Miami/More than 130 former Cuban political prisoners from different generations will release a joint statement on the present and future of Cuba during a press conference convened at the Brigade 2506 Museum in Miami. The document, signed by former political prisoners, establishes a series of conditions that its promoters consider essential for any negotiation aimed at a political transition on the Island.
The initiative, coordinated by former political prisoner Ángel de Fana, seeks to establish a common position regarding possible scenarios of change in Cuba. The signatories maintain that the release of all political prisoners and the definitive decriminalization of dissent must constitute prerequisites and unconditional for any negotiation process.
“Any negotiation can only occur after the political prisoners are released. It is not permissible to monetize their ordeal,” says the statement, which insists that its promoters do not seek revenge, but justice.
The text also addresses the characteristics that an eventual provisional government could have. Its signatories distinguish between the possibility of accepting a transitional administration made up of military personnel and officials of the current system, together with representatives of Cuban society and exile, and an agreement that guarantees the continuity of the existing power structures.
According to the document, a transition could include figures from the state apparatus with trajectories considered acceptable, as long as the process leads to the establishment of a new democratic order and not to the permanence of the ruling elite.
The call brings together former political prisoners from different stages of Cuban history after 1959, with the purpose of incorporating their experiences and positions into the debate on possible solutions to the crisis that the country is going through.
The conference will be open to journalists from Spanish and English media. The organizers hope that the presentation will contribute to expanding public discussion on the political, legal and institutional conditions necessary for an eventual transition in Cuba.
For accreditations, interviews and additional information, those interested can contact Ángel de Fana, organizer of the meeting, by phone +1 305 342 2434 or by email plantados@defana.com.
