Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HAVANA16867
2006-08-23 20:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:  

CUBAN ACTIVIST FERRER PREPARES CALL FOR PLEBISCITE

Tags:  PHUM KDEM SOCI CU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9178
RR RUEHAG
DE RUEHUB #6867/01 2352043
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 232043Z AUG 06
FM USINT HAVANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4144
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 016867 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2016
TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU
SUBJECT: CUBAN ACTIVIST FERRER PREPARES CALL FOR PLEBISCITE

REF: HAVANA 15931

HAVANA 00016867 001.2 OF 002


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 016867

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2016
TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU
SUBJECT: CUBAN ACTIVIST FERRER PREPARES CALL FOR PLEBISCITE

REF: HAVANA 15931

HAVANA 00016867 001.2 OF 002


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


1. (C) Summary: Dissident Cuban doctor Darsi Ferrer remains
conspicuously out of prison, two weeks after calling on the
Cuban people to openly defy the Government. Ferrer told us
August 23 he is fearful and uneasy over the GOC's failure to
arrest him for his appeal, which was carried by five
Miami-based media organizations. He shared with us a
one-page statement he has written calling for a plebiscite on
the transfer of power to Raul Castro. He is asking a number
of pro-democracy activists to sign the statement; one has
already refused and we suspect that others will follow.
Ferrer also plans to stage a demonstration in downtown Havana
with 15 colleagues, hoping to "create a crisis" for the
Government. We admire his pluck but worry that his plans
have not been sufficiently thought through. End Summary.


2. (C) Dissident doctor Darsi Ferrer remains out of prison,
14 days after calling on the Cuban people to stop cooperating
with the Government. Ferrer told us August 23 he is fearful
and uneasy over the GOC's failure to arrest him for his
appeal, wondering if the Government has something even worse
than prison in store for him. He shared with us a one-page
statement he has written calling for a plebiscite on the
transfer of power to Raul Castro. He says he is in the
process of asking a number of pro-democracy activists to sign
the statement, including Oswaldo Paya, Vladimiro Roca,
Elizardo Sanchez, Manuel Cuesta Morua and the "Ladies in
White." He asked for support August 23 from Martha Beatriz
Roque of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society, but she
refused.

TIME FOR THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE
--------------


3. (C) The nine-sentence statement, titled "Plebiscite for
Sovereignty," states that many Cubans consider a hereditary
succession to "another sick, elderly member of the military"
to be unnatural and undemocratic. It says the people should
approve decisions that affect all of society, and that is it
time for the people to decide in a plebiscite whether or not
to accept the transfer of power to Raul Castro. It concludes
by insisting on the immediate liberation of all peaceful
political prisoners, and an end to persecution of dissidents.

DEMONSTRATION PLANNED
--------------


4. (C) Ferrer intends to release the statement in Havana
around the time of the September 11-16 summit of the
Non-Aligned Movement, which state media says will attract
officials from 60 countries. In addition to releasing the
statement, Ferrer plans to stage a demonstration in central
Havana with 15 colleagues, hoping to "create a crisis" for
the Government and unify the fractured opposition. "The
dissidents are losing the current opportunity through
inaction," he said.

UPHILL BATTLE
--------------


5. (C) Ferrer will face an uphill battle in obtaining support
from leading Cuban activists. It is unclear what Roque told
him in rejecting his request, but she had made clear to us
that she considers Ferrer a GOC agent. On August 17, Ferrer
met with leading "Lady in White" Laura Pollan and pitched the
statement idea. The group has not yet informed Ferrer, but
it decided at its monthly meeting on August 18 not to sign
the statement. (Pollan told us that the Ladies in White are
not political players and that signing the statement would
undermine their neutrality.) Paya, whose Christian
Liberation Movement (MLC) has eschewed formal cooperation
with other groups in recent years, is busily planning to
publicize his network's "program" and is unlikely to sign
Ferrer's statement. Sanchez has been convalescing outside of
Havana and may be unavailable to meet with Ferrer.

COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) We salute Ferrer's energy and stated aspirations, but
are concerned that his plans are not sufficiently thought
through, and that the demonstration would result in little
more than a number of lengthy prison terms. However, Ferrer
is correct in viewing the opposition's inaction as damaging.
He deserves credit for seeking democratic progress at a time
when most members of the opposition are laying low out of

HAVANA 00016867 002.2 OF 002


fear.
PARMLY