On November 15th, 2000, ODN hosted the presentation "The Other Version: the

Cuban Internal Pro-Democracy Movement", featuring John Suárez, coordinator

for the Miami-based pro-democracy organization Free Cuba Foundation (FCF).

Mr. Suárez offered a retrospective glance at the history of the Cuban

internal movement for democracy, which was born out of the Cuban political

prisons in 1976. He explained how, in spite of ever-present harassment and

detentions, the movement has evolved from a tiny nucleus of Havana-based

intellectuals into a well-spread, complex web of organizations of different

ideological hues. Its prevailing characteristic has always been the use of

peaceful means to demand democracy and the respect for human rights.

According to Mr. Suárez, nowadays the Cuban government has no option but to
accept the existence of outspoken and organized internal opposition groups:

"they are too many, too well-known internationally for the government to

make them disappear." Even though it is impossible to provide with a

reliable census, around 250 organizations have been tallied, which would

comprise active dissenters by the low thousands. In addition, there has been

a renaissance of independent civil society activity, as some Cubans search

for non-Statal alternatives to their desperate situation. These activities

are deemed counter-revolutionary by the regime, even though they are often apolitical.

For Mr. Suárez it is evident that international actors can affect decisively

the future of Cuba. Not only the U.S. but also the European Union and key

countries such as Mexico, Venezuela or Canada can play central roles in the

current evolution of the Cuban State. Yet, he warned emphatically: "the

Cuban people must remain at the heart of any transformations. That is why

the empowerment of an internal democratic force is in order".

When asked about the role of the U.S. government in the promotion of

democracy in the island, Mr. Suárez affirmed that the current U.S. policy is

probably better than an unconditional lifting of economic sanctions.

Nevertheless, he pointed out that "the U.S. could be more effective [in

promoting democracy] by improving the Cubans' access to free and uncensored

information". He cited the upgrading of Radio and TV Martí [the Radio Free

Europe-like media outlets for Cuba] as a simple and relatively inexpensive

strategy to bring about critical changes.

Many believe Cuba will flow towards democracy after Cuba's Big Brother Fidel Castro
physically disappears. The how and when, however, remain to be seen, as well as the "led
by whom". Unfortunately, if Mr. Castro were to die today, the opposition would not
be prepared to fully participate in the country's transformations. It has not
achieved such a level of maturity. Hence, overcoming this deficiency should be their maximum

priority today, since rapid changes can surprise them, literally, at any time.

For more information on the Cuban internal pro-democracy movement, please

visit http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf, or e-mail John Suárez at fcf@fiu.edu.