By Madeline Baró Diaz
Miami Bureau

MIAMI · Cuban dissident Oswaldo Payá told Cuban-Americans on Monday that his Varela Project to bring democratic reforms to Cuba is a first step toward
change in Cuba, but he failed to reassure some Cuban exiles, who think Payá's plan is flawed.

"I accept the fact that there are people today who are not in agreement with the project or are not in agreement with some part of the project," Paya said. "It is
necessary for us to listen because, speaking as a good Cuban, nobody knows everything."

Payá, who last month picked up the Sakharov Prize, the European Union's highest human rights prize, has met with the pope, Secretary of State Colin Powell and
European leaders. In Miami, however, Payá faced a divided Cuban-American community, with some embracing him as a positive agent of change and others
dismissing him as someone trying to keep the Fidel Castro regime in power rather than dismantling it.

During a two-hour meeting with about 200 Cuban-Americans on Monday at la Ermita de la Caridad, a shrine that is the spiritual center of Miami's Cuban exile
community, the audience greeted Payá with a standing ovation and sang the Cuban National Anthem. Audience members later asked Payá questions about segments
of the Varela Project, a petition seeking a referendum on electoral reform, the right to own businesses, civil rights and amnesty for some political prisoners.

The petition with more than 11,000 signatures was delivered to Cuba's National Assembly last May.

Before taking questions, the soft-spoken Payá told his audience that he might not have answers for all of them, and he was true to his word, sidestepping some of the
questions and giving indirect responses to others.

That frustrated some of his questioners, among them Laida Carro, a member of the Coalition of Cuban-American Women who asked about the Varela Project's
language on amnesty for political prisoners. The petition proposes amnesty for political prisoners who have not participated in attempts on people's lives.

Carro asked how that would apply to two Cuban prisoners whom the Cuban government could characterize as having committed violent crimes even though their
crime, she says, was to stand up for human rights.

Payá said the Varela Project does not exclude anyone and that "reality is very complex." That did not satisfy Carro.

"This is honoring the accusations of a criminal government," she said after the meeting. "I cannot see that anyone has to be excluded from amnesty. It's the Cuban
government that determines they committed a criminal act."

Payá's toughest critics, however, were not part of his public schedule. Some attended a private meeting with Payá on Monday afternoon.

Others, among them Sylvia Iriondo of Mothers Against Repression, opted to stay away. Iriondo said she turned down the invitation to meet with Payá because she
thought the gathering was selective and excluded Cuban exiles who deserved to be heard.

"I had hoped that a necessary and adequate democratic debate would have taken place between Oswaldo and many of us," she said.

Iriondo's organization was among those that signed a declaration against the Varela Project. Among the issues they cited is that the Varela Project seeks to work
within a system that activists say must end.

Opponents of the Varela Project also are unhappy with a provision that requires Cubans to live in Cuba for at least a year prior to elections to participate in the
electoral process -- which critics say would exclude Cuban exiles.

"We do not believe it is a viable instrument to bring about democracy in Cuba," Iriondo said. "Project Varela seeks to work within that Constitution which is the
instrument that has been used to deny all fundamental freedoms and rights of the Cuban people."

In response to criticism, Payá repeatedly said Monday that his effort does not legitimize the Cuban Constitution or system of government, but simply seeks the basic
rights Cubans are entitled to.

"The freedom that God gives, no one can take away," he said.

Among Payá's strongest supporters in Miami are a group of Cuban-American religious leaders who make up the Task Force of Spiritual Leaders in Exile. Members
of the group had breakfast with Payá and praised Payá for taking a peaceful path toward change. Payá is Catholic and heads up the Christian Liberation Movement
in Cuba.

"This project is seeking peace, and not just any peace, but Christian peace which is rooted in truth, justice, love and freedom," said Catholic Bishop Agustin Roman.

Madeline Baró Diaz can be reached at mbaro@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5007.

Copyright © 2003, South Florida Sun-Sentinel