POLITICAL PLURALISM KEY TO CUBA'S FUTURE, SAYS PAYA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 009342 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016 TAGS: PHUM KDEM PREL SOCI CU SUBJECT: POLITICAL PLURALISM KEY TO CUBA'S FUTURE, SAYS PAYA REF: HAVANA 8662 HAVANA 00009342 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: COM Michael Parmly for Reason 1.4(d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Leading Cuban pro-democracy activist Oswaldo Paya met with the COM on April 27 and argued that it will be imperative for a future, legitimate Cuban Government to embrace political pluralism. Paya said individual members of the Communist Party (CP) should not be excluded from the political process, but that the CP itself should be disbanded because it is does not recognize the right of other parties to exist. Paya and the COM also discussed the merits of Cuba's 1940 Constitution, the rise of demagoguery in Latin America, and the need for the USG to shift the playing field in the US-Cuba "Battle of Ideas." Their discussion came a week and a half after Paya shared a new Varela Project document that reveals his vision of how a democratic GOC would act on foreign policy. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Oswaldo Paya met with COM April 27 and argued that a future, legitimate Cuban Government will have to embrace political pluralism, adding that even CP members should be allowed to play a role in a future GOC, though only as individuals. Paya added that the CP itself, in its current form, "does not respect the rights of citizens who might belong to other parties," and should thus be disbanded. He said senior officials of the current GOC and CP should be called to account for serious crimes and rights violations. Paya said most Cuban CP members are not true Communists, but rather victims of Communism. "Let's face it: The people are brainwashed, compromised, traumatized, held hostage... however you want to say it. They're messed up, and we need a solution that doesn't mess them up further. This is why we need pluralism, including for CP members." ¶3. (C) Paya added that inclusion would be the only way to avoid bloodshed during the inevitable transition. The COM asked whether a completely bloodless transition is conceivable, given the undercurrent of anger that flows through Cuban society. Paya acknowledged the pent-up rage, and said part of the solution will be avoiding the emergence of a major gap between Cubans on and off the island. CONSTITUTION NOT ENOUGH -------------- ¶4. (C) Paya told COM that the 1940 Constitution, which his Christian Liberation Movement would like to see embraced by a future GOC, is progressive, enshrines the separation of powers and provides for independent tribunals. However, Paya acknowledged that the Cuba of today bears little resemblance to the Cuba of 1940, and said some of the socially progressive parts of the 1976 Constitution should be incorporated into Cuba's next Constitution. He said the mere adoption of a Constitution, however well written, will not move the country forward until the fog of disinformation generated by the current regime begins to lift. He said ordinary Cubans have succumbed to a real fear that they might lose their job, home or pension if the current GOC crashes and burns. "THE CHAVEZES OF THE WORLD" -------------- ¶5. (C) Paya also discussed the rise of political intolerance in Venezuela and other parts of Latin America. The COM noted that instead of addressing a country's problems head-on, some populations are turning instead to populist demagogues, and that these leaders, in turn, are unifying the people by subjugating them. Paya concurred, and noted the peril of countries taking this path. He said, however, that "The Chavezes of the world have successfully gotten out the impression that the United States opposes social transformation in Latin America." He added that Cuban-sponsored literacy drives have bolstered this impression. ¶6. (C) Paya said he agreed that three key criteria for change -- the release of political prisoners, free elections, and the registration of political parties - are crucial. He said the challenge will be in the implementation. "Freeing the prisoners? Of course, that's straightforward, and of course it's the first step. But to hold fair elections you need an election commission. And to open the way for other political parties, you need the structure and support of laws. Right now, those laws do not exist." After the fall of the current regime, Paya envisions the formation of a constituent assembly, followed by elections. However, he is difficult to pin down on who should qualify to join the constituent HAVANA 00009342 002.2 OF 002 assembly. Regarding eventual elections, Paya said he has written to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Christine Chanet, Special Representative for Cuba of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to urge their greater involvement. "SHIFT THE PLAYING FIELD" -------------- ¶7. (C) The COM thanked Paya for sharing with us his latest Varela Project document, a 24-paragraph text called "New Foreign Policy." (Reftel: The text shows that Paya and his colleagues favor adhering to the '40 Constitution, honoring Cuba's UN commitments, seeking debt forgiveness and continuing the country's overseas health-care program.) Paya welcomed criticism, positive or negative, and encouraged the USG to take steps to "shift the playing field," to take the momentum away from a GOC that he said has been successful in shaping the debate on the US-Cuba "Battle of Ideas." PARMLY