English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 19 July 2019 — No study on the behavior and scope of a generation can be circumscribed schematically to the data that is identified with the date of birth. Although age is one of the factors to be taken into account, it will always be possible to find, in a human … Continue reading “The Generation of the Heirs”
Cubanet, Luis Cino, Havana, 23 January 2019 – Right around this time, 60 years ago, Fidel Castro was making his first visit to Venezuela, in what was also his first official foreign trip as ruler. Fidel arrived in Caracas on 23 January 1959, accompanied by a large delegation. It was only 15 days since the … Continue reading “Sixty Years On From Fidel Castro’s First Trip To Venezuela”
14ymedio, Havana, September 30, 2018 — The ex-attorney general of the Republic, Juan Escalona, known for the high-profile trial of General Arnaldo Ochoa, died Friday in Havana of bronchopneumonia. Escalona was 87 and found himself retired eight years ago when he was “liberated from his position” after more than 20 years as Attorney General. State television … Continue reading “Ex-Attorney General Juan Escalona Dies in Havana”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 2 January 2018 — The official media are celebrating, right now, a new anniversary of what they insist on calling the Cuban Revolution. The festivities around the 1st of January, when Fidel Castro marked a turning point in the nation’s history, show all the traces of a routine that has exhausted … Continue reading “The Successive Deaths of the Cuban Revolution”
Juan Juan Almeida, 5 July 2017 — The case is notable for its strict secrecy and a degree of coercion. The highly irregular trial and mystifying plight of those already found guilty and sentenced make “the top secret theft from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) of the Republic of Cuba” perhaps the most surprising … Continue reading “Cuba: More Implicated in the Interior Ministry’s Stolen Documents Case / Juan Juan Almeida”
14ymedio, Havana, 29 June 2017 — On Wednesday, Brigadier General Eduardo Delgado Rodriguez died in Havana. He had supervised the intelligence operations that led to the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes in 1996, and as director of the Miami espionage work of the Wasp Network, he was in charge of infiltrating five … Continue reading “Cuban General Who Oversaw the Downing of ‘Brothers To The Rescue’ Planes Dies”
Iván García, 6 May 2017 — Some people in Cuba, not just a minority, want blood. And more severe laws for criminals. While the Catholic Church and different international institutions are advocating a crusade to eliminate the death penalty on the Island, there are people who, for many reasons, think firing squads should be reactivated. If … Continue reading “Cubans Want More Severe Laws for Criminals / Iván García”
Juan Juan Almeida, 13 March 2017 — The appointment of architect Perla Rosa Rosales Aguirreurreta to succeed historian Eusebio Leal as head of Havana’s Office of the Historian is the most recent example of the Cuban regime’s making strategic decisions whose sole purpose is to implement a very well-organized dynastic succession plan. In order to further … Continue reading “Cuba’s Children of Power Take Possession / Juan Juan Almeida”
14ymedio, Havana, 8 January 2017 — Faithful, hard-line and knowledgeable of the ultimate secrets of dissidents and ministers, Carlos Fernandez Gondín made his mark on the Ministry of Interior (MININT), the most feared Cuban institution. But shortly after taking over the portfolio in 2015, life played a bad trick on him and he had a stroke, … Continue reading “Time Takes Another Life In Cuban Politics / 14ymedio”
This list of most-read articles presents an interesting window into 2016-in-Review, at least in the eyes of 14ymedio‘s readers. Fidel Castro Sent My Father to the Firing Squad; I Do Not Regret the Tyrant’s Death / Ileana de la Guardia Read it Here The Ancient Dictator Died Long Ago / Miriam Celaya Read it Here Away From … Continue reading “14ymedio’s Most Read Stories of 2016”
Juan Juan Almeida, 16 December 2016 — Twenty-seven years after Cause Number 1, the judicial proceedings that resulted in the deaths by firing squad and arrests of several high officials of the Cuban army and secret services, Ileana de la Guardia–daughter of the then-colonel of State Security of the Havana regime–believes that the decision to execute … Continue reading “Ileana de la Guardia: "Castro Executed My Father Because of Rivalry" / Juan Juan Almeida”
14ymedio, Ileana de la Guardia, Paris, 5 December 2016 – Dawn comes to Paris, this 26 November, the sun barely over the horizon. From the depths of my dreams I hear the phone ring. I don’t want to answer it. It is my husband who does so. His voice tells me: “He died, he died, … Continue reading “Fidel Castro Sent My Father to the Firing Squad; I Do Not Regret the Tyrant’s Death / 14ymedio, Ileana de la Guardia”
14ymedio, Boris Gonzalez Arenas, Havana, 11 August 2016 — My friend Adriana Gutierrez suggested I write this, only asking that, out of respect for her father, I change the names. She has lived in Spain since 2007, when she went to do a degree that also offered the occasion to stay and live outside of … Continue reading “The Spy’s Retirement / 14ymedio, Boris Gonzalez Arenas”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 2 October 2015 – Fifty years ago the first Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) made its appearance. It was composed of one hundred people, among whom there were 57 commanders of the Revolution, nine captains, one lieutenant and 33 civilians. Of that constellation only eight remain alive and in … Continue reading “That First Central Committee / Reinaldo Escobar”
For my soul brother Angel Santiesteban, prisoner of Cuba for thinking differently. For my second father, Raul Guerra, who died intoxicated with disappointment. The Death of the Cat Writer: Lilo Vilaplana Genre: Fiction Category: Fiction The Death of the Cat is much more than an exceptionally accomplished work of art by Lilo Vilaplana. It is … Continue reading “Let’s Join "The Death of The Cat" in Denouncing the Castro Dictatorship at FIBABC”
