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Justicia 11J Confirms That 554 Demonstrators From the 2021 Protests in Cuba Are Still in Prison

The NGO documented that there were a total of 173 protests on the island between July 2023 and July 2024.

A police patrol guarding a protest in Santiago de Cuba on July 11, 2021 / 14ymedio

EFE (via 14ymedio), Mexico City, 28 November 2024 — The organization Justicia 11J reported Wednesday that 554 Cubans remain imprisoned for participating in the July 2021 anti-government protests, the largest in decades on the island.

In its annual report Otro año sin justicia (Another Year Without Justice), presented Wednesday afternoon, the NGO warned that “repression on the island, by state authorities, is systemic and structural” and stressed that “Cuba’s repressive context has become more complex”.

Similarly, Justicia 11J assured that the 554 demonstrators still in Cuban jails represent 35% of the 1,580 people who have been detained since the July 11, 2021 (11J) demonstrations. The prison sentences are up to more than 20 years.

Also, the organization emphasized in the document that 93% of the 554 inmates are men. continue reading

In addition, 12 of them are between 20 and 21 years old -they were arrested when they were 17 and 18-; 383 are between 22 and 45 years old; 92 are between 46 and 59 years old; and 13 are 60 or older.

Justice 11J documented that between July 2023 and July 2024, there were 173 protests in Cuba. Within that period, “at least 35 people” were arrested, of which “27 are still in detention.”

Justicia 11 J criticized the fact that “the Cuban State” has “continued to manipulate the dialogue with international actors to project a false image of commitment to civil society and citizens.

In this regard, Camila Rodríguez, founder and director of the organization, stated during the online presentation of the report that the protests on the island “will continue to happen”, so “there is no turning back”.

Johanna Cilano, a researcher with Amnesty International (AI) for the Caribbean, regretted that “there is no civic space and freedom of association” in the country. She also reiterated AI’s concern for the case of opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer, imprisoned since 2021.

Last week, family members, human rights NGOs and Cuban dissident organizations denounced that Ferrer, considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, was hospitalized after being “brutally beaten” by prison staff.

Neither the Cuban government nor the official press has reported on the matter. A minority pro-government media outlet assured that the reports of the beating “are unfounded” and that Ferrer was in a “favorable” state.

In its annual report, Justice 11J criticized the fact that “the Cuban state” has “continued to manipulate dialogue with international actors to project a false image of engagement with civil society and citizens. Its interactions with UN and EU representatives show an official willingness to maintain diplomatic relations while dodging its responsibilities”.

Translated by LAR

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The Cuban Government Reacts for the First Time to Trump’s Victory: “The Country Is Prepared”

“For us, the results of these elections are not new. It was an expected scenario,” said Díaz-Canel.

Miguel Diaz-Canel (right, front row) during his visit to Lajas, Cienfuegos. / Perlavisión

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 27 November 2024 — The Cuban government referred for the first time on Wednesday to Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections 22 days ago and said that the result was within expectations, so “the country is prepared.”

President Miguel Díaz-Canel made these statements during an informal but planned meeting with a group of residents of the municipality of Lajas, in Cienfuegos, during one of his visits to the provinces without international media. His speech was broadcast on state television and on official social media profiles.

“For us, the results of these elections are not new. It was an expected scenario,” said Díaz-Canel, who is also first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC, the only legal party). “It was a probable scenario and we had been preparing for this scenario,” he added.

Díaz-Canel criticized the US sanctions against the island, which he described as “perverse and genocidal.” He recalled that the last series of sanctions was imposed during the first term of the Republican Trump and that the current US president, Democrat Joe Biden, has “maintained the same position of hostility.” continue reading

As usual in his speech, he reiterated that the United States sanctions are the cause of the current crisis that the country is suffering.

The president, who expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue “on equal terms” and “without impositions” with Washington, said that his government will not accept “interference” nor will it renounce its “model of socialist construction.”

As is customary in his discourse, he reiterated that US sanctions are the cause of the current crisis in the country, blaming them for the blackouts and shortages of basic goods such as food and medicine. “It is true that we have suffered,” the president acknowledged.

The serious crisis, which has lasted for five years, has generated growing discontent, visible in the unusual protests that have been recorded in recent years and the unprecedented migratory exodus that the country is experiencing.

Cuba’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 1.9% in 2023, according to official figures, and the government has already announced that it does not expect growth in the current year.

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The Cuban film ‘Natural Phenomena’ and the Chilean ‘Black Island’ are Awarded in Geneva

Natural Phenomena tells the story of Vilma, a young nurse who lives in the late 80s on an isolated farm in a Cuban town

A scene from the Cuban movie ’Natural Phenomena’ / endac.org

EFE (via 14ymedio), Geneva, 24 November 2024 — The Cuban film Natural Phenomena, by Cuban Marcos Antonio Díaz Sosa and Isla Negra, by Chilean director Jorge Riquelme Serrano, were awarded at the Latin American Film Festival in Geneva, which ends its 26th edition this Sunday.

Always sensitive to social cinema that treats human rights from different perspectives, the jury awarded Isla Negra for being a “bold and moving work that addresses a theme that is still very little treated, that of the exile of entire populations because of the exploitation of their lands,” said the organization.

Riquelme closes with this production, premiered exclusively at the festival, a trilogy that began in 2016 with Camaleón, his debut film, and continued in 2019 with Algunas bestias.

