‘I Long for My Son and All the Political Prisoners To Be Free, but I Also Want Cuba To Be Free’

14ymedio, Yoani Sánchez, Havana, 10 July 2023 — If a couple of years ago her efforts were devoted to obtaining food, transportation, or perhaps planning to emigrate, now her greatest concern is the freedom of her relatives convicted for the protests of July 11, 2021 (11J). Prison has not only changed the detained on that … Continue reading “‘I Long for My Son and All the Political Prisoners To Be Free, but I Also Want Cuba To Be Free’”

Two More Minors Were Registered Among Cuban Political Prisoners in April

14ymedio, Havana, 11 May 2023 — Prisoners Defenders (PD) denounced this Thursday that at the end of April in Cuban prisons there were 1,048 political prisoners. Although there were 18 fewer than in March, the organization, based in Madrid, points out in its latest monthly report that “more cases of minors have emerged,” and that … Continue reading “Two More Minors Were Registered Among Cuban Political Prisoners in April”

‘I Do Not Rule Out an Uprising Against the Cuban Regime, But There Are Many Factors Against It’

14ymedio, Xavier Carbonell, Madrid, 22 April 2023 – On a visit to Madrid, a Catholic priest from Camagüey, Alberto Reyes, talks about Cuba as an island out of time. “There’s no present and no future there”, he says, “only the lethargy of continuity”. The most obvious symptom: the ‘re-election’ of Miguel Díaz-Canel, a decisive bet … Continue reading “‘I Do Not Rule Out an Uprising Against the Cuban Regime, But There Are Many Factors Against It’”

Cuban Opposition Platform D Frente Thanks Cardinal Stella for Asking for ‘Clemency’ for Cuba’s Political Prisoners

14ymedio, Havana, 11 February 2023 — The opposition platform D Frente [D Front] thanked Pope Francis this Friday for Vatican Special Envoy Cardinal Beniamino Stella’s asking the Cuban government for “an amnesty or some form of clemency” for Cuba’s political prisoners. Stella, whose visit to the island starting on January 23, followed a strategy of … Continue reading “Cuban Opposition Platform D Frente Thanks Cardinal Stella for Asking for ‘Clemency’ for Cuba’s Political Prisoners”

Cuba’s Foreign Ministry Vetoes the Presence of Several Priests at the Event with the Cardinal in the University Great Hall

14ymedio, Havana, 9 February 2023 — The Havana journalist Adrián Martínez Cádiz was one of those invited by the authorities of the Catholic Church to an event this Wednesday at the University of Havana where Cardinal Beniamino Stella, envoy of Pope Francis, participated. The guest list included laymen, priests and nuns, and had to be approved by the Ministry … Continue reading “Cuba’s Foreign Ministry Vetoes the Presence of Several Priests at the Event with the Cardinal in the University Great Hall”

Arrest, Condemn and Exchange, the Tactic of Authoritarianisms Against Dissidents

14ymedio, Yoani Sánchez, Merida (Mexico), 9 February 2023 — When I met Nicaraguan opposition member Félix Maradiaga I knew immediately that Daniel Ortega must hate him rabidly. The activist is the antithesis of the old caudillo: hyperactive, charismatic and an excellent communicator. This Thursday I learned that the former presidential candidate is among the 222 … Continue reading “Arrest, Condemn and Exchange, the Tactic of Authoritarianisms Against Dissidents”

‘Bolos’ [Russians] and Yankees in Havana

14ymedio, Pedro Corzo, Miami, February 4, 2023 — It’s evident that the Castro leadership, those whom they call moncadistas [the ones who took part in the attack on the Moncada barracks, celebrated every July 26], by their stubbornness in maintaining privileges and fortunes at all costs, don’t cease to reinvent themselves by resorting to any maneuver … Continue reading “‘Bolos’ [Russians] and Yankees in Havana”

Repression, Besieged Activists and Threats: These Were the Elections in Cuba / Cubalex

Cubalex, 30 November 2022 — On 27 November 2022, municipal elections were held in Cuba, to choose constituency delegates. Cubalex monitored the human rights situation on election day, which was principally notable for violation of the right to political participation. The data gathered by our organization demonstrates that the Cuban authorities continue to employ criminal … Continue reading “Repression, Besieged Activists and Threats: These Were the Elections in Cuba / Cubalex”

Six Cuban Opposition Organizations Unite to Refound the Republic

14ymedio, Havana, 8 September 2022 — Members of the Cuban opposition inside and outside Cuba announced their support for “D Frente,” a group of “coordination of plural Cuban civil and political actors, whose central objective is to achieve the refounding of the Republic, guided by José Martí’s idea of building a country ’with everyone and … Continue reading “Six Cuban Opposition Organizations Unite to Refound the Republic”

‘If You Lock Yourself In Your House, You Die of Heat and, If You Open the Windows, Mosquitoes Kill You’

14ymedio, Havana, 20 July 2022 — Cuba faced one of its worst days of electricity deficit on Wednesday due to the increase in demand. The Electric Union of Cuba (UNE) has announced an availability of 2,499 MW, very insufficient due to the need for 3,000 MW planned for today on the island. In previous weeks, … Continue reading “‘If You Lock Yourself In Your House, You Die of Heat and, If You Open the Windows, Mosquitoes Kill You’”

Cuba, Protests Against Totalitarianism

14ymedio, Pedro Corzo, Miami, 17 July 2022 — The protests of July 11, 2021 were a glorious feat for all of us who reject the Castro totalitarian regime. That bravery, to a certain extent, neutralized the criticisms issued by some about what they describe as the extreme passivity of the Cuban people in the face … Continue reading “Cuba, Protests Against Totalitarianism”

For the Government, the Problem of Light is ‘Complex’; For Cubans It’s Unbearable

14ymedio, Havana, 19 July 2022 — The fire in unit 2 of the Lidio Ramón Pérez plant in Felton (Mayarí) has been “a hard blow” for the Cuban electrical system, and repairing it “will not be a quick process. It will take us at least more than a year to recover that boiler and put … Continue reading “For the Government, the Problem of Light is ‘Complex’; For Cubans It’s Unbearable”

Oswaldo Paya Will Have a Street in Miami on the 10th Anniversary of his Death

EFE (via 14ymedio), Miami, 14 July 2022 — Cuban opposition leader Oswaldo Payá, who died 10 years ago this month, will have a street with his name in Miami on the initiative of two commissioners (councilmen) from Miami Dade, as reported by the Payá family to different media. The inauguration of Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas Way, … Continue reading “Oswaldo Paya Will Have a Street in Miami on the 10th Anniversary of his Death”

‘If They Order You to Kill Us, Will You Do It?’ The Cuban Policeman Answered: ‘Probably’

14ymedio, Xavier Carbonell, 4 July 2022 — On 16 July 2021, five days after the massive protests throughout Cuba, State Security forcefully entered a house on Calle Independencia #77, in Sancti Spíritus. There, they detained several young people, none of whom had gone out on the streets on 11J. Based on private videos and audios, they … Continue reading “‘If They Order You to Kill Us, Will You Do It?’ The Cuban Policeman Answered: ‘Probably’”

Havana, a Dead City with ‘More Police Than People on the Street’ and Without Lines

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 11 July 2022 — The harassment of independent activists and journalists since last week already foretold that this Monday, the one-year anniversary of the historic 11J demonstrations in Cuba, would be a day without disturbances. This is the case, at least in Havana, where numerous police officers, uniform and civilian, … Continue reading “Havana, a Dead City with ‘More Police Than People on the Street’ and Without Lines”