The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) urged all those Cubans of Spanish nationality who live in Cuba to vote NOnext February 24, when the Referendum for the new Constitution takes place.
"I invite you not only to admire the Spanish passport, but as a Cuban to see an example in the democracy of this great nation. A democracy that was built with a lot of sacrifice, but in a peaceful way: from Law to Law," says the OCDH message, released on social networks by its executive director of the OCDH, Alejandro González Raga.
About 139,851 Cubans have Spanish nationality, the majority, a figure that has increased since 2007, the year in which the Historical Memory Law was put into effect. Since 2009, the number of Cubans with Spanish nationality has grown by 228%, from 42,592 to the current 139,851; about 5,174 more than in 2017.
According to OCDH, "for 60 years, the Communist Party has sowed division and misery in Cuba. Young people have no future and the elderly wonder how long."
"For this reason, today I speak to you who live in Cuba but are connected to Spain through your second nationality," Raga said in the statement.
He also added: "Cuba needs an urgent change of course. Voting as the government wants is equivalent to saying that everything is going well, and you know that is not true. Therefore, I ask you to dream and demand for your family a democracy and a state of well-being like those enjoyed by millions of Spaniards. And in this sense, we respectfully believe that the first step would be to vote NO in the referendum on February 24. Thank you very much.
On February 24, the referendum will take place so that Cubans can symbolically decide on the text of the Magna Carta. We say "symbolically" because we all know in advance that democracy in Cuba is not something that takes place, and this referendum is an illusion of democracy.
Within the Island the government has promoted a great campaign in favor of YES, while outside Cuba the hagstags "YoVotoNo" are raining.
The Cuban community with Spanish nationality is not a negligible number, and it is increasingly increasing. According to data offered to Martí Noticias by representatives of specialized law firms, more than 200,000 Cubans could acquire Spanish nationality with the reform of the Historical Memory Law.
"Many Cubans who in 2010 could not apply for Spanish nationality, because the Historical Memory Law expired, will be able to do so,"a specialist noted.
What do you think?
COMMENTFiled in: