“No one has a choice here.”
On the occasion of the parliamentary elections in Cuba on Sunday, March 26, the International Society for Human Rights (IGFM) points out that the Caribbean island has been a one-party dictatorship since 1959, with all other parties banned except the Communist Party.
There are only 450 candidates for 450 seats in parliament.
So the outcome of the election is already certain, according to the Frankfurt-based human rights organization, which has a section in Cuba.
“The dictatorial regime in Cuba regularly holds sham elections to present itself as a democracy. The Cuban people have long seen through this farce of the regime.”
“The so-called representatives of the National Assembly always vote in the government’s favor.”
“Therefore, elections in the country will continue to produce no real reforms in the economic system or improvements in human rights.”
“The young generation sees no future and votes with their feet.”
“In 2023 alone, over 200,000 Cubans have left the country,” explains Martin Lessenthin, Cuba expert and board spokesman of IGFM.
MEASURES TO INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT
The human rights experts emphasize that the parliament has no real power in Cuba but still lies with the Castros and their supporters.
Even President Miguel Diaz Canel Bermudez, they say, is mere “a puppet of the Castros.”
In order not to have such a low voter turnout as in last year’s local elections – at that time, more than 30% of the eligible voters did not vote – the regime has been running a propaganda campaign throughout the country for weeks.
As IGFM has learned, state employees, for example, must call on their fellow citizens at least three times a day via telephone and the internet to go to the polls.
The state-controlled media also advertise the election and make voting a civic duty.
ABSTENTION AS A SIGN OF DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
In addition to the human rights violations, the more than 1,000 political prisoners, the lack of the rule of law, and restrictions on civil liberties, the IGFM also describes the economic situation in Cuba as “disastrous.”
The population suffers from high inflation, and citizens line up at supermarkets with food stamps and lack even the most essential medicines.
Those who can leave the country.
The IGFM calls on Cubans to express their discontent – due to the lack of choice – by not casting their vote in this sham election.
The abstention, in this case, is a sign of democracy, pluralism, and freedom of opinion in Cuba.
More: Cuba news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
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