July 21st., 1997

National Alliance Calls for Referendum on Democratization and Constitutional Reforms: An Open Letter

[The following is an open letter to the Government issued in Havana by the newly formed internal opposition group, the Cuban National Alliance.]

Given the roots of our national identity, and given the necessary and unflagging struggle being intelligently waged by the Cuban people to free ourselves from a decadent and oppressive system which violates our every right, the Cuban National Alliance today constitutes itself as a movement which, in conjunction with other opposition organizations inside Cuba, will unconditionally defend the following principles:

We bear in mind that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed".

Among these unalienable rights are freedom of expression and speech, freedom of religion and conscience, economic rights, the right to freely assemble and the right to equal protection before the Law.

One cannot live among the people and not be moved by the suffering of that people.

Based on the criteria set forth in this document, which are the deep aspirations of each one of us individually as well as our intentions as an Alliance, we address Your Excellency, Mr. Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada, President of the People's Power National Assembly of the Republic of Cuba, that by your distinguished person you may convey to all levels of the Government that you represent and that you may convey to the President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba our solicitation that a national plebiscite be conducted in Cuba with the participation of all persons born in Cuba, reside they inside or outside of the country.

This national referendum should be focused on the following question:

"Do you wish for a reform of the current Constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression and thought, freedom of association, pluralism, and the selection of government officials by means of direct, free and secret suffrage, within the context of a representative democracy?"

If the people of Cuba vote in favor of the proposed reform of the current Constitution, the Cuban government will comply with the will of the people: It will reform the Constitution and convoke free and democratic elections within a time-frame not to exceed twelve months.

This referendum should be supervised by the Organization of American States, the United Nations, the European Union, the Iberian-American Community, and representatives of the Cuban Catholic Church and other Cuban ecclesiastical denominations. The presence of these venerable institutions has as its objective that this referendum have all the necessary guarantees.

Signed,

Osvaldo Alfonso Valdes - president, Cuban Liberal Democratic Party

Ibrahim Carrillo Fernandez - Cuban Workers' Union

Reinaldo Cosano Alen - president, Cuban Democratic Coalition

Cecilia Zamora Cabrera - president, Independent Feminists' Organization

Nery Ortizas Campoalegre - president, Mothers' Movement for Solidarity

Zohiris Aguiar Callejas - president, People's Democratic Alliance (ADEPO)

Leonardo Reynoso Rodriguez - president, Marti Democratic Youth Movement

Leonel Morejon Almagro - co-founder, Cuban Council, honorary president, Nationalist Action Party

Aguileo Cancio Chon - president, Nationalist Action Party

Jose Miranda Gata - president, Maximo Gomez National Movement

Jose Pastor Leon Garcia - Marti Youth

Jesus Pez Gomez - vice president, Peace, Progress and Freedom Committee

Havana, Republic of Cuba

22 June, 1997

Distributed from Cuba by independent journalists Joaquin Torres Alvarez and Miguel Fernandez Martinez.