With the Young Jury Award for Natural Phenomena, Díaz Sosa’s debut as a director, the festival joins the voices of those who oppose the Cuban regime, “a dictatorship that keeps its people in a dramatic situation and exercises arbitrary and uneducated censorship against artistic creation and critical thinking.” continue reading

“The work captivates with its representation of a strong and determined woman, who faces personal and social challenges while seeking to emancipate herself in a context that limits the possibilities”

“The work captivates with its representation of a strong and determined woman, who faces personal and social challenges while seeking to emancipate herself in a context that limits the possibilities,” said the jury, composed of eleven high school students from Geneva accompanied by the Argentine director Pablo Briones.

Natural phenomena tells the story of Vilma, a young nurse who lives in the late eighties on an isolated farm in a Cuban town

The 10-day festival was attended, among others, by the Spanish director Fernando Trueba, whose penultimate film, the animated documentary They Shot the Pianist, was screened this Saturday at the Grütli cinema that hosts the festival.

Filmar, one of the biggest events in Spanish cinema outside Spanish-speaking countries, showed 39 feature films from 15 Latin American countries.

Directed since 2017 by Vania Aillon, the festival has had, as in previous editions, a special love for social cinema, with a good number of films dedicated to issues such as the environment, freedom of expression, the situation of minorities and indigenous peoples, and the fight for equality.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Human Rights Commission Expresses Concern After the Allegations of Violence Against José Daniel Ferrer

The organization, based in Washington, says that it is the State’s obligation to ensure the integrity of prisoners

The exact state of Ferrer’s health is unknown, at least one week after he suffered an assault / Ana Belkis Ferrer García

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, November 26, 2024 — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) showed its “concern” on Monday after allegations of assault by the prison authorities of the opponent and political prisoner José Daniel Ferrer.

The organization, based in Washington, expressed on social networks its “concern about the complaints of physical violence by prison authorities against José Daniel Ferrer” and stressed that the dissident is “deprived of liberty in the context of the protests of July 11, 2021” and is a “beneficiary of precautionary measures granted by the IACHR.”

The commission also recalled in general terms that “the State must guarantee the personal integrity of persons deprived of liberty and avoid torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.”

“The State must guarantee the personal integrity of persons deprived of liberty and avoid torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment”

Last week, family members, human rights NGOs and Cuban dissident organizations denounced that Ferrer, considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International (AI), was hospitalized after receiving a “brutal beating” from the prison staff where he is imprisoned. continue reading

His relatives explained that other prisoners, for political reasons, had transmitted this information to them. Several NGOs, including AI and Prisoners Defenders, validated the story, as well as different opposition groups. For its part, the United States Government was “outraged” by the complaint.

According to the sources that informed the family, Ferrer was assaulted and couldn’t be properly treated in the infirmary of the Mar Verde penitentiary center (Santiago de Cuba), where he is serving his sentence. He was then transferred to the Boniato prison, which supposedly has a better medical center.

They added that he had been admitted to Room A of the prison infirmary for three days. No details are known about his state of health, which according to relatives had deteriorated significantly in the last months, with different health issues now added to previous ones related to his stays in prison.

A minor government media reported that the information about the beating “lacks foundation” and that Ferrer was in a “favorable” condition

The Cuban government has not reported on the matter, nor has the official press. A minor government media said that the information about the beating “lacks foundation” and that Ferrer was in a “favorable” condition.

Ferrer has been in prison since 11 July 2021, when he was arrested for joining the anti-government demonstrations that were taking place that day in different parts of the country in the largest protest in Cuba in decades.

The leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba had already been in prison previously for political reasons. He was one of the 75 intellectuals, journalists and opponents imprisoned in the 2003 repressive wave known as the Black Spring. In 2011 he was released but was subsequently arrested on several occasions.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Netflix Will Premier Two Episodes of Its Miniseries ‘One-Hundred Years of Solitude’ in Cuba

The streaming platform cannot be legally accessed on the island.

Actor Claudio Cataño as Colonel Aureliano Buendía in the Netflix adaptation of “One Hundred Years of Solitude” / Capture/Netflix

EFE/14ymedio, Havana, 20 November 2024 — The American streaming platform Netflix will premiere the first two episodes of its new miniseries “One Hundred Years of Solitude” in December in Cuba. The series is an adaptation of the well-known work of the same name by Colombian novelist Gabriel García Márquez.

The announcement was made at a press conference on Wednesday by organizers of the Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema, which is being held from December 5 to 15 in the Cuban capital, who spoke of it as a “world premiere.”

“The film adaptation of the Nobel Prize winner’s masterpiece will premiere on December 6 in the Cuban capital on the second day of the festival,” said Tania Delgado, festival director.

Netflix, which is not legally available on the island — pirated copies of its programming can be purchased through the so-called “weekly packet” — plans to release this miniseries worldwide on December 11. continue reading

“The film adaptation of the Nobel Prize winner’s masterpiece will premiere on December 6 in the Cuban capital on the second day of the festival”

García Márquez (1927-2014) was an artist with close ties to Cuba. A close friend of Fidel Castro, he maintained a house in Havana. He also founded the New Latin American Cinema Foundation, an organization based in Havana, and the International Film and Television School in San Antonio de los Baños.

The yearly festival is one of the most important events on Cuba’s cultural calendar. Its director announced that this year 110 films will be screened – 89 fewer than last year – from a total of 42 countries including Cuba, Mexico and Argentina.

The 45th edition of the festival will open with the Argentine film “More People Die on Sunday” and will include seminars such as one dedicated to the Cuban screenwriter and animator Juan Padrón (1947-2020).

