René Gómez Manzano
is an independent journalist and critical outsider in Cuba. He has for
many years reported on changed within the Cuban state and its ruling
Communist Party. Educated in Havana and Moscow he began defending
dissidents in 1990 and has served time in prison for his actions. He
remains active in Cuba and tolerated by the state ad PPC. Amnesty
International named him a prisoner of conscience in 1998 after his
arrest and imprisonment in the late 1990s. More on Gómez Manzano here.
Mr. Gómez Manzano has recently posted some thoughts on the new U.S. Cuban policy from the perceptive of an individual outside the Cuban establishment. The essay is entitled Estas son las reglas del juego (These are the rules of the game), the essay suggests lost opportunities and miscalculations on the Cuban side. It is worth reading and follows below (in the original Spanish with my English translation).
En su discurso de Miami, el nuevo inquilino de la Casa Blanca no cerró la puerta a un posible acuerdo. Pero sí estableció condiciones claras para alcanzarloViernes, junio 16, 2017 | René Gómez Manzano | 7LA HABANA, Cuba.- El tiempo para las hipótesis y las especulaciones ha quedado atrás. Las palabras que este viernes al mediodía, ante un nutrido auditorio predominantemente cubano, pronunció en Miami el presidente Donald Trump, no dejan espacio para la duda. Han quedado clarísimas las reglas del juego a las que deberá atenerse en lo adelante la dictadura castrista.Grandísima razón tenía la delfina Mariela Castro cuando hace apenas unas horas, ante la prensa española, comentaba: “El mundo hace chistes con Trump, pero en Cuba nos preocupa mucho”. Las que ya han perdido toda vigencia son sus palabras ulteriores: “Trump todavía es una sorpresa; no tenemos la menor idea de hacia dónde va”. Esto ya no es cierto en absoluto. Al menos, en lo tocante al archipiélago caribeño.Los reclamos de respeto a los derechos humanos del pueblo cubano, liberación de los presos de conciencia, cese de la represión, reconocimiento de todos los partidos políticos y celebración de elecciones libres y competitivas, hechos de manera pública por el jefe de la superpotencia mundial, han encontrado eco en todos los cubanos de ideas democráticas.Se trata de cosas que en el mundo libre se dan por sentadas; que parecen absolutamente normales en todos los países civilizados. Pero por alguna ignota razón, funciona en este asunto la llamada “excepcionalidad de Cuba”. Los mismos que considerarían inaceptable que en sus propios países se ignorase a la oposición o no se le admitiera postular sus candidatos o hacer campaña por ellos, aceptan como algo normal que el régimen de La Habana conculque esos derechos y se autoperpetúe.Lo anterior acaba de confirmarse con la convocatoria a nuevas elecciones recién hecha por el Consejo de Estado cubano. Ellas se realizarán bajo las mismas reglas arbitrarias y tramposas que han regido hasta ahora. Se anuncia la próxima presentación a la Asamblea Nacional del proyecto de un flamante código electoral. Pero todo indica que, en él, lo único nuevo serán el nombre y el año de su promulgación.La mencionada actitud de tolerancia con el régimen castrista funciona a plenitud en el Viejo Continente. También pareció imperar en Estados Unidos durante los dos últimos años de la administración de Barack Obama. Ahora, con las declaraciones públicas de Trump, se pone claramente de manifiesto que esa fugaz “luna de miel” fue una excepción en la política norteamericana hacia Cuba.El nuevo enfoque recién anunciado por el actual presidente estadounidense (en puridad, se trata más bien de la ratificación del rumbo tradicional de las políticas del gran país hacia Cuba y su gobierno) parecen recoger las ideas plasmadas en la vibrante carta abierta que le dirigiera hace apenas unas horas nuestro compatriota José Daniel Ferrer, líder de UNPACU. No en balde el nombre de ese valiente hermano —al igual que el de otra cubana corajuda también residente en Cuba, Berta Soler— fue mencionado por el ilustre orador.A estas alturas debe reinar preocupación entre los sesudos asesores del Palacio de la Revolución de La Habana. Ante los repetidos gestos de apertura de Obama, la alta jefatura cubana —probablemente a instancias de esos mismos consejeros— adoptó una actitud de renuencia y distanciamiento. Todo indica que en los erróneos cálculos de esos despistados, la victoria de la señora Hillary Clinton estaba garantizada.En su criterio, pues, no resultaba oportuno ni necesario aprovechar la coyuntura ni avanzar hacia un entendimiento con Don Barack: ya vendría la ex Primera Dama, y con su re-entrada en la Casa Blanca se contaría con no menos de cuatro años más para diseñar los nuevos acuerdos con Washington, que esos mismos asesores daban como cosa hecha. Craso e irreparable error. O para decirlo en las palabras de una colega: “La dictadura cubana dilapidó dos preciosos años de apertura”.Veremos si, ante la nueva realidad política planteada por las palabras de Trump, el régimen castrista se abroquelará o dará pasos constructivos. Y por supuesto que no estoy refiriéndome al mundo de las palabras, pues ya sabemos que la retórica comunista aburre de tan repetitiva. A lo que aludo es a las medidas políticas concretas —que también pueden ser discretas— que pudiera ir adoptando —o no— el viejo régimen de La Habana.Las posibilidades están planteadas. En su discurso de Miami, el nuevo inquilino de la Casa Blanca no cerró la puerta a un posible acuerdo. Pero sí estableció condiciones claras para alcanzarlo. Veremos si en el General-Presidente cubano primará la flexibilidad o el empecinamiento.
