Search results for: fernando rojas

Human Rights Group Warns Cuban Government Is Setting the Stage for Civil War to Hold onto Power

14ymedio, Havana, December 4, 2020 — The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH) claims that Raúl Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel are “setting the stage for civil war in order to hold onto power at any cost instead of adopting the reforms that Cuba urgently needs.” In a statement issued on Thursday, the Madrid-based organization condemned … Continue reading “Human Rights Group Warns Cuban Government Is Setting the Stage for Civil War to Hold onto Power”

The Cuban Ministry of Culture Breaks the Dialogue By Rejecting the Artists’ Conditions

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 4 December 2020 – Cuba’s Ministry of Culture announced this Friday in an official note that it will not meet with the artists who, on 27 November, Vice Minister Fernando Rojas promised to open a dialogue with, arguing “that they have direct contact and receive financing, logistical support and propaganda backing from … Continue reading “The Cuban Ministry of Culture Breaks the Dialogue By Rejecting the Artists’ Conditions”

Despite the Arrests and Pressures from Cuba’s Political Police, Independent Artists Gather

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 3 December 2020 — Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara was not the only one to be arrested this Wednesday. The harassment has continued in the last 24 hours against members of the San Isidro Movement and other independent artists. Tania Bruguera was also arrested on Wednesday afternoon when she was on her way to … Continue reading “Despite the Arrests and Pressures from Cuba’s Political Police, Independent Artists Gather”

Cuban Authorities Broke the Agreements with Artists, Denounces Tania Bruguera

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 30 November 2020 — Three of the five agreements reached on November 27 between independent artists and cultural authorities — beginning with the release of the young rapper Denis Solís, sentenced to eight months in jail for alleged contempt — did not last 24 hours, Tania Bruguera denounced in a press conference called … Continue reading “Cuban Authorities Broke the Agreements with Artists, Denounces Tania Bruguera”

And the Spark Ignited…

14ymedio, Yoani Sánchez, Havana, 28 November 2020 – Sometimes in the dark, or with only the beams of mobile phones lighting their faces, hundreds of artists have planted themselves in front of the Ministry of Culture in Havana, until the early morning hours this Saturday. The peaceful protest marks a necessary precedent with unpredictable consequences … Continue reading “And the Spark Ignited…”

Some 150 Artists Gather in Front of Cuba’s Ministry of Culture to Support the San Isidro Movement

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 27 November 2020 — Since 11:00 AM this Friday, dozens of artists have gathered in front of the Ministry of Culture in Havana to express their solidarity with the members of the San Isidro Movement, who have been evicted from their headquarters by the security forces. In the absence of the minister, … Continue reading “Some 150 Artists Gather in Front of Cuba’s Ministry of Culture to Support the San Isidro Movement”

The Artist Alcantara Again Sparks Controversy by Auctioning the Flag of his ‘Performance’

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 23 March 2020 — Just one week after his release, the controversy has returned to the work of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who announced the auction of the flag that starred in Drapeau, the performance for which the Government accuses him of the crime of “insult to the national symbols.” This flag bears … Continue reading “The Artist Alcantara Again Sparks Controversy by Auctioning the Flag of his ‘Performance’”

Statements of Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Against the "Blockade" Relegate Felipe VI to the Background

14ymedio, Havana, November 15, 2019 — Breaking the tradition of Spanish diplomacy of using the word “embargo” for the economic restrictions that the US maintains over Cuba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, spoke yesterday of a “blockade.” “We are going to call things by their name,” he stressed. The Spanish Minister of Foreign … Continue reading “Statements of Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Against the "Blockade" Relegate Felipe VI to the Background”

Cuba’s President is an Android / Lynn Cruz, Havana Times

Republished from English edition of the Havana Times Lynn Cruz, HAVANA TIMES, 17 September 2019  – Photos of Cuban people stranded at bus stops, trying to reach their destination, are really quite outrageous. While the atmosphere in the capital is becoming more and more hostile, a doctor friend tells me that Carnival is being celebrated … Continue reading “Cuba’s President is an Android / Lynn Cruz, Havana Times”

Cuban Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara Released on Tuesday

14ymedio, Havana, 4 June 2019 — The police released artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara on Tuesday afternoon after he spent 24 hours in the San Miguel del Padrón police station, the independent artist explained to 14ymedio. By telephones, moment after his release, Alcántara related that he was arrested on Monday in the middle of the street. The … Continue reading “Cuban Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara Released on Tuesday”

Viengsay Valdes to Direct National Ballet of Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 22 January 2019 — The National Ballet of Cuba (BNC) has a new artistic deputy director, Viengsay Valdés, who since 2001 has been its prima ballerina. Alicia Alonso maintains, nominally, the position of general director although, at 97 years old, she is not engaged the regular work of the company. This means, in practice, that Valdés is … Continue reading “Viengsay Valdes to Direct National Ballet of Cuba”

Fahrenheit 349

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 9 December 2018 —  We have Ray Bradbury (1920-2012) to thanks for the novel Fahrenheit 451 (published in 1953) that tells the story of Guy Montag, a fireman whose job is to burn books considered ‘uncomfortable’ by the government. Such an atrocity was only possible because there was a powerful commission in charge of dictating … Continue reading “Fahrenheit 349”

Cuban Government Puts the Brakes on Full Implementation of Decree 349, Proposing it be Gradual

14ymedio, Havana, 8 December 2018 — The Cuban government has decided to stop the full implementation of Decree 349, a few days after it also backed off on fully implementing a package of measures to control the private sector. On Cuban TV’s Roundtable program this Friday, Minister of Culture Alpidio Alonso, announced that the unpopular Decree 349 … Continue reading “Cuban Government Puts the Brakes on Full Implementation of Decree 349, Proposing it be Gradual”

Cuban Writers and Artists Union Will Not Debate Constitutional Reform

EFE/14ymedio, Havana, 5 November 2018 — Cuba’s Union of Writers and Artists (Uneac), the pro-government organization that brings together a large part of the island’s intelligentsia, confirmed on Monday that it will not call on its members to debate the project to reform the Constitution and urged them to go to the meetings in their workplaces … Continue reading “Cuban Writers and Artists Union Will Not Debate Constitutional Reform”

Rebellion in Cuba’s Writers and Artists Union

14ymedio, Havana, 31 October 2018 — The Cuban Writers and Artists Union (Uneac) is facing complaints from several of its members who have openly protested against the refusal of the organization to debate the constitutional reform project. The most recent to join controversy, and the one who has most openly explained it, is doctor of economics … Continue reading “Rebellion in Cuba’s Writers and Artists Union”