Channeling Dissent

...A fascinated public watched and listened almost daily to sharp criticism of dysfunctional economic institutions, stagnant bureaucracies, ineffective political structures and policies which impede creativity and responsiveness...

...While resisting external pressure, however, Cubans are engaged in a broad public debate on reforms needed to save their socialist revolution...

...Although the debates are bounded by allegiance to socialism, defects in Cuba's economic system are people's greatest worry...

...In an unprecedented move, the UJC Communist youth organization responded by staking out a position against "conservatives" in the party...

...In private discussions, many also advocate elimination of all forms of discrimination, including against gays and lesbians...

...At first, many were skeptical of the party leadership's sincerity...

...A recurrent refrain was that party militants are tired of "reunismo"-attending ig innumerable meetings that rarely seem important and tend to interfere with other tasks...

...Indeed, individuals and small groups who declared their opposition to socialism orto Cuba's one-party system found no tolerance of their political views...

...These criticisms inspired emotional debate and reflection at the FMC meeting, in which several delegates acknowledged that the organization had lost its identity and that a bureaucratic apparatus had replaced lively exchanges...

...For example, at the June 12 assembly of the Union of Communist Youth (UJC), a delegate insisted that immigration and travel policies be resolved in a coherent and publicway.Suchpolicieshavealwaysbeen announced and justified without debate...

...But there is growing expectation that significant reforms will be adopted, and that the political process will become increasingly more democratic...

...some were even arrested...

...Escalona is credited with having transformed the Ministry of Justice from an inert, inept bureaucracy into a dynamic, professional institution...

...others argue that this would remove delegates from direct contact with working people...

...In a discussion paper prepared for a debate among specialists in constitutional and administrative law, Angel Fernaindez Rubio-Legra, of the Superior Institute of International Relations, analyzed the municipal assemblies and made numerous sullggestions: separate legislative, political and administrative functions, a smaller bureaucracy, longer legislative sessions to provide time for genuine deliberation, _Icnuinc dclieration and longer terms of office (five years instead of two-and-ahalf...

...Granma reported that at the Havana party assembly the first secretary from Artemisa argued that the PCC put an end to "clandestine" discussion of issues...

...To the surprise of many, the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) was criticized in several sessions as having lost its relevance to the revolution...

...it generated approving nods and laughter...

...An even more cynical interpretation suggested that the debate would be used to identify potential troublemakers...

...T HE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PCC are also being scrutinized...

...In fact, Cuban authorities are currently considering reforms in this area, including removal of all travel restrictions...

...Not open to question is, of course, the socialist option...which...involves the principles of revolution, socialism and national independence....Nor will we accept the new reactionary dogma that there is no democracy or renewal without multiple parties...

...When several dozen Cubans sought asylum in foreign embassies in mid-July, the tensions heightened, and some feared the debates would be cut off...

...As transformations sweep Eastern Europe, Fidel Castro exhorts Cubans to maintain absolute unity in defense of socialism and independence...

...In March, the Communist Party (PCC) issued a call for widespread discussion in preparation for the fourth party congress to be held in the first half of 1991...

...Already some steps have been taken to improve the functioning of the People's Power...

...At almost every meeting participants presented a series of horror stories revealing inefficiencies, irrational and stifling bureaucratic procedures, and ineffective labor policies...

...The overwhelming majority, however, appeared to favor eliminating discrimination against religious believers...

...The UJC's preemptive statement strengthened the hand of those who support continuing democratization, and may be an indication that even the party leadership is willing to shed the veneer of consensus that has hidden internal disagreements from public view...

...Cuba is engaged in this process of democratization in an atmosphere charged with anxiety about the future...

...A month later, the debate resumed, this time with qualitatively different results...

...Though couched in the uncompromising rhetoric of "socialism or death," the call represented a significant departure from the past...

...Some continue to doubt that the points of view expressed in the process will really influence decision-making at the top...

...It is expected that he will do the same for the National Assembly, where he has already begun to pare down the staff and bureaucratic procedures...

