The Cuban government’s ‘civil society’ admits defeat and withdraws from the meeting with the heads of state / 14ymedio

The site of the closing of the Summit's Civil Society Forum (14ymedio)
The site of the closing of the Summit’s Civil Society Forum (14ymedio)

14ymedio bigger14ymedio, Havana, 10 April 2015 — In a “statement” published on the government website Cubadebate, the Cuban government’s “civil society delegation” announced today that it will not participate in the Friday afternoon meeting between the Civil Society Forum and the heads of state participating in the Summit of the Americas in Panama.

“We have taken this decision after collectively reflecting on the scenario that has been designed in the Civil Society Forum to force us to share with mercenaries paid from abroad for the purpose of subverting the political and social system of the country,” they explained in their statement.

US President Barack Obama will participate in this meeting, along with the presidents of Uruguay, Tabaré Vázquez, and Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis. In addition, Obama is expected to talk with various leaders of civil society, although the White House has not detailed with whom.

The Cuban delegation adds that it has decided to retire after “mercenaries [received] the official invitation to enter the plenary this afternoon. Out of respect for the host President and other leaders, including President Obama, the delegation of the Authentic Cuban civil society has chosen not to participate in the referenced meeting.”

STATEMENT OF THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT’S DELEGATION TO THE FORUM OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND SOCIAL ACTORS OF THE VII SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS

Our delegation has decided not to participate in the dialogue of civil society and social actors with governments scheduled for this afternoon.

We have taken this decision after collectively reflecting on the scenario that has been designed in the Civil Society Forum to force us to share with mercenaries paid from abroad for the purpose of subverting the political and social system of the country.

Particularly offensive has been the presence of individuals linked to terrorist as vile as Luis Posada Carriles and Felix Rodriguez Mendigutía. Since our arrival in Panama, we have repeatedly denounced, with documented evidence, the true identity of these alleged representatives of the Cuban people. We reject the press manipulation of our consistent performance and its intentional omission of the evidence we have presented.

The mercenaries have received the official invitation to enter the plenary this afternoon. Out of respect for the host President and other leaders, including President Obama, the delegation of authentic Cuban civil society has chosen not to participate in the referenced meeting.

We also want to express our rejection of any document that may arise without having been the result of the discussions that took place yesterday at the Citizen Participation and Democratic Governance Tables in the Crystal and Bella Vista Rooms.