English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 2 February 2016 — She is not wearing a uniform, she is not carrying a bag with snacks, nor does she have a kerchief tied around her neck. However, at nine years of age, Malena is on her way to school, a learning center for the children of diplomats where she … Continue reading “The School for Others / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
The issue of human rights must permeate every point of the agreement between the EU and Cuba 20 December 2015 – Corrected version El País, Rosa Maria Paya, 18 December 2015 – In more than a year of negotiations with the Cuban government, the European Union still does not exhibit significant advances beyond commenting on … Continue reading “Beating A Dead Horse Between Brussels And Havana / Rosa Maria Paya”
Angel Santiesteban, 17 May 2015 — The latest report from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, confirmed the permanence of Cuba and Venezuela in the “black list” because of violations of those rights “has not changed”. This violation situation has remained in Cuba for decades without any particular interest shown in resolving it, because to … Continue reading “Another Stripe for the Tiger / Angel Santiesteban”
New Violations of Ángel Santiesteban’s Rights Amir Valle and Elisa Tabakman, 28 June, 2015 — Today, June 28, 2015, Angel Santiesteban Prats should have been released on parole after having served exactly half of his unjust sentence. In fact, if they had not already violated his rights, he should have been free as of April … Continue reading “Without Freedom, Without Justice, Without Law / Amir Valle and Elisa Tabakman”
Note: This post was written by Angel’s editor, who supports his blogging. Today, April 29, 2015, we begin a new phase in which the Raul Castro dictatorship has decided to take another pass at bullfighter justice with Ángel Santiesteban-Prats. Yesterday, the 28th, he completed serving half of his unjust sentence, the product of a trumped-up … Continue reading “The Second Conviction of Angel Santiesteban”
See here for background information on this series of posts. Your message to Desiderio has motivated me to add some ideas to this debate, which, to my taste, has left us with an excess of words in the middle of a desert of actions. Compared with the richness of ideas and reflections that have been … Continue reading “Message From Juan Antonio García Borrero / Polemica, The 2007 Intellectual Debate”
14ymedio, Havana, 24 March 2015 – On Tuesday afternoon the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, held a press conference for Cuban official media and foreign correspondents in Havana. According to the representative, Cuba and the European Union aspire to reach an agreement on political dialog and cooperation before … Continue reading “EU Diplomat Federica Mogherini: ‘There is no distancing from civil society’ / 14ymedio”
MantleThought.org, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, 18 March 2015 — The U.S. embargo against the Cuban government is like those recurrent childhood nightmares, for both Cubans living on the Island and abroad. Oh, the Embargo Embargo: limit of our life, fire of our leaders… During decadent decades the Cuban Revolution has been defined by that urge … Continue reading “NO EMBARGO, NO CRY / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
Leaders of the opposition call Obama’s reconciliation with the Cuban government a “betrayal” during a press conference in Havana Cubanet, Ernesto García Díaz, Havana, 18 December 2014 — From the headquarters of the Estado de SATS project in Miramar, on Wednesday afternoon (12/17/14), Cuban opposition leaders held a press conference for national and international media, … Continue reading “We Shall Fight to the End for the Liberty of Cuba / Cubanet, Ernesto Garcia Diaz”
That the State sells cheap products at high prices is a dreadful cynicism. HAVANA, Cuba. — First there appeared the “SPAR” products. Then, on a shelf of the Ultra store in Central Havana, we saw the unmistakable seal with the little red bird from “Auchan.” Imported products from Europe, which is equivalent to saying, in … Continue reading “Even Toilet Paper Is A Luxury / Lilianne Ruiz”
Speech by OLPL in Kenney Auditorium, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Washington DC, 16 May 2014. Dear friends: As a Cuban from the Island —and all Cubans are, no matter how far and how much time has passed since we left or were expelled from the Island—, as a critical intellectual —that … Continue reading “OLPL Speaks at Johns Hopkins / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, Spanish Foreign Minister, believes that the European Common Position towards Cuba is correct, but can be more flexible HAVANA, Cuba, March — Latin America and now the European Union approach the Cuban dictatorship without great demands. Respect for fundamental rights, as a requisite for closer relations with Havana passes to a more … Continue reading “Transition to Dictatorship Rhythm / Jorge Olivera Castillo”
As of ten days ago, according to the Chinese horoscope, we’re living in the year of the horse, more precisely, the wooden horse. Many are the prognostications perceived by specialists in different spheres of life and for distinct signs. Like the good pig that I am I see everything more relaxedly and, although I am … Continue reading “In the Year of the Wooden Horse / Reinaldo Escobar”
A fine irony is my having seen the documentary Gusano* (Worm) the same day I heard the news that this Monday the European Union could take definitive steps to lift its Common Position on Cuba. The measures adopted by the European countries in 1996 have to do with respect (or rather disrespect) for Human Rights … Continue reading “Irony / Regina Coyula”
Never before have Cuban dissidents had it so easy. Fifteen or twenty years ago publishing a political document was a sure path to jail. If you were an intellectual — I can recall professor Ricardo Boffill, the writer and poet Raul Rivero and the poet María Elena Cruz Valera — it was not enough for them just … Continue reading “Cuba: Drawing Room Dissidents / Ivan Garcia”
