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Vladimiro
Roca was released from prison on May 5, after serving more
than four years.
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*** Vladimiro_Roca
has joined #DFN
DFN: Hi. Welcome
to DFN's chat with Vladimiro Roca. Mr. Roca was released from
prison last week after serving almost five years for publishing
The Homeland Belongs to Us All
(La patria es de todos), an essay urging the Cuban government
to hold democratic elections, liberalize the economy, and improve
human rights. Today, Mr. Roca met with U.S. ambassador Jimmy Carter.
This chat will be conducted
in English. Please be patient for Mr. Roca to answer your question;
there is some time delay between here and Cuba. Mr. Roca will
try and answer as many questions as possible. Welcome, Mr. Roca!
Avner: Un saludo
patriotico a Vladimiro
Alejandro: UN
saludo a Vladimiro Roca del exilio cubano
DFN: All questions
should be asked in English.
Vladimiro_Roca:
I am only expressing my appreciation to DFN to allow me this possibility
to express myself. I say hello to everyone who is participating.
Diario: my
question....what do you think about Jimmy Carter's visit to Cuba
and his speech at havana University?
Observador:
I ADMIRE YOU, MR ROCA
DFN: First
question? Diario--
Diario: thanks
Vladimiro_Roca:
Diario--I have found the visit of Mr. Carter is positive. It is
positive for the Cuban people; Jimmy Carter's speech was EXCELLENT.
It showed there are solutions to this nation's problems.
jorge: vladimiro,
did g2 men "invite" you to leave cuba?
Vladimiro_Roca:
At no moment, Jorge, has the government officially asked this
from me.
Observador:
DO YOU THINK THE DISINTEGRATION OF CUBAN OPPOSITION (THEY ARE
NOT UNITED) IS A DIFFICULT FOR THE TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY?
Vladimiro_Roca:
Observador, the weakness of the human rights movement is that
there is a lack of access to the media in Cuba. The Cuban rights
movement should have access to the media.
ana: Do the
Cuban people support you in Cuba or are they brain washed or scared
to ask for freedom?
Vladimiro_Roca:
I do not know the answer to this question, Ana, I have no idea
who supports me. I just know there are many who support me.
Diario: my question....how
is your political party doing now?
Vladimiro_Roca:
Diario, my party is not being reorganized, it is being reconstructed.
David: What
do you expect from the American people regarding Cuba?
Vladimiro_Roca:
I am always appreciative of what the American people do, but I
am against the embargo. This should end.
libertad: What
do you think is the next step of the Cuban dissidents after Carter's
visit?
Vladimiro_Roca:
Libertad, the next step is that the Cuban human rights consolidate
Proyecto Varela. It must be disseminated among the Cuban people.
Carter's visit to Cuba should be publicized more. It is has not
been made more known by the Cuban media.
tony67: What
are really the goals and platform of your party?
Vladimiro_Roca:
The platform of my party is first and foremost is to achieve a
peaceful transition to democracy which employs the means of dialogue.
There must be the right to property, the right for Cubans to invest
in their own country, the right for Cubans to go in and out of
the country. After these steps are undertaken then I can go on.
And others can continue after me.
Carlos: Vladimiro
Congratulations!!! I am interested in knowing how we can disseminate
the message of Proyecto Varela from outside the island into the
people that live in the island. Obviously Granma [the official
newspaper of Cuba's Communist Party] will not do it.
Vladimiro_Roca:
Ha ha! Those who are outside of Cuba can ask to enter Cuba freely.
They should understand people who are inside: understand us, tolerate
us. We have to be the ones who are tolerant. If Cubans are not
tolerant among ourselves, we cannot ask the government to be tolerant.
jorge: how is
your relationship with the other three of the four cosigners of
LA PATRIA ES DE TODOS?
Vladimiro_Roca:
Jorge, as for the other 3 signers of the essay La patria es
de todos, I only met with Rene Gomez Manzano and the others
I haven't spoken with yet.
Avner: There's
a visible government's reaction to the 11000 signatures presented
in the National Assembly? What do you believe that they'll make?
Vladimiro_Roca:
Excellent question. Avner—as to whether there is hope the
11,000 signatures will have an effect, the Cuban constitution
sets forth that we need 10,000 signatures to make something considered
to be drafted as a law. We got 1,000 more than is needed, so Cuba
must consider it.
Avner: in the
paper (theoretically)
Yoan_Hermida:
Hello Mr. Roca. Did you discuss LA PATRIA ES DE TODOS with Jimmy
Carter?
Vladimiro_Roca:
Yoan, it was not necessary to discuss La patria es de todos
with Jimmy Carter.
libertad: What
do you think is the next step for the Cuban dissidents after the
visit of Carter?
| The
next important step for Cuban dissidents now is to disseminate
Proyecto Varela and Carter's visit all over Cuba. |
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Vladimiro_Roca:
Libertad, the next important step for Cuban dissidents now is
to disseminate Proyecto Varela and Carter's visit all over Cuba.
DFN: Unfortunately,
Mr. Roca must now cut the session short. He will now a concluding
remark.
libertad: viva
Cuba libre
felo: Vladimiro
no se mucho inglés y llevo tres horas esperando solo para
decirte que estamos contigo, TIENES UNOS COJONES MAS GRANDE QUE
MACEO
Vladimiro_Roca:
I would just like to say: I wish to express thanks to DFN to have
access to the World Wide Web. Thank you all for coming! THANK
YOU! THANK YOU!
*** Vladimiro_Roca
has quit IRC (Quit: Leaving)
DFN: Mr. Roca
had to leave, but he will answer all questions. He has no email
address. All questions must be sent to us. For those who asked,
and were not answered, make sure to send us your e-mail address.
Thank you all for coming! Our next chat will be with Geoffrey
Nyarota of Zimbabwe.
MODERATOR: Please
send your message to me through a private message or e-mail them
to rlebow@dfn.org or use the
Web form at www.dfn.org/chat/info/ask-roca.htm
felo: AY QUE
FELICIDAD, COMO ME GUSTA HABLAR ESPAÑOL
Carlos: thanks
so much to DFN for this opportunity to chat with Vladimiro Roca.
Viva la Libertad. Viva Cuba Libre.
Avner: DIOS
LE BENDIGA! VIVA
CUBA CARAJOOOO!!!
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