Similarly, thirty original pieces of art from seventeen countries will compete in the poster competition. The awards ceremony will take place on December 15.

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Cuba and Argentina Have a Bitter Exchange of Disqualifications

The Cuenca Summit closes without an official declaration due to lack of consensus

Plenary session of the XXIX Ibero-American Summit this Friday, at the Pumapungo museum in Cuenca (Ecuador) / EFE/José Jácom

EFE (via 14ymedio), Cuenca (Ecuador), 16 November 2024 — The XXIX Ibero-American Summit, held in the Ecuadorian city of Cuenca, closed this Friday without an official statement due to the lack of consensus among the 19 participating countries, of the 22 that make up the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking group, in which there has also been no representation of Mexico, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

All countries, except Argentina, agreed to support a document that would include support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), public policies on gender equity and the fight against climate change, among other issues, according to EFE sources.

Meanwhile, the Cuban delegation opposed approving a statement that did not contain an explicit condemnation of the United States embargo, as the representative of Argentina intended.

The representative of President Javier Milei, Ambassador Eduardo Acevedo, expressed the refusal of the Argentine Government to subscribe to these articles and, in return, proposed that the 19 countries sign a document that collected only the matters mutually agreed, something that Cuba and the rest of the countries opposed. continue reading

According to Acevedo, Argentina was willing to approve 71 of the 72 paragraphs of the (failed) Declaration of Cuenca and 17 of the 24 special communiqués.

The difficulties in signing a consensus document prolonged the discussions of the first day of the summit, when the foreign ministers met behind closed doors to prepare the document that the Heads of State and Government had to sign on the second and last day of the summit, reserved in principle only for the leaders of the countries, but which on this occasion had to be opened to lower-ranking representatives, due to the absence of practically all Latin American presidents except the host.

Finally, the conflicting positions of Argentina and Cuba prevented an official declaration by the 19 countries attending the summit.

Cuban representative Rodolfo Benítez accused Argentina of “coming to ruin the summit” while the Argentine Eduardo Acevedo denounced Cuba’s violations of human rights

Both delegations starred this Friday in a bitter exchange of disqualifications during the plenary session of the meeting.

Cuban representative Rodolfo Benítez accused Javier Milei’s Executive of “coming to ruin the summit,” while the Argentine ambassador, Eduardo Acevedo, denounced Cuba’s violations of human rights.

The Cuban representative accused Argentina of trying to make the summit fail by denying climate change and the rights of women and indigenous peoples, but warned that it failed by isolating itself from a declaration signed by the rest of the participants except the government of the ultra-liberal Milei.

Meanwhile, the Argentine delegate stated that his country “cannot and will not remain indifferent to violations of the rule of law and human rights. ” He pointed out that, “in the opinion of the Argentine Government, Cuba must restore democracy and respect the human rights and freedoms of its inhabitants.”

This harsh exchange occurred after the two countries clashed in the adoption of an official declaration to conclude this Ibero-American Summit, because Argentina opposed a consensus to advance in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, in terms of gender equity and the fight against climate change, among other issues, according to EFE sources.

Meanwhile, the Cuban delegation opposed approving a statement that did not contain a condemnation of the United States embargo on the Island.

“They did everything possible to prevent pronouncements” in favor of the aforementioned proposals, denounced the Cuban representative, who attributed to the Argentine delegation the use of “hate speech” and an “absolute submission to Washington in defending the blockade against Cuba.”

Acevedo wondered what actions the Ibero-American community is taking against the serious human rights violations in Cuba

However, according to Rodolfo Benítez, Argentina ended up failing, because “they have not received the support of anyone,” in reference to its exclusion from the joint statement that replaces the official statement and “shows the historical positions of the Ibero-American nations.”

“Ladran, Sancho, sign so we can get going,” Acevedo said to the Cuban delegation in his reply during the altercation in the plenary session of the summit. The ambassador also replied that Argentina was willing to approve 71 of the 72 paragraphs of the (failed) Cuenca Declaration and 17 of the 24 special communiqués.

“The real reason why Cuba is carrying out this new attack has to do with the underlying situation that my delegation mentioned,” he said, in reference to the first intervention of the Argentine representative before the plenary, in which he was very critical of the governments of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

In that first statement, Acevedo wondered what actions the Ibero-American community, made up of 22 countries, is taking “against the serious violations of human rights in Cuba, which continue after more than half a century of authoritarian and repressive government.”

“How is it possible that we are silent in the face of this serious situation? How is it possible that we sit at the same table debating calendars and statements without mentioning the siege that continues in Nicaragua on the independent press, the deprivation of nationality of political opponents and the persecution of civil society organizations?”

“Our position is very clear: Cuba must restore democracy and respect human rights and individual freedoms”

“Our position is very clear: Cuba must restore democracy and respect human rights and individual freedoms. It is essential that it does not promote totalitarian policies in the region and that it focuses on improving the quality of life of its population through respect for freedom and providing well-being to all its citizens,” he emphasized.

To refute Acevedo’s arguments, the Cuban representative said: “Argentina can give consider Washington’s order to attack against Cuba fulfilled, but it stands alone.”

The Cuban delegate pointed out that the Ibero-American summit “cannot become hostage to isolationist positions that seek to set back the work achieved for more than three decades.”

“The future relevance and existence of this forum is put at risk,” said Benítez, who demanded that “the historical heritage we have built be respected, always overcoming our differences.”

