Raul Castro Avoids the Ibero-American Summit in Cadiz / Yoani Sanchez

People visiting Havana for the first time agree on the similarities of this city with Cadiz. The cultural similarities and certain visual resemblances tie the Cuban capital to its Andalusian first cousin. The presence of the sea, some of the architectural style, and the open behavior of its people, complete the embrace. But not even … Continue reading “Raul Castro Avoids the Ibero-American Summit in Cadiz / Yoani Sanchez”

The Worst Evil of Bad People is the Silence of Good People / Lilianne Ruiz

Antonio Rodiles continues to be held in the dungeons at Acosta and 10 de Octubre streets, for 9 days now. Perhaps the political police won’t free him before they trial they intend to hold, to avoid the bruises from the beating they gave him becoming public. Socialist legality is a set of traps to bring … Continue reading “The Worst Evil of Bad People is the Silence of Good People / Lilianne Ruiz”

DEATH TOLL / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo

THE ODOR OF DEATH As part of the un-secular Cuban Holocaust, the un-inhabitants of this city continue to kick life to the curb, abandoning newborn beings in a corner of the city, separating children from mothers with gratuitous violence, out of sheer malice or revenge perhaps for half a century an absolute State which violated … Continue reading “DEATH TOLL / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”

My Brother Antonio Rodiles / Gladys Rodiles-Haney

By Gladys Rodiles-Haney My brother Antonio Enrique González-Rodiles Fernández was born in Havana on July 21, 1972. He attended primary and secondary school in Havana, and graduated from the “Marcelo Salado” National School of Swimming where he belonged to the National Team. From when he was little, arbitrariness bothered him. When he was a boy … Continue reading “My Brother Antonio Rodiles / Gladys Rodiles-Haney”

What the Political Police Don’t See / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo

A couple of months ago some strangers in plainclothes waited for me crouched on a corner in Lawton, eventually kidnapping me in a National Revolutionary Police (PNR) squad car when I left my house at the corner of Beales and Fonts streets. Those in plainclothes said they were from State Security (the PNR were illiterate … Continue reading “What the Political Police Don’t See / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”

An Injurious Trial / Rosa Maria Rodriguez Torrado

Cuba’s partisan newspaper, Granma, announced that at nine in the morning on October 5 in the city of Bayamo, Granma province, a public trial would be held of a Spanish citizen, Ángel Francisco Carromero Barrios,accused of homicide while driving a car on a public road. Ángel Francisco, 27 years of age and director of the … Continue reading “An Injurious Trial / Rosa Maria Rodriguez Torrado”

Two Fall Events / Rafael Leon Rodriguez

Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías won the Venezuelan elections as was expected, but only by 10 percentage points; translated to voters figure is assumed he will have to govern with an opposition that showed support from the 45% of the electorate: six million one hundred and fifty thousand electors against approximately seven million four hundred thousand … Continue reading “Two Fall Events / Rafael Leon Rodriguez”

The Tokonoma in the Wall / Lilianne Ruiz

Without having been able to go and join the Ladies in White, I didn’t feel like publishing anything today. Until I found out that my experience also needed to be told: Why, if the Cuban opposition is peaceful and I haven’t seen any Ladies expressing themselves in a way not suitable for the ears of children, … Continue reading “The Tokonoma in the Wall / Lilianne Ruiz”

Out of the Game / Lilianne Ruiz

This Monday, my daughter and I went to her school at 9:15 in the morning. The neckerchief ceremony had already ended. The teacher did not ask me why we were late this Monday, but she didn’t want to know why my daughter had not come on Friday. I waited until the children had moved away: … Continue reading “Out of the Game / Lilianne Ruiz”

They Tried to Strip Me. I Resisted and Paid the Price.* / Yoani Sanchez

They wanted to keep me from attending the trial of Angel Carromero, the Spaniard who was driving when a car crash killed Oswaldo Paya and Harold Cepero. Around five in the afternoon a big operation on the outskirts of Bayamo stopped the car my husband, a friend, and I were driving in. “You want to … Continue reading “They Tried to Strip Me. I Resisted and Paid the Price.* / Yoani Sanchez”

For Those Who Are Worried About Yoani Sanchez, Under Arrest in Bayamo…

Site manager: Many inquiries have been received by this site expressing great concern for what might be happening to Yoani, who was arrested in Bayamo on her way to cover the trial of Angel Carromero who was driving the car in which Oswaldo Paya and Harold Cepero died. Below are audio recordings of Yoani being … Continue reading “For Those Who Are Worried About Yoani Sanchez, Under Arrest in Bayamo…”

Update on Arrest of Yoani Sanchez, Reinaldo Escobar, Agustin Lopez (and others?) in Bayamo

Site manager’s note: The following excerpts are translated from an article in Cubaencuentro.  In addition, an official government blogger reported that Yoani traveled to Bayamo intending to disrupt and put on a “media show” at the trial of Angel Carromero, who was driving the car in which Oswaldo Paya and Harold Cepero were killed. For … Continue reading “Update on Arrest of Yoani Sanchez, Reinaldo Escobar, Agustin Lopez (and others?) in Bayamo”

When an Opponent Dies / Rafael Rojas, Voices Magazine

This past Sunday, July 22, Cubadebate, the Cuban Communist Party’s digital page Cubadebate published a police blotter style note in which was reported an auto accident in the eastern city of Bayama, which an individual of the name Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, “resident of Havana,” had lost his life. This was all the information Cubadebate offered … Continue reading “When an Opponent Dies / Rafael Rojas, Voices Magazine”

Hypocrisy, Fear…Both Things

I have lost count of the times I have heard the phrase “I am not interested in politics”. Often, it is young Cubans who say it. It’s legitimate that we may not be interested in politics, especially if one has lived most of their life under a totalitarian system where even the flight of a … Continue reading “Hypocrisy, Fear…Both Things”