Jan. 24 interview with Irma Sehwerert, René González’s mother and outgoing deputy of Cuba’s National Assembly of Peoples’ Power; and Magali Llort, Fernando González’s mother and newly-elected deputy. René González and Fernando González are two of the Cuban Five, political prisoners in the United States who were persecuted for defending Cuba from Miami-based terrorism. Arnold August:
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Arnold August:
How did you find out about that proposal?Irma Sehwerert:
The Candidacy Commission calls you and says, “Look, we are thinking of your case among the different proposals we have taken into consideration.” They consult you about your personal availability and check whether there would be any difficulties. Then, the consultation process starts because many people are consulted on each proposal. The moral and family attitudes of the candidate are looked into, the work he or she does, the merits he or she has because there are really thousands and thousands of Cuban people who have the right, due to their attitude, to be there and hold a seat in the National Assembly, but there are only 614 seats and it is not an easy task for the Candidacy Commission.Arnold August:
Do the Delegates and Deputies have daily contact with the people in the communities?Irma Sehwerert:
Yes. This enriches the National Assembly a lot because problems are discussed there. (Note: Since the 2003 national elections, Irma Sehwerert is a member of one of the 10 Permanent Working or Standing Commissions of the Cuban National Assembly: The Commission to Attend to Youth, Childhood and Women’s Equal Rights). The work of the Permanent Commissions is done throughout the year.Arnold August:
You were a member of the National Assembly five years ago when you were elected. How are Permanent Working Commissions formed? And in your case, how were you proposed to become part of the Permanent Commissions?Irma Sehwerert:
The Commissions are assessed because they have to have a composition of specialists. If it is the Legal Affairs and Juridical Commission, there should be lawyers, I mean, persons who have knowledge about the area, and there should be people from the community. I was selected because of my community work. I have worked for a long time in prevention; first in the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) and later in the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution. I like the preventive work a lot. In this work to stave off problems children are experiencing with having behavioural issues and who are in Behavioral Schools. They attend these special schools. (Note: Behavioral Schools are attended by those children having a social/society behaviour which is not consistent with our established norms, or having problems in the educational process. Special attention is provided to these children to help them emerge out of their situation). I have always very much loved this kind of work and I have always put it into practice. I was a volunteer social worker.Arnold August:
Did you become a volunteer social worker after you retired?Irma Sehwerert:
No, it was before I retired. Since the year 1963 I started to work as volunteer social worker. I worked in a Fishing Research Center as a librarian in the technical formation area and on Sunday nights I put into practice my volunteer social work. I liked that job a lot. When it became known that I worked for years in that same job and that I had the vocation, I was selected. It happens because there is a biography indicating the things you have done and in what way you have contributed to the country, and then I was selected in that commission due to my community work. The Permanent Commission to Attend to Youth, Childhood and Women Equal Rights was headed by Vilma Espín, Elsita was the Secretary. She is a member of the Federation of Cuban Women. The President of the Organization for Pioneers (UPC) also participated and is the Vice-President of the Permanent Commission. This commission also counted with another thirty persons.Arnold August:
Could you mention some examples of the work carried out by the commission in its last mandate?Irma Sehwerert:
The first thing we have at hand is to establish a semester working plan. In the first meeting, we are given the semester working plan by provinces and then we visit many child day-care centers verifying the conditions available to the children, the children’s food, the situation regarding the quality of the building construction and the people who take care of them, their cultural level and if they fulfill the requirements. The work is done with the youth and the youth’s initiatives. I was deputy during part of the worst time of the Special Period. We had to assess if children were eating vegetables, getting enough vitamins; in fact, how things like this were being implemented.Arnold August:
How is that done?Irma Sehwerert:
Well, I arrive at the children day-care centers by surprise.Arnold August:
All over the country?Irma Sehwerert:
All over the country. All Commissions work like that. Of course, we could not see all day-care centers, but we did visit many of them. Later, in that same semester, we had visits to Primary and Secondary Schools. One of the difficulties we found was that secondary-school children had entire afternoons without activities so they arrived home when their parents were studying or working. Starting from that, work is done in the National Assembly. We can arrive at the conclusion that those children have to be in their schools for eight hours. We arrive at conclusions like that. We did that work in primary and secondary schools. We visited Behavioral Schools, many, many Behavioral Schools in Camagüey Province. I had the opportunity to do some very great work, it was like the one we did in the Behavioral Schools with a group of colleagues from the Eastern Provinces. We worked with them all together here in Havana city.Arnold August:
Did they come to consult the commission?Irma Sehwerert:
They were commission members from the Eastern Provinces. They came to Havana to observe, exchange opinions, make comparisons; in fact, to see what happens here, take the experiences from here and apply them there. The last work we did was also good, to see how the community preventive commissions were working. We visited the communities. We talked to people in the communities and asked them about the children who were having difficulties, and if there were taken to the psychologist for an evaluation, etc. Then, when we get together in the next Working Commission that meets each semester, all reports are ready. We can also get together before the scheduled time. For example, there was a certain time when Vilma Espín called for an extraordinary meeting due to a situation in which it was necessary to analyze the Cuban Family Code. The commission can get together as many times as is required, but it is officially oriented for every six months. All Commissions work like that and we verify ourselves during the six-month period. The progress of the work is assessed. When we finish the work, everyone prepares the reports and they are sent to all corresponding administrative authorities. For example, if there is a problem concerning Education, the government minister has to come to the meeting.Arnold August:
The Minister of Education has to participate in the meeting with the Permanent Commission. Is that right?Irma Sehwerert:
Yes, it is. We have to inform the corresponding government minister what it is happening and then, he or she has to take charge of the matter; or a member of the Permanent Working Commission or Education has to come if there is a problem in the educational area.Arnold August:
Could you mention an example?Irma Sehwerert:
I am going to give you an example. An idea related to culture in prisons was presented in the National Assembly and I presented an idea to the National Institution for Sports, Physical Culture and Recreation (INDER), pointing out that I considered that we were lacking sport activities in Behavioral Schools and that these activities were possible to be put into practice. Silvio Rodriguez, our Cuban singer and songwriter, presented an idea related to artistic activities. At present, Silvio Rodriguez is doing different artistic presentations throughout the whole country. (Note: She is making reference to different cultural activities in which Silvio Rodriguez is presenting cultural activities in prisons). I was also given an answer to my idea. During last December’s National Assembly meeting, the INDER president came to the meeting and I was given a response to my concerns of what has been accomplished. The next day, Silvio Rodriguez and I presented our ideas to the National Assembly. Ricardo Alarcón, President of the National Assembly, sent to the related Permanent Commissions of the National Assembly, first to the Health and Sport Commission and second to the Education, Culture, Science, Technology and Environment Commission, an official statement instructing them to make a complete work assessment. I knew the work results were in progress because when I started to visit the Behavioral Schools, people said to me, “They came and brought baseball equipments, baseball instructors are here.” I mean, that is the result of the different Commissions’ work. The product was fruitful because everyone was concerned about it.Arnold August:
How was your initial proposal presented?Irma Seheweret:
It was directly to Alarcón, to the INDER President and to the Ministry of Culture. Since Alarcón is the President of the National Assembly, he has to ensure everything is carried out properly.Arnold August:
Where was the proposal presented?Irma Sehwerert:
I made the proposal publicly and presented it in the National Assembly. I raised my hand, there it is, that is it. I first discussed it in my Permanent Working Commission but I was not completely satisfied. I also wanted to make the president of the National Assembly know that it was a very important thing we had to put into practice as part of the prevention and culture work. Silvio Rodriguez did the same as I did in the National Assembly in July 2007. Immediately after, the next day, when the agreements were sent, Alarcón wrote a note to Abel Prieto, The Minister of Culture, asking him to please pay close attention to the proposal. It was also sent to INDER. They started to work immediately. Then, in that Assembly, all people in charge gathered: INDER government representatives, MININT (Ministry of Internal Affairs), government representatives including those in charge of prisons, I mean, everyone was there and offered their assessment to the proposal we presented.Arnold August:
To whom did they respond?Irma Sehwerert:
It was personally to me. It is an incredible thing. I ask myself where in this world … Because I was the one who presented it, but it could have been presented by a delegate from the community, it could have been anyone, and that Minister has to say to the delegate: “You were right, you were not right.” I think that nowhere in the world something like that is done. I felt very satisfied about it. I felt surprised myself because I had never thought; I did not even know that Alarcón had sent it so rapidly, with that degree of significance. I went there to prisons and they said to me: “Hey, a baseball instructor is coming here, we are organizing baseball teams and an important baseball player came,” so I asked myself: What is happening here? Everything was working, starting from the top level, from the National Assembly.Arnold August:
Then, that is an example, amongst others, of how the Cuban Parliament works?Irma Sehwerert:
Incredible, incredible. That is what I tell you. I was myself really astonished; I say that it is a system that cannot afford to fail. What can make us fail there? Man or Woman. What can make us fail is the man’s lack of courage that he should not dare to raise his hand and say it, but I often talk in the meetings, I do it often and sometimes feel embarrassed because once I exposed an idea and Carlos Lage was the one who answered it. I talked about the energy program.Arnold August:
What session was it?Irma Sehwerert:
It was in December 2006. I was worried about the Energy Program and Carlos Lage …Arnold August:
What were you worried about?Irma Sehwerert:
It was about the electrical appliances, about the Energetic Revolution and Carlos Lage gave me an answer with tremendous humility. I was really very embarrassed that a person like Carlos Lage, having so many problems to think about and he was worried about a simple thing I asked. I really tell you there does not exist in the world a more democratic process like this one.Arnold August:
Could you explain to me some of your other responsibilities as deputy?Irma Sehwerert:
I became deputy of Arroyo Naranjo municipality. (Note: Arroyo Naranjo is one of the 15 municipalities in Havana City Province). I participated in the Arroyo Naranjo Municipal Assembly and I was in contact with that Municipal Assembly the whole year with the right to speak. I also participated in the Havana City Provincial Assembly with the right to talk. There, I have the right to say what I want; I mean I never lose contact with the community. I am working the whole year. I have to be working, learning and discovering things with the right to say, “I am deputy, there is a problem” and they have to listen to you. A director, a minister, a vice-minister, they have to listen to you and they have to give you an answer; moreover, there is an obligation to do it. I really think there could not be anything better.Arnold August:
Your description of your responsibilities and tasks, the way your Permanent Commission functions and your attitude as deputy coincide with what I was told by the presidents of other Permanent Working Commissions in the National Assembly whom I have interviewed. I am really impressed with all this. Are there any other concrete examples like these or are they the most important ones?Irma Sehwerert:
Yes, there are. My commission, the Permanent Working Commission of the National Assembly to attend Youth, Childhood and Women’s Equal Rights takes care of all the social work. I do it in my neighborhood, too. It is a work that I systematically develop. It is very easy for me to know all problems. I have to go to schools, talk to the directors and observe all the problems. We are constantly treating cases with different institutions and moving around the country all the time until Feb. 24 when my work ceases. However, later on I am going to continue working in my community. I have a project I am starting to work on. It is related to culture and I am deeply involved in this project that I am going to develop.Arnold August:
And your experience Magali Llort. How did your nomination take place in the elections of Jan. 20?Magali Llort:
Mass community organizations, specifically those from Arroyo Naranjo, proposed me. There was a person who proposed me because I live in Diez de Octubre municipality (Note: It is one of the 15 municipalities of Havana City Province), a municipality adjacent to Arroyo Naranjo and I was nominated by Arroyo Naranjo. I am very proud of it because I think there is not any other system more democratic than ours, precisely if we observe the selection methods we have, the right our people have to vote, the way in which our people can observe the counting of votes; I mean, we are proud to know that our own people elect their representatives, but at the same time, they can also participate in the counting of votes and observe how all the voting takes place.Arnold August:
Last Jan. 20, I was present as a foreigner in the elections. I was there from the start to the finish until I observed the counting of votes. There is no other country so transparent in this process.Magali Llort:
That is precisely what I want to emphasize: the transparency of our voting system, and of elections. Nevertheless, this process is not understood internationally. I think that nowhere in the world does there exist a more democratic system to elect its National Assembly, the delegates and deputies. Nowhere in the world do citizens participate in the counting of votes, in the process of opening the ballot box in front of their eyes and see in practice how it happens. That is the reason why we feel so proud of knowing we have been selected. We think it is the result of the people’s opinions about each of us, the vote of confidence that is given to us and that we will be able to face the tasks the society demands of us. It is from the position that we have a responsibility in the National Assembly.Arnold August:
The new legislative session is to take place next Feb. 24. Is that right?Magali Llort:
There is going to be a session of the National Assembly on Feb. 24. There are deputies who are incumbent and some others, like me, who are the new ones taking a seat in the Assembly for the first time. It is an Assembly where both sexes are represented and women, above all, have a good representation.Arnold August:
At present, women deputies have a representation of 42.16 percent. It makes the Cuban Parliament the third in the world with this representation. Please, could you tell me your opinion about this significant progress?Magali Llort:
I think it has to be related to the philosophy of our country. In other political systems the woman is discriminated against and it is not considered that a woman can have the same value, intelligence and conditions that a man can possess. We are giving our girls the same rights and possibilities we give to boys since they are very little. Women have access to education, to university degrees, to study what they want and develop intellectually. It is illogical not to use that human force in so many necessary things and instead be discriminated against; then, logically, it is important that the woman, being a driving force of society’s work, can represent that society at the level of the National Assembly.Irma Sehwerert:
I think this progress has to be significantly related to social development. We constantly have more women becoming ministers. The Presidents of the National Electoral Commission and of the National Candidacy Commission are women. Anyway, we are not satisfied and we always want a bit more but we have really developed a lot in this area.Arnold August:
In your opinion, is the elevated number of women in the National Assembly this year a way of paying tribute to Vilma Espín?Magali Llort:
Of course, I think we will not have a higher symbol than Vilma who fought for years from the Sierra Maestra Mountains to the last days of her life. If the Cuban woman has obtained the place she is occupying in our society, this is a result, to a large degree, to what Vilma did in trying to break those barriers that existed against women. I think it would be unacceptable for the country to continue developing in all areas while women were held back in the process. We, women, are precisely those who have more opinions regarding aspects of the population because we are the ones who deal with more things, although men … some men, have some other opinions. Nevertheless, the topic of male chauvinism has been overcome a lot. Many barriers have been broken and so many others, of course, are still there to be broken down. But women always have a higher importance in the house, in the housework, and we observe daily in the street the situation of the people, the life and the conditions women have to face. I think it helps us propose better ideas to the people in general, to children, to the rest of the women, regarding the services that might release the potential of what women can do, to the upbringing of children. I think the role women have to play at any moment is very important.Arnold August:
Have you accumulated any experience such as the one Irma had? Are you interested in working in any of the Permanent Working Commissions?Magali Llort:
I am interested in working in what people think I can be useful. I am not going express any preferences because I think people should be in their respective places. Then, I am going to accept with discipline whatever role I consider I have enough capacity to perform well.Arnold August:
Until now, the U.S. government has Five Cuban men imprisoned in their country. It is revenge. That is the word Alarcón mentioned. I agree with Alarcón. Since the triumph of the Revolution to the present, there has been failure for Washington’s policy. The Revolution could not be eliminated, nor the spirit or the loyalty of the Five Heroes. Now, Washington is holding the Five Heroes as hostages. That is a negative part. I expect it is going to change to a positive manner and they are going to come back. This year, the panel of judges responsible for the case is going to make a decision that might be in favor of a new process and the liberation of the Five Heroes. However, can we say, as a result of this situation, there is something very positive which has emerged against Washington’s arrogance? That is to it is to say, amongst other things that you are more involved than ever in the Revolution as deputies, to the point that you contribute even more than ever before to the Revolution and its success? What are your opinions about this?Irma Sehwerert:
I think the heroism of our people is there. You talk about the Five Heroes but anywhere you go in Cuba you find the same heroism. The example the 91 percent of the united vote process (Note: Elections on Jan. 20, 2008) with all the difficulties and economic problems we have, but in practice, when we stand up there (Note: In the closed private voting booth to vote) alone with our conscience and the blank ballot in our hand to vote, we do it for the Revolution because there is not really anything better than the Revolution. I respect what you say (Note: about the Five Heroes). That is it. They are sacrificing. I talked to René yesterday and he is pleased, happy. I said to him, “My son, there was 91 percent for the slate vote and 96 percent of eligible voters voted in our community.”Magali Llort:
You are talking about “The Battle of Ideas” in which we are all involved and I think you are also involved together with us in that “The Battle of Ideas” because everyone who presents to the world the truth about our country and the reality of our system, we consider that person to be part of “The Battle of Ideas.” Precisely what bothers most of us is to see that the press is not able, in many places, to portray our reality. It is due to the fact that the mass media is submissive to the interests of the United States. Although press agencies may see or listen to something, they respond to the interests of the United States. And they give a version that matches what the United States is interested in portraying. To make Cuban events known worldwide is very important. This work you are doing is as important as the one we are doing as part of our people.Arnold August:
I agree with you, this is an important work, but it is the Cuban people and its system that encourage me a lot.