And he went on to say that Argentina cannot give lessons in democracy to Cuba when the Milei government “mistreats retirees and opposes the rights of indigenous peoples and women.”

Benítez recalled that, during his speech in the plenary, he defended the historical claim of Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, because “the friendship of the Argentine and Cuban people – he stressed – surpasses any political ideology and the whims of any government.”

Translated by Regina Anavy

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‘They Closed the Doors on Me and I Finally Had To Leave Cuba,’ Says Singer Haydée Milanés

“For there to be real change, there must be democracy and free elections, something hat has not happened in sixty-five years.”

“Since I was little, my father’s music has shaped my path,” says the artist, who is the daughter of the legendary Pablo Milanés. / EFE

Manuel Weiss/EFE (via 14ymedio), Mexico City, 31 October 2024 — In a recent interview in Mexico city, Cuban artist Haydée Milanés — daughter of legendary singer Pablo Milanés— spoke about her work with her father and the critical political and social situation on the island in the run-up to the release of her most recent album, “Requiem for a Love,” on November 8, from which the hits “Tu Nombre” (Your Name) and “Dime Si en Sí ” (Tell me if in itself) are extracted.

“Since I was little, my father’s music has shaped my path,” says the artist, daughter of the legendary Pablo Milanés. “At home, we were always surrounded by music and musical friends. I attended his concerts. He was my first musical influence, not only his work but also the type of music he championed: traditional Cuban ’trova’ and ’filin,’ genres that were forgotten or marginalized in Cuba. Over time, however, I began to create my own style, which was also shaped by other influences.”

Initially, she found having the surname Milanés as to be “a huge challenge,” especially when trying to launch a career at such a young age — she was only eighteen or nineteen-years-old — when no one knew anything about her other than who her father was. It made it difficult to differentiate her work from his. continue reading

“He was my first musical influence, not only his work but also the type of music he championed”

“I wanted my musical identity to be appreciated for something other than my last name, which made me a bit rebellious. For my first album, I asked that they use only my first name, without the Milanés,” even though I realized it’s a part of who I am,” she says.

In spite of her youthful rebelliousness, father and daughter did sometimes share the stage and even managed to produce an album together, something that she describes as “a unique experience.”

“I made my first recording at age ten on one of his records. We appeared together on stage several times over the years but it wasn’t until 2014 that I decided to produce an album together… It was a very natural process, like at home when he taught me how to sing backup,” she recalls

Haydée describes her style as a fusion that respects her Cuban roots. “Above all, I am a Cuban singer. The essence of my music is in trova, bolero, filin and son. But I have also been influenced by jazz, Brazilian music and other genres. I think that every fusion is enriching as long as the identity of each artist is maintained.”

As for her most memorable collaborations, she mentions having sung with Lila Downs, Julieta Venegas and Silvia Pérez Cruz, describing these experiences as “enriching,” both musically and spiritually. “The most unique experience, however, was working with my father. He gave me gave me complete creative freedom to produce this album.”

With respect to the situation in Cuba, Haydée admits that she has faced difficulties in expressing herself freely, which ultimately led to her leaving the country. She currently lives in Miami. “Artists in Cuba come under a lot of pressure if they express what they really think. I did use social media to condemn what was happening but I also suffered the consequences. They closed the doors on me and I finally had to leave Cuba because the situation had become untenable. Living abroad has allowed me to express myself more freely, though there is always a certain fear,” she says.

“Living abroad has allowed me to express myself more freely, though there is always a certain fear”

Milanés is wary on the future of Cuba, mentioning the difficulties —food shortages, power cuts, suppression of any form of protest — arising from the harsh conditions in the country. “I admire both those in Cuba and abroad who continue to criticize and seek change. Social media has been key to highlighting what is happening visible,” says Milanés.

She is skeptical about the situation on the island getting better any time soon. “I don’t see things opening up long as the regime remains in power,” she says. “For there to be real change, there must be democracy and free elections, something that has not happened for sixty-five years. The Cuban people deserve the freedom to make their own decisions and to prosper without fear.”

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With More Than 30 Years in Prison, Miguel Díaz Bauzá Is the Longest-Serving Political Prisoner in Cuba

Amnesty International adds four imprisoned Cubans to its list of prisoners of conscience

Miguel Díaz Bauzá was awarded the prize in memory of Pedro Luis Boitel / OCB Roberto Koltun

14ymedio/EFE, Madrid, 23 October 2024 — Miguel Díaz Bauzá, imprisoned since October 1994, when he landed in Cuba with seven other men to fight Castroism with weapons, will spend eight more years in prison, according to what his family told several independent media. Karen María León Alfonso, the opposition leader’s daughter, expected that the 30-year sentence imposed on him would be completed on October 15, although she admitted that her father was aware that it would be extended until 2032

“They didn’t increase his sentence. In 2002, they gave him a joint sentence of 30 years, for a problem he had in the Camagüey prison,” said León Alfonso, who also revealed that the authorities offered the prisoner a parole, which he rejected. “He doesn’t want any benefit from the Government. He told the agent: ‘I’ll take whatever years, but I don’t want anything from you’.”

Díaz Bauzá, now 81 years old, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 1994 for “infiltration,” “illegal entry into the country,” “terrorism” and “other acts against state security,” with the intention of organizing an armed uprising against the Castro regime.

“He doesn’t want any benefit from the government. He told the agent: ’I’ll pull as many years as it takes, but I don’t want anything from you’.”

