English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
{*Translator’s Note: Angel disappeared from prison on July 21, 2014. As of today he has not been heard from for 29 days.} Five days* have passed now since the disappearance of the writer Angel Santiesteban in Havana, barely hours after he wrote a post from Lawton prison, in which he announced to the world that … Continue reading “Amidst Rumors and Disinformation, Angel Santiesteban Continues Missing”
Since yesterday, July 21, Angel Santiesteban Prats is in an unknown location. I will now relate the events that preceded this new arbitrariness on the part of Cuban State Security. Joining him in his helplessness is his younger son, Eduardo Angel Santiesteban Rodriguez, 16 years old, the son of Angel and the woman who plotted against him … Continue reading “S.O.S.: Angel Santiesteban Transferred and His Whereabouts Unknown”
Angel continues being held in an unknown location, transferred illegally and without being able to communicate to his family, a few days after his son, Eduardo Angel Santiesteban Rodriguez, told the truth about what happened when he was only a child. He now is a 16-year-old adolescent. Forced and manipulated by his mother — Kenia … Continue reading “Completely dismantled, the farce against Angel Santiesteban continues in an unknown location”
The citation document sent to Angel Lazaro Santiesteban Prats to put him in prison. To be a Cuban dissident in prison — who doesn’t tremble at denouncing the Castro dictatorship — and to be designated by Reporters without Borders as one of the “100 Heroes of Information,” is not only an immense honor but also … Continue reading “A Hero and a Villain / Angel Santiesteban”
Thanks to the god of the communication media, in Venezuela the national and foreign TV hasn’t been sold to Chavismo, and they report on events immediately, without concern for reprisals. In Cuba we face another reality. The foreign broadcasters (independent national stations don’t exist), rarely look behind the news that would harm the government, that … Continue reading “An Opportune Difference Between Cuba and Venezuela / Angel Santiesteban”
Raul Castro, are you satisfied now? By The Editor (of Angel’s blog while he is in prison) One year can be a sigh in time or an interminable nightmare; it depends on how you pass the year. To be deprived of freedom is always a bitter drink, but when in addition you’re innocent, when you’re … Continue reading “The Ministry of Revenge Imparts Punishment in the Castros’ Cuba / Angel Santiesteban”
The blogger Angel Santiesteban Prats now has completed one year in prison. It’s been one year today since Ángel Santiesteban Prats was detained in prison. The writer and netizen is the author of an informative blog, The Children Nobody Wanted, created in 2008, known for its open criticism of the government. On December 8, 2012, after … Continue reading “Reporters Without Borders: We urge the Cuban authorities to drop all charges against Angel Santiesteban Prats and release him at once”
Dissident blogger completes year in detention Published on Friday 28 February 2014. Reporters Without Borders reiterates its call for the release of Angel Santiesteban-Prats, a writer who completes a year in detention today and who began a blog in 2008 called Los hijos que nadie quiso (The Children Nobody Wanted) that was openly critical of … Continue reading “Reporters Without Borders Calls for Angel Santiesteban’s Release”
A drop of rain won’t make the swimming pool overflow; nor will a difference be apparent to those who see the little circles that widen when it falls, but this drop, although it appears to disappear, to dissolve among the rest, continues fighting to survive. Unjustly, the first reason that has caused the musician Gorki … Continue reading “Gorki Aguila in the Dock of the Accused / Angel Santiesteban”
In the early hours of Sunday, 12 January, at 6:30 AM, Angel Santiestebian-Prats was the victim of a surprise search by Officer Joaquin, deputy chief of prisons in Havana province. We do not know what they were looking for, but clearly they weren’t satisfied with what they found although they took everything: the Declaration of … Continue reading “SOS: Angel Santiesteban Again Accosted by the Regime, a Member of the United Nations Human Rights Council”
Position of Principle I have learned that some people outside the country who are interested in the details of my ordeal in prison had the misconception that I had agreed to perform the forced labor that other prisoners are required to do. I want to clarify that since my arrival in this place [Lawton Prison Settlement] … Continue reading “I Will Continue Fighting Until the Dictatorship Leaves Power / Angel Santiesteban”
Detention of a Woman in White, Havana, 10th of December 2013. (EFE) The detention of Antonio Rodiles. A few days shy of ten months of wrongful imprisonment, after a show trial in which they have never proven one of the crimes brought against him because … Continue reading “Communique: Castro, The Guardian Of Human Rights In The United Nations, Returns To Harass And Threaten Angel Santiesteban”
The so-called Cuban justice, which is nothing more than another of the pathetic military arms of the political police of the dynastic dictatorship which is clinging to power for more than half a century, has shown – once again, of course – the audacity and impunity with which it always tramples on the law and … Continue reading “Another Scandalous Political Maneuver in the Trial Against Angel Santiesteban / Angel Santiesteban”
To the wall! To the wall!* HAVANA, Cuba, March, www.cubanet.org – Luis Cino Alvarez – A worthy poet who has known how to confront decades of ostracism, Rafael Alcides, wrote, “Regrets and hopes for a new jailed writer.” After the letter by Alcides, email notes of support signed by various writers in favor of … Continue reading “Selective Ignorance: The Women Writers of UNEAC / Luis Cino Alvarez, Angel Santiesteban”
Bishop Siro and Father Conrado The first time I heard Father José Conrado Rodríguez, on a visit he made to Havana, I was among those at the back of the huge crowd surrounding him, hanging on to every word he said. To be honest, I must I hung back, because I didn’t know his greatness. … Continue reading “Prison Diary LIII: The Cardinal Cuba Needs / Angel Santiesteban”
