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GRANMA INTERNATIONAL 1997. ELECTRONIC EDITION. Havana, Cuba
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Transformations in the political system may continue
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=95 According to the president of the National Union of Jurists, the
intensified U.S. blockade is a flagrant and systematic violation of
international law
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POR OCTAVIO LAVASTIDA (Granma International staff writer)
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WITHOUT pressure and the blockade, Cuba could continue carrying out
transformations in its political system, like those initiated in 1992,
when it instituted the direct election of National Assembly deputies
and delegates to the municipal assemblies of People's Power.
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That is the opinion of Arnel Medina Cuenca, elected three years ago as
president of the National Union of Jurists of Cuba (UNJC). He
commented to Granma International that Cuban democracy does not need
to be like the form of democracy imported from the United States,
because human rights on the island are guaranteed.
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"Other modifications could be made in the People's Power structure, in
order to improve its operation, along the lines of what has already
been done, but certainly Cubans are not going to do so under pressure
from anyone," Medina explained.
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"Cuban professionals define human rights as primarily the right to
education and health care. Those abroad ask us about this subject, and
they are often surprised at the ease with which Cuba performs a heart
transplant on any citizen who needs it, without asking his or her
national origin, whether he has medical insurance or money to pay, and
they are also surprised at the attention given children," said the
president of the UNJC, a Cuban nongovernmental organization which
celebrated its 20th anniversary on June 8.
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In regard to civil and political rights, Medina noted that Cubans have
an organized system in which a very high percentage of the citizens
participate.
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SUPPORT FOR SOCIALISM
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In 1976, the majority of Cubans voted for the Constitution which is
still in effect, and therefore the current government is the one they
chose. They have ratified it in every one of the elections held since
in the country. "That support shown at the polls, which unlike other
countries are not protected by police but by children, is proof that
the Cuban people agrees with the political system we have," Medina
argued.
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The UNJC pays special attention to the subject of human rights in the
lectures, seminars, international courses and other academic
activities offered for its members.
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Medina has sustained in these encounters that "self-determination is a
fundamental human right which is violated flagrantly and
systematically throughout the world, as is the right to development."
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In a seminar organized by the UNJC on this subject, Medina stated that
the U.S. economic, financial and trade blockade of Cuba is a flagrant
and systematic violation of the fundamental human rights of the Cuban
nation
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. "Aren't they trying to impose by economic force, which is prohibited
by contemporary international law, a change of the political system
that the Cuban people, through their own self-determination, have
freely chosen?"
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INTENSE INTERNATIONAL EFFORT
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These opinions are presented to international legal circles through
the UNJC's intense activity, aimed at strengthening links with legal
organizations and associations. In these contacts, the role of Cuban
lawyers under current conditions is explained, and support and
solidarity is sought to help confront the principal difficulties
facing the country, especially since the strengthening of the blockade
through the Torricelli and Helms-Burton Acts.
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In 1996, about 700 jurists from over 20 countries in the Americas and
Europe participated in seminars and meetings held in Cuba.
Furthermore, 300 professionals and law students took courses during
that period on the Cuban legal system.
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In addition to the UNJC's membership in the American Association of
Jurists, in 1996 Cuba joined the Ibero-American Union of Law Schools
and Associations.
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Medina responded to a question about the UNJC's recent achievement of
consultant status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC). "Since last year, we had been requesting that ECOSOC grant
us that status, in the special category, the former category 2, and
once all the paperwork was finished, on May 12 the UNJC was granted us
that status, with the United States voting against it, as is now
known, but with the majority support of the other countries
represented.
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"This selection is important to us because it gives us the possibility
of participating in events and seminars sponsored by the UN, and to
explain our viewpoints and opinions in those events about the subjects
at hand, while at the same time demonstrating our organization's
maturity."
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Medina cited the country's rich patriotic tradition regarding the
incorporation into the Revolution, from the beginning, of law
professors, judges, investigators, lawyers, prosecutors, notaries and
advisors, 90 percent of whom are now members of the UNJC, a nonprofit,
self-financed professional organization which sponsors nine scientific
societies.
Shawgi Tell
Graduate School of Education
University at Buffalo
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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