CANF STATEMENT ON FIDEL CASTRO RESIGNATION

“Today’s announcement of the resignation of Fidel Castro closes a dark chapter in Cuban history. His half-a-century-old reign of terror has come to an end, yet the system he created all those years ago to maintain total control over the population, remains. This brings about a historic opportunity for those within the upper echelons of the Cuban government, including apparent successor Raul Castro, to take significant steps toward democratic change, restoring to the Cuban people their inalienable right to self-determination. If the current regime opts to continue on the same path the Cuban people will force the change—they will no longer be denied. Every day more brave men and women add their voices to the call for democratic change. They take to the streets demanding the release of political prisoners; they go door to door collecting signatures petitioning for significant reforms; they write and speak out about the regime’s abuses and of a desire to live in freedom. In the coming months, Cuba’s dissidents will have a unique opportunity to press for peaceful democratic change, raising their voices and inevitably drowning out those who have preached rhetoric and imposed repression for almost 50 years.”