The Venezuelan Dialogue, From a Cuban Point of View

The Venezuelan Dialogue, From a Cuban Point of View / Yoani Sanchez
Posted on April 14, 2014

The dialog between the Venezuelan opposition and Nicolas Maduro is in
full swing. Its critics are many, its most visible loser: the Cuban
government. For a system that for more than half a century has
disqualified and reprimanded its dissidents, this discussion table must
present a sad acknowledgement of its own inabilities.

Last Tuesday stunned Cuban viewers could watch a debate between the
opposition forces in Venezuela and pro-government representatives. The
controversial meeting was broadcast on TeleSur, which is characterized
by its tendency to back the work of Chavism with its reporting. On this
occasion, however, it was forced to also broadcast the concerns and
arguments of the other side.

The requirement that cameras and microphones would be present at the
discussion proved to be a magnificent political move by Maduro's
adversaries. In this way the audience is engaged in the dialog and it's
more difficult to publish distorted versions later. The participants on
both sides were allowed ten minutes each, an exercise in synthesis that
the Venezuelan president, clearly, couldn't accomplish.

For disinformed Cubans, the first thing that jumped out at us was the
high level of the arguments the opposition brought to the table.
Figures, statistics and concrete examples expressed within a framework
of respect. The next day the most commonly heard comment in the streets
of Havana was the popular phrase, "They swept the floor with Maduro." A
clear reference to the crushing critiques of his rivals. The government
supporters, however, were notably timid, fearful, and offered a
discourse plagued with slogans.

There is no doubt, this discussion table has been a bitter pill to
swallow for those who up until a few hours before were accusing their
political opponents of being "fascists" and "enemies of the nation."
Venezuela will no longer be the same, although the negotiations end
tomorrow and Nicolas Madura will once again take the microphone to hand
out insults right and left. He acceded to a discussion and this marks a
distance between the path followed by the Plaza of the Revolution and
another that recently began for Miraflores.

And in Cuba? Is this also possible?

While the broadcast of the Venezuelan dialogue was airing, many of us
asked ourselves if something similar could occur in our political
scenario. Although the official press presents these conversations as a
sign of strength on the part of Chavism, it has also kept enough
distance so that we won't get illusions of possible Cuban versions.

It is less chimeric to imagine Raul Castro getting on a plane and
escaping the country than to project him sitting at a table with those
he dubs counterrevolutionaries. For more than five decades, both he and
his brother have been dedicated to demonizing dissident voices, such
that now they are prevented from accepting a conversation with their
critics. The danger posed by the impossibility of negotiations is that
it leaves only the path to an overthrow, with its consequent trail of
chaos and violence.

However, not only do the Cuban regime's principal figures show
reluctance before any negotiating table. The better part of the Island's
opposition doesn't want to hear it spoken of. Before this double
rejection, the agenda of a chimeric meeting fails to take shape. The
opposition parties haven't yet come together on a project for the
country that can be coherently defended in any negotiation and look like
a viable alternative. We members of the emerging civil society have
reasons to feel concerned. Are the politicians now operating illegally
in the country prepared to sustain a debate and capable of convincing an
audience? Could they represent us with dignity when the time comes?

The answer to this question will only be known once the opportunity
arises. Until now the Cuban political dissidence has concentrated more
on tearing down than on elaborating foundational strategies; the greater
part of their energy has been directed to opposing the governing Party
rather than on persuading their potential followers within the
population. Given the limitations on disseminating their programs and
the numerous material restrictions they suffer, these groups have not
been able to carry their message to a significant number of Cubans. It
is not entirely their responsibility, but they should be aware that
these deficiencies hinder them.

If tomorrow the table for a dialog was set, it would be unlikely that we
would hear a speech from the Cuban opposition as well articulated as
that achieved by their Venezuelan colleagues. However, although
negotiation isn't a current possibility, no one should be exempted from
preparing for it. Cuba needs for the people before those possible
microphones to be those who best represent the interests of the nation,
its worries, its dreams. They may speak for us, the citizens, but
please, do so coherently, without verbal violence and with arguments
that convince us.

14 April 2014

http://translatingcuba.com/the-venezuelan-dialogue-from-a-cuban-point-of-view-yoani-sanchez/