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C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 023547 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2016 
TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU
SUBJECT: IN WAKE OF GAO REPORT, DISSIDENTS ISSUE STATEMENT 
 
Classified By: COM Michael Parmly for Reason 1.4(d). 
 
¶1. (C) As debate swirls within Cuba's human rights community 
over a GAO report that questions oversight and spending for 
Cuban democracy programs, four leading activists have signed 
a statement that they say is aimed at expressing support for 
certain exile groups, including the Support Group for 
Democracy.  The "declaration," released November 25, was 
signed by Martha Beatriz Roque of the Assembly to Promote 
Civil Society; Vladimiro Roca of All United; Elizardo Sanchez 
of the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National 
Reconciliation; and Gisela Delgado Sablon of the Independent 
Library Project.  At least one press report plays up the 
declaration's penultimate paragraph.  It states (unofficial 
translation): "We consider it very important to achieve 
greater efficiency in the use of these funds.  We believe 
that one way to achieve this would be the elimination of a 
series of existing restrictions on the sending of assistance 
and trips to Cuba, which do nothing to help the democratic 
struggle." 
 
¶2. (C) Roque told us on November 28 that the declaration was 
signed at the home of an unidentified Havana-based diplomat 
and drafted at the initiative of All United, after a number 
of dissidents, including Manuel Cuesta Morua of the Social 
Democratic Current, indicated that they did not want any such 
support.  Roque acknowledged that many Cuban exiles are upset 
with her signing the declaration; she has long opposed the 
relaxation of travel restrictions.  Roque noted, however, 
that the declaration does not call for the scrapping of the 
trade embargo or even all of the travel restrictions, but 
merely "a series" of restrictions.  She did not elaborate. 
 
¶3. (C) Roca told us November 28 that the declaration was 
intended partly as a response to "press manipulation in 
Miami."  He said it was misleading for journalists to review 
the lengthy GAO report and then focus on a single, 
controversial paragraph.  "The crab and chocolate is not the 
point," he said.  "Mentioning these items in describing the 
assistance to the opposition only serves the Cuban 
Government's interests."  Roca added that all unconditional 
help from the United States is legitimate and beneficial. 
 
¶4. (C) The Ladies in White - relatives of political prisoners 
- are in disarray over how to respond to the GAO report. 
Miriam Leiva told us November 28 that at the group's monthly 
gathering on November 18, she was "lynched" by other key 
members over a Ladies declaration she drafted, with what she 
believed to be the group's consent, in support of certain 
Miami-based groups.  The declaration partly states 
(unofficial translation): "We Ladies in White are grateful 
for the medicine, clothes and food that our Cuban brothers in 
the exile community and friends from various countries have 
sent our prisoners and family members, through various 
groups, including the Support Group for Democracy and Cuban 
Democratic Action." 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶5. (C) With an article headlined, "Cuban Dissidents Ask U.S. 
to Lift Travel, Aid Limits," the Miami Herald has missed the 
mark.  Not only does the article fail to capture the essence 
of the declaration - a show of dissident support for activist 
exile groups - it fails to articulate what type of 
restriction relaxations the signatories are seeking.  This is 
hardly surprising, because the declaration is vague on these 
points. 
PARMLY