English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Havana, 29 September 2021 — The artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has been on a hunger strike since Monday, as confirmed by the San Isidro Movement (MSI), of which he is a part, this Wednesday. “They confirm that Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has been on a hunger strike since Monday, September 27. His body … Continue reading “Cuban Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara Again Declares a Hunger Strike”
14ymedio, Havana, 6 September 2021 — The artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who has now spent 53 days in prison, was charged with new crimes on Monday. The curator Claudia Genluí, a member of the San Isidro Movement (MSI), reported that Otero Alcántara is now being accused of public disorder, instigation to commit a crime and … Continue reading “Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara is Charged With New Crimes”
Cubalex, 10 May 2021 [please note date*] — We present a summary of our report, which you can read in its entirety at this link. The situation that Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is going through is the result of the unequal relationship between the power of the State and that of the citizen who expresses disagreement … Continue reading “The Current Status of Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara’s Health / Cubalex”
Cubalex, 12 May 2021 [please note date*] — Cubalex monitored acts of harassment against civil society from May 3rd to 9th, as well as government measures taken in the context of the pandemic and events of shortages of products and basic goods. This report also breaks down the selective internet outages that activists and dissidents … Continue reading “Detentions and Besieged Activists: No One Can See Luis Manuel Otero / Cubalex”
Cubalex, 12 May 2021 [please note date*] — On April 25, after suffering constant acts of repression, Luis Manuel Otero made the decision to go on a hunger strike as a protest. On April 30, members of his family reported that he was very weak. On the seventh day of the strike, Luis Manuel Otero declared: “If … Continue reading “What’s Happened to Luis Manuel Otero Since he was Imprisoned? / Cubalex”
Cubalex, 13 May 2021 — The activist Mario Alberto Hernández Leyva of the Opposition Movement for a New Republic was fined yesterday, May 11, for trying to enter the Calixto García hospital to inquire about the health status of Luis Manuel Otero. The activist took with him the response that the Court issued to the … Continue reading “Activist Fined for Trying to See Luis Manuel Otero Alcantera / Cubalex”
Cubalex, 14 May 2021 — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) and its Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression (RELE) and for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (REDESCA) expressed concern about the escalation of repression against journalists, artists and human rights defenders in Cuba, in particular, members of the San Isidro Movement (MSI), beneficiaries … Continue reading “The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Rules in Favor of Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara / Cubalex”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 24 May 2021 — On Monday, a group of Cuban artists demanded of the director of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Jorge Fernández Torres, that all the works of their authorship be withdrawn from exhibition until Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is released from the Calixto García Hospital in Havana, where he has … Continue reading “A Group of Cuban Artists Sign a Letter for the Release of Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara”
14ymedio, Havana, 16 April 2020 — The open case against Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara for a presumed crime of “damages” has been provisionally dismissed due to lack of evidence, meaning that the case is shelved until “new elements allow it to be put in progress.” The document, to which this newspaper had access, was delivered … Continue reading “The Charge of "Damages" Against Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara is Provisionally Dismissed”
14ymedio, Havana, 14 March 2020 — The artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara was released on Friday night, in a surprise turn in his case, which had captured broad national and international solidarity, as confirmed by curator Claudia Genlui on her Facebook account. “Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has been released!! We are connected,” published Genlui. Journalist Carlos … Continue reading “Cuban Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara is Released”
14ymedio, Havana, 9 March 2020 — The movement for the liberation of the artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is growing every day and now includes ’official’ artist such as Alexis Leyva, Kcho, and Silvio Rodríguez. “Let’s stop this now, we don’t need it and Cuba’s future is not censorship,” Kcho writes in a comment posted on … Continue reading “Kcho and Other "Official" Artists Call for the Liberation of Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara”
14ymedio, Havana, 3 March 2020 — Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara will be tried in a “summary trial” to be held in less than ten days, according to the members of the San Isidro Movement of which the artist is a member. The movement denounced the coming trial. The authorities arrested Otero Alcantara last Sunday afternoon … Continue reading “Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara Will be Tried for ‘Property Damage’”
14ymedio, Havana, 4 June 2019 — The police released artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara on Tuesday afternoon after he spent 24 hours in the San Miguel del Padrón police station, the independent artist explained to 14ymedio. By telephones, moment after his release, Alcántara related that he was arrested on Monday in the middle of the street. The … Continue reading “Cuban Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara Released on Tuesday”
Arrest of Luis Manuel Otero Cubalex, 22 July 2018 – Peaceful gatherings and demonstrations are essential for public participation On the afternoon of July 21, 2018, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Iris Ruiz, Amaury Pacheco, Soandry del Río, Yanelys Nuñez Leyva and José Ernesto Alonso met in front of Havana’s Capitol building, contrary to the regulations … Continue reading “Cubalex Demands the Immediate Release of the Artists Luis Manuel Otero, Amaury Pacheco and Soandry Del Río / Cubalex”
Ivan Garcia, 15 February 2018 — He’s like a character out of a dark novel by Pedro Juan Gutiérrez. He turned 30 on December 2, 2017, and the life of Luis Manuel Otero has been marked by survival. He still remembers the 12-hour blackouts when he was a kid, in the middle of the Special … Continue reading “Luis Manuel Otero: From Athlete to Dissident Artist / Iván García”
