English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
“Vicissitudes of an Isolation Cell” by Pablo Pacheco Avila My time behind the bars taught me to value the characteristics of each common prisoner, avoiding any sort of unnecessary confrontations. Imprisonment actually teaches you a great deal, but you have to learn quickly in order to survive through so much human misery. One morning we … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity XV / Pablo Pacheco”
Denying my Father a Visit One afternoon, the weather abruptly changed. It seemed as if the fury of the gods was attacking “The Polish” and all its inhabitants. Suddenly, a heavy rain shower invaded my cell. If I hadn’t been awake at the time, all my belongings would have gotten soaked. The water entered through … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity XIV / Pablo Pacheco”
“Hidden Declaration in a Lighter” by Pablo Pacheco Avila After the success of the hunger strike, we began to elaborate a plan to confront the ex-Minister of Exterior Relations, Felipe Perez Roque. The lies he had told the national and foreign press about the existence of services for political prisoners were about to be proved … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity XIII / Pablo Pacheco”
I remember that distant but unforgettable 18 March 2003. Two friends of mine went to my home after lunchtime and informed me that the home of Pedro Arguelles Moran was filled with State Security agents. I visited the residence of my friend and colleague, and I began to make some phone calls to the capital, … Continue reading “Why the Black Spring of 2003? / Pablo Pacheco”
Rebellion in the “Polish” Various weeks had passed with normality in the “Polish”. My life was similar to the routine-driven life of any other prisoner, until I realized that if I wanted to get out of that hell I was forced to live in with the least amount of damage as possible, then I had … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity XII / Pablo Pacheco”
Ill-Fated Trip The day began with the falling rain and an icy air which sneaked into my cell. Nostalgia was invading my intimacy and my only response was to tightly hold on to the memories of my days in freedom and to await the return of Manuel Ubals Gonzalez to my cell from his family … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity XI / Pablo Pacheco”
As soon as I started writing I lost the will to continue doing so. But after various hours of trying, I managed to write: “My love, I still harbor close memories of all the joyful days together, unified by love and respect for one another. Without any warnings, life twists our destiny. It would be … Continue reading “Notes From Captivity X: The First Letter / Pablo Pacheco”
I returned to my cell after the visit with my soul afflicted. Ole, Jimmy and Ale had traveled almost 250 miles to see me, and we could only spent thirty minutes together. My family was angry because they weren’t allowed to bring me food to alleviate the hunger inside the prison and let me regain … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity IX: Nostalgia After the Visit / Pablo Pacheco”
I had spent several days without any news of Oleivys and Jimmy. My life was consumed by the uncertainty of not knowing how my loved ones were doing. I could not gather the nerve to write to my wife, and I had little to tell her. On a Thursday, without prior notice, a guard approached … Continue reading “Notes from Captivity: First Family Visit / Pablo Pacheco”
“Poland” is the most rigorous section of Aguica Prison, made up of a 16-cell complex outside the prison. Only common prisoners have access to it and the guards have total authority over it. Usually, one of the prisoners must clean both hallways, leaving the area ready for the guards. In this area, the guards are … Continue reading ““Poland,” My New Home / Pablo Pacheco”
On the 18th of May, there were rumors floating around throughout the prison that the Division General and Chief of the National System of Penitentiaries, Rafael Calderin, was going to visit our jail. In Cuban prisons it is normal to pass on such news to informants and then they spread the word among the prisoner … Continue reading “Prison Notes: The General’s Visit / Pablo Pacheco”
Three days had passed since I was presented before the maximum chiefs of the “Aguica” penitentiary. I found myself in a cruel and degrading world, and what stabbed at my conscience the hardest was the fact that I was separated from my wife and from my only son, who at the time was a mere … Continue reading “Prison Notes: A Trip to the Infirmary / Pablo Pacheco”
A hustle and bustle filled the air as the ringing of the “wake up” bells resonated throughout the prison. The scene was similar to that of a rooster fight, right at the most exciting moment of the battle. For a second, I could have sworn I was in a dream and that all of these … Continue reading “First Days in Prison / Pablo Pacheco”
During the “Black Spring of 2003”, 75 of us peaceful dissidents were arrested and sanctioned to long and unjust prison sentences. As an additional punishment to our families, they dispersed us throughout the entire Cuban geography, hundreds and hundreds of kilometers away from our homes. A week after arriving to the “Aguica” prison in Matanzas … Continue reading “Notes From Captivity / Pablo Pacheco”
After eight long years, my family can once again smile during Christmas. The hate and intolerance of the regime in Havana kept 75 Cuban families from being able to celebrate Christmas together. A couple of friends invited me to spend Christmas Eve with them in the town of Marbella. As a result, a well-nourished group … Continue reading “A Christmas Spent in Freedom / Pablo Pacheco”