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FROM
CUBA
Interview
with Attorney Ren� G�mez Manzano 1l3ec
"It is essential to modify the present
constitutional rules."
HAVANA, December (cubanet.sergipeconectado.com) - "The
change must be based on the democratic principles
of the Constitution of 1940," Attorney
Ren Gmez Manzano asserted
in statements made to CubaNet. Lucas Garve,
member of the Foundation for Freedom of
Expression, interviewed Atty. Gmez
Manzano in his apartment in the Vedado neighborhood
of Havana.
Attorney Ren Gmez Manzano
was born on December 19, 1943 in Havana.
Since the 90s he has been a member of the
"Corriente Agramontista" (independent
attorneys) and was one of the four dissident
leaders who drafted the text of "La
Patria es de Todos" (The
Homeland Belongs To Us All). After being
released after a little more than two years
in prison, he ed the Assembly for the
Promotion of Civil Society along with Martha
Beatriz Roque and Flix Bonne Carcasss.
Q: What is the difference between Atty.
Gmez Manzano of the "Corriente
Agramontista," The Homeland Belongs
To Us All, and the Declaration of November
24th?
RGM: I'm exactly the same person
with a few more years.
Q: One of the points of the Declaration
is the restoration of the Constitution of
1940. Why in 2003? What justifies this?
RGM: What is posed in one of the points
of the Declaration is that the present Constitution
is the cornerstone of the totalitarian system,
and that in order for there to be real change
and so it can be said that change has begun
in Cuba, a substantial reform is needed
of the totalitarian provisions contained
in the Constitution now in force. For example,
the limitations it has in relation to human
rights and the role of the Communist Party,
which is proclaimed as the highest ruling
authority of society and the State. And
so we say that as a result of this there
must be a change, and we believe that change
must be based on the democratic principles
of the Constitution of 1940. But it isn't
posed in that manner, that the present Constitution
should be replaced by that of 1940. What
we do raise is that it's essential to modify
the present constitutional rules. As long
as this isn't done, we won't be able to
say that change has begun in Cuba.
Q: Is this declaration an action of the
Assembly for the Promotion of Civil Society
or it is the act of Mr. Bonne, Mrs. Morejn
de Biscet and you?
RGM: From one side Professor Flix
Antonio Bonne Carcasss and I signed,
and on the other side, Attorney Elsa Morejn,
the wife of Dr. Oscar Elas Biscet.
She offered to sign in the name of the Lawton
Foundation, which her distinguished husband
organized and directs. In our case (referring
to Bonne Carcasss and himself) we
signed in our individual capacities. For
what reason? We're the principal organizers
of the Assembly for the Promotion of Civil
Society, but this is a group - the largest
one of the domestic dissidence that s
together 365 duly ed, independent
entities that expressed their approval for
the ideas and the thesis of the Assembly
- and what occurs? To collect the signatures
of all those entities would be very hard
and in view of the provisional situation
that exists, we signed in our individual
capacities, without prejudice, of course,
that those not attached to the Assembly,
and all those entities attached to the Assembly,
would wish to follow this document and
it as, for sure, many brothers in exile
are doing, common citizens, and important
organizations that wish to it.
Q: On behalf of the Foundation for Freedom
of Expression and CubaNet, thank you for
answering our questions.
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