PAYA ON RAUL SPEECH: FREEDOM NEEDED, NOT SHOW OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 023578

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016
TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU
SUBJECT: PAYA ON RAUL SPEECH: FREEDOM NEEDED, NOT SHOW OF
FORCE

REF: HAVANA 23564

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Buddy Williams for Reason 1.4(d).


1. (C) Summary: Leading Cuban human rights activist Oswaldo
Paya of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL) has responded
to General Raul Castro's December 2 speech by saying the
Cuban people need basic freedoms, not a show of military
force. Paya, founder of the Varela Project signature drive
for reforms, met with us December 5. He shared a
12-paragraph statement he drafted following Fidel Castro's
birthday and the Armed Forces anniversary day events. The
press statement, titled "So Cuba Can Live Free," says
citizens will only be free when they can express their ideas
without fear; travel without restrictions; own businesses;
form political parties; elect their representatives; and when
all political prisoners are released. Paya told us he
doubted Raul Castro's offer to negotiate with the United
States was made in good faith. He also said he would push
ahead with the Varela Project. Paya is not alone is
dismissing Raul's speech. Martha Beatriz Roque of the
Assembly to Promote Civil Society said it amounted to "a
mouse (Raul) trying to scare a lion (the United States)."
End Summary.


2. (C) Oswaldo Paya shared with us a statement his MCL
released after the big December 2 military parade and speech
by General Raul Castro. (Partial, unofficial translation:)
"At today's celebration, the government again showed the
army's force, the glory and memory of past victories, a
massive demonstration of support, and the permanence of power
-- but not liberty. Without liberty, which is the
inalienable right of all people, it cannot be said that (the
Government's) power is derived from the people. Whether Cuba
lives free depends on us Cubans, and those who govern."


3. (C) Paya told Poloff that the MCL included in the
statement a reference to Raul Castro's offer to negotiate
with the United States only because he didn't want the MCL to
be seen opposing dialogue. The passage reads: "We believe
that the problems and differences between the Cuban
Government and the United States, and with whatever other
nation, should be resolved through negotiation, on the basis
of mutual respect." However, Paya told us that he doubts
that the offer was made in good faith.


4. (C) The statement also takes the regime to task for
denying the people the right to change their government. "In
Latin America, imperfect democracy has given the people the
right and the opportunity to decide at the polls on profound
changes needed in their societies, to make them more just.
In the United States, imperfect democracy gives the people
the chance to express at the ballot box their nonconformity
and desire for changes. In Cuba, the communist system --
which claims to be a perfect democracy -- denies people their
right to bring about change at the polls... This right, to
express a desire for change, is one that the Varela Project
defends. For this reason, we will continue to promote a
referendum (on reforms),until in the law and in practice the
rights of all Cubans are guaranteed."


5. (C) Paya is not alone in dismissing Raul Castro's speech.
Martha Beatriz Roque of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society
told us December 4 that in her view, the speech amounted to
"a mouse (Raul) trying to scare a lion (the United States)."
Dissident economist Oscar Espinosa Chepe, for his part, said
the little homage paid to Fidel Castro on December 2
indicates that his end is near.

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


6. (C) Paya is admirably firm in demanding democratic action
from the "new" Government of Raul Castro. Paya is worried,
and even upset, that others in the human rights community are
not making clear what the regime would have to do to get them
to start intra-Cuban negotiations. He fears, as we do, a
situation in which Raul Castro could release some political
prisoners and announce a minor economic reform or two just to
buy enough time to consolidate his power.
WILLIAMS