Millions of workers get two days off to watch National Assembly session on television

Associated Press  June 24, 2002 Monday 8:57 AM Eastern Time

By ANITA SNOW; Associated Press Writer

HAVANA-Millions of workers across this communist island were being given the day off Monday and Tuesday to allow them to watch a special televised parliamentary session to consider inscribing Cuba's socialist system in the constitution as "untouchable."

The communist leadership's decision to close all offices, factories and stores for two full days during its current cash crunch underscored the importance it is placing on the proposed constitutional amendment that states Cuba's economic, political and social systems cannot be changed.

Hospitals, transportation and other essential services will not be interrupted, but school classes will be canceled for those two days and previously scheduled semester-end examinations will be postponed. Fidel Castro called the special parliamentary session over the weekend.

The entire session both days will be broadcast live on state television and radio.

The measure had been expected to be considered during a regular session of the National Assembly, Cuba's unicameral parliament, on July 5. But National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon on Friday asked Castro to call a special session because he believed the proposal is so historically significant.

The constitutional change was the subject of a campaign by the communist system's national support groups, which say they gathered 8.1 million signatures - more than 99 percent of the island's legal voters aged 16 and older.

Opposition leaders say the signature campaign was the government's response to their own petition, which collected more than 11,000 signatures. They have also questioned whether all of those signing the official petition did so of their own free will.

Known as the Varela Project, the opposition's petition seeks a referendum asking voters if they favor reforms such as freedom of expression, the right to own a business and an amnesty for political prisoners.

Most Cubans first heard of Varela Project last month in a speech by former President Jimmy Carter when he visited the island. But its contents have not been published in the state media.

Organizers of Varela Project campaign delivered their petitions to the National Assembly on May 10 and have received no response. It still remained unclear what impact the government's own constitutional amendment would have on the Varela Project.

The government maintains it is protesting statements last month by President George W. Bush that American travel and trade restrictions with the communist island would not be eased unless Cuba embraces democracy.

Copyright 2002 Associated Press

Related: 

•Cuba cuts power use in latest sign of cash crunch

• Cuba's Two Petitions Washington Post Editorial

•Cuban dissidents press on with Varela Project

•Cubans ordered to sign  regime loyalty oath in attempt to smash reform effort

•Varela Project threatens Castro's regime