Abstention, a Fearsome Weapon Against Castroism / Jeovany Jimenez Vega

Jeovany Jimenez Vega, 29 March 2023 — The regime’s most embellished figures on turnout in the last parliamentary elections put voting abstention at between 25 and 30 per cent of the voting population. Beyond the certain statistical adulteration and the lies accepted a priori, the rising and active trend of non-participation during the last elections … Continue reading “Abstention, a Fearsome Weapon Against Castroism / Jeovany Jimenez Vega”

Political Police Interrogates Activist Yasmany Gonzalez for Graffiti Against the Cuban Regime

14ymedio, Havana, 21 April 2023 — Activist Yasmany González Valdés was arrested this Thursday at his house in Central Havana and transferred to the State Security headquarters in the capital, Villa Marista. His wife, Ilsa Ramos, confirmed this on Friday to 14ymedio. Hours earlier, the Observatory for Cultural Rights (ODC) had reported in a Twitter … Continue reading “Political Police Interrogates Activist Yasmany Gonzalez for Graffiti Against the Cuban Regime”

Solitary Confinement: More Cruel and Inhuman Treatment of Detained Persons by the Cuban State / Cubalex

Cubalex, 4 April 2023 — Cuba’s Law of Penal Procedure (LPP) obliges police officers to permit communication between detained persons and their family members, as a required formality when they are being charged. Nevertheless, the absence of judicial control over detention has permitted use of institutionalised practices such as prolonged solitary confinement and coercive isolation. … Continue reading “Solitary Confinement: More Cruel and Inhuman Treatment of Detained Persons by the Cuban State / Cubalex”

The Regime Returns a Cuban-Born Tourist to Canada for Her Criticism on Facebook

14ymedio, Madrid, 21 April 2023 — Glenda Corella Céspedes arrived in Canada in 2012, when the Cuban government agreed to her request to leave the country after eight years of waiting. Her life in Toronto went smoothly until March 7. She decided to return to the Island to attend her brother’s wedding and was met … Continue reading “The Regime Returns a Cuban-Born Tourist to Canada for Her Criticism on Facebook”

Immobility Marks Diaz-Canel’s New Mandate as President of Cuba

14ymedio, Yoani Sánchez, Generation Y, Havana, 21 April 2023 — The first rays of sunlight this Wednesday bathed Havana’s Carlos III Avenue. Where before there was a constant coming and going of vehicles, the fuel crisis has left a road deserted by cars. The conversations in the long lines focused on lamenting inflation, talking about … Continue reading “Immobility Marks Diaz-Canel’s New Mandate as President of Cuba”

Cuba’s Diaz-Canel, Five Years as Hand-Picked Dictator

14ymedio, Yunior García Aguilera, Madrid, 5 April 2023 — That April 19, 2018, when deputies had to “elect” the president of the Republic, there was only one name on their ballots aspiring to the position. Raúl Castro himself cleared away all doubts by declaring that his appointment was not a coincidence, that it was planned … Continue reading “Cuba’s Diaz-Canel, Five Years as Hand-Picked Dictator”

20 Years Since the Black Spring, the Long Shadow of Repression in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana. 18 March 2023 – Twenty years ago a wave of repression swept through Cuba. Whilst the world’s attention was fixed on the start of the war in Iraq, Fidel Castro condemned 75 dissidents to prison in an authoritarian offensive known as the Black Spring. Two decades later, the number of political prisoners on … Continue reading “20 Years Since the Black Spring, the Long Shadow of Repression in Cuba”

Arrested in January for Calling for ‘Another July 11th’ in Cuba, Sulmira Martínez is Taken to Guatao Prison

14ymedio, Havana, March 31, 2023–Sulmira Martínez Pérez, arrested on January 10th for announcing her intention to protest in the streets, was transferred on March 17 to Guatao prison in Havana, according to Mónica Baró who cited the 21-year-old’s mother, Norma Pérez. “Norma says her daughter is traumatized, that in Villa Marista [prison] during the visits … Continue reading “Arrested in January for Calling for ‘Another July 11th’ in Cuba, Sulmira Martínez is Taken to Guatao Prison”

The War Over the Expropriated Brands in Cuba Extends to Beer

EFE (via 14ymedio), Miami, Jorge I. Pérez, 29 March 2023 —  Cuban-American businessman Manny Portuondo was missing something when he inaugurated La Tropical brewery in Miami two years ago, a replica of the one that existed in Cuba with the same name: its most popular beer, Cristal, which in April will begin to be sold … Continue reading “The War Over the Expropriated Brands in Cuba Extends to Beer”

Amnesty International Denounces the Hundreds of Prisoners in Cuba for Exercising ‘Their Human Rights’

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 28 March 2023 — The NGO Amnesty International (AI) denounced on Monday in its annual report the “hundreds of people” in prison in Cuba for “the peaceful exercise of their human rights” — including “three prisoners of conscience” — and the “repression” of “dissidence” and protests. In its document, which summarizes … Continue reading “Amnesty International Denounces the Hundreds of Prisoners in Cuba for Exercising ‘Their Human Rights’”

Police Arrest an Activist in Camaguey for ‘Insulting’ the Cuban Flag

14ymedio, Havana, 25 March 2023 — Activist Aniette González was arrested on Thursday in Camagüey after posting her photographs during a performance with the Cuban flag. Accused of “insulting the symbols of the homeland,” she was transferred to Villa María Luisa, the headquarters of State Security in the province, according to reports of several users. … Continue reading “Police Arrest an Activist in Camaguey for ‘Insulting’ the Cuban Flag”

‘No to the PCC’, a New Protest Sign Against the Cuban Regime Appears in Havana

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 23 March 2023 – A new protest sign against the dictatorship caused surprise among Havana residents on Thursday. This time it had  the words “No to the PCC” (Cuban Communist Party), written in giant capitals on the wall at the back of Aguirre Park, in the Revolution Square district. The … Continue reading “‘No to the PCC’, a New Protest Sign Against the Cuban Regime Appears in Havana”

Team Asere Does Not Belong to the Dictatorship, It Belongs to the Cuban People

14ymedio, Rolando Gallardo, Quito, 16 March 2023 — I once heard an influencer, whose name I don’t want to remember, say that the “Cuban opposition was facing a scientific regime using improvisation.” This idea may have arisen creatively and spontaneously or come from the argument of Gene Sharp [an American political scientist]: “The idea that … Continue reading “Team Asere Does Not Belong to the Dictatorship, It Belongs to the Cuban People”

Rumors on Social Networks in Cuba Tend to be True

14ymedio, Havana, 13 March 13, 2023 — Since the end of 2020, attacks on freedom of expression have increased, and access to information in the country’s online space has been reduced. The Government blocks social networks and independent media, interrupts mobile data connections and resorts to fake profiles on social networks for its disinformation campaigns, … Continue reading “Rumors on Social Networks in Cuba Tend to be True”

Prohibitions on Free Movement Inside and Outside Cuba are Denounced to the Human Rights Commission

EFE (via 14ymedio), Los Angeles, March 10, 2023 — Several Cuban activists denounced this Thursday before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) the violations of the right to movement of people on the Island, as well as the ban on the return of many citizens. The complaints of these “forced expatriations” were made on … Continue reading “Prohibitions on Free Movement Inside and Outside Cuba are Denounced to the Human Rights Commission”