairs, and dissidence groups.
URL: http://www.asambleasociedadcivilcuba... (Spanish)

Todos Cubanos, Christian Liberation Movement
Date: May 10, 2006
Description: Todos Cubanos (All Cubans), released by the Christian Liberation Movement, lead by Oswaldo Paya, is comprised of four sets of proposals: A proposal of modifications to the Constitution; changes to the current political and economic system, called Plan Cuba Primero (Plan Cuba First); a new electoral law; and a new law of association.
URL: http://www.lanuevacuba.com/... (Spanish)

Seis Pasos y Seis Pactos Hacia una Transición Tranquila, Coalition of organizations
Date: July 1, 2004
Description: A proposal for a peaceful transition in Cuba, based on the unity of all opposition organisations, and dialogue among all sectors of Cuban society. It was signed by Coordinadora Socialdemócrata, Corriente Socialista Democrática, Mujeres de Izquierda Democrática, Movimiento Juvenil Socialista Democrático, Partido del Pueblo, Centro de Estudios del Socialismo Democrático “Diego Vicente Tejera”, Cambio Cubano and Proyecto Democrático Cubano.
URL: http://prodecu.org/documentos/pacto.htm (Spanish)

Propuesta de Programa, Todos Unidos
Date: February 2004
Description: A political platform for changes in Cuba, based on the document Propuesta de Medidas para Salir de la Crisis, issued by Todos Unidos (All United) in December 19, 2002.
URL: http://pscuba.org/documentos/... (Spanish)

Documento de Trabajo para el Programa de Transición, Christian Liberation Movement
Date: December 12, 2003
Description: This proposal, complementary of the Varela Project, calls for a National Dialogue among all sectors of Cuban society, including the exile community. It is made up of three sections, each comprising several chapters addressing issues like the nation, its structure and government; civil society participation; national reconciliation; armed forces and security institutions; mass media; foreign relations; social and economic affairs; as well as education and culture.
URL: http://www.mclpaya.org/p... (Spanish)

Propuesta de Medidas Para Salir de la Crisis, Todos Unidos
Date: December 19, 2002
Description: Proposal of ways to come out of prevailing social and economic crisis in Cuba. This project issued by Vladimiro Roca, leader of Todos Unidos, contains thirty-six points calling for changes in Cuba.
URL: http://pscuba.org/articulos/reformas.htm (Spanish)

Varela Project, Christian Liberation Movement
Date: 2001
Description: A project calling for a referendum, based on the provision in the Cuban Constitution that a minimum of 10,000 people are needed to petition the government to change its laws. The Varela petition requests freedom of expression and movement, free elections and free enterprise.
URL: http://www.mclpaya.org/pag.cgi?... (Spanish)

Plataforma Mínima Común de la Mesa de Reflexión en el Exterior, Mesa de Reflexión de la Oposición Moderada
Date: May 5, 1999
Description: A political platform for a transition in Cuba, signed by the Partido Demócrata Cristiano de Cuba, Solidaridad de Trabajadores Cubanos, Buró de Información de Derechos Humanos and Coordinadora Socialdemócrata de Cuba.
URL: http://www.cosodecu.org/new_page_1.htm (Spanish)