English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Time has two unique conditions, is irreversible and unstoppable. Time is perfect as it is capable of putting everything in its place. For over 50 years Cubans have suffered a cruel and ruthless dictatorship. Those who have experienced it know that hate and human misery are limitless. But if something has helped prolong our pain … Continue reading “Jose Contreras: Idol or Traitor / Pablo Pacheco Avila”
By Pablo Pacheco Avila Raul inherited from his brother Fidel Castro absolute power in Cuba and with time he has managed to perfect the mass entertainment syndrome. The latest play to entertain is the new “Migratory Law.” I recognize that from outside one looks with another perspective on what happens in Cuba; we realize that … Continue reading “We Can All Travel! / Pablo Pacheco Avila #Cuba”
The most important month of the calendar for me is July. Firstly, it is when my only son was born and second, it was the month that I left Cuba. Life, without one choosing, imposes change on us. Many times, these changes are too rough to handle, like crosses hanging over our backs, but human … Continue reading “The Path Depends on Ourselves / Pablo Pacheco Avila”
The visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Cuba left a storm of arrests, blocked phone lines, and beatings against non-violent dissidents. The most visible of these cases has been the measures taken against the individual who screamed “freedom” in the Pope’s Mass in Santiago de Cuba. The worst part of this specific case is that … Continue reading “The Storm Has Passed but the Calm Has Not Arrived / Pablo Pacheco Avila”
Writing what one’s conscience dictates in a totalitarian system represents a grand risk for those who break the barriers of silence which the soldiers impose. Generally speaking, those who are brave end up in prison, exiled, and in the worst of cases in a cemetery. Despite this, continuing to write without censoring our thoughts means … Continue reading “Writing What my Conscience Dictates (I) / Pablo Pacheco Avila”
Life has shown me that the future is unpredictable and what lies ahead in Cuba is difficult to predict. The regime in Havana tries to oxygenate itself any way it can. Raul Castro is more pragmatic than his older brother, he knows that system they built is unsustainable and that any moment it could collapse … Continue reading “Who Will Rule Cuba in the Future? / Pablo Pacheco”
Recently in Havana it was announced that foreign and domestic journalists would visit “some prisons.” Something is being plotted or planned those in power on the island. It’s normal that the regime’s spokesmen defend the indefensible, this is what they live for; having wedded themselves to the lie, it is impossible to divorce her. If … Continue reading “Hypocrisy and Lies Go Hand in Hand / Pablo Pacheco”
“Violation of Correspondence” by Pablo Pacheco Avila The communication between those of us prisoners in “The Polish” jail and the functionaries of the interior was deteriorating daily. The guards had a low cultural level and engaged in despotism and intolerance. The prisoners, on the other hand, were rebellious, energetic, and desired freedom, which conflicted with … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity XVII / Pablo Pacheco”
Violation of Correspondence II by Pablo Pacheco Avila It was a war of nerves between the guards and us on that morning. They passed in front of our cells but they did not ask us our reasons for our abstinence from food. At lunchtime, we once again refused food, and to be completely honest, if … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity XVIII / Pablo Pacheco”
The complaints cost me points with the commander. by Pablo Pacheco Avila It has been 92 days since my last meeting with my wife and son. I was impatiently looking forward to the officer on duty calling my name for the visit, and being able to hug my family and talk with them, even though … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity XVI / Pablo Pacheco”
by Pablo Pacheco Avila After meeting with the Amnesty International UK group in London, I went with Sue Bingham and Yaniset Zapata Grenot to Sonning Common, Reading, where both these women reside. Yaniset served as an interpreter and added the Cuban “touch” with her sense of humor. In the evening I met Graham, Sue’s husband. … Continue reading “Chronicle of my Trip to London (Pt. II) / Pablo Pacheco”
Photo taken by Amnesty International by Pablo Pacheco Avila The future is unpredictable and our day to day experiences prove this. Just a few months ago my life was being consumed in a jail cell of the Canaletas Prison in the province of Ciego de Avila. Meanwhile, in other corners of the world thousands of … Continue reading “Chronicle of my Trip to London (Pt. I) / Pablo Pacheco”
“Vicissitudes of an Isolation Cell” by Pablo Pacheco Avila My time behind the bars taught me to value the characteristics of each common prisoner, avoiding any sort of unnecessary confrontations. Imprisonment actually teaches you a great deal, but you have to learn quickly in order to survive through so much human misery. One morning we … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity XV / Pablo Pacheco”
“Hidden Declaration in a Lighter” by Pablo Pacheco Avila After the success of the hunger strike, we began to elaborate a plan to confront the ex-Minister of Exterior Relations, Felipe Perez Roque. The lies he had told the national and foreign press about the existence of services for political prisoners were about to be proved … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity XIII / Pablo Pacheco”
I had spent several days without any news of Oleivys and Jimmy. My life was consumed by the uncertainty of not knowing how my loved ones were doing. I could not gather the nerve to write to my wife, and I had little to tell her. On a Thursday, without prior notice, a guard approached … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity: First Family Visit / Pablo Pacheco”
