English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Carlos Alberto Montaner, Madrid, 18 February 2023 — There is a rhetorical way of referring to Spain: “The Motherland.” But sometimes that fits reality and is said without hypocrisy. Especially, when it involves some sacrifice and a certain price has been paid. The socialist government of Spain, contradicting its minority partners in the coalition … Continue reading “When the Motherland is Really a Mother”
14ymedio, Pedro Corzo, Miami, 18 February 2023 — We often read about that particularly predatory human subspecies that we call “coyotes,” unscrupulous subjects who live from the despair of those who seek to have a better life for themselves and theirs. These people have no mercy. They traffic people, making them face countless dangers, like … Continue reading “In Coyote Regimes”
Cubalex, 20 February 2023 — The recent release of 222 political prisoners in Nicaragua and their immediate deportation to the United States, has raised the alarm among Cuban civil society regarding a similar “solution” to the current context on the Island. The protests of 2021 and 2022 resulted 768 protesters behind bars, a five-fold increase … Continue reading “Statement of Human Rights Organizations on the Situation of Cuban Political Prisoners / Cubalex”
14ymedio, Havana, 26 January 2023 — On Tuesday, the Municipal Court of Habana del Este signed sentences of up to eight years of imprisonment for ten demonstrators from the protests of July 11, 2021, commonly referred to as ’11J’. To the defendants, among whom was Professor Pedro Albert Sánchez, the Prosecutor’s Office attributed the crimes of … Continue reading “‘Denigrating the Masculinity’ of Cuban President Diaz-Canel is a New Crime to Imprison 10 Cubans for 2021 ’11J’ Protests”
14ymedio, Havana, December 23, 2022 — The Government of Spain denied the Cuban Ministry of the Interior the sale of 2,500 tear gas cartridges and 40 light, sound and smoke riot control devices, for a combined value of 350,000 euros. The refusal is recorded in the Report on Exports of Defense Material, Other Material and … Continue reading “Spain Refuses to Sell Riot Gear to Cuba”
14ymedio, Havana, September 30, 2022 — On Monday, political prisoner Lizandra Góngora Espinosa, sentenced to 14 years in prison for her participation in the protests of July 11, 2021, was transferred to the hospital at El Guatao women’s prison, in the municipality of La Lisa, Havana, a week after declaring a hunger strike. Ángel Delgado, … Continue reading “One of the July 11th (11J) ‘Plantadas’ in Cuba is Hospitalized and ‘Very Weak’”
Dimas Castellano, 7 July 2021 — The democratization of Cuba, a Western country laboring under a totalitarian government in the twenty-first century, is an urgent necessity. Cubans, who lack the space and freedom to participate as agents of that change, require international support. After 25 years of mutual relations, the European Union (EU) has shown … Continue reading “Three Blows to the Agreement for Political Dialogue and Cooperation Between Cuba and the EU / Dimas Castellano”
EUROPA PRESS (via 14ymedio), Madrid, 27 November 2021 — Cuban playwright Yunior García Aguilera, who arrived in Spain last week to escape repression, calls on the opposition to “reinvent itself” to try to “change things” on the island, for which he suggests, for example, the need to speak with opponents from Venezuela and Nicaragua who … Continue reading “Yunior Garcia Suggests an Alliance Against the Dictatorships of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua”
14ymedio, Frank Calzón, Miami, July 14, 2021 — In the midst of the enthusiasm, and as a result of the spontaneous and eminently peaceful protests on the island, there is speculation about what should be done to bring an end to the dictatorship that has so badly governed Cubans for more than 60 years. A … Continue reading “The Schemes of Cuban State Security”
14ymedio, Havana, 12 July 12, 2021 — Injuries, threats and arbitrary arrests were the culmination of massive and unprecedented protests that took place across Cuba on Sunday, a story that made the front pages of the world’s newspapers today. Among those arrested or attacked was Associated Press photographer Ramon Espinosa, an action that was condemned … Continue reading “The Eyes of the World Are on Cuba”
14ymedio, José Ramón Bauzá, Brussels , 6 April 2020 — The release of Cuban opposition figure José Daniel Ferrer last Friday was a rare piece of good news, among a stream of bleak reports. Together with three other activists from the Patriotic Union of Cuba, Mr. Ferrer had been illegally detained since last October by Cuban … Continue reading “Cuba Released Ferrer. It Is Not Enough.”
14ymedio, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 10 March 2020 – Three years have passed since December 2016, when Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla shook hands exultantly with a smiling Federica Mogherini, high representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The head of Castro’s diplomacy had every reason to celebrate. After more … Continue reading “The Cuban Regime Has Benefited From Its Agreement With The EU”
Jeovany Jimenez Vega, 8 December 2019 — The arrest of opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer, head of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) on October 1st, on false allegation of “kidnapping” and “beating” an individual, has plunged into a new whirlwind of criticism the Castro regime, which as usual insists the detainee will be prosecuted … Continue reading “The Ferrer Case: The Repetition of a Modus Operandi / Jeovany Jimenez Vega”
14ymedio, Elías Amor Bravo, Economist, 29 October 2019 — Since the Cuban regime authorized the new system of buying home appliances and car parts with hard currency and magnetic cards, Cubans once again feel a special attraction to the American dollar. Information from Havana speaks of a spectacular increase in demand in the first days of … Continue reading “Is the Dollarization of the Cuban Economy Possible?”
Iván García, 5 February 2019 — After the daily rush, Aleida, a housewife, goes out in search of fruits and vegetables and other foods in the market. At lunchtime, thanks to her culinary creativity, she turns three chicken legs into six little servings. After cleaning up, she sits down to watch the Brazilian telenovela and when it is … Continue reading “How Cubans See the Crisis in Venezuela / Ivan Garcia”
