[NYTr] Reports on Cuba's Municipal Elections Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:09:39 -0500 (CDT) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN) http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles Fidel Castro Votes at Cuban Elections; Sends Bush Clear Nessage Havana, Oct 21 (acn) Cuban President Fidel Castro cast his vote at Municipal Elections on Sunday and issued a public declaration bearing a clear message to US President George W. Bush. Fidel Castros declaration was read on Cuban TV by Migdalia GarcC-a, president of the local electoral commission at a voting station in the Havana municipality of Plaza de la Revolucion, after the Cuban President cast his vote through a member of the local commission. In his message Fidel addressed the latest news about the announcement by a White House spokesperson that US President George W. Bush would soon present new "initiatives" for the so-called transition period in Cuba. Fidel recalled statements by Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon that after the so-called US-promoted transition of Cuba takes place; the US-based Cuban-American mafia would set up its firing squads against all militants of the Cuban Communist Party, the Communist youth as well as the leaders of grassroots organizations. Mr. Bush, your genocidal blockade, your support of terrorism, your murderous Cuban Adjustment Act, your policy of dry feet-wet feet, your protection of major terrorists of this hemisphere, your unjust punishment offive Cuban heroes, who denounced the dangers that US citizens and othernationals would be submitted toB must cease!. Sovereignty is notnegotiable, said Fidel Castro in his public declaration. The Cuban Revolution leader also demanded the end of shameful tortures undertaken at the occupied Cuban territory of Guantanamo and he said that Cubans were never intimidated by the US threats of launching preventive andsurprise attacks on 60 or more dark corners of the world. He said theresults of that threat can be observed in only one country, which is Iraq. "Do not attack others, do not threaten humankind with a nuclear war; thenations will defend themselves and all will burn at that stake," said Fidel Castro in his declaration. *** President of Cuban Parliament Says Elections Mean Sovereignty Havana, Oct 21(acn) The President of the Cuban Parliament Ricardo Alarcon de Quezada said the October 21 municipal elections are a chance for Cubans to reaffirm their patriotism and continue to defend the sovereignty and independence of their fatherland. After casting his vote at voting station number 2 of electoral district 76 in the municipality of Plaza de la Revolucion in Havana City, Alarcon said the Sunday elections mark an extension of National Culture Day on October 20 and the creation of the Popular Power in 1976. This date also celebrates the creation of the first Cuban government, which was made up by workers and slaves alike, at the beginning of the independence wars in 1868; the birth of the Cuban identity and culture. bThe number of candidates increases every year, and we advocate the incorporation of more and more women to the process,b stressed the President of the Cuban Parliament. bEven the weather seems to be in favor of the elections,b commented Alarcon, referring to the rainy period faced by most Cuban provinces during this month. *** Diplomatic Corps Corroborates Transparency of Cuban Elections Havana, Oct 21 (acn) The transparency of Cuban Municipal Elections was corroborated on Sunday by members of the diplomatic community based on the island. During a visit to a local voting station in the Havana municipality of Centro Habana, Ethiopian ambassador to Havana Berhanu Dibaba described the vote as transparent and organized, with strict control of procedures, in an election where Cuban citizens vote for their representatives democratically, not like it usually happens in other countries. Diplomats from several Asian, African and European countries were briefed about the stages of the municipal electoral process, from the nomination of candidates at neighbourhood meetings, up to the vote taking place this Sunday. Jamaica's ambassador to Havana Elinor Sherlock praised the Cuban Foreign Ministry's initiative to explain details on the electoral process, which she described as deeply democratic because "it is the people that nominate instead of political parties." The diplomats shared views with the members of the local electoral commission and with the school children who custody the ballot boxes; they checked the voting booths where they confirmed the secret character of the vote and they also learned that the delegates to be elected will not receive any salary or benefits for they work. *** Cuban Elections, a Matter of Essence and not Appearance Havana, Oct 21(acn) "In Cuba it is the people and not the political parties who choose and elect their own candidates", said Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage Davila today in statements to the press after voting early on Sunday together with his family at their corresponding voting station in Havana. "Over 8.3 million