English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
In 2003, what was I doing? Now I can’t remember exactly. None of those tried in summary trials in the Black Spring of 2003, they charged, according to prosecutors’ intentions, with 20 years or life imprisonment, had committed any crime. They were made prisoners for exercising their right to try to change this state of … Continue reading “Voices Behind the Bars / Lilianne Ruíz”
“Life is worth nothing if I ignore that the assassin took a different path and is preparing another ambush.” – Pablo Milanes When I retrospectively analyze my pastoral relationship with Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia, I discover that neither international forces or media campaigns were interested in him. Instead, God, who is never neutral before the … Continue reading “Divine Providence and the Assassination of Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia / Ricardo Medina”
Recently a fellow Cuban living abroad and I exchanged views on the advisability of hunger strikes as a way to confront the dictatorship. The subject, of course, was motivated by the strike initiated by Jorge Luis Artiles (Bebo) last May 9, in the city of Santa Clara, and that was assumed on Friday, June 3, … Continue reading “Of Strikes and Causes: Reflections on a Conflict / Miriam Celaya”
Yoani Sanchez I have no desire to write. I scold myself. Since I learned that Coco Fariñas is on a hunger strike I have been floating above the city. I can’t even call him on the phone and only yesterday I managed to send him a message. I’m a coward. I hope I’m wrong, but … Continue reading “Floating in Nothingness / Claudia Cadelo”
I saw him two times in my life. The first time was in Placetas. I can’t remember if it was at the house of Amado Moreno or that of Antunez and Iris. From there, he left to organize something about a protest we would later participate in, but I did not see him again because … Continue reading “A Few Minutes with The Student / Luis Felipe Rojas”
José Lino Asencio. Photograph courtesy of Ricardo Medina Since the death of John Wilfredo Soto this past May 8th as a result of beatings received by local police, successive acts of violence, threats and harassment of various kinds have been carried out against dissident groups and individuals in the city of Santa Clara. My friend … Continue reading “Information from Santa Clara / Miriam Celaya”
Photos from the Award Ceremony at the Dutch ambassador’s home for Yoani Sánchez’s Prince Claus Award. From Boring Home Utopics. Guillermo “Coco” Fariñas Yoani with her plaque. Father José Conrado
In 2003, 75 Cubans were arrested in four days. Their crime? Being pro-democracy political activists, fighters for human rights, or simply journalists independent of the hegemonic line of the only Cuban political party, the Communists. Pedro Argüelles Morán was one of them. Seven years later — in the same arbitrary way as the imprisonments — … Continue reading “Journalism as a Living Faith: Telephone Interview with Pedro Argüelles Morán #liberanlosya / Claudia Cadelo”
October 23 2010 The recent dismissal of Spain’s Pro-Castro foreign minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the declarations of President Barack Obama, and the well-deserved award to the independent journalist Guillermo Fariñas have been the most important of recent events. The exit of the La Moncloa official — Moratinos — was an event that had an impact … Continue reading “We’re Doing Fine, Zapata / Antunez”
It’s difficult to imagine that inside the frail body of Guillermo Fariñas, behind his face without eyebrows, is a willingness to confront discouragement. It is also surprising that at the times when his health was most critical, he never stopped caring about the problems and difficulties of those around him. Even now, with his gallbladder … Continue reading “Tropical Sakharov / Yoani Sánchez”
It had already been leaked to Cuban dissidents that the journalist and psychologist Guillermo Fariñas enjoyed a big lead in the voting for the 2010 Sakharov Prize. Among the local opposition the distinction has received more applause than criticism. Still, ‘Coco’ — as we call him — was surprised and the phone in his house … Continue reading “Expected Prize / Iván García”
The Limits of Immobility By Dimas Castellanos The multiple factors that made possible the paralysis of our history in recent decades, while interacting on a different stage, have placed the limits of immobility on the daily agenda. The attempts to convert citizens by the masses, to ignore the vital function of rights and liberties, and to … Continue reading “Essay from Voices 1 by Dimas Castellanos / Posted in: Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
These have been remarkable days. From the time it was known that the Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos had on his agenda the topic of releasing a significant number of political prisoners, people started to sit up and take notice. Never before has a telephone been as important for me. The uncertainty was making … Continue reading “The "Castro List"”
Placetas, July 5, 2010 I confess that I am one of those who feel justly scorned by the servile and complicit posture of the Spanish Foreign Minister. I commented sincerely while I was reading the official newspaper, Granma, which took up the task of misinforming us about the situation of our brother hunger striker. That … Continue reading “Another Crime Committed by the Foreign Minister”
A tragic fashion. Objectionable to many. The only option the opponents have. They believe that in this way they can force the regime. It is their war cry. But it is not a new weapon. Already in 1972 a 53-day hunger strike took the life of opponent Pedro Luis Boitel. It was before the era … Continue reading “Hunger Strikes, Weapon of Cuban Dissidents”