Declaration of San Juan / Cuban National Conference

Cuban National Conference: Uniting the Two Shores
Cuban National Conference: Uniting the Two Shores

Declaration of San Juan

The first Cuban National Conference met in San Juan, Puerto Rico from August 13 to 15, 2015. Twenty-three organizations from the Cuban archipelago and 32 from the exile participated, duly represented by more than 100 of their leaders. The event was organized by United Cubans of Puerto Rico.

Animating us was the purpose of seeking ways to reconcile the work of the pro-democratic forces with the commitment to restore sovereignty, and all their basic rights, to the Cuban people. To this end, we affirm that to achieve full freedom for the Cuban people and a genuine Rule of Law, the following principles are not negotiable:

  • The unconditional release of all political prisoners and the repeal of all laws that violate fundamental freedoms.
  • Freedom of speech, press, association, assembly, peaceful demonstration, profession and religion.
  • The participation of the people in every decision of the nation, the legalization of all political parties and free and multiparty elections.

The Cuban National Conference also agreed:

  1. To work on a the campaign for a binding plebiscite in favor of free, fair and pluralistic democratic elections under conditions that guarantee the sovereignty of citizens.
  2. To support and sign the 1988 “Agreement for Democracy.”
  3. To promote the strategy of nonviolent struggle, facilitating the training of pro-democracy activists in the methods of civil disobedience.
  4. To work to demolish the cyber-wall in Cuba and strive so that the domestic opposition has the technological resources to continue citizen mobilization.

Presentations were made on several efforts focused on the material and spiritual progress of the new Cuba, which will be detailed in the second National Cuban Conference.

A Coordinating Liaison Committee was established for a period of six months whose primary task will be to follow up on the agreed points here and communicate them to all organizations, in the spirit of uniting the internal and external opposition.

Today, for us, José Martí’s phrase is more relevant than ever and we plan to fulfill it: “Joining together is the watchword.”

San Juan, Puerto Rico, August 15, 2015.

Signed on behalf of their organizations:

  • Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina: Alianza Democrática Oriental
  • Wilfredo Vallin: Asociación de Abogados Independientes
  • Roberto Pizano: Asociación de Expresos Políticos Cubanos de Tampa
  • Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo: Center for a Free Cuba
  • Laritza Diversent: Centro Cubalex
  • Pedro M. Peñaranda: Círculos Democráticos Municipalistas de Cuba
  • Damarys Moya Portieles: Coalición Central Opositora
  • Elizardo Sánchez Santa-Cruz: Comisión de Derechos Humanos y Reconciliación Nacional
  • Josefa López: Comité Apoyo a las Damas de Blanco Laura Pollán
  • Ricardo Roque: Comité Cubano Pro Derechos Humanos
  • Luis Israel Abreu Villarreal: Comité de Ayuda a los Activistas por los Derechos Humanos
  • Juan Carlos González Leiva: Consejo de Relatores de Derechos Humanos
  • Diego Suárez: Consejo para la Libertad de Cuba
  • Pedro J. Fuentes Cid: Consejo Presidio Político Cubano
  • René Gómez Manzano: Corriente Agramontista de Abogados Independientes
  • Luis Fernández Moreno: Cuba Corps
  • Diddier Santos: Cuba Decide
  • Rogelio Matos Araluce: Cuba Independiente y Democrática
  • Andrés Candelario: Cubanos Unidos de Puerto Rico
  • Marta Menor: Cultivo una Rosa Blanca
  • Leticia Ramos Herrería: Damas de Blanco
  • Germán Miret: Directorio Democrático Cubano
  • Magdelivia Hidalgo: Federación Lationamericana de Mujeres Rurales
  • Eugenio Llamera: Federación Mundial de Expresos Políticos Cubanos
  • Roberto D. Ruiz Casas: Foro Promoción Continental Democrática
  • Augusto Monge: Free Cuba Foundation
  • Guillermo Fariñas: Frente Antitotalitario Unido
  • Yris Perez Aguilera: Frente de Resistencia Orlando Zapata
  • Francisco Hernández: Fundación Nacional Cubanoamericana
  • Faisel Iglesias: Fundación Nuevo Pensamiento Cubano
  • Omar Vento: Fundación para la Democracia Panamericana
  • Mariana Hernández: Fundación para los Derechos Humanos en Cuba
  • Pastor Herrera: Global Community Action
  • Raúl Luis Risco Pérez: Instituto Cubano por la Libertad de Expresión y Prensa
  • Ana Carbonell: Instituto de la Rosa Blanca
  • Mario Félix Lleonard: Instituto PATMOS
  • Sylvia Iriondo: M.A.R. por Cuba
  • Rolando Infante: Movimiento 30 de noviembre
  • Magaly Broche: Movimiento Cubano Reflexión
  • Ramón Saúl Sánchez: Movimiento Democracia
  • René Hernández Bequet: Partido Demócrata Cristiano de Cuba
  • Saylí Navarro Alvarez: Partido por la Democracia Pedro Luis Boitel
  • Adel Ramón López Napoles: Partido Republicano de Cuba
  • Vladimiro Roca: Partido Social Demócrata Cubano
  • Fernando Palacio Molgar: Partido Solidaridad Liberal Cubano
  • Rafael León Rodríguez: Proyecto Demócrata Cubano
  • Eliecer Ávila Cecilia: Somos Mas
  • Angel Alfonso Alemán: Unión de Expresos Políticos Cubanos Zona Noreste
  • María C. Werlau: Unión Liberal Cubana
  • Ernesto García Díaz: Unión Social Comunitaria Cubana

Conference participants signing as individuals

  • Guillermo Toledo Casasús (Moderador) Coordinador del Encuentro Nacional Cubano
  • Edgardo Ronda (Observador) Asociación Iberoamericana por la Libertad
  • Vanesa Colmegna (Observadora)  Asociación Iberoamericana por la Libertad
  • Alexis Jardines
  • Alicia Hernández Cabeza
  • Ana María Socarrás
  • Andres Barbeito
  • Andrés Pichs
  • Ariel Gutiérrez
  • Arturo Sánchez Antón
  • Asunción Carrillo Hernández
  • Camilo Ernesto Olivera Peidro
  • Caridad María Burunate
  • Catalina Mayoral
  • Conrado Ferrer
  • Domitila Valls
  • Emilio Guede
  • Federico Delgado
  • Francisco Talavera
  • Gerardo Morera del Campo
  • Guillermo González Alcázar
  • Isis Longo
  • Jerónimo Esteve Abril
  • Jorge Bringuier
  • José Conrado Rodríguez Alegre
  • José García Pino
  • José Vilasuso
  • Lianelis Villares Plasencia
  • Luis Alberto Martínez
  • Maitá Carbonell Acosta
  • Manuel Acosta
  • Manuel Fernández
  • Marcelino Miyares
  • Mari-Vahn de Vicens
  • María Isabel García de Toledo
  • Marisela Rodriguez
  • Michael Acevedo Reinoso
  • Nieves Gonzalez Abreu
  • Osvaldo Bencomo
  • Patricia Toledo García
  • Raoul Vicens
  • Rosa María Payá
  • Rosalina Colón Gómez
  • Sergio Ramos Suárez
  • Severiano López Sicre
  • Vaclav Maly
  • Vicente Echerri
  • Vilma del Prado
  • Wenceslao Fernández
  • Xiomara Ledón

August 2015