Audience Shouts ‘Freedom’ During Carlos Varela Concert in Havana’s Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum

14ymedio, Havana, 30 May 2022 — Cries of “libertad” [freedom] crept in on more than one occasion during Carlos Varela’s performance this Sunday at the Havana World Music Festival, at the Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum in Havana. The audience chanted the word at two moments, first when he finished singing Foto de familia, and later when he … Continue reading “Audience Shouts ‘Freedom’ During Carlos Varela Concert in Havana’s Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum”

Cuban Exiles and Opponents Ask Biden for Democratic Changes Without Concessions

EFE/14ymedio, Miami, 12 February 2021 — On Friday, Cuban exiles and opposition groups in Cuba urged United States president Joe Biden and the US Congress that the review of the policy towards Cuba should be based on democratic change without “unilateral concessions” to the government of President Miguel Díaz-Canel. For several weeks, Cubans “committed to … Continue reading “Cuban Exiles and Opponents Ask Biden for Democratic Changes Without Concessions”

Eduardo Cardet Receives his First Visit at the Minimum Security Facility Where He Was Transferred

14ymedio, Havana, 7 February 2019 — Yaimaris Vecino, wife of Eduardo Cardet, visited the national coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement and prisoner of conscience for the first time at the minimum security prison to which he was transferred last Friday by the authorities. The visit went “fairly well”, according to Vecino as she explained … Continue reading “Eduardo Cardet Receives his First Visit at the Minimum Security Facility Where He Was Transferred”

"Degrading Conditions" for Detainees But Fewer Arbitrary Arrests in June

14ymedio, Havana, 2 July 2018 — The number of arbitrary arrests has been “steadily declining” in the last two years, according to the latest report from the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCDHRN), which documents 122 arrests of this type during the month of June. Although the repression has diminished in quantitative terms, … Continue reading “"Degrading Conditions" for Detainees But Fewer Arbitrary Arrests in June”

Cuba Prevents Activists From Traveling to Lima Summit

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 4 April 2018 — Two more activists were victims of restrictive measures that prevented them from leaving Cuba on Wednesday. They are the playwright Adonis Milan and the musician Gorki Águila, both of whom have been invited to attend the Forum of Civil Society and Social Actors that will be held in Lima, … Continue reading “Cuba Prevents Activists From Traveling to Lima Summit”

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””

My First Encounter with State Security

14ymedio, Adonis Milán, Havana, 6 December 2017 — For the past two years I have been directing an independent group called Persephone Theater. We recently premiered the play Hamlet Machine, by the German author Heiner Müller, with a staging that shows the overwhelming parallelism between the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) and present-day Cuba. I traveled with this … Continue reading “My First Encounter with State Security”

Election Day In Cuba Passes With No Surprises

14ymedio, Havana, 27 November 2017 — The last municipal elections before the departure of Raúl Castro in February passed without surprises, exit polls or political differences between the candidates. During the day, several activists denounced irregularities in exercising their right to vote or access the counts and the rains forced some delays in poll closing times. … Continue reading “Election Day In Cuba Passes With No Surprises”

The Prosecution Asks For Three Years In Prison For The Opponent Eduardo Cardet / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 3 March 2017 — This Friday, the trial against Eduardo Cardet, a doctor and the national coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL), was concluded. The prosecution has maintained its original request for three years of deprivation of liberty for the opponent, who has been detained since November 30 and charged with “attack on … Continue reading “The Prosecution Asks For Three Years In Prison For The Opponent Eduardo Cardet / 14ymedio”

Amnesty International Calls For Release Of Cuban Opponent Eduardo Cardet / EFE, 14ymedio

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 1 Februday 2017 — The global organization Amnesty International on Tuesday called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of Cuban dissident Eduardo Cardet, who has been detained for two months accused of the crime of assault. Amnesty International believes that Cardet, the national coordinator of the illegal Christian Liberation Movement (MCL), is a prisoner of … Continue reading “Amnesty International Calls For Release Of Cuban Opponent Eduardo Cardet / EFE, 14ymedio”

Fidel Castro’s Battle of Ideas… Political Pantomime / Somos+, Roberto Camba

How much truth can a man take? Friedrich Nietzsche Somos+, Roberto Camba, 12 September 2016 — They say it began with the fight to return the young rescued rafter Elian Gonzalez from the United States to Cuba. Really it was much earlier, since the strategy never changes: silence and ignore the adversary, incessantly repeat lies until … Continue reading “Fidel Castro’s Battle of Ideas… Political Pantomime / Somos+, Roberto Camba”

An Urgent Call for Independent Journalism in Cuba / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo

The plight of journalist Valle Roca draws attention to the risks faced by independent reporters in Cuba and the complicity of the United States and other countries. Sampsonia Way Magazine, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, 29 June 2015 — If you are an independent reporter in Cuba—that is, if you are an illegal reporter in Cuba, since the … Continue reading “An Urgent Call for Independent Journalism in Cuba / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”

Castrobama / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo

LET THE OLD DEAD GIVE WAY TO THE NEW DEAD Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo The title is, of course, a quote from the Czech, Milan Kundera, an obsolete reference for the rest of a world, which believes it is living in the post-communist era. But in Cuba, it continues to be something referring to the … Continue reading “Castrobama / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”

A Tribute to Harold of the Christian Liberation Movement / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo

A tribute to Harold Cepero Escalante, the man, the friend, the liberation activist… Tribute to Harold Cepero, a young man who lost his life while working to build the Cuban civil society he dreamed of, with rights, progress and unity. Thanks to people like him love abounds on this earth. Help us investigate the causes … Continue reading “A Tribute to Harold of the Christian Liberation Movement / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”