Forum for Rights and Freedoms / Estado de Sats (see endnote)

Announcements made by United States President Barack Obama and his administration have sparked an intense controversy about the Cuban conflict. Many opponents and civil society activists, within the island and in exile, have lamented, especially, the lack of transparency and the unilateral and unconditional nature of the new measures.

It is indisputable and indispensable that Cubans be primarily responsible for the fate of our nation, but we also expect an effective commitment from the democratic community to the defense of fundamental freedoms and the establishment of the Rule of Law in Cuba.

We who experience daily the violations of the Cuban regime and those who from exile have suffered and are suffering the totalitarianism in their home country, are key players in a process of transition. To ignore many of our voices and to act from a single view of the problem, undermines objectivity and endangers any political dialogue.

We are faced with two options. First, to accept the mutation of the regime to an authoritarian capitalism, wherein Cubans will have to resign themselves to pittances, while the heirs of the Castro regime dispose of our rights and wealth. Second, to demand concrete and measurable changes that will lead to the formation of a true democracy.

The demand to restore our freedoms is a prerequisite for a successful political transition. Over these long 56 years of the dictatorship of a single party, there have been multiple demands from activists and the opposition who have called for the full exercise of those freedoms inherent to human beings, and they have paid a high price for these demands.

The violation of fundamental rights in our country is validated by the current legal system. We therefore consider that the ratification and above all the legal implementation of the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, with their optional protocols, is a key tool as a precondition and roadmap to solve the Cuban conflict. Equally, the rules of the International Labour Organization give us a precise guide as to how to work on the legal system of labor issues and trade union freedoms.

We hope that Latin American countries, the European Union, Canada, the Holy See and the United States, as important political actors in the Cuban situation, join us in this reasonable and urgent demand. We have taken as a reference the partnership agreement signed between the European Union and Central America in 2012, with a clear emphasis on respect for human rights and the promotion of democracy.

Upon ratification of these agreements we propose the following Roadmap to ensure the effective and prompt implementation of the commitments agreed to:

  • Immediate release and cancellation of sentences all political prisoners (Amnesty decreed)
  • With regards to the Constitution, laws, regulations, procedures and administrative practices: repeal of all those articles that violate the International Covenants and relate to the freedoms of expression, association and trade unions, assembly, movement, conscience and religion, economic and cultural. Establish full guarantees for the exercise of those freedoms
  • With regards to the Penal Code: elimination of the concept of pre-criminal dangerousness, as well as all rules that can contribute to arrests, arbitrary detentions and acts of harassment in violation of agreements made
  • Restoration of judicial and constitutional guarantees to the right of due process
  • New Law of Association that includes a multiparty system and guarantees for the freedom of assembly. With regards to trade union rights it must take into account the standards set by the ILO
  • New Media Law that guarantees freedom of expression and the free flow of information
  • New election law (Restoration of National Sovereignty)

We believe that every step must be conditioned on the progress of the roadmap mentioned above, based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Our ultimate goal is to move to a true democracy with political pluralism, judicial independence, freedom and human rights. Where Cubans can through consultation and free and transparent elections, as well as the realization of a constituent assembly, define the destiny of our nation.

All genuine actors of the opposition and civil society, through their projects and demands, within the island and in exile, have to be an active part of any process that seeks a solution to the Cuban conflict.

At stake is the very future of the nation. We exercise the great responsibility that is ours.

Note: The Forum does belong to Estado de Sats (State of Sats). Those signing this Roadmap are artists, journalists, academics, trade unionists and opponents of various groups within the island and in exile.

Signatures are still being accepted:

  1. Ada María López Canino
  2. Adelma Guerra
  3. Adis Niria Dallet Argüelles
  4. Adnaloy Rodríguez Díaz
  5. Adonis Salgado Pérez
  6. Adrian Perez Mendoza
  7. Agustín López canino
  8. Aida Norma Roque
  9. Aidé Gallardo Salazar
  10. Ailer González Mena
  11. Alberto Sanchez Martiatu
  12. Alejandro Raga
  13. Alejandro Garcia Arias
  14. Alexis Pérez Lescailles
  15. Alexis Jardines
  16. Alfredo Guillermo Rodríguez
  17. Alina Brouwer
  18. Alina de la C García
  19. Aliuska Gómez García
  20. Amelia Suarez Naranjo
  21. Ana Torricella Morales
  22. Anay Peñalver Subit
  23. Andrés Pérez Suarez
  24. Ángel De Fana
  25. Ángel Luis Díaz
  26. Ángel Luis Martín
  27. Ángel Moya Acosta
  28. Ángel Santiesteban Prats
  29. Anislay Escalona Polo
  30. Antonio G. Rodiles
  31. Arelis Blanco Coello
  32. Arelis Rodríguez Silva
  33. Ariadna Mena Rubio
  34. Ariel Gonzalez Cuevas
  35. Ariobel Castillo Villalba
  36. Armando Abascal Serrano
  37. Armando Peraza Hernández
  38. Bárbara Rodríguez Vizcaíno
  39. Barbara Viera Rodriguez
  40. Benito Fojaco Iser
  41. Berta Soler Fernández
  42. Borris Larramendi
  43. Camilo Ernesto Olivera Peidro
  44. Caridad Ramírez
  45. Caridad Valdés Soriano
  46. Carlos Lázaro Tamayo Frías
  47. Carlos M Figueroa Álvarez
  48. Carlos M Hernández
  49. Carlos Manuel Figueroa
  50. Carlos Orlando Olivera Martinez
  51. Carlos Rodríguez Seruto
  52. Cecilia Guerra Alfonso
  53. Claudio Fuentes Madan
  54. Cristina Xiomara Duques
  55. Dairon Moisés Torre Paz
  56. Dairy Coello Basulto
  57. Daisy Artiles del Sol
  58. Damaris Reve Rodríguez
  59. Damarys Moya Portieles
  60. Damián Albert Suviaut
  61. Danai López Perdomo
  62. Danaise Muños López
  63. Dandy Lazo
  64. David Águila Montero
  65. Delises González Borrego
  66. Digna Rodriguez Ibanez
  67. Duvier Blanco Acosta
  68. Edely Orlando Suarez
  69. Eduardo González Molina
  70. Eduardo Marcos Pacheco Ortiz
  71. Egberto Ángel Escobedo Morales
  72. Elena Larrinaga
  73. Elías Amor
  74. Enrico M. Santí
  75. Enrique Díaz Rodríguez
  76. Enrique Martínez Marín
  77. Enrique Rafael Valido
  78. Eralidis Frometa Polanco
  79. Ernesto Gutiérrez
  80. Ernesto Fonseca Garcia
  81. Ernesto Hernandez Busto
  82. Esteban Ajetes Abascal
  83. Eugenia Díaz Hernández
  84. Eugenio Hernández Hernández
  85. Evelin Pineda Concepción
  86. Félix Navarro
  87. Félix Perez Palenzuela
  88. Francisco Rangel Manzano
  89. Francisco Valido
  90. Frank Calzón
  91. Frank Cosme Valdés
  92. Gisela Sánchez Baños
  93. Gladis Capote Roque
  94. Gloria Samper Oliva
  95. Gorki Águila
  96. Guillermo Fariñas Hernández
  97. Guillermo García V
  98. Gustavo Garabito Gómez
  99. Haymee Moya Montes de Oca
  100. Hugo Damian Prieto Blanco
  101. Igdariz Pérez Ponciano
  102. Ignacio Blanco Jimenez
  103. Iris Quindelan
  104. Iván Founier Costa
  105. Ivonne de las Mercedes Abreu
  106. Jaime Suchlicki
  107. Jaqueline Bone Hechevarria
  108. Jaqueline Cutiño Leite
  109. Jeovani Díaz López
  110. Jesús Aristides Hernandez Pérez
  111. Joel Brito
  112. Jordanca Borquinelis
  113. Jorge Enrique Carbonell
  114. Jorge Luis Artiles Montiel
  115. Jorge Luis García Ostia
  116. Jorge Luis Romero Becerra
  117. Jorge Luis Trujillo González
  118. Jorge Olivera Castillo
  119. Jorge Rodríguez Rivero
  120. José Agustín Benítez López
  121. José Azel
  122. Jose G. Ramón Castillo
  123. José Díaz silva
  124. José Hernandez Lopez
  125. José Ignacio Brito
  126. José Luis León Pérez
  127. José Ramón Polo Borges
  128. José Raúl Rodriguez Rangel
  129. Juan Alberto de la Nuez Ramirez
  130. Juan Antonio Blanco
  131. Juan Carlos Linares Balmaseda
  132. Juan González Febles
  133. Juan Manuel Lora Vidal
  134. Julia Herrera Roque
  135. Julio Aleaga Pesant
  136. Julio Antonio Ramírez
  137. Julio Herrera Roque
  138. Julio Rojas Portal
  139. Kessell Rodríguez Rodríguez
  140. Kirenia Molina
  141. Laritza Olivares Dinza
  142. Laudelina Alcalde García
  143. Laura Marante
  144. Laura Marante Delgado
  145. Lazara B. Sendiña Recalde