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These are the rules of the game
In his Miami address, the new tenant of the White House did not close the door to a possible deal. But he did establish clear conditions to achieve it
Friday, June 16, 2017 | René Gómez Manzano | 7
HAVANA, Cuba.- The time for hypothesis and speculation has ended. The words uttered this past Friday at noon, before a large audience predominantly Cubans resident in the U.S in Miami by President Donald Trump, leave no room for doubt. The rules of the game to which the Castro dictatorship will have to comply are very clear.
The “dauphine” Mariela Castro had it right when just a few hours ago, before the Spanish press, she commented: "The world makes jokes with Trump, but in Cuba we are very concerned." What has lost all validity are her prior view that: "Trump is still a surprise; We have no idea to where he is going. " This is no longer true at all. At least, in relation to the Caribbean archipelago.
The demands of respect for the human rights of the Cuban people, the release of prisoners of conscience, the cessation of repression, the recognition of all political parties and the holding of free and competitive elections, made public by the head of the world’s superpower, have found echo in all democratically minded Cubans.
These are things that are taken for granted in the free world; those things that seem absolutely normal in all civilized countries. But for some unknown reason, a so-called "Cuban exceptionalism" applies. Those who would find it unacceptable that in their own countries the opposition would be ignored or would not be allowed to nominate their candidates or campaign for them, they accept as normal that the Havana regime violates these rights and perpetuates itself.
The above mentioned exceptionalism has just been confirmed with the call for new elections recently made by the Cuban Council of State. They will be carried out under the same arbitrary and cheating rules that have governed until now. At the same time the National Assembly is set to consider the project of a brand new electoral code. But everything indicates that in it, the only new thing will be the name and the year of its promulgation.
The mentioned attitude of tolerance with the Castro regime works to its fullest in the Old World. It also seemed to prevail in the United States during the last two years of Barack Obama's administration. Now, with Trump's public statements, it becomes clear that this fleeting "honeymoon" was an exception in US policy towards Cuba.
The new approach recently announced by the current US president (in essence, it is a matter of ratifying the traditional course of the great country's policies towards Cuba and its government) appears to pick up the ideas embodied in the vibrant open letter addressed to him just a few hours from our compatriot José Daniel Ferrer, leader of UNPACU. Not unquestionably, the name of that brave brother-like that of another Cuban-born courageous woman also living in Cuba, Berta Soler-was mentioned by the illustrious orator.
At this point there must be concern among the wise advisers at the Palace of the Revolution of Havana. In response to Obama's repeated gestures of openness, the Cuban leadership-probably at the behest of those same councilors-adopted an attitude of reluctance and detachment. Everything pointed to the mistaken calculation of those clueless advisors, the victory of Mrs. Hillary Clinton was guaranteed.
Given this calculus, therefore, it was neither appropriate nor necessary to take advantage of the situation nor to advance to an understanding with Don Barack: the former First Lady would come next, and with her re-entry into the White House there would be no less than four more years to reach new agreements with Washington, which these same advisers assumed was a sure thing. Crass and irreparable error. Or to put it in the words of a colleague: "The Cuban dictatorship squandered two precious years of opening."
