Cuban Democratic Directorate (Directorio)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cuban Democratic Directorate (Directorio Democratico Cubano) is an anticastrist organization which attempts to spread information and organize opposition to the Cuban government.
The directorio itself claims to be a non-governmental organization but it's supported by the CIA, they say that have the stated purpose of working for freedom, democracy and human rights in Cuba by way of nonviolent civic struggle.
Based in the United States and created by the CIA, they claim supporting anti-communist organizations by providing humanitarian and material support, facilitating exchanges of information with the Cuban people and building international solidarity for the anti-communist movement in Cuba. [1][2] Directorio is a signatory of the US Agreement for Democracy in Cuba. Originally drafted in 1998 ahead of Pope John Paul II's trip to Cuba, the 10-point document calls for, among other things, free elections on the island and the release of political prisoners. More than 120 organizations, both in Cuba and abroad, have signed it.[3] This selfclaimed definition contrasts with their activities against the aperture of comercial relationes between other countries and Cuba, that violate the United States embargo against Cuba[4]. Directorio is a member of the Christian Democrat Organization of America[5].
Contents |
[edit] Activities
[edit] Internationally
Directorio actively represents the interests of the Cuban opposition movement before international human rights organizations and foreign governments.[6] Directorio frequently participates in conferences and programs organized by Vaclav Havel's International Committee for Democracy in Cuba.[7] They also support human rights activists by publicizing their work and activities through the Steps to Freedom reports, news updates on their websites, as well as publishing books by activists such as student leader Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina's "Con el Alma Cautiva" (With a Captive Soul)[8].
[edit] Steps to Freedom Report
Directorio publishes an annual report on the Cuban democracy movement called "Steps to Freedom" which analyzes the movement's civic resistance actions according to a framework drawn from the work of Gene Sharp. [9] To date, it is the only attempt at a systematic study on the Island's growing civil society.
Its findings have been featured in the peer-reviewed Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies[10] and in National Review[11] magazine. According to Steps to Freedom, civic resistance actions in Cuba have increased every year from 1998 to 2004. [12]
[edit] Radio Republica
Directorio also operates Radio Republica, a radio station that transmits programming 7 days a week via shortwave and AM signals to Cuba. Its programming is focused on internal Cuban social dynamics and features extensive coverage of the opposition movement, international news relating to Cuba, and social issues on the island. [13][14]
[edit] Non-Cooperation Campaign
Directorio has been one of the exile organizations most active in supporting the "Yo No Coopero con la Dictadura" (I Do Not Cooperate with the Dictatorship) campaign launched by political prisoners Jorge Luis Garcia Perez Antunez and Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia in 2005. Activists in Cuba carry out street protests, processions, and fasts as part of this initiative. In 2007, Directorio supported an effort to boycott elections in Cuba called "No a la Farsa Electoral" (No to the Electoral Farce). [15]
[edit] History
Founded in 1990 at the International Congress of Cuban Youth for a Free Cuba in Miami Beach, the Directorio began primarily as an organization of students and professionals in their 20s and 30s who wanted to contribute to the island's liberation.
The group took the name Directorio Revolucionario Democrático Cubano (Cuban Democratic Revolutionary Directorate) in honor of the tradition begun in the late 1920s in Havana whereby university students began forming "directorates" to defend citizens' basic liberties and rights from supposed government violations. In March 2002, members chose to change the name to Directorio Democrático Cubano (Cuban Democratic Directorate) to better reflect the primacy of democratic values in the organization's vision and goals since its founding. [16]
[edit] References
- ^ Mission Statement | Directorio Democrático Cubano
- ^ Czech politicians discuss human rights violations at San Jose ICDC forum - 24-11-2004 - Radio Prague
- ^ http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/cuba/story/220979.html
- ^ Anticuban tours at Bush orders
- ^ ODCA
- ^ http://www/yoinfluyo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1066&Itemid=17#1
- ^ Czech politicians discuss human rights violations at San Jose ICDC forum - 24-11-2004 - Radio Prague
- ^ "Libros de Disidentes Cubanos Fuera de la Isla." Olga Connor for El Nuevo Herald. 31 July 2007.
- ^ Stepts to Freedom | Directorio Democrático Cubano
- ^ JIS XVIII 2006 Abstracts
- ^ Mario Loyola on Cuba on National Review Online
- ^ http://www.law.upenn.edu/groups/jilp/2-1_Brady_Matthew_1.pdf
- ^ Radio República
- ^ Radio República cuenta con audiencia dentro de Cuba - Movimiento Sindical Independiente de Cuba - www.cubasindical.org
- ^ http://mx.news.yahoo.com/s/03102007/38/latinoamerica-exilio-cubano-apoya-llamado-disidencia-interna-rechazar-elecciones.html
- ^ History | Directorio Democrático Cubano
[edit] External links
- http://www.directorio.org
- http://www.radiorepublica.org
- http://www.jis3.org/volxviii.htm Abstract for "Steps to Freedom," a scholarly article on the origins and gains of the Cuban civic movement.
- http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/cuba/story/220979.html News article covering Directorio role in a united front of Cuban democracy advocates
- http://www.oas.org/oaspage/videosondemand/home_eng/videos_query.asp?sCodigo=07-0243# Directorio reports on prison conditions in Cuba before the Organization of American States. 128th Regular Session of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR): Case Hearings. (Sixth video on page)
