Martha Beatriz Roque

Unlike the reforms proposed by the Castro regime and its subservient Communist Party Congress, which only serve to perpetuate a murderous dictatorial government and ensure its survival, leading members of Cuba's opposition presented a reform plan that calls for freedom and real democratic reforms. Signed by 40 prominent dissidents, including Martha Beatriz Roque and Oswaldo Payá, the plan dubbed "The People's Path" stipulates freedom for all Cubans and the ability to decide their fate and who governs them.

The plan presented by these opposition leaders offers a stark contrast to the so-called reforms presented by the aging Cuban dictatorship. Although they are being touted by many as radical departures from Cuba's communist dogma from the past, in reality they are meaningless in terms of true liberty. The "reforms" offered by the Castro monarchical dictatorship are designed to keep the geriatric Cuban Nomenclature in their seats of power, and continue to deny the Cuban people the most basic of human rights.

Via AFP:

Cuban dissidents push for opening to democracy

HAVANA — Leading dissidents in Cuba have launched a reform plan seeking a democratic opening in the Americas' only one-party Communist-run state.

More than 40 prominent members of a range of outlawed small parties and movements signed and issued the document calling for new laws and a plebiscite as a transition to democracy after more than five decades of communism.

They called upon their more than 11 million fellow Cubans to carry out a "genuine national dialogue and start the process of legal changes that exclude no one, so that Cubans can keep the positive things they have built, and change however they care to, the things they want to change."

Dubbed the "People's Path," the document was signed by dissidents including Guillermo Farinas, Laura Pollan, Martha Beatriz Roque, Hector Maceda, Elizardo Sanchez and Oswaldo Paya.

It calls for Cubans to be restored their freedom of movement inside and outside Cuba; and for freedoms of the press, association, and religion to be guaranteed; and for all people to be eligible for elective office regardless of party affiliation.

"When there is space in which people can participate that will be created by legal changes, citizens' rights to national dialogue will be respected and free elections will be called for all public posts and an assembly to rewrite the constitution," the plan text adds.

"The document was drawn up by all of us who have signed, and I think it is viable and a necessary message to the Cuban people," said Paya, who won the 2002 Sakharov rights prize for an earlier initiative seeking democratic opening that he spearheaded.