Cubans will take part in the municipal elections this October 21", assured Lage and referred to them as "a democratic process I am proud of." "It takes just one biography of the candidate posted where electors can read it, and not a city full of posters and campaigns with pictures of smiling candidates to appeal to voters. It is the essence and not the appearance that matters in Cuban elections," the leader added. "The delegates to the Popular Power municipal assemblies have a hard task ahead of them. They must be there for people to help them solve their problems 24 hours a day, and many among them are young people and women," added Lage. About Cuban President Fidel Castro, Carlos Lage said "he is well, leading perhaps the most important task of the Revolution right now, that of raising awareness of today's real world, and of our social system and our struggles." As scheduled, the 37,740 voting stations all over the country opened at seven this morning, for Cuban voters to elect a total of 15,236 delegates from among 37,328 nominated candidates. These delegates will represent the Cuban people in the 169 municipal assemblies of the Popular Power. *** Cuban Vice President Raul Castro Votes Havana, Oct 21(acn) Cuban First Vice President Raul Castro Ruz exercised his right to vote this Sunday at his local voting station in Havana. The second in command cast his secret vote in an ballot box guarded by primary school students, as is customary in Cuban elections. The head of the district electoral commission Lauris Perez, told Raul that at that point 63 per cent of the voters listed had already balloted at this voting station, number 3 in voting district 107 in the municipality of Plaza de la Revolucion in the capital Havana. On his way out, Raul greeted voters and promised to pass on a get well soon message to Fidel sent by a neighbor. By nine in the morning nearly 3.1 million voters out of the 8.3 millions listed had already balloted for their candidates as delegates to the Popular Power municipal assemblies. *** Cuba: New Demonstration of Participatory Democracy Havana, Oct 21 (acn) The massive vote taking place in Cuba is a new demonstration of genuine participatory democracy, said Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque after he cast his vote on Sunday. "The Cuban people nominates and elects their representatives and therefore this Sunday we are witnessing the celebration day of the people, not the celebration of money," said Perez Roque in direct reference to the US electoral system. Delegates to municipal assemblies are elected on the basis of their virtues and merits, contrary to what happens in other countries, where demagogy and unfulfilled promises prevail, he said. Perez Roque recalled that the US electoral system is an example of struggle for power and money waste, since just to be elected by either the Republican or the Democratic Party, they use 11 million dollars for frenetic campaigns. In Cuba, delegates may even been revoked by their voters and they have to report to the people about their actions aimed at helping advance the social-economic work of the Cuban Revolution. Over 8,3 million Cuban citizens will cast their vote this Sunday at 37, 749 voting stations set up at different facilities like schools, family doctor offices, and others. The lowest figure of voters registered in Cuba over the past 12 elections held in Cuba, was 95,2 percent in 1976. *** Municipal Elections Began Sunday in Cuba Havana, Oct 21 (acn) Cubans from all walks of life began to turn out at voting stations during early hours on Sunday to elect the delegates to 169 people's power municipal assemblies throughout the island. A total of 37, 749 voting stations opened at 7:00 am on Sunday, with the notes of the National Anthem and flanked by the Cuban Flag and the Coat of Arms. As it is usual in Cuban elections, ballot boxes are under the custody of school children dressed in their complete school uniforms. Cuban citizens will execute their electoral right through direct and secret vote, in what is considered the most genuine expression of national self-determination and sovereignty. Over 37,250 Cuban citizens were nominated to the election, 28,9 percent are women and 21,3 are young people. Last September some 50,760 nomination assemblies were held at neighborhood level, which were attended by over 7 million Cubans, 84 percent of all Cubans over 16 years of age. A total of 15,236 delegates will be elected during this first round and during a second vote next October 27. They will represent the population of their own communities at the local government offices for a two and a half year period. Some 8, 3 million Cuban citizens are expected to vote in this election in what is considered an expression of the Cuban people's determination to choose their own destiny. * ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us Our main website: http://www.blythe.org List Archives: http://blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ Subscribe: http://blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr =================================================================