...Sone Cubans recommend that delegates to People's Power become full-time paid representatives...

...Instead...

...Press accounts of the meetings reported some disagreement, primarily on the grounds of maintaining ideological purity...

...Failure to respond positively and concretely to these expectations will almost certainly increase tensions and frustrations...

...Cuba's legislative assemblies, the People's Power, were criticized as formalistic, impotent at the municipal level and unrepresentative at the national level...

...Many argued for a renewal of the organization...

...was named president of the National Assembly...

...but rather solicited public analysis and debate of alternative policies...

...Numerous delegates have called for elimination of bureaucratic party structures and a more democratic process for selecting the party leadership...

...To some, the call was a public relations strategy to buy time...

...Within these limits, the debate expanded into almost every workplace, where not only national issues, but local policies and problems were submitted to energetic, frank discussion...

...Dismayed, Carlos Aldana, head of the Central Committee's Department of Revolutionary Orientation, called the sessions to a halt...

...Substantial concern was expressed about the vitality of Cuba's political institutions...

...Among the subjects submitted officially for discussion was the admission of religious believers to the party, a proposal Fidel Castro publicly advocated in April...

...Less than a year ago such a remark might have raised eyebrows and perhaps called into question the speaker's loyalty to the revolution...

...Expanding political democracy seems to be the only option for strengthening the system's capacity to withstand the economic troubles on the horizon...

...Overandover again, delegates argued that the functions of the Council of State and legislative bodies, the ministries, and the Communist Party should be clearly defined and distinct...

...What concrete proposals will be made at the party congress next year is still unknown...

...It did not offer the Cuban Politburo's agenda for resolving the nation's problems...

...One participant at the City ofHavana meeting noted that many delegates to the national assembly of People's Power who live in the capital represent municipalities in other provinces and often know little about the provinces they are supposed to represent...

...In several sessions, the party was reproached for assuming administrative and governmental tasks instead of limiting itself to its legitimate role of political leadership...

...Whatever the results of the fourth party congress, the process of discussion and debate has already altered Cuban politics, setting in motion a process not easily stopped...

...The meetings of provincial party and national mass organizations involved several thousand delegates and typically lasted from eight to 14 hours each, portions of which were televised...

...Issues previously considered too problematic for public discussion were put forward...

...In an apparent attempt to assuage both conservatives and those supportive of vigorous democratic discussion, the Politburo issued a statement on June 23 defining its position on the parameters of the debate: adherence to socialism under the leadership of a single party, but with a commitment to public debate: "Those limitscannot be set beforehand....The point of the discussion is precisely to promote views...[andl to consider alternatives to improve our work...

...This combination of fear, cynicism and inexperience turned thefirstroundof meetings in April intoan unmitigated disaster...

...Some even suggested that its work at the base level be eliminated since it duplicates many of the services performed by the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution...

...In the July 23 issue of Juventud Rebelde, the UJC warned: "We must not allow some [party members] to use such dangers to cling to the defense of their conservative positions in the Revolution...

...In February, Juan Escalona, former Minister of Justice...

...Participants stood up one after the other to declare their loyalty to Fidel, socialism and the leadership of the Communist Party...

...currently they are elected by the municipal assemblies...

...Many thers, familiar with public discussion where opposing views are encouraged and respected, were unsure how to respond...

...Another suggestion being debated is direct election of national assembly delegates...

...Many of these suggestions would require modification of the constitution...

...Unanimity, previously touted asadisplayof "democratic unity," wasexplicitly rejected in favor of tolerance of diverse opinions: "Certainty of the people's overwhelming support spares us the unreal quest for unanimity, which is often false, mechanical and formal and can lead to pretense, double standards or hiding of opinions, and illustrates the need [for]...diversity of views on a certain issue...

...In the context of a deepening economic crisis, that could prove explosive...

...As the discussion proceeded, problems were detailed with increasing specificity and the debate became bolder and more dynamic...