The letters with the words of support and solidarity were handed to the recipients by Mr. Gulczynski, the director of the Lech Walesa Institute during his visit in Havana on October 18-31, 2007.  The visit was the element of the program “Polish Solidarity with Cuba” in order to show the moral support to the pro-democratic activists.

Among the addressees were: Oswaldo Paya  Sardiñas (Movimiento Christiano Liberación), Ladies in White - Laura Pollan Toledo, the independent journalists, Miriam Leiva and Oscar Espinoza Chepe and former editors of Vitral magazine  Dagoberto Hernández Valdéz, Virgilio Toledo López, Maria Caridad Gálvez Chiu.  Mr. Gulczynski met also with the representatives of the movement FLAMUR,  Belinda Salas and Katia Sonia Martin.

Mr. Gulczynski visited Cubans in their homes, and he also participated in the holy mass in the St. Rita church in Havana, where Ladies in White meet every Sunday to protest against the imprisonment of their relatives due to their political beliefs.  On behalf of Pres. Walesa, Mr. Gulczynski assured about their support for all the activities of the Cuban democrats, and their effort in building the civil society in the island.

All the met persons spoke about the constant feeling of fear and insecurity of tomorrow. Damas de blanco paid attention to the difficult situation of the families of the political prisoners. They stressed the fact that although the government allow them contacting the relatives, at the same time sends the prisoners to the distant regions in the island. Due to the transport crisis and lack of money, members of families do not have possibility to meet. Laura Pollan mentioned that the most important issue in their struggle is the release of the prisoners of conscience.

This is also the main objective for Oswaldo Paya for, as he said, the political prisoners are the most endangered to the repressions in the moment of the aggravation of the situation in the country.  Mr. Paya claims that Cuba is in the moment just before the transformation for the country is in the deep economic crisis and progressive social disappointment with the current situation. The system changes, according to Mr. Paya, need to be implemented with the respect for all the social groups.

During all the conversations the recurrent theme was the lack of consent among the opposition regarding the way of transformation.  Dagoberto Valdés emphasized the need to act in the spirit of dialogue and co-operation. Dagoberto Valdes paid attention to shortage of materials which concerns the transformation period in Poland.  The effective and peaceful transformation – as Mr. Valdés said – is possible only with the common effort of all groups; success is not possible to gain alone: solo no se puede llegar. 

The main subject of the conversation with Miriam Leiva and Oscar E. Chepe was difficult economic situation in Cuba. Mr. Chepe noticed that the call for economic reform, for what he was criticized in 80s. and 90s., and then excluded from the Communist Party, is now publicly articulated.  He emphasized the necessity to educate Cubans about the consequences of the transformation in response to harmful and deceitful government propaganda. Mr. Chepe and Ms. Leiva spoke about the difficulties of living in Cuba in the face of constant search frisking and deterring by the security service.

 According to Mr. Gulczynski Cuba is ready to start the multilateral talks of the opposition and the elite. That is why the Polish model of transformation based on the wide social consensus gained at the Round Table would be the most applicable for Cubans. Pres. Walesa as an advocate of the peaceful struggle for democracy is going to continue grant his support to Cubans who aspire at democracy.

See the letters of Pres. Walesa in Spanish:

Laura Pollan

Oswaldo Paya Sardinas

Miriam Leiva y Oscar Espinoza Chepe

Vitral