Cuban Migrants Criticize The High Prices Of Airfares To Mexico / 14ymedio, Mario Penton

14ymedio, Mario Penton, Miami, 6 May 2016 — Accustomed to standing in long lines on the island, thousands of Cuban migrants stranded in Panama were waiting for hours Friday to buy an airline ticket to Mexico. Among these “middle class rafters” criticism was rising over the high price of airfares which has reached $805 for … Continue reading “Cuban Migrants Criticize The High Prices Of Airfares To Mexico / 14ymedio, Mario Penton”

State Security Tactics in Cuba / Iván García

Ivan Garcia, 11 May 2016 — Daniel Llorente Miranda, 52, is a spontaneous dissident. He doesn’t belong to any opposition party, nor is he an un-gagged journalist. He is on his own. Last 22 March, with the stars and stripes on his shoulders, Llorente found himself in the area of the United State Embassy, waiting … Continue reading “State Security Tactics in Cuba / Iván García”

Panama Prepares The Final Transfer Of Cubans To Mexico / 14ymedio, Mario Penton

14ymedio, Mario Penton, Miami, 29 April 2016 — The Panamanian Foreign Ministry has begun to take a census of more than 670 Cuban migrants in the hostel of Los Planes in the province of Chiriqui, in anticipation of their transfer to Mexico in the coming days. Another three thousand Cubans, most stranded on the border with … Continue reading “Panama Prepares The Final Transfer Of Cubans To Mexico / 14ymedio, Mario Penton”

Embarrassment / From Voices 14 / Luis Cino

ALTHOUGH I AM a lapsed Catholic — a Catholic “my way,” as are almost all Cubans who claim to be one — I never denied it, in the time when the churches were closed or almost empty and the “tell me about your life” questionnaires had that famous question about whether you had religious beliefs. … Continue reading “Embarrassment / From Voices 14 / Luis Cino”

Havana: Hookers a la carte / Iván García

When Roman, a tall, skinny guantanamero, who has spent three years living clandestinely in Havana, feels a burning sexual desire, he plans his binge. After working 12 hours selling trashy textiles and pirated tennis shoes in a street fair on Galiano, which brings him daily earnings between 20 and 30 dollars, he goes to the … Continue reading “Havana: Hookers a la carte / Iván García”

“Paladares” in Havana Pose a Threat to State Restaurants / Iván García

Each day in Havana a new fast food joint appears, or a pirate CD stall, or a place that sells religious objects. These are three businesses that proliferate in the city during this spring-like month of February. But they are not the only ones. Signs both rustic and well-designed advertise appliance mechanics, shoe repairers, seamstresses, … Continue reading ““Paladares” in Havana Pose a Threat to State Restaurants / Iván García”

“In the Underworld, being abakuá means being a tough guy” / Iván García

Benito is 85 years old. Every morning, outside a butcher shop in the Havana neighborhood of Vibora, he sits down with one of his ekobios (sect members) to chat about baseball, religion and politics. He’s a tall black man, stern and full of infirmities. For 63 years he has been part of a abakuá sect … Continue reading ““In the Underworld, being abakuá means being a tough guy” / Iván García”

Censoring ‘The Worst Generation’ Thwarts a Dialogue with Cuba’s Youngest Writers

14ymedio, Havana, 11 October 2022 — The Hermanos Saíz Association (AHS), the radical youth arm of the Cuban Union of Writers and Artists, was not enthusiastic about La peor generación [The Worst Generation] conversation, an event where a group of novice writers were to debate literature, culture, politics, and society. The debate, scheduled to take place … Continue reading “Censoring ‘The Worst Generation’ Thwarts a Dialogue with Cuba’s Youngest Writers”

Who Does Your Revolution Serve ‘President’ Diaz-Canel?’

14ymedio, Yamil Simón-Manso, Gaithersburg, 8 November 2021 — Some time ago a Cuban friend asked me: “And you, why do you continue to be interested in Cuban affairs?” And immediately afterwards he added: “It’s sickening, the same problem, rhetoric, frustrations, over and over again.” What to say? It is true, but I have not forgotten Cuba. Although it has … Continue reading “Who Does Your Revolution Serve ‘President’ Diaz-Canel?’”

The Cuban Regime is the ‘Only One Interested in Yankee Money’

14ymedio, Havana, 28 October 2021 — A new chapter in the struggle between supporters and adversaries of the Civic March for Change scheduled for the 15N (15 November) in several Cuban provinces. This time, money has been at the center of criticism and the artist Yunior García Aguilera, tired of the mercenary accusations that the regime … Continue reading “The Cuban Regime is the ‘Only One Interested in Yankee Money’”

Date for Civic Marches in Cuba Moved Up to November 15 to Avoid Coinciding with Military Maneuvers

14ymedio, Havana, 8 October 2021– As a result of the Cuban Government’s declaring November 20th “National Defense Day,” Archipiélago announced this Friday that it has decided to reschedule for November 15th the march that was originally scheduled for that day. During an eventful press conference, in which the participants suffered telephone and internet interruptions, Yunior … Continue reading “Date for Civic Marches in Cuba Moved Up to November 15 to Avoid Coinciding with Military Maneuvers”

Uruguay’s President Denounces the Imprisonment of Opponents in Cuba

14ymedio/EFE, Havana, 18 September 2021 — The president of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, and the Cuban leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, staged an exchange of accusations this Saturday at the VI Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), in Mexico. The discussion began when the Uruguayan showed his concern because on the island, and in … Continue reading “Uruguay’s President Denounces the Imprisonment of Opponents in Cuba”

Cuban Artist Tania Bruguera Will Participate at the Freedom Forum in Miami

EFE, via 14ymedio, Miami, 16 September 2021 — Cuban artist and activist Tania Bruguera will speak at the next Oslo Freedom Forum, which will be held in October in Miami with the Venezuelan opponent Leopoldo López and the Nicaraguan journalist and human rights activist Berta Valle, among other participants. The organizing entity, Human Right Foundation (HRF), announced … Continue reading “Cuban Artist Tania Bruguera Will Participate at the Freedom Forum in Miami”

And After July 11th, What Comes Next?

14ymedio, Ariel Hidalgo, Miami, 25 August 2021 — In the worst days of the Special Period crisis, when I was asked during a Miami radio program if I thought that people in Cuba were going to take to the streets, I replied: “The only street where people could launch themselves would be the Malecón, trying … Continue reading “And After July 11th, What Comes Next?”

Cuban Opposition Calls for a National Strike on August 13

14ymedio, Havana, August 12, 2021 — Cuban activists, inside and outside the island, encouraged by the success of the July 11 demonstrations and the apparent weakness of the regime, faced with its worst crisis since 1959, have announced a national strike this August 13th. This decision does not attract unanimity within the opposition, and not just because … Continue reading “Cuban Opposition Calls for a National Strike on August 13”