International Human Rights Organizations Demand Release of Detained Journalist / Cublaex

Cubalex, 27 May 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), ARTICLE 19 Office for Central America and the Caribbean, and CUBALEX today demand the release of Mary Karla Ares Pérez, detained since April 30 in relation to her journalistic work. Ares is being held in the Western Women’s Prison in … Continue reading “International Human Rights Organizations Demand Release of Detained Journalist / Cublaex”

‘Let the Abuse of Power End’ Demands Cuban Artist Yomil with His New Video Clip

14ymedio, Havana, 27 August 2021 — Cuban reggaetoner Roberto Hidalgo Puentes, known as Yomil, launched De Cuba soy* this Thursday, a song that he described as “the most important of my career” and which he dedicates to the July 11 protests and to claiming his roots. The video was launched at 5 pm on the YouTube platform and … Continue reading “‘Let the Abuse of Power End’ Demands Cuban Artist Yomil with His New Video Clip”

ARTICLE 19 and CUBALEX Demand the Immediate Freedom of Journalists Detained During the Protests in Cuba

UPDATE July 20, 2021 — In follow-up to the communique that ARTICLE 19 and CUBALEX published on July 16, which stated that as of that date the following people had been detained: Henry Constantin, director of La Hora de Cuba, along with his colleagues Iris Mariño, and Niefe Rigau; Orelvys Cabrera, from Cubanet News; Pedro … Continue reading “ARTICLE 19 and CUBALEX Demand the Immediate Freedom of Journalists Detained During the Protests in Cuba”

Challenge to Cuba’s Decree-Law 35

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Desde Aqui, Havana, 18 August 2021 — As I do not have the patience needed to analyze paragraph by paragraph, article by article, the ways in which Decree-Law 35 violates the rights of freedom of expression, I opt for the following challenge. I formally challenge President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, … Continue reading “Challenge to Cuba’s Decree-Law 35”

Cuba Activists Demand ‘Justice’ for the 11 July Detainees and ‘Transparency’ in Their Criminal Proceedings

14ymedio, Havana, 12 August 2021 — A letter signed by Cuban activists, journalists, intellectuals, and artists asks the Government of the Island for information on more than 800 people who were detained, and others who remain missing, after the protests of July 11. The signatories also demand justice and transparency in the legal processes that have … Continue reading “Cuba Activists Demand ‘Justice’ for the 11 July Detainees and ‘Transparency’ in Their Criminal Proceedings”

Cuban State Security Continues to Harass Activists After the July 11 Protests

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 4 August 2021 — “If you have nothing to hide, come join us, let’s talk”. With the arrogance that characterizes the political police in Cuba, several agents showed up at Sadiel González’s house to take him away this Monday. He’s not the only one. Since July 11th, social networks have been … Continue reading “Cuban State Security Continues to Harass Activists After the July 11 Protests”

The Change in Cuba Has No Turning Back

14ymedio, Yaiza Santos, Madrid, July 31, 2021 — The singer, composer and music producer Pavel Urkiza was born in Kiev (Ukraine), but right away, when he was three months old, he was taken to Havana where he grew up. His parents, both engineers, were part of the first Cuban student brigade in the Soviet Union. … Continue reading “The Change in Cuba Has No Turning Back”

The Anguish of the Relatives of the Young People Arrested in Cuba on July 11

14ymedio, Havana, 20July 2021 — “They are young, they are not criminals or bandits who went to throw stones or loot stores, they went to fight for the things they lack, that they are drowning.” Berta Baruch, 58, is one of the mothers who gathered on Monday in front of the 100th y Aldabó prison, in Havana, … Continue reading “The Anguish of the Relatives of the Young People Arrested in Cuba on July 11”

Cuban Photographer Anyelo Troya Sentenced to One Year in Prison for ‘Public Disorder’

14ymedio, Havana, 20 July 2021 — Photographer Anyelo, who took the images for the video clip Patria y Vida (CURSIVA), was sentenced on Wednesday to one year in prison on charges of “public disorder” for his participation in the July 11 demonstrations. Simultaneously, artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, leader of the San Isidro Movement (MSI), … Continue reading “Cuban Photographer Anyelo Troya Sentenced to One Year in Prison for ‘Public Disorder’”

Hundreds Arrested in Cuban Protests Are Being Subjected to Summary Trials

14ymedio, Havana, July 19, 2021 — Eight days after the start of protests, there is still no official count of those arrested during the demonstrations that took place in more than forty Cuban cities. Several human rights organizations suggest it could be in the thousands while the United Nations puts the number at 187. Among … Continue reading “Hundreds Arrested in Cuban Protests Are Being Subjected to Summary Trials”

Cuban Government Admits One Death in Protests That Began on Sunday

14ymedio/EFE, Havana, 13 July 2021 — After several complaints from civil society and Cubans on social networks, the Government of the Island acknowledged the first death in the protests of recent days. The deceased is a 36-year-old citizen who participated in a demonstration that took place this Monday at the La Güinera Popular Council, in the municipality … Continue reading “Cuban Government Admits One Death in Protests That Began on Sunday”

Dead, Wounded, and Disappeared, the Imprecise Toll of the Repression after the Protests in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 12 July 2021 — There are deaths, injuries, arrests, and disappearances.  It is unknown precisely how many or where because the internet and telephone lines are cut in Cuba, but little by little, by encrypted channels, messaging, and social networks, the toll of the repression of the popular, massive, and unprecedented uprising, which … Continue reading “Dead, Wounded, and Disappeared, the Imprecise Toll of the Repression after the Protests in Cuba”

House-to-House Arrests in Artemisa After a Sunday of Protests Across Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, July 12, 2021 — The calm this Monday, after the massive protests this Sunday in several Cuban cities, is only on the surface. From the early hours of the day, reports multiply of arrests, repression, and police violence, without many details: the information comes in a trickle because internet service is still cut … Continue reading “House-to-House Arrests in Artemisa After a Sunday of Protests Across Cuba”

The Military Leadership is Dedicated to Repression and ‘Does Not Understand Anything About Today’s Cuba’

14ymedio, Havana, 2 July 2021 — Despite the restriction measures related to the Covid pandemic and systematic harassment by State Security, which keeps the main political activists jailed or under house arrest, protests in Cuba grew in June. The Cuban Conflict Observatory (OCC), in a report published this Friday, counts 249 protests, more than 8 a … Continue reading “The Military Leadership is Dedicated to Repression and ‘Does Not Understand Anything About Today’s Cuba’”

State Security Surrounds the Homes of Several Artists and Cuts Their Phone Service

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 1 July 2021 — The homes of several artists and members of 27N are surrounded by police operations this Thursday. Tania Bruguera, Carolina Barrero, Katherine Bisquet and Camila Lobón denounced the police fences on their social networks and warned that a greater number of State Security agents and officers participate than on previous … Continue reading “State Security Surrounds the Homes of Several Artists and Cuts Their Phone Service”