Search results for: Black Spring

Héctor Maseda, Prisoner of the Black Spring and Widower of Laura Pollán, Dies in Exile

An independent journalist and nuclear engineer, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2003 and refused for years to accept exile as the price of his release. 14ymedio Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez, an independent journalist, Cuban dissident, and one of the political prisoners of the Group of 75, died this Saturday in exile, according … Continue reading “Héctor Maseda, Prisoner of the Black Spring and Widower of Laura Pollán, Dies in Exile”

Juan Carlos Herrera, Former Prisoner of the Black Spring, Dies in the United States

14ymedio, Havana, 18 February 2024 — The former prisoner of the Black Spring and Cuban activist, Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta, died this Saturday of a massive heart attack at the age of 57, in the city of Syracuse, in the state of New York, United States. During his exile, the independent journalist maintained an intense … Continue reading “Juan Carlos Herrera, Former Prisoner of the Black Spring, Dies in the United States”

20 Years Since the Black Spring, the Long Shadow of Repression in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana. 18 March 2023 – Twenty years ago a wave of repression swept through Cuba. Whilst the world’s attention was fixed on the start of the war in Iraq, Fidel Castro condemned 75 dissidents to prison in an authoritarian offensive known as the Black Spring. Two decades later, the number of political prisoners on … Continue reading “20 Years Since the Black Spring, the Long Shadow of Repression in Cuba”

Félix Navarro, Former Prisoner of the Black Spring, Sentenced to 9 years in Prison for 11 July Protests

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 2 March 2022 — The opponent Félix Navarro and his daughter, the Lady in White Sayli Navarro Álvarez, received this Wednesday the sentence that resulted from the trial held against both last January. Dissident Manuel Cuesta Morúa has detailed to 14ymedio that father and daughter were sentenced to 9 and 8 years in prison, respectively. Cuesta … Continue reading “Félix Navarro, Former Prisoner of the Black Spring, Sentenced to 9 years in Prison for 11 July Protests”

‘We’re Facing a New Version of the Black Spring,’ Says Martha Beatriz Roque

14ymedio, Havana, 10 June 2021 —  A total of 13 new political prisoners were registered in Cuba during the month of May. According to the latest report by the Cuban Center for Human Rights (CCDH), led by the opposition activist Martha Beatriz Roque, it is the highest number since March 2003, which makes this repressive wave “a … Continue reading “‘We’re Facing a New Version of the Black Spring,’ Says Martha Beatriz Roque”

Are We Facing A New Black Spring In Cuba?

14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez, Generation Y, Havana, 11 March 2020 — Seventeen years ago, while the world was focused on watching the invasion of Iraq, the Cuban regime took advantage of the distraction to strike the repressive coup that came to be called the Black Spring. This March, as the international media dedicates its headlines to the … Continue reading “Are We Facing A New Black Spring In Cuba?”

How I Remember Cuba’s 2003 Black Spring / Iván García

Ivan Garcia, 19 March 2018 — On a mid-February day in 2003, a month before the repressive wave against the Cuban dissidence, sometime after 9:00 in the morning it took me almost an hour to board Route 100 bus, which at that time started its route at the corner of Diez de October and O’Farrill, in … Continue reading “How I Remember Cuba’s 2003 Black Spring / Iván García”

Cuba: From the Black Spring to a Rolling Stones Concert / Iván García

Iván García, 16 March 2106 — Around 12 midnight on Tuesday, 18 March 2003, I was en route to my apartment in the La Víbora neighborhood when, from the balcony, some incomprehensible signs coming from my mother set off the alarms. Those were hard years. My mother and I were contributing articles to  the independent press … Continue reading “Cuba: From the Black Spring to a Rolling Stones Concert / Iván García”

Seven of Eleven Former Black Spring Prisoners Allowed to Travel for “Good Behavior” / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 22 February 2016 — Former prisoners of the Black Spring Martha Beatriz Roque and Arnaldo Lauzurique received from the authorities “a unique opportunity to travel,” Roque informed 14ymedio this Monday, adding that today she will begin the paperwork to apply for a new passport. On leaving the Immigration and Nationality Office, located at … Continue reading “Seven of Eleven Former Black Spring Prisoners Allowed to Travel for “Good Behavior” / 14ymedio”

People In Need Award Goes To Former Cuban Prisoners Of The Black Spring / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 3 February 2016 — The Czech organization People in Need has given its Homo Homini Award for this year to the 11 former prisoners of the 2003 Black Spring who continue to live in Cuba, as confirmed to this newspaper by several of the laureates. The entity, focused on the defense of human rights, … Continue reading “People In Need Award Goes To Former Cuban Prisoners Of The Black Spring / 14ymedio”

Reporters Without Borders Alerted To A New Black Spring in Cuba / Angel Santiesteban

 Towards a new Black Spring in Cuba? Reporters without Borders have expressed their concern for the situation of aggression against Cuban journalists, arbitrary sentences, death threats and barriers to access registered information over the last few days. The press agency and organization for the defense of freedom of expression Hablemos Press has been the target … Continue reading “Reporters Without Borders Alerted To A New Black Spring in Cuba / Angel Santiesteban”

Oswaldo Paya Was Also Sentenced in the Black Spring / Mario Barroso #Cuba

In 2003 José Oswaldo Paya Sardinas received the greatest tyrannical onslaught that preceded this other well-calculted and final one of 2012. Even without being on the list of those imprisoned, he was the grewatest victim of the so-called Cuban Black Spring. The greatest part of those affected in this witch hunt , at least some … Continue reading “Oswaldo Paya Was Also Sentenced in the Black Spring / Mario Barroso #Cuba”

Nine Years After the “Black Spring” / Juan Adolfo Fernández Sainz

That same day, March 18, 2003 I went to Chinatown, in downtown Havana, to exchange ideas with colleagues in the independent press. The issue was the Iraq War, which had been declared unilaterally, and without the strong international support there had been for Operation Desert Storm, after Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. Like the previous … Continue reading “Nine Years After the “Black Spring” / Juan Adolfo Fernández Sainz”

Why the Black Spring of 2003? / Pablo Pacheco

I remember that distant but unforgettable 18 March 2003. Two friends of mine went to my home after lunchtime and informed me that the home of Pedro Arguelles Moran was filled with State Security agents. I visited the residence of my friend and colleague, and I began to make some phone calls to the capital, … Continue reading “Why the Black Spring of 2003? / Pablo Pacheco”