English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
He had bad luck, this American engineer with his nice grandfatherly face. December 3, 2009, as he was about to board a plane to the United States, he was arrested. And there he sits today. After 14 months in detention without charges, through a brief note in the newspaper Granma, the people on the island … Continue reading “Alan Gross, the Ultimate Currency of Exchange / Iván García”
Written by: Yadaimí Domínguez Faced with the delay of the Attorney General of the Republic, his refusal to modify the terms of custody and to violate the terms provided in the law, my brother started a new hunger strike on December 30 with only four months of recovery from another that lasted 107 days. In … Continue reading “The Pitcher Can Only Go To The Well So Many Times Before It Breaks / Yamil Domínguez”
According to the January 6 edition of the newspaper Granma, “Updating the Cuban economic model demands concrete actions from the police to ensure the safety of families and order in society.” The Ministry of Interior made this known during the celebration of the 52nd anniversary of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR). Apparently the Cuban authorities … Continue reading “The Government Demands More Rigorous Police Work / Laritza Diversent”
Bárbaro López Villavicencio, 44, and Rafael Felipe Martínez Irizar, 41, both from Cienfuegos and addicted to alcohol, decided, midway through 2009, to take over a boat to leave the country for Mexico, and from there, to go to the United States. When making their plan they assigned themselves certain tasks. Martínez Irizar was responsible to … Continue reading “Punished to “Set an Example” / Laritza Diversent”
Nobody knows her name or the sound of her voice. Except for her family or close friends, her individuality doesn’t matter. And yet she is a kind of atypical national celebrity. Her image has traveled the island from one end to the other, smuggled, multiplied by infinity in hundreds, thousands of personal computers and storage … Continue reading “Sex, Truths and Video Cameras / Ernesto Morales Licea”
After his speech before the National Assembly, in which Raul Castro warned that “there will be no impunity for the enemies of the homeland,” the repressive and intimidating actions against opponents have intensified. Troops from the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) and State Security (SE) agents selectively arrested several dissidents near the Malecón on the 5th … Continue reading “The Repression Against Dissidents Intensifies After the Prisoner Releases / Laritza Diversent”
Minister of Finances and Prices In July 2009, The Minister of Finances and Prices, a member of the Council of Ministers, ordered the confiscation of property obtained by Teófilo Roberto, the father of Antonio Roberto, during the period from 1998 to 2008. The action was taken under the authority of Decree-Law 149 (“Regarding the seizure … Continue reading “Minister Places Citizen in Indefensible Position / Laritza Diversent”
The Minister of Finances and Prices, Lina Olinda Pedraza Rodriguez, ordered the execution of a process of confiscation against Teófilo Roberto López Licor, 66, based on Legal Decree 149 “on the confiscation of goods and accumulations made through improper enrichment,” known as the Law Against the Newly Rich and its regulation, Decree No. 187, both … Continue reading “The Powers of the Minister of Finances and Prices are Unconstitutional and Arbitrary / Laritza Diversent”
I think of Martí this very instant. I remember his fired up words on that document he named “Vindication of Cuba,” where, in name of the voiceless, the Master answered a diatribe of The Manufacturer newspaper that accused us of being inefficient and soft, weak on the thought of establishing a true nation. It also … Continue reading “My Own Vindication of Cuba / Ernesto Morales Licea”
Following the release of 21 political prisoners, the Cuban government insists on reminding the dissidents and independent journalists that they will continue their repressive policies. On the morning of this past August 9th, Military Counterintelligence and State Security agents summoned independent journalist Iván García for an interview. The official summons is one of the means … Continue reading “Island Authorities Serve Notice That They Will Not Stop The Repression / Laritza Diversent”
Written by: Yadaimí Domínguez On August 10, the hearing was held before the Supreme Court to review the Appeal brought by our family and promoted by the First Vice Minister of Justice. When the doors of the courtroom opened, we family and friends who had been waiting an hour for this tense moment began to … Continue reading “Hearing at the Supreme Court / Yamil Domínguez”
Havana, April 26, 2010 “Year 52 of the Revolution.” To: Director Maria Esther Reus Gonzalez Minister of Justice I, Ines Ramos Napoles, resident of Calle 4, number 119, between 1st and 3rd Playa, Havana, with ID Number 40012108557, in the name of my son, my family and myself, request the URGENT REVIEW of case No. … Continue reading “Request for Review Presented to the Minister of Justice”
Juan, a commentator, told me he had sent a “Down with Fidel” email to the newspaper Granma, knowing that it is a crime in Cuba. He asked me what sanction they would impose if they found out who he is. First, I don’t believe that the Cuban authorities are going to pursue him for sending … Continue reading “Criticism Can Be a Crime (II)”
In Cuba we live on the edge of a precipice. If you want to get by, you have to take risks. In almost every sector of Cuban life you have to resort to illegal activity to be able to survive. Market shortages in freely convertible currencies have become a frequent prospect. Furthermore, its normal to … Continue reading “On the Edge of the Precipice”
