Cuban Authorities Confiscate All Copies of a Book About Rap at the Havana Book Fair

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 13 February 2018 — A book of testimonies and interviews, Rapping a Utopian Cuba by writer Alejandro Zamora Montes from the Spanish publisher Guantanamera, was withdrawn by the authorities from the recently concluded Havana International Book Fair, an act that activist Juan Antonio Madrazo Luna labelled as censorship in statements to 14ymedio. Madrazo visited the … Continue reading “Cuban Authorities Confiscate All Copies of a Book About Rap at the Havana Book Fair”

Six Cuban Activists Denied Right To Leave The Country For Reasons Of “National Security”

14ymedio, Havana, 12 February 2018 — Cuban authorities refused to allow six activists to travel to Argentina to participate in a workshop on “electoral process,” according to information provided to 14ymedio this Sunday by Julio Aleaga, member of the independent platform Candidates for Change (CxC). “There were ten activists planning to travel to Argentina this weekend, … Continue reading “Six Cuban Activists Denied Right To Leave The Country For Reasons Of “National Security””

Three #Otro18 Activists Detained On Their Way To The Electoral Commission

14ymedio, Havana, 17 August 2017 — Three activists from the citizen platform #Otro18 (Another 2018*) were arrested Wednesday when they were on their way to deliver “some suggestions” to the National Electoral Commission in Havana, according the opponent Manuel Cuesta Morúa speaking to 14ymedio. Those detained are Lisbetty Darias González, Marthadela Tamayo and Juan Antonio … Continue reading “Three #Otro18 Activists Detained On Their Way To The Electoral Commission”

Cuba: From Worse to Impossible (and We Haven’t Hit Bottom Yet) / Iván García

Ivan Garcia, 3 June 2017 — In coming days when the administration of the unpredictable Donald Trump, following four months of review, announces its Cuba policy, it could be that Obama’s guidelines are retained save for touch-ups of a few items such as doing business with military enterprises that directly benefit the dictatorship. Good news … Continue reading “Cuba: From Worse to Impossible (and We Haven’t Hit Bottom Yet) / Iván García”

Campaign #Otro18 Holds First Forum in Cuba / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 9 March 2016 – On Wednesday, the Civic Platform #Otro18 (Another 2018) held a press conference and its first forum in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana under the theme “For Freedom of Choice” with twenty people in attendance. The initiative promotes several proposals to influence the elections in 2018 for a democratic opening in … Continue reading “Campaign #Otro18 Holds First Forum in Cuba / 14ymedio”

Castro’s Forgotten / Ivan Garcia

When he is lucid, Dubiel has a photographic memory. Almost thirty years after the fact, he still remembers the names of remote villages in the Angolan jungle and can tell stories about a civil war there in which more than 300,000 Cuban soldiers and reservists were involved between 1975 and 1991. Dubiel came back traumatized. It … Continue reading “Castro’s Forgotten / Ivan Garcia”

Cuban Activists Discuss the Diplomatic Normalization with the United States / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 10 August 2015 – Under the title “Diplomatic Normalization and Democratic Normalization,” an even this Monday brought together some 25 Cuban activists of different points of view. The site of the meeting was the “Hannah Arendt Institute of Artivism” in Old Havana. The panel in the morning meeting discussed diplomatic normalization with the … Continue reading “Cuban Activists Discuss the Diplomatic Normalization with the United States / 14ymedio”

Roads to Democracy for Cuba / 14ymedio

14ymedio, 20 June 2015 — The second edition of the event Roads for a Democratic Cuba is taking place in Mexico from 18 to 23 June 2015 under the auspices of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Christian Democrat Organization of America (ODCA). Participating in this meeting are dozens of political activists and civil society leaders … Continue reading “Roads to Democracy for Cuba / 14ymedio”

Cuba: Hildebrando Chaviano Tried / Ivan Garcia

Iván García, 20 April 2015 — Hildebrando Chaviano could pass for Obama if the US president’s secret service wanted to use him as a double. At his 65 years, Chaviano shines with the ability to lead. He likes to intone with the voice of a radio announcer, and doesn’t hide his affection for politics. Like … Continue reading “Cuba: Hildebrando Chaviano Tried / Ivan Garcia”

Cuba: Racial Prejudice Begins in Childhood / Ivan Garcia

Iván García, 29 April 2015 — The first time that Yumilka, a teacher, felt discriminated against because of the color of her skin she was only four years old. “It was in the daycare center. I remember coming home crying. A group of children called me ‘negritilla’ or lousy black girl. They didn’t want to … Continue reading “Cuba: Racial Prejudice Begins in Childhood / Ivan Garcia”

Dissident leaders carry a united message to the Americas Summit in Panama / 14ymedio, EFE

14ymedio/EFE, Havana, 3 April 2015 –Several leaders of the Cuban opposition and independent civil society made public Friday a document title “A United Message to the Seventh Summit of the Americas” under the slogan “Yo soy Cuba” (I am Cuba). In the text they point out that the “ the full insertion of the Cuban … Continue reading “Dissident leaders carry a united message to the Americas Summit in Panama / 14ymedio, EFE”

Blacks and Mixed-Race Still Marginalized in Cuba / Ivan Garcia

Every summer since 2009, in line with the economic openings of General Castro, Gerald, the owner of a photography business, has rented a room in a hotel in Varadero for 5 nights. Gerald, a white man married to a mixed-race woman, authoritatively calls attention to the small number of black or mixed-race Cuban tourists. “There are very … Continue reading “Blacks and Mixed-Race Still Marginalized in Cuba / Ivan Garcia”

Manuel Cuesta Morua Arrest Confirmed

Yesterday opposition leader Manuel Cuesta Morúa member of the Progressive Arc Party and organizer in Cuba of the 2nd Democratic Forum on International Relations and Human Rights (parallel to CELAC) was detained and held at the 7th Police Station in La Lisa the outskirts of the Cuban capital. The news came through the opponent and Cubanet … Continue reading “Manuel Cuesta Morua Arrest Confirmed”

Activists and CADAL Prepare a Forum Parallel to the CELAC Summit in Havana

The Democracy Bridge Program of the Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL) and internal dissidents activists have organized the Second Democratic Forum on International Relations and Human Rights, which they are planning to coincide in Havana with the Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). The Summit … Continue reading “Activists and CADAL Prepare a Forum Parallel to the CELAC Summit in Havana”

Actress Ana Luisa Rubio, Savagely Beaten by Alleged Neighbors

“Violence has reached critical levels in Cuba,” says activist Antonio Rodiles, and actress Ana Luisa Rubio, 62, just experienced it. The photo above is her face after a severe beating given to her by a group of supposed neighbors last Friday. “I am very sore, but mostly I’m very scared,” Rubio told Diario de Cuba … Continue reading “Actress Ana Luisa Rubio, Savagely Beaten by Alleged Neighbors”