In 2002, Díaz Bauzá joined a protest by prisoners at Kilo 8 prison in Camagüey to demand better conditions, for which he was sentenced to continue reading

another 25 years in prison. The court decided that he should serve both sentences together, for a total of 30 years.

“When they didn’t release him, I started to investigate and they explained it to me,” said the prisoner’s daughter, who points out that Díaz Bauzá did “have an idea that the 30-year sentence was from 2002” even though they had another “hope.”

The prisoner, winner of the 2020 Pedro Luis Boitel Freedom Award along with Real Suárez, will therefore remain in the Campamento la 2 center, in Remedios, Villa Clara, his home province. His daughter says that Díaz Bauzá is a very strong man, but at his advanced age he has to deal with the conditions of living in captivity.

He has health problems such as psoriasis, diabetes, hypertension and prostate problems, his daughter explained to CubaNet.

Díaz Bauzá and Humberto Eladio Real Suárez were members of the National Democratic Unity Party and entered the island with Armando Sosa Fortuny, who died in 2019 in the Camagüey prison as the prisoner who spent the most years in Cuban penitentiary centers, a total of 44 if the different sentences imposed on him in his life are added together. The rest of the commando was completed by Jesús Rojas Pineda, José Ramón Falcón Gómez, Pedro Visao Peña and Lázaro González Caraballo.

He has health problems such as psoriasis, diabetes, hypertension and prostate problems, his daughter explained to ’CubaNet’

Real Suárez was released from prison in March 2023 , after serving 29 years of his 30-year sentence, although he was once sentenced to death. With that release, Díaz Bauzá becomes the longest-serving prisoner in Cuban prisons – surpassing the late Mario Chanes de Armas, who spent 30 years – as denounced by journalist and former political prisoner Pedro Corzo. “The conduct of the Cuban dictatorship against Miguel Díaz Bauzá is the reiteration of evil, injustice and the use of absolute power against those who want freedom and civil rights on the Island,” he told Martí Noticias.

The news came out on the same day that the NGO Amnesty International (AI) added four Cuban prisoners of conscience to its list: opposition member Felix Navarro, journalist and the lady in white Sayli Navarro, ’11J’ protester Roberto Pérez Fonseca and activist Luis Robles.

In a statement, AI demanded his “immediate and unconditional release” as well as that of all people “unjustly imprisoned solely for exercising their human rights” in Cuba and denounced the “context of systematic human rights violations” and the “repression” and “criminalization of any form of dissent” on the island.

AI Americas Director Ana Piquer said that these designations are a “recognition” of the “courage and resistance of the people in Cuba who overcome permanent and widespread repression and fight” for human rights.

Felix Navarro, 71, is serving his third sentence “for political reasons” despite being ill, AI said. His daughter, Sayli Navarro, 38, co-founder of the Ladies in White movement, was arrested with her father after 11J.

Roberto Pérez Fonseca, 41, was convicted in 2021 for participating in the same protests, accused of contempt, assault, public disorder and incitement to commit a crime. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention described his detention as “arbitrary” and considered that “his rights to a fair and impartial trial” were violated.

Finally, Luis Robles, known as “the young man with the placard,” has been sentenced since 2022 for enemy propaganda and disobedience for having peacefully demonstrated two years earlier with a sign calling for “freedom” for rapper Denis Solís, who was arrested days earlier.

“It is imperative that the international community show its solidarity and demand the immediate release of those imprisoned for exercising their rights,” said Piquer, who demanded that the Cuban government respect human rights, including freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly; repeal repressive laws and cease repression of dissenters.

“It is imperative that the international community shows its solidarity and demands the immediate release of those imprisoned for exercising their rights”

With this announcement, the NGO significantly expands its list of prisoners of conscience in Cuba, which until now included opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer García; artists Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Castillo Osorbo; Yoruba priests Loreto Hernández García and Donaida Pérez Paseiro, and Cuban professor and activist Pedro Albert Sánchez.

AI stated that its aim is not to declare everyone a prisoner of conscience, but to draw attention to this problem by highlighting well-known and representative cases.

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Senior Cuban Army Commanders Negotiate a Military Cooperation Agreement in Algeria

The signing of an agreement to expand medical cooperation is also planned.

EFE (via 14ymedio), Algeria, 28 October 2024 — The Chief of Staff of the Algerian Army, Said Chanegriha, met this Monday with the Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces of Cuba, Joaquín Quintas Solá, who was visiting the country along with an important military delegation, to address cooperation between the two countries, reported the Ministry of Defense.

“Within the Algerian People’s Army (ANP) we are working to make the strategic visions of the leaders of our two countries a reality with the aim of promoting the partnership between our respective armies through the creation of a new dynamic in the field of military cooperation,” Chanegriha explained during the welcome ceremony.

This meeting was attended by prominent commanders, heads of departments and directors of the General Staff of the Army and the Ministry as well as the Cuban ambassador to Algeria, Héctor Igarza.

Both partners share “immutable” values and principles that seek to create a global movement that defends the interests of developing countries

It was also stressed that both partners share “immutable” values and principles that seek to create a global movement that defends the interests of developing countries and against polarization on the international scene, as well as laying the foundations for cooperation based on mutual assistance, solidarity and support for oppressed peoples and for just causes, led by the Sahrawi* and Palestinian issue. continue reading

For his part, Solá welcomed the “firm” will of his counterpart to consolidate bilateral relations and “raise high the aspirations of the leaders of the two friendly countries to lay the foundations for a fruitful and beneficial cooperation for both parties.”

