Castro foes outline reform vision

Click here: Herald.com 05/23/2005 Castro foes outline reform vision http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/11713498.htm


Posted on Mon, May. 23, 2005

CUBA


Castro foes outline reform vision

Cuban dissidents who participated in a historic two-day gathering in Havana adopted a resolution on democratic reforms and vowed to continue a peaceful struggle for change.

BY NANCY SAN MARTIN

nsanmartin@herald.com


A resolution adopted by Cuban dissidents who participated in an unprecedented and undisturbed two-day gathering in Havana labeled Fidel Castro's government ''Stalinist'' and called for the return of ''democratic traditions'' in the communist-ruled island.

The 10-point resolution, according to a transcript released Sunday, covered a wide spectrum of issues -- from calls for the release of political prisoners to unity within the island's dissident movement, which has been divided over how best to pursue the goal of a future democratic society.

The Cuban government Sunday did not respond to the resolution.

Some Cuban exiles in South Florida were pleased.

Ninoska P�rez Castell�n, a radio personality and founder of the group Cuba Liberty Council, said adopting the resolution shows dissidents are in line with Miami's exile community.

''It's a wonderful thing they grabbed onto a piece of democracy, the fact that so many things they advocated for in the document are things the exiles have been asking for for a long time,'' she said. ``It is a demonstration that the exiles in Miami are no different than the dissidents in Cuba -- and they're a reflection of the Cuban people.''

Former R�plica magazine editor Max Lesnick, who now works for Radio Miami, said the Cuban government may have no choice but to recognize the dissidents' work, assuming the resolution is seen by the nation's general assembly.

''It's a great way to install some kind of legal procedure,'' he said. ``This is a good start. Even if they just pretend to legalize the opposition, at least they're opening up a legal channel.''

In a secret ballot, delegates also chose a 36-member board headed by the assembly's three primary organizers and prominent dissidents, economist Martha Beatriz Roque, lawyer Ren� G�mez Manzano and engineer F�lix%