PAYA PRESENTS PROPOSAL FOR DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 010078

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2016
TAGS: PHUM KDEM PREL SOCI CU
SUBJECT: PAYA PRESENTS PROPOSAL FOR DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTION

REF: HAVANA 8662

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Classified By: COM Michael Parmly for Reason 1.4(d).


1. (C) Summary: Leading Cuban pro-democracy activist Oswaldo
Paya has unveiled his latest push for a democratic
Constitution, calling for a legal framework that would
embrace multiple political parties, private enterprise and
"social justice." The document, entitled "All Cubans," stems
from a "National Dialogue" that Paya, his Christian
Liberation Movement (MCL) and others carried out with input
from at least 12,000 participants. Paya told us May 11 that
the Cuban Government "is not at all pleased" with the new
document, and said harassment of his colleagues is
increasing. He said three political prisoners who are MCL
members are carrying out a one-week hunger strike over
maltreatment. A fourth MCL official, who was verifying
Varela Project signatures, has been detained. Paya expressed
concern over the movement of groups of men into his
neighborhood, saying his house could be attacked or searched.
Paya urged Columbia University, which has offered him an
honorary doctorate on May 17, to make public the GOC's
failure to respond to Columbia's request for a Paya exit
permit. End Summary.


2. (C) On May 10, 2002, Cuban pro-democracy activist Oswaldo
Paya personally delivered to the National Assembly the Varela
Project, the signature drive calling for a national
referendum on political and economic reforms. Exactly four
years later, after continued GOC rejection of the signature
drive, Paya proposed a modified, democratic Constitution that
accommodates multiple political parties, free enterprise and
"social justice." The document, entitled "All Cubans,"
encompasses a modified Constitution, a new electoral law, a
new law on associations, and a plan for change. Media
coverage of the May 10 news conference at his house was broad
and included CNN, AP, Reuters and Spanish television.

RECONCILIATION, SOVEREIGNTY, HUMAN RIGHTS
--------------


3. (C) While we are still reviewing the 174-page document,
its contents appear to be vintage Paya, with a heavy emphasis
on reconciliation, national sovereignty and respect for human
rights. The section of Cuba's "New Foreign Policy" is
largely unchanged from a previous draft Paya shared with the
COM. (That section calls for dialogue with the United
States, debt forgiveness and a continuation of Cuba's medical
program overseas, to the extent that it does not affect
services to Cubans.) "All Cubans" also seeks to enshrine the
right of all citizens to associate freely with any
institution, political party, union, religious organization
or other group.

"HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT"
--------------


4. (C) Paya also said that in advance of May 20 -- which was
celebrated as Independence Day from 1902 until the victory of
Castro's Revolution -- the GOC is "creating a hostile
environment" for dissidents. He said political prisoners
(and MCL members) Alexis Rodriguez and Augustin Cervantes,
held at Green Sea prison in Santiago, and Luis Enrique
Ferrer, held at Boniato prison in the same province, are six
days into a one-week hunger strike over maltreatment. Paya
also said Jorge Aguilera, a MCL official from Bayamo, Granma
province, has been detained since May 8, while he was
verifying Varela Project signatures. Closer to home, Paya
said he and his neighbors had noticed that groups of men have
been positioned in houses near Paya's. He speculated that
the GOC might be preparing an attack on or search of his
house. Paya also warned that the GOC would be "only too
happy" to use to its advantage any USG announcement on May 20
of measures to promote democracy in Cuba. "We certainly
don't want our group linked to any such USG announcement," he
said.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
--------------


5. (C) Paya also referred to the honorary doctorate that
Columbia University has offered him on May 17. The
university has yet to receive a response from the Cuban
Interests Section in Washington regarding Columbia's formal
request for an exit permit for Paya. Paya wrote a note to
Columbia, which USINT will forward to the university, calling
on Columbia to make public the GOC's failure to respond, thus
preventing Paya's travel.


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6. (U) We will continue to analyze "All Cubans" and report as
appropriate.
PARMLY