By Oswaldo Payá

March 3^rd, 2008

We have never intervened in Spanish domestic politics, although recently the PSOE [Spanish Socialist Labor Party] has used Cuba, our pain, and the disadvantage of our people because of the oppression under which we live, for political ends. It does so in the first place by offending the intelligence of Cubans and Spaniards, covering the Sun with their thumb and justifying that which has no justification. Their stated ends with that so-called critical dialogue have become a means for partisan politics, instrumentalizing in a generally crude way the Cuban situation. Exhibiting like a trophy what they call achievements—for their political gain—is not faithful to Cubans, nor Spaniards, as the PSOE government and its ally, the IU, know full well that there has not been any compromise nor demonstrated will for positive changes for Cuba. And the changes, if they are real, must entail freeing all political prisoners, not exiling and “giving away” some of them before the Spanish elections.

But the policy of the PSOE and the IU demonstrates clearly to the Cuban government that it is not an important issue, that relations can develop fully even with the continuity of the status quo without rights, but that “gestures” are needed to present something to Spaniards before they vote. I do not know who should feel more insulted: the Spanish or the Cubans.

Mr. Bernardino León has mentioned me by saying that “even Oswaldo Payá, who is of the same political family as the PP [Popular Party], supports the critical dialogue of the PSOE.”

First of all, we are part of Spain’s family, but that seems to be something the PSOE cannot comprehend because of the sectarianism that has invaded it. We will always respect the government elected by the Spanish as the government of Spain, but in the last four years, even on the international stage, this government has not been one to extend the Spanish hand to Cuba, but in fact manipulates—or allows the manipulation of—Cuba by the Socialist and Communist parties. We respect many people of good will within that party and their voters, but they must know how we feel, what is done in their name, and worse, what is done in the name of Spain. If this is also happening within Spain, if sectarianism has allowed the state and society to be captured by a party, that is something its citizens need to resolve. We ourselves suffer greatly from this sectarianism and know full well what it means.

Another point is that the so-called “critical dialogue” is neither a dialogue nor is it critical. Our experience is that during previous governments, and especially during the preceding one, there was a true critical dialogue with the Cuban government and a real dialogue on the issues we wanted to discuss. Truly, the relationship established between Cuban civil society and the previous government was a relationship with the government of Spain and not with “the government of the PP.”

And it was a fluid relationship: very dignified, transparent, positive and respectful. The government of the PSOE—the government of a party—began with this government that exists in Spain today and never before, since the transition.

Excluding us from the invitations to the national celebrations was a very symbolic first step to the exclusion that would come later. By denying us these symbolic gestures that recognize that in Cuba there is not only a government but also a civil society, this government of the PSOE and its ally the IU has been coherent from the beginning, and since has attempted to have all of Europe adopt the same policy. That is to say, distancing itself from civil society, justifying the regime, and worst of all, presenting the supposed progress as achievements while the oppression and lack of rights is maintained or grows.

In this way they have not contributed but have in fact damaged peaceful change in Cuba, as they encourage immobility.

It is an insult that a policy highly criticized by almost all representatives of most civil society and dissident groups in Cuba be presented as the triumph of a party.

If they want our opinion, this policy and conduct of the PSOE and its IU allies are a complete interference in the internal affairs of Cuba to support and justify oppression, to offer an image of change based on coordinated gestures in which people are manipulated and Cubans’ lack of information and freedom is abused. They are damaging the relationships between the people of Spain and Cuba and promoting disloyalty to the cultural, human and historic links that exist between our people.  

When friends of the PP or the Democratic Union of Cataluña say that they want to meet with us if they come to Cuba, and the Cuban government denies them that opportunity and they consequently do not come, they refuse to take part in the exclusion that Cubans suffer.

When the PP says that it wants to maintain a dialogue with Cubans, but with all Cubans, and it rejects conditions of exclusion and proclaims with transparency that it will work for the respect of the rights of all Cubans, it extends the friendly hand of the people of Spain to the people of Cuba.

Oswaldo Payá

March 3^rd, 2008