The Cuban official was also received by the Minister of Health, Abdelhak Saihi, president of the Algerian-Cuban Joint Commission, which provides for the signing of an agreement focused on gynecology-obstetrics, ophthalmology and diagnostic imaging in addition to integrating preventive medicine.

*Translator’s note: The Sahrawi Republic is a partially recognized state in the western Sahara. Between 1884 and 1975, it was a Spanish colony.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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President Milei Seeks To Expel Members of Argentina’s Foreign Ministry for ’Treason to the Homeland’ After Voting for Cuba

“We are looking at the legal format to kick them out and make them pay,” said the Argentine president

“The foreign policy is set by the president,” Milei said on the Ciudad Magazine channel / EFE

EFE (via 14ymedio), Buenos Aires, 4 November 2024 — Argentine President Javier Milei said on Monday that he seeks to expel “all” those within the Foreign Ministry involved in the decision to vote in favor of Cuba at the UN, because they are “traitors to the homeland.”

“The foreign policy is set by the president,” Milei said on the Ciudad Magazine channel, where he was interviewed by his girlfriend, Amalia Yuyito González, so “for all the people involved in that decision I am here to kick them all out. They are traitors to the homeland. We are looking at the legal format to kick them out and make them pay.”

On Wednesday of last week at the UN General Assembly, Argentina joined 186 other countries to form an overwhelming majority that approved a resolution without binding effect against the US sanctions against Cuba, which have been in place for 62 years, causing a hard blow to the Island’s economy.

Argentina’s vote at the UN triggered the replacement of the chancellor, Diana Mondino, by the former US ambassador, Gerardo Werthein

Argentina’s vote did not signal any change with respect to how the South American country had expressed itself in previous assemblies regarding the same resolution.

But Milei, who took office on December 10, 2023, defined his government’s foreign policy as aligned with the United States and Israel, the only two countries that rejected the UN resolution. continue reading

Argentina’s vote in the UN, contrary to Milei’s desire, triggered the replacement of the then-Chancellor, Diana Mondino, by the former US ambassador, Gerardo Werthein, who will assume the post on Monday as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“Not only did that vote cost Mondino her position, but we are also going to find all those responsible and kick them out,” Milei said on Monday.

Milei said he is going to start an audit among career diplomats to “identify promoters of agendas that are enemies of freedom”

“I understand that they are in love with the international bureaucracy” and “live a parasitic life,” Milei said about the Foreign Ministry staff, and he blamed the “woke” agenda and the UN 2030 agenda, which wants to “move forward against individual freedoms.”

“You can’t vote for just anything because of your personal opinion. If you want to vote that way, you have to win the election,” Milei said.

By confirming Mondino’s departure, a statement from the President’s Office affirmed that Argentina “categorically opposes the Cuban dictatorship and will remain firm in the promotion of a foreign policy that condemns all regimes that perpetuate the violation of human rights and individual freedoms.”

And he reported that an audit was going to begin among career diplomats to “identify promoters of agendas that are enemies of freedom.”

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Omara Portuondo Announces That She Will Not Retire From Music ‘As Long as She Has the Strength’

Last October, the artist suffered an episode of “fatigue and disorientation” during a concert in Barcelona.

With time, concerts and recordings, Omara Portuondo first achieved national and then international recognition. / EFE

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 1 November 2024 — The legendary diva of the Buena Vista Social Club, Cuban singer Omara Portuondo, announced on Friday that, despite having given up long concerts, she will continue to do recordings and other activities. “I will no longer do long live concerts because I get tired, and that is natural given my age. But I make it clear that I am not retiring from music. I will continue with my recordings, and other activities, as my age and health allow me,” Portuondo said on Facebook.

The singer, also known as la novia de filin [feeling’s sweetheart], added in her statement that “as long as she has the strength” and the support of family, friends and fans, she will continue singing. “With the respect of all the people who sincerely appreciate me, each person decides how they want to live and die as well,” she wrote.

The message comes less than a month after her son explained that she had decided to “retire permanently from the stage” after suffering health problems during a concert in Barcelona, Spain, on October 2. The artist turned 94 on October 29.

“As long as I have strength and people want to listen to me, I will continue singing. Because as I always tell you: music is in me, sky, earth, sea and sun, joy and reason,” wrote Portuondo. continue reading

On October 2, during a concert at the Palau de la Música in Barcelona, the artist suffered an episode of “fatigue and disorientation” that forced her to leave the stage after performing the first song, the classic from her repertoire Quizás, quizás, [Perhaps, perhaps], by Osvaldo Farrés.

Portuondo, born in 1930, began her career in the 1940s accompanied by her sister Haydeé

Portuondo, born in 1930, began her career in the 1940s accompanied by her sister Haydeé, performing Cuban music with a strong influence from genres such as bossa nova and jazz, before making the leap into the professional world shortly after.

Over time, concerts and recordings, the Cuban artist first achieved national recognition and then international recognition. In the latter, her work with the Buena Vista Social Club played an important role, especially in spreading her name to the general public.

Portuondo, in addition to his extensive solo career – with works such as Vida, Gracias and Flor de amor – has collaborated with artists such as Pablo Milanés, Chico Buarque, Chucho Valdés, Cachaito López, Jorge Drexler and Ibrahim Ferrer.

Among the awards that the Cuban singer has accumulated are the 2005 Latin Music Award from Billboard magazine, the Latin Grammy for Best Contemporary Tropical Album and the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts in Spain.

