Summary: CANF Policy Recommendations in a post-Fidel Castro era

Following the transfer of power from Fidel to Raul Castro on July 31, 2006, the Cuban regime has
demonstrated that without Fidel Castro at the helm, Cuba will be forced to undergo change. There are
those within the circles of power who will wish to cling to the status quo, eventually, if not already,
they will be faced with the harsh reality that the present situation is not a sustainable one and that
Raul Castro lacks the skill and tenaciousness that marked his brother's brutal, yet regrettably
successful, hold on power.
The regime's conundrum, when faced with Fidel Castro's incapacitation due to illness, was how to
distribute power within a system which had, instead of creating powerful and trusted institutions that
could continue on with the work of the government; placed trust in a handful of Fidel loyalists with
little to no power to act and make decisions independent of his counsel. It was precisely that group to
which responsibility was then distributed following his incapacitation. Rather than the unified front the
regime would like to present to its population and the international community, rivalries and friction,
created and fueled by Fidel himself in order to prevent alliances to threaten his rule, exist within the
group. Those fissions will only become greater as a vacuum of leadership, which in the long term
cannot be filled by Raul, will become more apparent.
Cuba 's present day reality has brought on a historic opportunity for those within the civilian and
military government, as well as Cuba's homegrown opposition, to act and change the course of Cuba's
future. While the responsibility to change Cuba's destiny lies on the shoulders of those on-Island, the
Cuban exile and international communities can play an important role in helping to ensure that the
nation embarks on a course towards democracy. Because time is an important factor in developing
events, that support and assistance needs to be immediate and direct. The United States must send a
consistent and persistent message to the military and civilian government as well as the internal
opposition and the general Cuban population that outlines a program of support for those who chose to
work for change, providing powerful incentives, and direct assistance. It is perhaps more important
now than it has ever been, that the United States, one of Cuba's closest neighbors and the world's most
powerful nation, take a vocal and active role in bringing Cuba into the community of democracies.


The Cuban exile too has an important role to play. It is because we recognize the importance of this
that we believe increasing, not further restricting, family communication and visits to Cuba are
essential to moving events on-island. Cuban American family members can act as ambassadors of
change, taking much needed assistance, but more importantly, helping to transmit that message of
hope and support, as well as dispel the regime's propaganda intended to further divide the Cuban
family and create fear of change. It is evident by the regime's actions to restrict access to Cuba,
particularly by international media outlets, that it seeks to carefully select what the world is privy to.
This is precisely why, a liberalization of Cuban American travel is also crucial to learning more about
the internal situation and helping to further destabilize the regime's hold on power.
A transition towards democracy in Cuba will restore that nation to the beneficial trading
partner and strategic ally and friend to the United States it once was. No doubt a transition
there too will play a critical role in helping to turn around troublesome events in the
hemisphere which have led to the election of socialist, anti-American leadership throughout
much of Latin America. This is why we recommend the following measures be implemented
immediately, in order to capitalize on this historic opportunity:
Pursue the indictment of Raul Castro . In 1993, Federal prosecutors were preparing to indict
the Cuban Defense Minister for accepting payment from Columbian drug lords in order to use
Cuban waters and airstrips to stag smuggling runs to the United States. According to Justice
Department sources, there was an abundance of evidence to make the case, but for political
reasons, the Clinton Administration did not allow prosecutors to continue with the indictment.
Raul Castro must also be indicted for his direct role in the murder of the Brothers to the Rescue
pilots, where there is evidence that he was directly involved in carrying out the shoot down of
innocent Americans;
Call on the Cuban regime to hold open elections, monitored by international observer groups;
Establish and help fund a micro-loan/joint-venture program between Cubans abroad and their
relatives, friends, and other self-employed individuals and groups on the island;
Allow U.S. based micro-loan agencies to grant monies to independent Cuban entrepreneurs,
monitored by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to ensure loans are reaching
independent actors and not currently-run regime operations;
Allow remittances of up to $1,000 each quarter by a United States person or group to any
independent association, cooperative or individual (not found to be directly responsible for
acts of repression against Cuban citizens) in Cuba;
Negotiate DIRECT mail service to Cuba;
Conditionally lift the 2004 Bush Administration restrictions for Cuban American travel to the
island and for the next one-year period-beginning in January of 2007-allow biyearly
humanitarian family travel;


Fund scholarships in third countries for sons and daughters of political prisoners, dissidents and
families marginalized by the regime;
Send a clear and consistent message to those in Cuba that both the military and the present
bureaucracy have a role to play in the democratic future of Cuba;
Establish an International Democracy Fund for Cuba through such bodies as the European Union
and the Organization of American States, to provide economic assistance and technical
guidance for a transition government;
Increase and diversify transmissions of Radio and TV Mart, ensuring that a message of hope and
support is reaching the Cuban people in the manner most effective. The CANF has publicly
stated: We firmly oppose any intent to evict Cuban families from their present dwellings or
land parcels and we support actions that facilitate their attaining full property rights over
said dwellings and parcels. This message should be echoed by the U.S. government;
Expand the excellent program of granting visas to Cuban medical doctors and medical
personnel serving international missions for the Castro regime;
Use the majority of lottery visas for family reunification in the United States, according to
humanitarian need and prioritize nuclear family members;
Expand the travel category of "support for the Cuban people", encouraging U.S.-based NGO's
and student organizations focused on democracy-building to travel to Cuba.