English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Thousands and thousands of Cuban are now working, day and night, to the peak of their professional abilities, so that the Venezuelan dictatorship won’t fall. This is now the number one priority of Plan Fatherland, inside and outside our little dictatorial island. Without Venezuela, there is no future for Fidelismo (as its faithful still call … Continue reading “The Cuban MININT: Lies, Death, Evil / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
Before the olive-green autocracy designed economic reforms, the peaceful, illegal opposition was demanding opportunities in small businesses and in the agricultural sector as well as repeal of the absurd apartheid in the tourist, information and technology spheres that turned the Cuban into a third class citizen. General Raul Castro and his entourage of technocrats headed … Continue reading “The Silent Successes of the Cuban Dissidence / Ivan Garcia”
From Prison: Cuban writer sends message to the attendees at the CELAC Summit. Ángel Santiesteban, sentenced to five years in prison, asks the leaders invited to the meeting to not convert their visit into an act of support for Raúl Castro’s regime. The writer Angel Santiesteban is sentenced to five years in prison (Cortesía). Luis Leonel León / Special … Continue reading “Angel Santiesteban Asks the CELAC Summit not to convert their visit into support for Raul Castro’s regime”
What is our lesson after 55 years of the Castro regime, more than there were before Batista in Cuba (“Castroism” predates Castro), and there are still more to come, as long as the Castro brothers don’t die (there will be no Castroism after Castro), and the violence of freedom finally begins? Is there a lesson? … Continue reading “Gone With the Revolution / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
The dictatorship frightened and cautious The Cuban government has decided once again that the “Bastion” exercises would be held just on the even of December 10, the day celebrated for Human Rights. It’s their way of oiling the “defense” machine, which is intended only to send a sly message to the opposition that they are … Continue reading “Prison Diary LXVIII: New Challenge for Castro: Violate Human Rights While Being a Member of the UN HumanRights Council”
Poster: Rolando Pulido Luis Leonel León: The Black Eyes of Rosa María Payá From El Nuevo Herald The magazine “People en Español” chose her as one of the 25 most powerful Latin women. On a list that includes Jennifer López, Sofía Vergara, Kate del Castillo, Lupita Jones, Paulina Rubio, Doctor Polo and other celebrities across … Continue reading “The Truth in the Gaze / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
On Monday, Cuban dissident Manuel Cuesta Morúa, spokesman for Progressive Arc of Cuba, and a Cubanet journalist, committed to a “common strategy” of the opposition to bring about political change in the island, and he denounced the repression exercised by the Government over private initiative in the economy. Cuesta Morúa, on a visit to Spain, … Continue reading “Manuel Cuesta Commits to a “Common Strategy” for Change in Cuba / Manuel Cuesta”
The Mistake of the Dictator The great slip-up of dictators is to come to believe that the pain from the abuses they cause is sufficient to overwhelm their opponents. For them, arranging for mobs of criminals, people without principles or feelings, mercenaries who obey those who pay them, although only pauper’s wagers, and like a … Continue reading “Prison Diary LXIV: The Dictator Doesn’t Learn That Infamy Multiplies The Opposition Forces / Angel Santiesteban”
In September, two religious leaders living in Cuba, Reverend Mario Félix Lleonart and his wife, the missionary Yoaxis Marcheco, both of the Baptist Convention of Western Cuba, travelled to Washington, D.C. as guests of a Christian Solidarity Worldwide event. With them was Apostle Omar Gude of the Apostolic Movement, who was previously a political prisoner … Continue reading “30 Questions on the Repression of Religion in Cuba / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
HAVANA, Cuba , September, www.cubanet.org – I chose to let a few days pass before writing a few lines about the unfortunate death of the eminent Cuban economist Oscar Espinosa Chepe, in Madrid last Monday. I knew that many colleagues would write about it but was not intimidated by the idea that my possible arguments … Continue reading “My Friend Chepe / Rene Gomez Manzano”
I overstepped the first six months in prison, paying for the attempt to give the dictatorship a lesson through my opposition to its hold on power. This is the price they found to make me pay, and this is the response that, all things considered, I offer them. Since my imprisonment on February 28 of … Continue reading “Prison Diary LV: A “Royal Taster” in Solidarity? / Angel Santiesteban”
REFORMS IN CUBA! The Cuban government SAYS NO to the United Nations to: Freedom of Expression Free Access to the Internet Freedom of action for independent journalists, defenders of human rights, and political opponents. Independent investigation of the deaths of Oswaldo Payá and Harold Cepero Legal guarantees for defenders of human rights. Release of all … Continue reading “Reforms in Cuba / Rolando Pulido”
Fragment of a long letter faxed to Pope Francisco today, following the hospitalization of Angel Santiestaban, with a diagnosis of “supposed” dengue, and it will be delivered directly into the hands of His Holiness, on Monday, through the mediation of a supportive person. (…) Your Holiness, as I said at the beginning of this letter, … Continue reading “Letter Sent to Pope Francisco About the Hospitalization of Angel Santiesteban / Angel Santiesteban”
Headline in Official Newspaper: There is no dengue epidemic in Cuba From Friday the 13th, Angel Santiesteban Prats presented with sporadic fever spikes, without the prison authorities responding to his requests for medical attention. Just yesterday afternoon, Tuesday the 17th, they decided to send him “just as a routine” to the doctor, and after the … Continue reading “Official Communication: Angel Santiesteban Admitted to Salvador Allende Hospital with Dengue Fever / Angel Santiesteban”
… We must announce to Cubans that their lives, their dignity and their freedom belong to them and that no one, not Caesar, can take these things from them if they don’t give in because of fear or other reasons. Oswaldo Paya Sardinas Inspired by these ideas, our Christian Liberation Movement was founded 25 years … Continue reading “Christian Liberation Movement: 25 years on the Path of the People”
