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CNN Live Saturday

Cuban Opposition Introduces Varela Project to Legislature

Aired May 11, 2002 - 12:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: Former President Jimmy Carter is set to arrive to Cuba tomorrow. It is an historic trip, and it appears some Cuban activists are using Mr. Carter's visit to press for democracy. CNN's Havana bureau chief Lucia Newman explains from Cuba.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They prayed in a circle, asking God for his blessing and safe passage to their destination. Then these nervous dissidents got in their car to take these boxes to the National Assembly. Inside the boxes, an unprecedented initiative to legally introduce sweeping economic and political reforms in Cuba. The boxes contain more than 11,000 signatures from Cuban citizens, gathered all over the country in the last year. More than enough, according to the constitution, to petition for legislation to allow a referendum to ask Cubans five questions: Whether they want freedom of speech, of assembly, the right to develop and own their own businesses, freedom for political prisoners, and free and Democratic elections.

To the surprise and joy of many of the organizers, the pro- communist National Assembly receives the landmark petition.

OSWALDO PAYA, VARELA PROJECT ORGANIZER (through translator): This legal, civic action carries the hope, the strength and the love of millions of Cubans in and out of Cuba who are waiting to see what will happen. This opens a new page for Cuba, for our nation and for reconciliation.

NEWMAN: Oswaldo Paya, a long-time dissident who heads the illegal but tolerated Christian Liberation Movement, is the organizer of the so-called Varela Project, named after Felix Varela, a Cuban Catholic priest who pushed for Cuba's independence from Spain.

Paya says collecting the signatures was a monumental task, because of the constant harassment and threats by the secret police, who, he says, confiscated thousands of signatures in a bid to sabotage the initiative.

PAYA (through translator): We now ask the president of the National Assembly to make the Varela Project public, because the constitution says citizens have the right to express their opinions about laws.

NEWMAN: Paya maybe asking for too much.

(on camera): Cuba's government dismisses the petition as a subversive ploy, organized and financed by Washington. Nevertheless, by presenting the Varela Project just 48 hours before the arrival of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Paya is drawing plenty of attention to what is clearly the boldest attempt yet by the opposition to peacefully introduce major reforms to Cuba.

Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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