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"Because We Are Human Beings" by Oswaldo
Payá
Revista De Cuba
en español
The Varela Project
Imprisonment of Dissidents Upheld (6/25/03)
Action Needed-Medical Treatment
Required for Imprisoned Cuban Dissident (06/05/03)
LCHR Condemns Arrests and Detention
of Dissidents in Cuba (04/09/03)
Defender Profiles
Cuba
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Defenders Project
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"Because we are human beings . . ."
by Oswaldo Payá
This
letter accompanied 14,384 new signatures on the Varela Project petition
turned in to Cuba's National Assembly last week. The project seeks a national
referendum on open elections, civil liberties and the release of political
prisoners.
Mr. President of the National Assembly:
With this letter, we submit to you a citizens' petition by 14,384 voters
who request the National Assembly to call a referendum on the Varela Project.
We append a list with the personal data of each of these voters. Along
with the name and identity-card number, this list bears the code number
of the ballot where, in his own handwriting, each voter signed the petition.
We append every single one of those ballots, each containing the full
text of the Varela Project, totaling 3,443 ballots.
In this manner, these citizens also support the legal initiative that,
on May 10, 2002, we submitted here, to these offices of the National Assembly
of the People's Power, bearing the signatures of 11,020 voters.
Also accept our complaint for the reprisals, threats and harassment that
State Security is inflicting on many citizens who addressed deputies at
the National Assembly to submit this petition in the exercise of their
constitutional rights.
It is criminal and shameful when the answer from those who supposedly
represent [these citizens] is to send agents to repress them. At least,
that's the interpretation of the harassed citizens, because they addressed
the petition to the deputies of this Assembly, not to State Security.
Many of the founders of the Varela Project were imprisoned and sentenced
in trials without any guarantees and under false accusations, whereas
we actually know the reason [for their imprisonment] was their participation
in this citizens' initiative that is based on the Constitution. Most of
these people, the prisoners of the ''Cuba spring,'' though they suffer
unjust imprisonment, are an example of strength and dedication to our
people.
The rights we demand in the Varela Project are formulated in the Constitution,
but we're also entitled to them because we are human beings, the children
of God, and that is why we shall continue to claim them for all Cubans,
confident that we shall achieve them.
Respectfully,
Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas
Founder, Varela Project
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