English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Somos+, Eliecer Avila, 1 May 2018 — or at least two decades, since Hugo Chavez’s rise to power, the policial debate in Latin America has centered its discussions around the populist model, which was introduced in Venezuela and which has not stopped being exported, with more or less success, to the rest of the continent. … Continue reading “Theory and Practice in Our America / Somos+, Eliecer Avila”
14ymedio, Havana, 14 August 2017 – The Office of the Attorney General of Cuba declared the “final dismissal” of the case against the activist Eliécer Ávila, accused of the crimes of receiving and illegal economic activities. The court also ordered the seizure “in favor of the Cuban State” of most of the property seized during a … Continue reading “Prosecutor Dismisses The Case Against Eliecer Avila But Seizes His Belongings”
14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez, Havana, 8 April 2017 – Walking along the streets with Eliécer Ávila can be a complicated task. His face is well known thanks to a viral video broadcast almost a decade ago. However, before fame came into his life, this young man born in Las Tunas was a model “New Man”: the most finished … Continue reading “Eliécer Ávila, The ‘New Man’ Who Became An Opponent”
The video shows Eliecer Avila and other human rights activists at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, protesting the confiscation of Avila’s laptop when he returned to the country from abroad. 14ymedio, Havana, 8 April 2017 – Some fifty uniformed members of the National Revolutionary Police and the Ministry of the Interior raided the … Continue reading “Police Arrest Activist Eliécer Ávila and Raid His Home”
Somos+, Eliecer Avila, 12 January 2017 — Two days ago, our eastern coordinator in Las Tunas, Wiliam Espinosa, spent 24 hours in jail when he tried to leave to attend our meeting in Havana. Last night there was a great witch hunt and persecution all over the Havana neighborhood of Vededo to prevent us from … Continue reading “Repression Spiking in Cuba / Somos+, Eliecer Avila”
14ymedio, Eliecer Avila, 4 November 2016 — How many times have we heard the phrase “I do not want to put on a media show,” especially from people who have been victims of institutional abuse in Cuba? It would seem that there is a generalized notion that publicizing a problem hinders its solution. Is this really … Continue reading ““I do not want to put on a ‘media show’ “ / 14ymedio, Eliecer Avila”
14ymedio, Eliecer Avila, Yangon, Myanmar, 2 September 2016 — During his visit to Cuba, US President Barack Obama mentioned the changes in Burma (now Myanmar) as an example of the most recent democratic transition from a fierce military dictatorship that lasted over half a century. Since then, the idea of an exchange between the opposition … Continue reading “Lessons From Myanmar / 14ymedio, Eliecer Avila”
14ymedio, Eliecer Avila, Havana, 27 August 2016 – When I was small, I suffered from asthma for several years. I remember that my grandmother would not let me leave the house if it was slightly cloudy; I also had to wear shoes and thick socks although all the other children of the neighborhood ran barefoot … Continue reading “Paternalism Kills Creativity / 14ymedio, Eliecer Avila”
14ymedio, Eliecer Avila, Havana, 9 August 2016 — I think I should say at this time what I think of the situation of human beings who are on hunger strike, especially my friend Carlos Amel. In Somos+ (We Are More), being respectful of the decisions they took, we send them in their moment our messages … Continue reading “Don’t Give Away Your Life to Those Bastards, Compadre! / 14ymedio, Eliecer Avila”
14ymedio, Eliecer Avila, Havana, 28 July 2016 — On numerous occasions I have had to listen to the stories of friends and colleagues who have been detained or have been interrogated by the State Security. “These people are unreal, they know everything. The day I went to see so-and-so, what I said to what’s-his-face, what time, … Continue reading “Neither Brave Nor Intelligent, Much Less Fair / 14ymedio, Eliecer Avila”
14ymedio, Eliecer Avila, Havana, 3 July 2016 – A great deal has been written in recent months about the permanent crisis of Cubans stranded in different Latin American countries. Those living outside the island and the few “connected” (i.e. on-line) within it, are certain to have read some of the news and have access to … Continue reading “The Cuban People Are Packing Their Bags / 14ymedio, Eliecer Avila”
14ymedio, Eliecer Avila, Havana, 26 April 2016 — All of my life I’ve heard from mouth of the main leaders of the country that the high prices for many of the products sold in Cuba are caused, among other variables, by the “high cost of fuel on the world market.” This, according to them, raises … Continue reading “Why Is the Official Press Crying Over the Fall in Oil Prices? / 14ymedio, Eliecer Avila”
Somos+, Eliecer Avila, 26 April 2016 — The last time I tried to meet with several families in this province I was forcibly “deported” by State Security agents, who told me I was “persona non grata” in the territory. It is very likely that no citizens had heard of the action taken against me, … Continue reading “This Time I Reached Pinar de Rio / Somos+, Eliecer Avila”
14ymedio, Eliecer Avila, 22 April 2016 – A new TV program, La Ventana (The Window), debuted in Cuba on Thursday, the work of the young artist Ignacio Gonzalez, director of the project En Caliente Prensa Libre (Free Press in the Heat of the Moment). The program highlights the professionalism of the set as well as the … Continue reading “‘The Window’ Opens In Cuba / 14ymedio, Eliecer Avila”
Cuban TV gives Obama’s visit less importance than a potato planting event 14ymedio, Havana, 21 March 2016 — The coverage provided by Cuban media and Telesur on US President Barack Obama’s arrival in Cuba on Sunday was absolutely disrespectful, not only to him and with regards to this historic event, but to the millions of … Continue reading “Official Cuba’s Fear of Obama / 14ymedio, Eliecer Avila”
