English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Lilianne Ruiz, 19 August 2106 — Guillermo “Coco” Fariñas had to be taken to the hospital again yesterday, at 4:40 in the afternoon The photo at the top of this post was taken several weeks ago but it shows how FANTU activists take him to the hospital. As stipulated in the World Medical Association’s Declaration … Continue reading “Coco Farinas Lost Consciousness Again / Lilianne Ruíz”
Iván García, 9 August 2016 — The sun illuminates the Plaza Vieja, and a humid heat transforms the place into an open-air sauna. When you set foot on the cobblestones, the sensation you have is one of walking on burning embers. At the entrance of the planetarium, dozens of kids accompanied by their parents get in … Continue reading “Without Eusebio Leal, Habaguanex is Controlled by the Military / Iván García”
Joel, a fifty-five-year-old engineer, remembers the summer of 1994 when, after finishing his day job, he came home to roast two or three pounds of peanuts. After packaging them in paper cones fashioned from the pages of school textbooks, he went out to sell them on the street and make a little extra money. As … Continue reading “Is This the Second Phase of Cuba’s Special Period? / Iván García”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Miami, 30 June 2016 — In a recent discussion among colleagues of the national press, the issue of ownership of the mass media came up. With the firmness that characterizes those convinced that something is wrong, comments were made that in Cuba the media is social property and the idea was expressed that … Continue reading “The Private Press In Cuba / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
Ivan Garcia, 2 June 2016 — While it is still dark outside, Nelson gets up, turns on the light and quickly gets dressed. He then goes to the kitchen, makes a cup of coffee and with his calculator starts balancing his books. Yesterday he had a bad day at work. Two months ago he opened … Continue reading “Havana, Where Businesspeople Make Money So They Can Emigrate / Iván García”
Cubanet, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 26 May 2016 — The Cuban Party-State-Government has just published a tabloid containing two of the root documents analyzed and approved during the VII Congress of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) last April, 2016. These are the Project for the Conceptualization for the Economic and Social Model of Socialist Development Project … Continue reading “The New Gospel, According to the General / Cubanet, Miriam Celaya”
14ymedio, Havana, 28 May 2016 – This week has been one of surprises for several activists from the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) who denounce that they have been victims of a raid on their homes and the confiscation of their belongings. The dissidents detailed that the political police raided three houses in the city of … Continue reading “UNPACU Activists Denounce Raid On Their Homes / 14ymedio”
The undersigned, Latin Americans and diverse in our allegiances, professions and interests, but united by a common aspiration for freedom, democracy, equality and well-being throughout the hemisphere, address our fellow citizens and governments, especially those in Cuba, to express the following: We celebrate the growing process of normalization in Cuban-American relations and the willingness of … Continue reading “Cuba Must End “Apartheid Against Its Citizens” / Oscar Arias, Laura Chinchilla”
Havana, Cuba, March 21, 2016 — On February 23, 2015 the Plenum of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) announced that its VII Congress would take place in April 2016 and that the National Assembly of People’s Power would be asked to amend the electoral process and adopt a new law to … Continue reading “Three Key Proposals for Reforming the Cuban Electoral System / Laritza Diversent”
14ymedio, Madrid, 30 March 2016 – The expectations that the upcoming Communist Party Congress will put forward a reform in the Foreign Investment Law that permits greater guarantees is growing among Spanish businesspeople. 14ymedio has confirmed this with Spanish diplomatic sources, who say that the central demand is an elimination of the State monopoly over … Continue reading “Cuba’s State Monopoly on Hiring Slows Spanish Investment / 14ymedio”
14ymedio, Raul Fernandez Rivero, Caracas, 28 March 2016 — I’m a little confused. Many analysts, commentators and journalists claimed that Barack Obama would visit Fidel Castro. That did not seem logical. And it did not happen. Others said he would not speak with dissidents. Even some opponents said they would not go if they were invited. He spoke with a few … Continue reading “The Difference Between A Democrat And An Autocrat / 14ymedio, Raul Fernandez Rivero”
14ymedio, Juan Carlos Fernandez, Pinar del Rio, 27 March 2016 – He moves his fingers at full speed over the screen of his phone without ceasing to talk. The modern gadget keeps him in touch with the most important part of his life: friends, other members of his evangelical congregation, and the subscribers to an electronic … Continue reading “Ricardo Fernandez: “Freedom is Respect” / 14ymedio, Juan Carlos Fernandez”
14ymedio, Mario Penton, Miami, 22 March 2016 — “If it were not for the many who have died trying, it would be funny: Obama is in Cuba and we Cubans are leaving it.” In his sweaty mestizo face you can see small wrinkles, no doubt accentuated by the days spent in the journey along the dangerous route … Continue reading “Cubans in Panama Ask Obama’s Help in the Immigration Crisis / 14ymedio, Mario Penton”
14ymedio, Zunilda Mata, Havana, 8 March 2016 – On Monday, more than 6,000 professionals in the technology, information and communications sector created the Union of Information Scientists of Cuba (UIC). The new entity has been unable to shake off political language in its founding journal, and in its Code of Ethics there is a commitment … Continue reading “Computer Union Is Committed To Maintaining “Loyalty To The Fatherland” / 14ymedio, Zunilda Mata”
14ymedio, Generation Y, Yoani Sanchez, Washington, 5 March 2016 — When they returned his mobile phone all his contacts had been erased and the card with the photos was gone. Stories like this are repeated among activists who have been detained, over whom an iron vigilance is maintained with the complicity of the Telecommunications Company (ETECSA), the … Continue reading “Apple vs the FBI, a Dispute as Seen From the Cuban Prism / 14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez”
