The Right of Assembly

The Right of Assembly / Somos+

Somos+, Ezequiel Álvarez, 27 March 2017 — I believe that, in
the resistance against the totalitarian, military dictatorship of the
Castros, the existence of diverse organizations is essential and
necessary. If we fight against a monolithic system, it is indispensable
to start from a pluralist base wherein there is room for different ideas.

If communism's major flaw is to intend for all the world to submit by
force to one ideology, our response cannot be another antagonistic
solution of the same kind.

The human being by nature represents a variety of opinions. The
democratic system proclaims freedom of assembly, and as proponents of
democracy for Cuba, we should accept that other points of view also have
a right to participate in the opposition.

Starting from that premise, I propose that we should know how to work
together in this phase, and allow the electoral process to decide the
democratic route that the nation will take.

Meanwhile, let us continue, each according to his conscience, respecting
the same right in others, working together toward the same ideal.

Let us prepare the foundations starting now, so that in the eventual
future, we can be ready to prevent a repeat of the current tragedy. An
upright structure that will serve as safe passage to a constitutional
democracy, with the prior approval of the opposition parties, is a
solution that we should explore and work towards making a reality.

Translated by: Alicia Barraqué Ellison

Source: The Right of Assembly / Somos+ – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/the-right-of-assembly-somos/