Civic resistance increases inside Cuba | Directorio Democrático Cubano

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Civic resistance increases inside Cuba
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Independent sources from different parts of the island of Cuba have confirmed and increase in civil actions by citizens in the past weeks. Although strong operatives of the political police and other repressive paramilitary organizations have been present on the streets throughout the country, human rights activists continue in their struggle for liberty.

Enrique Piñeiro, from the city of Manzanillo, made a sign that says “CHANGE” and put it on the front door of his house after the original one was removed on August 13^th, Fidel’s birthday. According to Roberto Santana Rodríguez, an independent journalist, the activist stated, “I was offended to see they removed my sign, because they, the communists, put up their signs and we respect them… We are not provoking anyone with this action; we are simply asking other opposition members in Manzanillo to place similar signs on their doors, to demonstrate that we want change in Cuba.”

According to Ahmed Rodríguez Albacia, independent journalist of Youth without Censure, in Santa Clara, members of the Marta Abreu Feminine Movement (MAFM) distributed alternative literature on August 11^th while traveling through the towns of José Martí and Virginia in that city. Among the materials distributed were copies of the International Human Rights Declaration; Cuba, a current social, political and economic analysis, by Marta Beatriz Roque Cabello; bracelets with the word “Change”; calendars documenting Cuban totalitarianism; “Cuban Baseball Players” calendars; and brochures for the “Cuban Patriotic Group.”

According to Idania Yanes Contreras, coordinator of the MAFM, "the people enthusiastically accepted the materials and asked for more information.”

Meanwhile, the Marti Youth Coalition announced in Havana, through their president, Edgard López Moreno, the requirements for the literary contest “Letter to an imprisoned brother”, where all those wishing to participate can enter in three categories: juvenile, from 7-17 years old; youth from 18-39 years old; and adult for 40 years old and above. The letters will be sent to over 300 political prisoners who are incarcerated in Cuba.

The increase in civic resistance actions between 2005 and 2006 is a fact substantiated by the Cuban Democratic Directorate’s report, “Steps to freedom 2005” which will be published soon and documents 3,322 actions within the island with a considerable growth in comparison to 2004.

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