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The Death Toll From Hurricane Oscar in Cuba Rises to Eight

Authorities are looking for two more people who are reported missing

According to the government of Guantánamo, Oscar has damaged more than 11,000 buildings, including housing and public infrastructure / Facebook

EFE/14ymedio, Havana, 31 October 2024 — The Cuban government raised the death toll to eight after the passage of Hurricane Oscar and said that the authorities are looking for two people who are reported missing, the state press reported on Wednesday.

This is the first official figure on disappearances, more than a week after Oscar’s scourge in the east of the country.

The two missing are a 42-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, both from the town of San Antonio del Sur, in Guantánamo, according to a statement from the Civil Defense General Staff.

San Antonio del Sur, along with the neighboring municipalities of Baracoa, Imías and Maisí, was one of the territories most seriously affected by the floods of October 21, with numerous damage to the housing stock, health centers and schools, and losses of personal property.

This Tuesday, for the first time since the occurrence of the meteorological disaster, photographers from some international media accredited in Cuba – including EFE – had access to San Antonio del Sur. continue reading

This week some roads were opened to allow aid to reach the settlements that have been incommunicado

The United Nations resident coordinator in Cuba, Francisco Pichón, indicated that he will present an “action plan” prepared by UN agencies, which includes providing funds and programs “in order to join the concentrated recovery efforts of the national authorities” in support of the victims.

The intense rains that accompanied Oscar, which continue to affect the region, caused the flooding of rivers, landslides from the mountains that brought down mud, and the isolation of communities that rescuers have not been able to reach due to the state of the roads.

But this week some roads were opened to allow the passage of aid to settlements that have incommunicado, especially in mountainous or flooded areas.

Seven of the deceased were located in San Antonio del Sur, while the other deceased was located in Imías

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel visited Imías on Wednesday to assess the damage after Oscar’s passage.

Also, the Guantanamo Defense Council reported this Wednesday that Oscar’s passage through the province damaged more than 11,000 buildings, including homes and public infrastructure, and affected more than 13,000 hectares (32,124 acres) of various crops.

Power cuts continue in the region due to the fall of 98 power poles and damaged transformers in five municipalities

The official provincial newspaper Venceremos reports that houses suffered the greatest damage, with 257 total collapses and 360 partial, while 9,198 houses lost part of their roofs, among other damage.

Facilities for 627 state institutions have been affected. Among them, the damage is mainly concentrated in commerce, with 183 establishments, health centers (71), and Education, Culture and Sports sectors, with 210 effects recorded.

Electricity cuts continue in the region due to the fall of 98 poles and damaged transformers in five municipalities, where more than 56,000 customers are still without service (some 35,000 now have power).

The report points out that to alleviate the generation deficit, 69 generators are being used to supply isolated communities, food production centers, public health centers and other services.

In agriculture, negative effects are reported in 13,255 hectares (32,754 acres) of banana, coconut, cocoa, fruit, forest fuels and, in particular, coffee, one of the main productions of the territory.

The committee points out that 14 national and foreign donations have been received, nine of them sent by the United Nations World Food Program

The recovery begins gradually with the arrival of materials and donations for the restoration of infrastructure and land communication with the four affected municipalities. This includes returning most of the evacuees to their homes, and the planting and harvesting of coffee in the unaffected areas.

In addition, the committee points out that 14 national and foreign donations have been received, nine of them sent by the United Nations World Food Program, plus others from the Bridges of Love initiative and The Peoples Forum in the United States.

Hurricane Oscar – the first meteorological event that directly hit Cuba in the current hurricane season – penetrated Cuba on Sunday the 21st as a category 1 hurricane (maximum of 5) on the Saffir-Simpson scale, very close to the coastal city of Baracoa, in Guantánamo, and became a tropical storm before leaving the next day through an area near Gibara, in the province of Holguín.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Argentina’s Prime Minister Milei Removes His Foreign Minister for Voting Against the US Embargo on Cuba

A few months ago, the minister had denounced the presence of “infiltrators from Cuba and Venezuela, specialists in destabilizing Governments”

Diana Mondino with the president of Argentina, Javier Milei / @DianaMondino/X

EFE/14ymedio, Buenos Aires, 31 October 2024 — The President of Argentina, Javier Milei, suddenly dismissed his Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, on Wednesday for her vote in the United Nations General Assembly in favor of the resolution against the US embargo on Cuba.

The resolution, without binding effects, was approved, as in previous years, by an overwhelming majority (187 votes in favor, 2 against – the United States and Israel – and the abstention of Moldova).

This decision surprised the Argentinians due to the strong alignment of the Milei Government with Israel and the United States in terms of foreign policy, and the president’s emphatic rejection of left-wing governments.

In an interview Mondino then declared that there were “infiltrators from Cuba and Venezuela in the country who are specialists in destabilizing Governments”

The performance of the foreign minister in this case contrasts with the radical positions she had expressed last March against the Cuban regime. In an interview, Mondino then declared that there were “infiltrators from Cuba and Venezuela in the country who are specialists in destabilizing governments.” This comment earned her this answer from Cubadebate: “Little insight and quite manipulative, Diana Mondino.” continue reading

As soon as Argentina’s vote in the UN was known, a wave of rumors began in the local press about a possible removal of Mondino from the Government, which at the moment had not released information about the reasons for her departure.

“The new foreign minister of the Argentine Republic is Mr. Gerardo Werthein,” announced the presidential spokesman, Manuel Adorni, on X.

The designated foreign minister is an important local businessman, close to Milei. Since last April he has served as Argentine ambassador to the United States.

