http://www.unionradio.com.ve/Noticias/Noticia.aspx?noticiaid=211049
A CubaNews translation by Ana Portela. Edited by Walter Lippmann.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Mariela Castro: Cuba is prepared
for transformation with and without Fidel
EFE -
Cuba is prepared for a process of “necessary transformation” with its historical leader, Fidel Castro, or when he is no longer with us and without succumbing to chaos, according to Mariela Castro, niece of the head of the revolution and daughter of the acting Cuban president, Raul Castro.
In an interview she granted EFE, Mariela Castro (Havana 1962), psychologist and director of the National Center of Sexual Education (Cenesex) and archetect of the struggle in defense of the rights of homosexuals in Cuba, defends the need to boost an internal debate and enrichment of the revolution in the future.
A year after a serious intestinal illness Fidel Castro delegated his power to his 76-year-old brother, Raul Fidel Castro will be 81 on the 13th of this month and Mariela Castro acknowledges “the concern we all had of losing our leader which is now closer.”
“We are learning to live with our aging leader and when people age they must allow themselves to be cared for, which Fidel had never accepted. Fidel was determined to take care of us always”, she explains.
For the first time, people are accepting the process of his aging, the process that the revolution must continue without him, either with my father or other upcoming leaders, or new ones who appear, because these appear when least expected,” she added.
She assures us “Cuba has the ability to prevent chaos”, and “Cuban society is ready for a process of necessary transformation to maintain the revolutionary process with or without Fidel.
Among these “necessary transformations” she includes economic measures, social improvements and improvements in the mechanisms of governance to make them more functional”. These would make the Cuban people more responsible of their reality, of their revolutionary process “even when historical leaders are no longer with us,” she adds.
Mariela Castro is convinced that Cuban society is mature and prepared for the discussion, although she admits that perhaps not everyone has the preparation required to assume this process.
“Cuba is a country which needs a permanent discussion because there is a high cultural and educational level and the people need to participate. This is designed for participation. The problem is that all leaders do not know how to promote this participative issue and that's a shame,” she acknowledges in the interview with EFE in Havana.
Most Cubans, she points out, expect the revolution “to continue enriching itself as a fair socioeconomic process” and reject “that ridiculous transition proposed by the opportunist and gusanero elements in U.S.
She notes that her father has been working in this direction since he assumed power a year ago. In her opinion, he demonstrated this in the 26th of July message, taking advantage of the revolution's most important date.
“When such a message is delivered on the 26th of July, it means that it is the political line and is an important step forward; it means that work is ongoing in that direction and will continue to do so,” she points out.
Raul Castro, she says, is a man with a “practical sense” and a “strategist” who prepares the “necessary conditions” before presenting a proposal and that is, according to Mariela, the necessary mechanism that preceded his July 26th speech.
“When he makes a proposal he prepares for a long time and creates conditions for consensus”, she explains.
Mariela assures us that, contrary to his hard-line and orthodox image, he favors dialogue; he likes to work in a collective spirit and is “very flexible, very sensitive to the problems of people and truly wants to solve them.”
She acknowledges that perhaps “not everyone” has the same opinion of Raul Castro's style, but insists that what is important is that “issues are decided upon collectively” and “very respectfully” among the leaders of the country.
Fidel Castro, according to his niece, also works with this formula although his “moral authority is so great and his proposals so well thought out that they tend to be assumed. It is difficult to think of another alternative”.
Facing the future, Mariela Castro has trust in a revolutionary project “of all and for the good of all”.
“If I were not confident that this is the way it is going to be then there would be no sense in belonging to the revolution. If revolution, José Martí proclaimed, is for all and for the good of all, it becomes my project and I trust it is the will of the leaders of the revolution”, she adds.
She imagines a Cuba, ten years from now, involved in a “strengthened democratic participative process which must be prepared now, she says.
http://www.unionradio.com.ve/Noticias/Noticia.aspx?noticiaid=211049
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Viernes, 03 de Agosto de 2007 |
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Mariela Castro: Cuba está preparada para transformaciones con y sin Fidel |
|
EFE -
Cuba está preparada para un
proceso de "transformaciones necesarias" con su líder histórico,
Fidel Castro, o cuando éste desaparezca, y sin caer en el caos,
según Mariela Castro, sobrina del jefe de la revolución e hija
del presidente cubano en funciones, Raúl Castro. |
also posted:
Mariela Castro: Cuba está preparada para transformaciones
con y sin Fidel
Por:Mar Marín 03-08-2007 - 10:26 h.
La Habana | EFE