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CUBA: SPEECH BY FIDEL CASTRO ON CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE CAUSES MOMENTARY FEAR OF MASS EXODUS TO FLORIDA.

Article Excerpt
On June 26, the Cuban National Assembly approved a constitutional amendment making socialism "irrevocable" in Cuba. While the change was generally seen in the US as a response to a dissident-sponsored petition drive to legislate, among other things, a free-market economy, President Fidel Castro said the amendment responded to aggressive speeches made earlier by President George W. Bush. Castro warned that Cuba might cancel the only two formal agreements it has with the US, leading to rumors of a mass exodus of Cubans to Florida.

The dissident Varela Project--named after a nineteenth century Cuban patriot--collected some 11,000 signatures on a petition asking the National Assembly to hold a referendum on measures protecting human rights, free speech, free association, and a free press; declaring an amnesty for political prisoners; allowing citizens to own private companies; changing the electoral laws; and holding free National Assembly elections. The leader of the project is Oswaldo Paya, who heads the dissident Movimiento Cristiano de Liberacion (MCL).

The Varela petition received widespread international support. Forgotten in the enthusiasm for it was the petition's coupling the legislative initiatives with a demand that the US end its embargo.

Some legal scholars in the US and Cuba said the petition would be rejected by the Assembly on technical grounds because some of the measures require constitutional amendments, which cannot be made by petition. Amendments to the Constitution, which was adopted by a popular vote in 1976, must be approved both by the Assembly and by the voters through a referendum.

Socialism is now "irrevocable"

In late May, Castro launched...

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