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HUMAN RIGHTS
Political Rights
In Cuba, there are no political rights. The Communist Party (P.C.C.),
the only political party permitted, exercises a monopoly over all
political activity in the island, assisted by the so-called
"organizations of the masses". In truth, these political organizations
are headed by leaders of the Cuban Communist Party and exert the first
level of direct control over citizens. There is a governmental
organization, or "organizations of the masses," for each type of
activity:
1. The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution" (CDR), organized on
a block by block basis in every city and town across the island, are
charged with spying on citizens even in their own homes.
2. The Union of Communist Youths (U.J.C.), found in every educational
center, has the authority to organize, supervise and direct the
political activities in schools and universities.
3. The Worker Union of Cuba (C.T.C), in its capacity as official labor
union, is charged with organizing workers and putting them at the
service of the government. Present in every work center, it impedes
workers from organizing independently or claiming benefits.
4. The Rapid Response Brigades (B.R.R.) are para-military forces charged
with confronting popular protests or political dissidents. They are
chiefly composed by plainclothes government agents.
5. The Federation of Cuban Women (F.M.C.) organizes women to carry out
political activities on behalf of the government.
Cubans are practically compelled to belong to one or more of these
political organizations, or resign themselves to become social pariahs,
unable to obtain employment, proceed to higher-level education, or even
obtain certain consumer goods. Figure 2 shows an employment application
where the applicant must list the political organizations he or she
belongs to and the level of military training obtained.
In Cuba no elections are held to elect the President of the Republic
because the position does not exist. The equivalent position is that of
"First Secretary of The Communist Party", a position that is not subject
to elections. The First Secretary is chosen solely by the Central
Committee of the Party.
The only elections held in Cuba are to elect members to the National
Legislative Assembly, but the only candidates who can participate are
those who have sworn loyalty to Fidel Castro and are integrated in the
government's organizations. In addition, the first round of elections is
held in units of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution and
voting is not done in secrecy but by raising a hand in favor of a
candidate. Nearly half of the members of the National Legislative
Assembly are directly selected by the Communist Party. There is also a
Candidates Commission, also controlled by the Party, with authority to
veto candidates that do not meet the criteria of sympathy and
involvement with the previously mentioned political organizations.
It is evident and unquestionable that the National Assembly is not
representative of the Cuban people, nor is it an authentic legislative
body. Further proof of this is that the Assembly only meets twice a year
for two days and, in the 24 years since its creation, has not actually
created a single law. Its function has been one of meeting to vote by
raising the hand and approve laws that have already been passed through
the Communist Party (Fidel Castro) through the Council of State.
In Cuba, associations in defense of human rights are prohibited.
Although Cuban law does not state so explicitly, the fact is that
authorities do not even acknowledge requests for legalizing such
associations. In that manner, any group that organizes as a human rights
group is deemed illegal and its members are subject to arrest for
engaging in "illicit association," one of the many political "crimes"
that experts in the United Nations have questioned the Cuban government
about and have not received response. (Refer to United Nation Cuba
report -E/CN.4/1989/46- especially Annex XVI "Questions Presented by the
Group that visited Cuba" and that Cuban authorities have never responded
to.) Former UN Secretary General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar also asked the
Cuban government to respond in his document -E/CN.4/1991/28- page 3, and
also received no response.
POLITICAL REPRESSION
The State Security Department (DSE) is the principal repressive force
that guarantees the totalitarian control that Fidel Castro holds in
Cuba. The DSE operates with unlimited impunity. Its activities are far
reaching: arrest and isolation of individuals, intercept or interrupt
telephone and written communication, search homes or individuals, impede
exit from the island, threaten or beat dissenters, and instruct judges
as to the sentences to impose in political cases.
The DSE maintains an extensive network of informants who, as undercover
agents, spy and report on "potential enemies" of the state in all public
places and work centers. In coordination with the leaders of the
government's so-called organizations of the masses, the DSE watches and
persecutes virtually every Cuban citizen. The degree of fear and control
Cubans live under can be understand by bearing in mind that Cuba is a
small island measuring 110,000 square kilometers, with no frontier; with
internal regulations of such severity that a national personal, work and
politically related information; and that the Committees of the Defense
of the Revolution on every block report information on each individual
residing on the block.
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