More than 200 artists, activists and academics have launched a new petition among the members of the Committee on Academic Freedom and Human Rights of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA), calling for an explicit and "unambiguous" statement on its "commitment to the rule of law in Cuba."
"We are writing to you motivated by the recent 'Statement on the protection of human rights in Cuba' endorsed by the LASA on May 29, 2021. As will be recalled, this statement came about in response to the request by more than 300 academics and intellectuals for the LASA to unambiguously condemn the continuous violations of human rights by the Cuban State," read a letter published on the IPetitions platform.
They believe that "it was a petition in line with the historical statements of the LASA in relation to the state repression that has occurred in other Latin American countries, such as Colombia and Chile."
"However, far from responding to the request, the statement features but a weak first sentence referring abstractly to the current situation on the island in terms of human rights with words like 'treatment' and 'concern,'" they lament.
They are critical of the fact that the rest of the text avoids the issue, instead focusing on the US trade embargo (erroneously called a 'blockade'), without identifying those responsible for the systematic violations of human rights in Cuba, or explicitly acknowledging that they exist, as has been documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Human Rights Foundation.
"Over time, the LASA has spoken out against the US embargo, and there is no doubt that the majority of the signatories here also condemn this aggression against the island. However, by diverting attention to the 'blockade', LASA's executive committee falsely and dangerously insinuates that the human rights violation is justified by the embargo," they note.
"Using the argument of 'sovereignty', as the dictatorships of the Southern Cone once did to dismiss condemnations of the disappearances, torture and executions that were taking place at that time, degrades the historical memory of the region and seriously compromises the LASA's ethical principles. This inappropriate statement points to the LASA 's historic silencing of civilian victims of State repression in Cuba," they contend.
For the signatories, "the fact that still, in the second decade of the 21st century, the LASA insists on evading these continuous violations of human rights , not only calls into question its reputation and commitment to basic values such as freedom of thought, artistic creation, and academic production, but also pushes us to abandon the Association, seeking spaces for Latin American academic professionalization unambiguously committed to democratic values."
"In order to break with the historical silencing of the continuous violations of rights in Cuba, and to eliminate the double standard that condemns repression by right-wing governments, but holds left-wing ones unaccountable; and in order to honor the commitment undertaken by the LASA to unconditionally defend human rights and academic freedom, we call for a direct, clear and resounding statement," says the initiative.
They are asking the LASA for an explicit "condemnation of the violation of human rights in Cuba."
"In accordance with the principles of respect for diversity and solidarity with the most vulnerable sectors - that is, the poorest and most racialized - an urgent appeal should be made to the Cuban Government to cease its detentions, forced disappearances, house arrests, permanent social surveillance and daily discrediting of activists, artists and intellectuals in the official media."
"We ask that the LASA urge the Cuban Government to meet its demands for the recognition and inclusion of civil society, especially youth. It is equally important to demand an end to the of harassment of independent media and human rights organizations charged with documenting and reporting these violations, where ordinary citizens cannot turn to State authorities," they add.
The initiative also calls for "condemnation of violations of academic freedom. The LASA is an independent and plural association. It does not uphold ideological premises, nor does it owe allegiance to the governments of the region or their official intellectuals."
"Therefore, it is imperative that the LASA demand an end to violations of academic freedom in Cuba, as documented in the reports of the Observatorio de Libertad Académica (OLA); the testimony of victims like Omara Ruiz Urquiola (Higher Design Institute of Havana), Leonardo Rodríguez González and Dalila Rodríguez González (Universidad Central Marta Abreu de Villa Clara), Ariel Ruiz Urquiola, Oscar Antonio Casanella Saint-Blancard (University of Havana) and René Fidel González (University of the East); and in studies published by authors such as Rafael Rojas and José Raúl Gallegos Ramos," it continues.
"It is necessary to end all forms of job degradation, the political and ideological persecution of academics, the lack of academic freedom, selective interruptions of Internet service, as well as the censorship and expulsion of students and teachers from their universities," it says.
They demand "an end to hostilities against those members of the Association, including the directors of some sections, who are watched and intimidated due to their presentations on the lack of freedoms on the island, during and after the LASA congresses."
They also demand an "equitable inclusion of independent voices in Cuba."
The signatories issue "a call for the same efforts made to facilitate Cuban delegations' presence at the LASA congress (some of their members carrying out propaganda and surveillance work) to be made to ensure the presence of independent and marginalized voices on the island."
"We are aware that this implies dealing, not only with the denial of US visas, but also with the activists and scholars who have been barred from leaving Cuba, and whose Internet connections have been blocked so that they cannot participate on the virtual panels. A minimum of equity, incorporating the members most vulnerable to the power of the State, is desirable", they express.
"In view of all of the foregoing, the undersigned respectfully request that the LASA issue a new statement that clearly clarifies its commitment to the rule of law in Cuba and to the human rights of Latin American citizens without national or ideological distinctions, or of any other kind," they conclude.