English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Marcelo Hernandez, Havana, 29 November 2016 — Eulalia has two obsessions in her life: listening to music and sitting in her easy chair in the doorway of her home in the city of Alquízar, Artemis. There, she watches the evening fall and keeps an eye on her chickens so they won’t end up “in other … Continue reading “Cuban Government Imposes Mourning By Force / 14ymedio, Marcelo Hernandez”
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”
Luis Felipe Rojas, 31 August 2016 — Abusers, they beat women in the street, participate in acts of repudiation, and monitor those who think differently. They are the kids of the feared Rapid Response Brigade. Now they are thirty-somethings. They graduated from Cuban universities, but before they were wearing red bandanas in school, raising their hands … Continue reading “They Wanted to be Like Che… and They Are / Luis Felipe Rojas”
Luis Felipe Rojas, 13 August 2016 — Now, in the second week of August, dozens of members of the Cuban opposition have been trapped in their houses. The Cuban political police have been instructed to close off the streets and mount patrols to prevent dissidents from going out to protest. The photos published by the … Continue reading “The Peace the Castros are Looking For / Luis Felipe Rojas”
14ymedio, Ernesto Santana, Havana, 11 July 2016 — At the end of his first stint as Minister of Culture (1997-2012), comments were frequently heard about Abel Prieto’s desire to leave the job. The most practical said it was due to illness, the most romantic claimed he wanted to devote himself to writing. Now comes his … Continue reading “Minister Abelito’s Second Go-Round / 14ymedio, Ernesto Santana”
Luis Felipe Rojas, 1 July 2016 — This Friday I was informed that Cuban writer, poet, novelist, and cultural advocate Poemario de Rafeal Vilches was denied a visa by the United States embassy in Havana. Vilches has become an problem for those who claim that things have changed in Cuba. He has been arrested, interrogated by … Continue reading “The United States Denies Visa For Poet Rafael Vilches / Luis Felipe Rojas”
14ymedio, Havana, 12 June 2016 – This Sunday there was, again, a operation around the Ladies in White headquarters in the Lawton area of Havana, organized by the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), State Security agents and civilians called up for Rapid Response Brigades. Lady in White Luisa Ramona Tuscany told 14ymedio via phone that “as … Continue reading “Another Sunday Of Repression For The Ladies In White / 14ymedio”
Ivan Garcia, 11 May 2016 — Daniel Llorente Miranda, 52, is a spontaneous dissident. He doesn’t belong to any opposition party, nor is he an un-gagged journalist. He is on his own. Last 22 March, with the stars and stripes on his shoulders, Llorente found himself in the area of the United State Embassy, waiting … Continue reading “State Security Tactics in Cuba / Iván García”
Luis Felipe Rojas, 28 February 2016 — Attention, all who rabidly applaud the Obama-Francisco-Castro pact: it is worthwhile to make difficult proposals, ask inconvenient questions, and bother the military beast that has run the Island with the trembling hands of whisky hangovers. Oh, no? Not in your plans? It must be said again and again, because after … Continue reading “Pro-Castro Foolishness / Luis Felipe Rojas”
14ymedio, Havana, 21 February 2016 — The events organized on Sunday to remember the late activist Orlando Zapata Tamayo resulted in dozens of opposition members arrested throughout the country. Several civil society organizations had also called for a tribute to honor the four Brothers to the Rescue pilots on the twentieth anniversary of their death at … Continue reading “Tribute To Orlando Zapata Leads To Dozens Of Arrests / 14ymedio”
Ivan Garcia, 13 January 2016 — There were more than seven thousand arrests of dissidents in 2015, with most detentions lasting several hours. Beatings, harassment, acts of repudiation and degrading treatment by police are common in Cuba. Political reforms are not part of General Raúl Castro’s agenda. Despite the repression in Havana there is one … Continue reading “Opposition Marchers Should Change Their Strategy / Ivan Garcia”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 26 December 2015 – A blacksmith by profession, he never imagined that after so many years of fabricating bars for his neighbors’ homes, he would end up locked behind prison bars. The activist Vladimir Morera Bacallao will mark 80 days on a hunger strike this Monday, 28 December, the Day of … Continue reading “Cuban Activist On The Brink Of Death After A Prolonged Hunger Strike / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, 30 August 2015 — The leader of the Ladies in White, Berta Soler, reported several arrests of opponents and independent journalists beginning early today. Those detained were prevented from attending Mass at Santa Rita Church and from participating in the traditional Sunday march along Fifth Avenue. Despite the strong police operation deployed around the … Continue reading “Ladies in White Denounce Arrests That Began Early Sunday Morning / 14ymedio”
Hablemos Press, Lisbán Hernández Sánchez, Havana, 19 June 2015 — Despite a show of force, Cuban police did not arrest activists of four different opposition groups who on June 15 took part in an audiovisual workshop. For the activists, it was strange that there were no reported detentions, as has occurred on other occasions with … Continue reading “Forty-Seven Opposition Members Meet In Havana, No Arrests Reported / Hablemos Press, Lisbán Hernández Sánchez”
And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, because they know not what they do. Luke 23:34 I write without knowing if she will get to read these words, or if she would understand them, because there are matters in life that take us a minute or perhaps an hour to understand, but others take a year, … Continue reading “For Sucelys*, to Be Reborn Tomorrow / Jeovany Jimenez Vega”