We will see if, given the new political reality raised by the words of Trump, the Castro regime will retreat in itself and take cover or take constructive steps forward. And of course I'm not referring to the world of words, because we already know that communist rhetoric is boring with repetition. What I refer to is the concrete political measures - which may also be discreet - that could be adopted - or not – by the old regime in Havana.
The possibilities are now made known. In his Miami address, the new tenant of the White House did not close the door to a possible deal. But he has established clear conditions to achieve it. We will see if the Cuban General-President will privilege flexibility or obstinacy.
In his Miami address, the new tenant of the White House did not close the door to a possible deal. But he did establish clear conditions to achieve it
Friday, June 16, 2017 | René Gómez Manzano | 7
HAVANA, Cuba.- The time for hypothesis and speculation has ended. The words uttered this past Friday at noon, before a large audience predominantly Cubans resident in the U.S in Miami by President Donald Trump, leave no room for doubt. The rules of the game to which the Castro dictatorship will have to comply are very clear.
The “dauphine” Mariela Castro had it right when just a few hours ago, before the Spanish press, she commented: "The world makes jokes with Trump, but in Cuba we are very concerned." What has lost all validity are her prior view that: "Trump is still a surprise; We have no idea to where he is going. " This is no longer true at all. At least, in relation to the Caribbean archipelago.
The demands of respect for the human rights of the Cuban people, the release of prisoners of conscience, the cessation of repression, the recognition of all political parties and the holding of free and competitive elections, made public by the head of the world’s superpower, have found echo in all democratically minded Cubans.
These are things that are taken for granted in the free world; those things that seem absolutely normal in all civilized countries. But for some unknown reason, a so-called "Cuban exceptionalism" applies. Those who would find it unacceptable that in their own countries the opposition would be ignored or would not be allowed to nominate their candidates or campaign for them, they accept as normal that the Havana regime violates these rights and perpetuates itself.
The above mentioned exceptionalism has just been confirmed with the call for new elections recently made by the Cuban Council of State. They will be carried out under the same arbitrary and cheating rules that have governed until now. At the same time the National Assembly is set to consider the project of a brand new electoral code. But everything indicates that in it, the only new thing will be the name and the year of its promulgation.
The mentioned attitude of tolerance with the Castro regime works to its fullest in the Old World. It also seemed to prevail in the United States during the last two years of Barack Obama's administration. Now, with Trump's public statements, it becomes clear that this fleeting "honeymoon" was an exception in US policy towards Cuba.
The new approach recently announced by the current US president (in essence, it is a matter of ratifying the traditional course of the great country's policies towards Cuba and its government) appears to pick up the ideas embodied in the vibrant open letter addressed to him just a few hours from our compatriot José Daniel Ferrer, leader of UNPACU. Not unquestionably, the name of that brave brother-like that of another Cuban-born courageous woman also living in Cuba, Berta Soler-was mentioned by the illustrious orator.
At this point there must be concern among the wise advisers at the Palace of the Revolution of Havana. In response to Obama's repeated gestures of openness, the Cuban leadership-probably at the behest of those same councilors-adopted an attitude of reluctance and detachment. Everything pointed to the mistaken calculation of those clueless advisors, the victory of Mrs. Hillary Clinton was guaranteed.
Given this calculus, therefore, it was neither appropriate nor necessary to take advantage of the situation nor to advance to an understanding with Don Barack: the former First Lady would come next, and with her re-entry into the White House there would be no less than four more years to reach new agreements with Washington, which these same advisers assumed was a sure thing. Crass and irreparable error. Or to put it in the words of a colleague: "The Cuban dictatorship squandered two precious years of opening."
We will see if, given the new political reality raised by the words of Trump, the Castro regime will retreat in itself and take cover or take constructive steps forward. And of course I'm not referring to the world of words, because we already know that communist rhetoric is boring with repetition. What I refer to is the concrete political measures - which may also be discreet - that could be adopted - or not – by the old regime in Havana.
The possibilities are now made known. In his Miami address, the new tenant of the White House did not close the door to a possible deal. But he has established clear conditions to achieve it. We will see if the Cuban General-President will privilege flexibility or obstinacy.
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