the democratic opening in Cuba, the Varela Project
Latin American Democracy Bridge Network with a specially formed jury by Patricio Aylwin, Soledad Alvear, Lourdes Flores and Patrick Walker, has been awarded the "Varela Project" on the eighth anniversary of his presentation The first Prize Award 2010 to the democratic opening in Cuba. (And I have had the honor to take the news personally to Oswaldo Payá Cuba this weekend). Democracy Bridge Network is an initiative of civil society in Latin America that is disturbed some regional realities that threaten the democratic principles and human rights, with a special chapter to Cuba. Its members are Argentina and Uruguay, the Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL) of Brazil the Millennium Institute of Costa Rica Press Institute and Freedom of Expression (IPLEX) , de Chile Corporation Justice and Democracy in Ecuador's Andean Foundation Observation and Media Studies (Fundamedios) , Peru's Peruvian Institute of Social Market Economy (IPESM) of Bolivia, Fundación for Journalism in the Colombia Colombian Union of Young Democrats (UCJD) and Venezuela Observatory Hannah Arendt. The Varela Project
is an initiative of Oswaldo Payá and LIieración Christian Movement, which brought more than double the signatures of 10 thousand Cubans who are required to change laws that give sustenance to the systematic violation of human rights in Cuba by their own government. However, the regime did not listen to people and ignored or made this presentation is made a pantomime of referendum to amend the constitution and confirm the existing system. So Cubans continue to suffer the tyranny in their country. Citizen who is the project took more casualties in the wave of repression in the Black Spring of 2003 in which we became the 75 prisoners of conscience, the Damas de Blanco claim their freedom and their rights.
In my two visits to his house (two because even after hours of talking, not enough time to catch up on what is done inside and outside Cuba to democracy is restored), I know better Oswaldo, his family, the community of the Church which attends every Sunday and the birthplace of the Christian Liberation Movement. Oswaldo Payá spoke of his commitment to the revival and strengthening of the Varela Project, to honor those who gave their lives and lost their freedom because of this, and love to all people Cuban deserves to be freed from the oppression of the Castro dictatorship. He thanked all organizations and individuals committed and Latin America in Solidarity with the Cuban people but noted that in these times of neo-communism and neo-socialist that extends into the region from the hand of Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales and Rafael Correa and other leaders complicit of the dictatorship in Cuba, everyone is at risk of losing some of our freedoms. Exemplified by the recent rejection at the International Book Fair in Argentina that prevented freedom of expression not only of Hilda Molina, but also with the presentation of the book Indek: intimate story of a scam, Gustavo Noriega .
The Varela Project is still alive and members of the movement persevere and remain faithful to its purpose of reform to achieve their objectives that each member of the Cuban people have a voice and enjoy their rights without the limits set by the ruling regime which violates the principle of subsidiarity in the island.
While I was still in Cuba in Buenos Aires Hilda Molina, Patrick Borrelli and Martin Walker, an event organized by CADAL , founding member of the Network was announced the granting of the Varela Project Award. In the event included: Representative in Argentina of the Konrad Adenauer, Bernd Lohmann, writer Marcos Aguinis, the constitutional Daniel Sabsay, including journalists, foreign diplomats, congressional aides. (See pictures here )
