VZCZCXRO8421
RR RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHUB #3578 3402227
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 062227Z DEC 06
FM USINT HAVANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0976
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 023578 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016 
TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU
SUBJECT: PAYA ON RAUL SPEECH: FREEDOM NEEDED, NOT SHOW OF 
FORCE 
 
REF: HAVANA 23564 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Buddy Williams for Reason 1.4(d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Leading Cuban human rights activist Oswaldo 
Paya of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL) has responded 
to General Raul Castro's December 2 speech by saying the 
Cuban people need basic freedoms, not a show of military 
force.  Paya, founder of the Varela Project signature drive 
for reforms, met with us December 5.  He shared a 
12-paragraph statement he drafted following Fidel Castro's 
birthday and the Armed Forces anniversary day events.  The 
press statement, titled "So Cuba Can Live Free," says 
citizens will only be free when they can express their ideas 
without fear; travel without restrictions; own businesses; 
form political parties; elect their representatives; and when 
all political prisoners are released.  Paya told us he 
doubted Raul Castro's offer to negotiate with the United 
States was made in good faith.  He also said he would push 
ahead with the Varela Project.  Paya is not alone is 
dismissing Raul's speech.  Martha Beatriz Roque of the 
Assembly to Promote Civil Society said it amounted to "a 
mouse (Raul) trying to scare a lion (the United States)." 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) Oswaldo Paya shared with us a statement his MCL 
released after the big December 2 military parade and speech 
by General Raul Castro. (Partial, unofficial translation:) 
"At today's celebration, the government again showed the 
army's force, the glory and memory of past victories, a 
massive demonstration of support, and the permanence of power 
-- but not liberty.  Without liberty, which is the 
inalienable right of all people, it cannot be said that (the 
Government's) power is derived from the people.  Whether Cuba 
lives free depends on us Cubans, and those who govern." 
 
¶3. (C) Paya told Poloff that the MCL included in the 
statement a reference to Raul Castro's offer to negotiate 
with the United States only because he didn't want the MCL to 
be seen opposing dialogue.  The passage reads: "We believe 
that the problems and differences between the Cuban 
Government and the United States, and with whatever other 
nation, should be resolved through negotiation, on the basis 
of mutual respect."  However, Paya told us that he doubts 
that the offer was made in good faith. 
 
¶4. (C) The statement also takes the regime to task for 
denying the people the right to change their government.  "In 
Latin America, imperfect democracy has given the people the 
right and the opportunity to decide at the polls on profound 
changes needed in their societies, to make them more just. 
In the United States, imperfect democracy gives the people 
the chance to express at the ballot box their nonconformity 
and desire for changes.  In Cuba, the communist system -- 
which claims to be a perfect democracy -- denies people their 
right to bring about change at the polls... This right, to 
express a desire for change, is one that the Varela Project 
defends. For this reason, we will continue to promote a 
referendum (on reforms), until in the law and in practice the 
rights of all Cubans are guaranteed." 
 
¶5. (C) Paya is not alone in dismissing Raul Castro's speech. 
Martha Beatriz Roque of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society 
told us December 4 that in her view, the speech amounted to 
"a mouse (Raul) trying to scare a lion (the United States)." 
Dissident economist Oscar Espinosa Chepe, for his part, said 
the little homage paid to Fidel Castro on December 2 
indicates that his end is near. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶6. (C) Paya is admirably firm in demanding democratic action 
from the "new" Government of Raul Castro.  Paya is worried, 
and even upset, that others in the human rights community are 
not making clear what the regime would have to do to get them 
to start intra-Cuban negotiations.  He fears, as we do, a 
situation in which Raul Castro could release some political 
prisoners and announce a minor economic reform or two just to 
buy enough time to consolidate his power. 
WILLIAMS