Lots of discussion and debate happening over Secretary Carlos Gutierrez’s call for a vote – a referendum – by the Cuban people on who they want as a new leader via the OAS. Personally, I think his statements were meant more as a way to highlight the fact that the Cuban people have at present no choice as to who leads them, especially while NAM was in session and thus had the attention of the world media. And if that’s the case, I think it was a pretty shrewd move. If not, then I have no idea why the administration would even contemplate thinking that such an event would even be allowed, much less be legitimate.
3 thoughts on “A Cuba Referendum?”
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You are right-on, Val. As much as anything, the proposal was designed to be contrasted with current political conditions, i.e. total repression and dictatorship on the island.
Which is what makes the “Disneyesque” comment in response so exasperating. Bush gets criticized for making an unrealistic proposal. Well, why is it unrealistic? Because Cuba is a dictatorship and the dictators won’t allow it.
So why does Bush get criticized for wanting to change that. Just seems absurd, but also typical of much of the Cuba debate in this country.
Referendum now!
I agree with Professor Luis Martinez Fernandez, from the University of Central Florida, “Cuba needs some “basic infrastructure” of democracy, such as a free press, candidates who aren’t subject to reprisals and adequate security.” There is no way to have a referendum in Cuba while the castro bros and the current military are still in charge.
Look what happened in Venezuela with the referendum… the fraud perpetrated by the Venezuelan government was later “certified” by the OAS and blessed by Jimmy Carter. What was the end result? It further entrenched chavez’s government by giving it full legitimacy. Do we want a referendum in Cuba (at this point) without the entire necessary “infrastructure” in place first? Of the 80.9% qualified voters, ages 16 and over (voting age in Cuba is 16) over 70% have never voted in a democratic election. Do we want a legitimized raul castro in Cuba “till death do us part?”