The opposition platform D Frente thanked Pope Francis this Friday that Cardinal Beniamino Stella, the Vatican’s special envoy, should ask the Cuban government for “a amnesty or some form of clemency” for the island’s political prisoners. Stella, whose visit to the island starting on January 23 followed a strategy of non-confrontation with the regime, culminated in statements to the international press about the need for their release of those detained after the massive protests of 11J.
Last December, and knowing that the Pope would send Stella to Cuba to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the presence of John Paul II on the island, D Frente had asked the pontiff for a word about the situation of the incarcerated and the violation of human rights in Cuba. They also called for the mobilization of Francisco’s “good offices” in diplomatic terms to alleviate the country’s economic, social and migratory crisis.
In his statement signed this Friday, D Frente appreciates that the Pope has manifested himself even through the words of his special envoy. Stella’s request to the Government, they affirm, is “in tune with the organization’s first objective of work: the freedom of prisoners.
Since its creation in September 2022, D Frente has advocated for a Law for the Amnesty and Decriminalization of Dissent, which the platform presented through the Council for Democratic Transition
As the text acknowledges, D Frente has been advocating since its creation in September 2022 for a Law on Amnesty and Decriminalization of Dissent, which the platform presented through the Council for the Democratic Transition in Cuba –one of its member organizations– with the concept of that amnesty is “the best form” of response that could be expected from the Government.
In addition, D Frente points out that, if this legal mechanism is granted – which Cuba does not have, according to has recently warned the Cuban Minister of Justice, Oscar Silvera – must be done “immediately and without conditions such as exile or limitation of rights.”
The document also defines his vision of the future of Cuba as “a country enriched morally, economically, and spiritually,” which will be possible “through the encounter between Cubans, fraternity, freedom, and pluralism that marks our strategy”.
“Attempts to face a painful past, such as dictatorships, are usually associated historically with the debate around their memory, the role of forgetting and forgiveness in transitions and the legitimacy of States when renouncing the retributive justice,” he continues.
In addition, D Frente exposes its “reconciliation policy” and pleads for a consensus to “replace a single-party dictatorship with a regime of civic liberties, without opening a new period of internal struggles.” In this process, they say, the Catholic Church must play an important role as a mediating institution.
The text concludes by demanding “a decriminalization of dissent and the recognition of political pluralism” and insisting on his gratitude to the Vatican
The text concludes by demanding “a decriminalization of dissent and the recognition of political pluralism” and insisting on his gratitude to the Vatican, which “echoed” the requests of the platform.
In December 2022, when the Cuban Episcopal Conference advertisement Beniamino Stella’s visit, Cuban civil society saw an opportunity to expose the country’s situation to an international actor. In fact, in the bishops’ own message, the government was called upon to consider the release of “a good number of those who are in prison” as a gesture of leniency during the end of the year.
D Frente echoed the words of the bishops about “hunger, loneliness and lack of freedom” that was lived on the Island and questioned the pontiff with an open letter. Both Francisco’s and Stella’s attitudes have been one of closeness – and even sympathy – towards the Cuban authorities. However, Stella’s statements to the press suggest that he did have a conversation at the highest level about the situation of the prisoners. The public response of Miguel Díaz-Canel, however, was that he would try to find “a solution to the expectations of both parties.”
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