A veterinarian by profession, Werthein also served as president of the Argentine Olympic Committee (COA) between 2009 and 2021, and was a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Salt Fields Destroyed, Crops Damaged and up to 6,000 Affected by Hurricane Oscar in Eastern Cuba

It is still impossible to give a total account of the damage because of isolated communities

It is estimated that there are some 4,000 families affected in the eastern provinces / Prensa Latina

14ymedio/EFE, Havana, October 22, 2024 — The northeastern end of Cuba is experiencing a dramatic situation one day after the passage of Hurricane Oscar, which left at least seven dead and much material damage. Baracoa, for example, remains incommunicado. According to the report on national television this Tuesday, the linemen mobilized from other provinces could not arrive: the La Farola viaduct is closed to the passage of vehicles due to landslides caused by the rains.

In the same report, they pointed out that the salt field of San Antonio del Sur, the most affected community, was totally damaged. In addition, 200 hectares of tomato plantations were lost. Throughout the territory, damage was reported in “almost 50% of the banana plantations,” and in the coffee plantations.

Early Tuesday, the official press reported that there are 6,000 people affected – about 4,000 “family nuclei” – mainly by the floods, which have caused river overflows and sea penetrations in low coastal areas.

In the last 48 hours, the province has recorded accumulated rain of more than two feet in some points, according to data from the Institute of Meteorology. continue reading

Oscar entered Cuba as a category 1 hurricane (out of 5) on the Saffir-Simpson scale on Sunday afternoon and spent just over 24 hours on the Island, accompanied by strong winds, intense rains and high tides. It made land near Baracoa at 6:10 pm on Sunday and left Cuban territory in the vicinity of Gibara around 7:20 pm on Monday.

Civil Defense decided on Tuesday to declare the return to “normality” in the eastern provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín and Las Tunas, but in Guantánamo classes will continue to be suspended at least until Thursday.

Oscar is the fifteenth hurricane of the current season in the Atlantic

Oscar is the fifteenth hurricane of the current season in the Atlantic and the first to touch land in Cuba. The meteorological services of the United States and Cuba warned months ago that this hurricane season in the Atlantic, which runs from June 1 to November 30, was going to be especially active.

The last time a big hurricane hit Cuba was in 2022, when Ian caused a collapse of the power grid similar to the one that Cuba has experienced in recent days.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Hurricane Oscar’s Passage Through Eastern Cuba Leaves at Least Six Dead

The effects of the hurricane will delay the recovery of electricity in Guantánamo province

A street in the city of Baracoa, in Guantánamo province, after Oscar’s passage / Radio Guantánamo

EFE/14ymedio, Havana, 21 October 2024 — Hurricane Oscar, weakened and downgraded to a tropical storm as it passed through the eastern region of Cuba, left at least six dead in the municipality of San Antonio del Sur, Guantánamo, the authorities reported on Monday. The storm continues slowly along its path, with heavy rain and winds that have caused material damage and the evacuation of thousands of people.

“At the moment there are forces from the Ministry of the Interior, the Armed Forces and the Red Cross participating in salvage and rescue actions” in San Antonio del Sur, said Colonel Argenis Perales Pérez, head of the Operations Department of the National Staff of Civil Defense, speaking on the Mesa Redonda program. He pointed out that the number of deaths is considered “preliminary data.”

The first hurricane of the current season in the Atlantic that has directly affected Cuban territory, Oscar entered on Sunday afternoon through a point near the city of Baracoa, in the province of Guantánamo, where the greatest effects are recorded, according to official media.

“Greenhouses, homes, work centers, electrical lines and crops have suffered damage caused by the heavy rains and winds of Oscar,” reported Radio Guantánamo, illustrating its publication on networks with images of the city of Baracoa after the passage of the storm.

According to preliminary reports, both in Baracoa and the municipalities of Imías and Maisí, there are effects of varying magnitude in more than 1,000 homes, and large floods have forced the evacuation of several thousand people. continue reading

Oscar continues to weaken over the eastern region, and its maximum sustained winds are up to 37 miles per hour

Regarding the effects of the hurricane, state television has reported accumulations of rain up to 12 inches, overflowing rivers and flooding, washed-out roads and the loss of roofs due to the force of the winds.

The most recent hurricane warning from the Institute of Meteorology (Insmet) has indicated that Oscar continues to weaken over the eastern region, and its maximum sustained winds are up to 37 miles per hour, with higher gusts.

The heaviest rainfall has spread to the province of Holguín and remains over Guantánamo and its adjacent seas, while the storm moves slowly to the west-northwest at only four miles per hour, adds Insmet.

It also warns, for the next few hours, of heavy and locally intense rains, showers and thunderstorms in much of the eastern region, and high tides on the north coast of the provinces of Guantánamo, Holguín and Las Tunas.

According to forecasts, Oscar will remain in eastern Cuba for more than 24 hours and is expected to break from a point north of Holguín province on Monday night.

The effects of the system will delay the recovery of electricity in that territory of the Island, according to information from the authorities, on the fourth day that the country suffers from the collapse of the national energy system.

Oscar is the fifteenth hurricane of the current season, although the US National Hurricane Center has described it as “small.”

The meteorological services of the United States and Cuba warned months ago that this hurricane season in the Atlantic, which runs from June 1 to November 30, was going to be especially active.

The last time a major hurricane hit Cuba was in September 2017, when Irma advanced parallel to the north coast of the Island and caused ten deaths and material losses officially valued at 13,185 million dollars.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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