The hypocritical “conversation” that Nicolas Maduro held with the opposition indicates the political temperature of what is happening in Venezuela.
Against his will, the dictator sat down at the table of dialogue. Although he does not want to recognize it, he did it at the demand of his Cuban advisors, and of Raul Castro himself, who in frequent phone calls from the Island, advises him not to give up, or show weakness or that he is desperate because of social pressure.
It is true that in Cuba Raul Castro is far from recognizing his political adversaries; further away still is the possibility of a dialogue between both sides. Many more Cubans will have to die before — at some point — we throw ourselves into the streets in order to demand what belongs to us by right and that they have stolen from us for more than half a century.
Circumstances, dictators and tyrannies are different, but on perceiving that the process imposed by the deceased Hugo Chavez is extinguished, and in spite of the power and abuses they make a disillusioned people suffer, they have also make them pay for their rebellion with more than 40 lives.
In order to avoid guarimbas (street clashes) in Cuba, the Castros have maintained their iron command, which has cost many lives of those who have opposed them. Here, if one breathes at a different rhythm than that stipulated by the leadership, the political police open a file and begin their constant persecution, waiting for you to breathe deeply to “bring you” your shares of anguish.
No fire is needed in the archipelago; the smoke of a lit match barely suffices to sound the alarm. Nevertheless, we keep dreaming of our guarimbas.
Angel Santiesteban-Prats
Lawton prison settlement. April 2014.
To sign the petition for Amnesty International to declare dissident Cuban Angel Santesteban a prisoner of conscience, follow the link.
Translated by mlk.
25 April 2014
