Cuban Opposition Deplores Secrecy of Cuba-EU Negotiations / 14ymedio, Mario Felix Lleonart

14ymedio, Mario Felix Lleonart, Brussels, 1 June 2016 – Cuban representatives who participated in the conference in the European Parliament held last Tuesday in Brussels about relations between the European Union and Cuba were skeptical about the cooperation agreement that will be signed by both sides at the end of the year, or at the … Continue reading “Cuban Opposition Deplores Secrecy of Cuba-EU Negotiations / 14ymedio, Mario Felix Lleonart”

Pastor Mario Félix Lleonart Detained on Leaving His Home in Villa Clara / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 20 March 2016 — Mario Félix Lleonart, a Baptist minister, was detained on Sunday as he attempted to leave his home in the town of Taguayabón, Villa Clara Province. A strong police presence had surrounded his home since Saturday. According to Lleonart’s wife, Yoaxis Marcheco, he was forced into a police car the … Continue reading “Pastor Mario Félix Lleonart Detained on Leaving His Home in Villa Clara / 14ymedio”

The Cardinal’s Bad Memory / 14ymedio, Mario Felix LLeonart

14ymedio, Mario Felix Lleonart, Havana, 12 June 2015 – As was expected, Cardinal Jaime Ortega’s flat denial of the fact that there are still political prisoners in Cuba has leaked from the interview granted to Spain’s Ser Chain program Hour 25. It borders on the enigmatic how someone in the position of this man is … Continue reading “The Cardinal’s Bad Memory / 14ymedio, Mario Felix LLeonart”

The ‘Cabanuelas’ for Religious Freedom / 14ymedio, Mario Felix Lleonart

14ymedio, Mario Felix Lleonart Barroso, 16 January 2015 – Cuban peasants have a tradition that they carry out at the beginning of year. They observe the first twelve days of January and complete the observation – in a countdown – with the following twelve days until they get to the 24th day. They have the … Continue reading “The ‘Cabanuelas’ for Religious Freedom / 14ymedio, Mario Felix Lleonart”

Alan Gross, ‘The New York Times’ And The Spies / 14ymedio, Mario Felix Lleonart

14ymedio, Mario Felix Lleonart, Havana, 1 December 2014 — Last November 4, the White House reiterated that the case of citizen Alan Gross, prisoner in Cuba for bringing electronic equipment onto the Island, is not comparable to that of the Cuban spy members of the Wasp Network and that therefore there will be no exchange. … Continue reading “Alan Gross, ‘The New York Times’ And The Spies / 14ymedio, Mario Felix Lleonart”

The Baptist pastor Mario Felix Lleonart appears before the police / 14ymedio

14YMEDIO, Havana, October 9, 2014 – The Baptist pastor Mario Felix Lleonart refused to sign the official warning he received yesterday morning as part of a police citation. Although the document does not explicitly mention his recent journey to the eastern part of the island to check the status of harassment of some pastors, officers … Continue reading “The Baptist pastor Mario Felix Lleonart appears before the police / 14ymedio”

Letter from Priest Mario Félix Lleonart Barroso to the Villa Clara Provincial Prosecutor / Mario Félix Lleonart Barroso

April 23, 2012 Year of the Lord. From: Priest: Mario Félix Lleonart Barroso. To: Villa Clara Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and Management of the Protection of Citizen Rights of the Prosecutor General of the Republic. In so far as: Within just a few days, on May 8th, it will be one year since the controversial death … Continue reading “Letter from Priest Mario Félix Lleonart Barroso to the Villa Clara Provincial Prosecutor / Mario Félix Lleonart Barroso”

Google, the Phone Company and Censorship in Cuba / Mario Lleonart

Mario Felix Lleonart, 14 December 2016 — Google recently signed an agreement with ETECSA, Cuba’s telecommunications monopoly, owned by the Castros. As of 2011, when the owners of the country bought out the 27% interest in ETECSA maintained by Telecom Italy, there have not been as many expectations as now. Then, after the Italians took … Continue reading “Google, the Phone Company and Censorship in Cuba / Mario Lleonart”

Vicente Botín, the Spanish Journalist Who Can’t Get Cuba Out of His Mind / Mario Lleonart

Mario Lleonart, 24 September 2016 — During this past July 28-30, I had the opportunity to participate in the 2016 meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy, held in Miami, as part of the panel discussion,”Transitional Justice and the Longed-For Cuban National Reconciliation.” My paper was on “The Longed-For National Reconciliation: Challenges, Realities … Continue reading “Vicente Botín, the Spanish Journalist Who Can’t Get Cuba Out of His Mind / Mario Lleonart”

Ivan Hernandez And Felix Navarro Prevented From Leaving Cuba “A Second Time” / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 11 August 2016 – Cuba’s immigration authorities prevented activists Ivan Hernandez and Felix Navarro from traveling outside Cuba this Thursday. The former prisoners of the 2003 Black Spring were invited to participate in the 2nd Cuban National Conference that be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from 12 to 14 August, but … Continue reading “Ivan Hernandez And Felix Navarro Prevented From Leaving Cuba “A Second Time” / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”

Eric Metaxas’s “Bonhoeffer” / Mario Lleonart

By Mario Félix Lleonart If the only benefit of my recent trip to the United States had been to find and bring back to Cuba with me the biography Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas, it would have been worth it. As I’ve always declared, that martyr of the German church is an … Continue reading “Eric Metaxas’s “Bonhoeffer” / Mario Lleonart”

An Unwanted Office That Should Never Have Been (I) / Mario Leonart

I, the priest Mario Felix Lleonart Barroso, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in the town of Taguayabon, Cuba, find myself in the painful and distressing need to condemn before the world the manipulation and blackmail of the so-called Office of Attention to Religious Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba of … Continue reading “An Unwanted Office That Should Never Have Been (I) / Mario Leonart”

The Inheritance of Rosa Maria Paya / Mario Lleonart

My first direct contact with the Payá family was very unfortunately this. I was totally dissatisfied when during the confused seconds before the coffin I offered brief and protocol words of sympathy they received as from one more stranger among the immense line offering tribute from so many hearts. Because of that I did waste … Continue reading “The Inheritance of Rosa Maria Paya / Mario Lleonart”

How to Apply the Words of Paul in the Cuban Context / Mario Lleonart

JOIN IN SUFFERINGS So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. (2 Timothy 1.8) Any action which I have done is a result of my faith in God. Faith was the first motivation. … Continue reading “How to Apply the Words of Paul in the Cuban Context / Mario Lleonart”