  146. Lazara M Borrego Guzmán
  147. Lázaro Díaz Sánchez
  148. Lazaro Mendoza Garcia
  149. Lázaro Fresneda Fernández
  150. Lázaro Luis Ruíz Hechevarria
  151. Lázaro R Armenteros Martorel
  152. Lázaro Yosvani Montesino
  153. Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca
  154. León Padrón Azcui
  155. Liset Naranjo
  156. Lismeirys Quintana Ávila
  157. Livan Serafín
  158. Lourdes Esquivel
  159. Lucia Molina Villegas
  160. Lucinda González Gómez
  161. Luis Alberto Cruz Silva
  162. Luis Bárbaro Ortega Avenza
  163. Luis Cino Álvarez
  164. Luis Enrique Labrador Díaz
  165. Luis Jesús Gutiérrez Campos
  166. Luisa R Toscano
  167. Maikel Norton Cordero
  168. Mailen González González
  169. Manuel Aguirre Labarrere
  170. Marcelino Lorenzo Fernández
  171. Margarita Rodríguez Díaz
  172. María Acon Sardiñas
  173. María cristina Labrada Varona
  174. María Josefa Sardiñas
  175. María Rosa Rodríguez Molina
  176. Marislaidys Sánchez Vargas
  177. Maritza concepción Salmiento
  178. Mark Alonso Parada
  179. Marta Belquis Rodríguez González
  180. Mayelin Peña Bullain
  181. Mayelin Santiesteban López
  182. Maylin González González
  183. Melvia Aguilera
  184. Mercedes Pérez
  185. Merenis Herry García
  186. Mijail Bonito
  187. Miguel Ángel Tamayo Frías
  188. Miguel Daniel Borroto Vázquez
  189. Miguel Farinas Quey
  190. Mista Ricardo Torres
  191. Nelson Rodríguez Chartrand
  192. Nilo Gilbert Arencibia
  193. Noelvis León López
  194. O Díaz Becerra
  195. Odelin Alfonso torna
  196. Olaida del Castillo Trujillo
  197. Olga Lidia Torres iglesias
  198. Omar Suarez Campo
  199. Orlando Rodriguez Rodriguez
  200. Orlando Villar de Armas
  201. Oscar Luis Milian Reinoso
  202. Oslien Noda Fonseca
  203. Osmal Laffita Rojas
  204. Osmani Díaz Cristo
  205. Oylin Hernández Rodríguez
  206. Paulino Estévez Jiménez
  207. Pedro Fontanal Miranda
  208. Pedro Roig
  209. Quirenia Díaz Argüelles
  210. Rachel Gamboa Campos
  211. Rafael Hernández Blanco
  212. Rafael Rodríguez Rivero
  213. Raisel Rodríguez Rivero
  214. Ramon Alejandro Munoz Gonzalez
  215. Ramón Jiménez Arencibia
  216. Ramón Mor Hernández
  217. Ramon Zamoza Rodriguez
  218. Raquel María Rodríguez Morejón
  219. Raúl Borges Álvarez
  220. Regla Ríos Casado
  221. Reinaldo Figueros
  222. Reinaldo Martínez
  223. Roberto Arsenio López Ramos
  224. Roberto Pupo Tejeda
  225. Rogelio Fabio Hurtado Rodríguez
  226. Rolando Ferrer Espinosa
  227. Rolando Reyes Rabanal
  228. Rolando Rodríguez Rivero
  229. Ronny Gámez Luna
  230. Rosalinda Visiedo Gómez
  231. Roxilene Sotolongo Cruz
  232. Saúl González
  233. Santiago Jordan Rios
  234. Sebastian Arcos
  235. Serafín Moran Santiago
  236. Serafín Moran Santiago
  237. Sergio Girat Estrada
  238. Smith Cantillo Pérez
  239. Sodrelis Torruella Poncio
  240. Sonia Álvarez Campello
  241. Sonia Garro Alfonso
  242. Stewe Maikel Pardo Valdez
  243. Tamara Rodríguez Quesada
  244. Ubaldo Herrero Hernández
  245. Vicente Campanioni
  246. Vicente Sebastián Borges
  247. Virgen Coello Basulto
  248. Vladimir Ortiz Suarez
  249. Vladimir Turru Paez
  250. Xiomara de las M Cruz Miranda
  251. Yadelys Montano León
  252. Yaimel Rodríguez Arroyo
  253. Yamile Borges Hurtado
  254. Yamile Garro Alfonso
  255. Yamile Naranjo
  256. Yaneisi Herrera Cabrales
  257. Yanisel Bosa Garrido
  258. Yanitza Estrada Liranza
  259. Yasil Fernández Denis
  260. Yasmani Barroso Bergolla
  261. Yasmani Barroso Pergolla
  262. Yasmani Cuesta González
  263. Yelky Páez Rodríguez
  264. Yeniset Aguilera
  265. Yoan Guzmán Díaz
  266. Yoisy Jaramillo Sánchez
  267. Yolanda Santana Ayala
  268. Yoraida Peña Padilla
  269. Yosbani Arce Blanco
  270. Yuleidis Ortiz
  271. Yuliet Margarita Rodríguez Báez
  272. Yulinne Tamayo Frías
  273. Yuneisis Coto Casino
  274. Yuniesqui Gainza
  275. Yuniset Amores Aguilera
  276. Yurineisi Alemán
  277. Yurleani Tamayo Martínez
  278. Yuslaidis Balero Concepción
  279. Zaqueo Báez Guerrero
  280. Zenen Daniel Cruz
  281. Zulema Lay