Statement from Cuba Yearly Meeting

Dear Friends,

We have received several communications from Friends in Cuba this week. There is too much false information currently circulating in the media, so I want to share the words of Cuban Friends directly with you. Yesterday, a former member of our Executive Committee wrote to me,

"The situation is difficult. I think if the embargo doesn’t stop, we will not survive. The brothers and sisters of the Church have not been in the riots. We are concerned about the violent situations that have taken place. We call for peace, understanding and dialogue. And for there to be no confrontations. We believe in the "Spirit that takes away the occasion of all war."

On the other hand, I have two sisters-in-law and my mother-in-law with Covid and the Health system is doing everything they can. They are in schools converted into hospitals, but there are few medicines. It seems to me that if the embargo is not stopped, with so many needs, illness and lack of medicines, we will not survive."

We are praying for them. Currently, there are no legal means to send money or medicine to Cuba from the US or many other countries in the world. But we are looking for ways that open hearts and change laws in the face of this emergency. I'll let you know if I have more news.

In friendship,

Robin Mohr

Executive Secretary

DECLARATION OF THE YEARLY MEETING

OF THE FRIENDS CHURCH (QUAKERS) IN CUBA

Peace is a desire and a necessity for all human beings. It is an essential condition for our personal and communal well-being. For the current moment in Cuba, marked by a crisis situation that affects the most sensitive areas of citizens' lives, it is becoming something urgent.

Quakers, inspired by the teachings of Jesus, also seek to live and promote peace, through alternative ways, based on the principle of non-violence, to carry out civil justice and work within society to repair wrongs or errors.

Quakers believe in the Peace of Jesus. This Peace is not like what the world gives (John 14:27), from positions of power that exclude the voice of the least in the Kingdom. From this perspective, we Quakers know a Virtue that takes away the occasion of all war, and consequently, we do not support any way to solve conflicts that involves the use of force.

We therefore advocate for dialogue and for our authorities to recognize the tension and overwhelm of a people that feel vulnerable due to the precariousness of their economy, their health and their public services.

Likewise, we consider that the government must promote alternatives to violence in the face of other sectors of the people that, for various reasons, are fueled by positions of hatred that are encouraged from abroad and that in the current context of the crisis that we are experiencing, become breeding grounds for the emergence of violent demonstrations with unpredictable consequences.

This is the time to open spaces for dialogue in the search for an answer to dissatisfaction and a solution to our problems. Let us all seek a common path that leads us to well-being and peaceful coexistence. Conflicts, if we address them with non-violent alternatives, are opportunities to find a peace that shelters all Cubans.

From yesterday's newsletter from Friends United Meeting:

During last week’s FUM International Prayer Gathering, we heard a distressing report from Friends in Cuba. Jorge Luis, Clerk of Cuba Yearly Meeting, sent a message to the global community requesting prayer as Covid rates are doubling there, food is scarce, and the medical and economic systems in the country are on the verge of collapsing. This week, demonstrators are taking to the streets demanding change. While churches in the country cannot gather for worship, Jorge reminded us that the church is not closed, and their members and pastors are doing their best to care for each other and their communities during these difficult times.

Since the US State Department designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, many of the channels Friends United Meeting has previously used to send support for Cuban Friends are now closed to us. This designation also prevents the US from sending humanitarian or medical assistance amidst this crisis.

On Tuesday, July 13, representatives of New England Yearly Meeting, Friends World Committee for Consultation–Section of the Americas, Friends Committee on National Legislation, and FUM met to discern how the global community of Friends can best support Cuban Friends.

We ask Friends to pray for Cuban Friends. Pray that Cuban Friends will experience God’s strengthening love and courage during this time of trial.
Friends United Meeting is preparing to send support to Cuban Friends through our Covid-19 Solidarity Fund. We are investigating several legal avenues for distribution. Contributions to this fund will go to support the ministries of Cuba Yearly Meeting. Friends can mail checks to the FUM office or give online at https://donorbox.org/covid-19-solidarity-fund.
We encourage [U.S.] Friends to reach out to their members of Congress, urging them to lift restrictions against humanitarian and medical support for Cuba.

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