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Why Cuba?

Cuba, November 2004

Cuba, November 2004

© Jiří Knitl

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Cuba is one of the last remaining examples of communism. Fidel Castro once declared that he would rather the island sank than gave up the principles of Cuban socialism.

The experiments of the longest ruling communist dictator have deprived thousands people of their lives. A great number of those who express free opinion find themselves in crowded prison cells, sharing a little dirty water with hardened criminals and cockroaches. Every day the Cuban people try, by any means possible, to escape the suffocating atmosphere and 24-hour surveillance imposed on them by the regime. In desperation, they choose to take major risks: it is believed that over 25% of people die in their attempts to escape from the island.

Without the once substantial support of the Soviet Union and the present support of Venezuela, the island of Cuba would most likely have sank a long time ago. This reliance was further evident during a deep crisis at the beginning of the nineties, when the collapse of support from the Soviet bloc led to starvation, illnesses and economic collapse. Cubans themselves sum up the successes of the Marxist revolution very simply: in Cuba, there are only three minor problems to be solved – breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In March 2003, seventy-five representatives of the democratic opposition, independent journalists, librarians and representatives of independent trade unions were arrested. Their sentences, with the exception of one, ranged from ten to twenty-eight years in prison. This unprecedented crackdown on dissidents was the regime’s reaction to an increasingly organized opposition, a developing independent media, a network of independent libraries offering previously unavailable books to the Cuban people and undoubtedly the Varela Project, a petition drive often compared to Charter 77 of Czechoslovakia. By March 2003, more than eleven thousand Cubans had signed the petition and appealed to the Cuban National Assembly to bring about a referendum so as to change non-democratic laws and provide amnesty for political prisoners. Rather than providing the referendum however, the Cuban parliament replied with an amendment to the Cuban constitution, stating the irrevocable status of the socialist system.

Despite mass arrests and unrelenting intimidation, more than fourteen thousand signatures were gathered for the Varela Project after March 2003. In May 2005, the biggest public gathering of Cuban opposition groups was organized. This meeting was organized by the Assembly to Promote Civil Society in Cuba, whose aim is to strengthen civil society and encourage the transition to democracy. For a dictatorship based on hypocrisy, independent journalists are no less dangerous than opposition figures. Therefore, a number of independent journalists were also victims of the March 2003 crackdown. Independent journalists provide, even from prison, regular information for the exile community and foreign media concerning the situation in Cuba. Although independent media cannot compete with the daily speeches of the ‘commandante’ broadcast on Cuban television, the activities of journalists, opposition groups and all those involved in the Varela Project prove that the Cuban people actively believe in regime change.

The Cuban regime remains in power due to a sophisticated propaganda machine still tolerated by many of its people. For those who have lived under a totalitarian regime or can imagine its method of functioning, this situation is unacceptable. Czechs remember too well the reality of life under Communism, and also the value of support from abroad. PIN began working with the democratic movement in Cuba in 1997 by supporting those peacefully fighting the regime. PIN is dedicated to assisting the internal opposition, whilst pushing the outside world to stand united against Castro’s regime.


The mass arrests in 2003 elicited a reaction among the general public on an international scale and politicians from the entire political spectrum. Until today, 20 were released from the prison but 50 of the opposition activists are still enjailed. 

In February 2008 Fidel Castro officially stepped down from the presidency due to health reasons. and his six years younger brother Raúl Castro became the new president. This change arouse a lot of expectation about possible economic and political reforms in Cuba. Suddenly, during five months of Raúl's presidency there have only been some minor cosmetic changes and the situation on the field of human and civil rights stays the same.

CUBA

  • Location: Caribic
  • Neighboring countries: Island country
  •  Capital: Havana
  •  Area: 110 860 km2
  •  Population: 11 382 820 (2006)
  •  Main Ethnic Groups: mulattoes 51%, caucasians 37%, blacks 11%, others 1%
  •  Religion: Roman Catholics 39,5%, Protestants 2,5%, others (mainly atheistic) 58% 
  •  Median age: 35,9 (2006)
  •  Birth rate: 11.89 (2006) 
  •  Infant mortality rate: 6,22 (2006)
  •  Median life expectancy at birth: 77.41 (2006) 
  •  Literacy rate: 97% (2003) ♂ 97.2% ♀ 96.9%
  •  GDP in spending strength: 37,24 billions USD (2005)
  •  GDP per capita in spending strength: 3 300 USD (2005) 
  •  GDP growth rate: 5.5% (2005)
  •  Unemployment rate: 1.9% (2005) 



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