English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Individual with mental retardation, used as a member of the Rapid Response Brigades in San Germán, Holguín. Responsible: MININT Delegate Grognier Gallardo Parra. Lt. Yazmanis Suárez Ramírez, “Confrontation” official in San Germán, Holguín. Victor Zamora, unlicensed self-employed. Member of the Rapid Response Brigades in San Germán, Holguín. November 12 2012
World: Death on the island The death of Oswaldo Paya in Cuba has impacted the dissidence and sowed suspicion. This is the story and tribute from a Cuban writer and photographer from the ranks of the opposition. By Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, from Havana 26/07/2012 Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas (1952-2012) has died like they kill the … Continue reading “Payá Yes, Bishops No / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
In recent weeks, I have noticed that the theme of reconciliation and forgiveness among Cubans is surfacing in various opinion forums. Speakers from various areas as well as alternative digital media –including independent bloggers- seem to pay particular attention to the matter, which points to a general feeling that we are already projecting to conflicts … Continue reading “Pardon or Justice? / Miriam Celaya”
The authorities of Las Mangas Penitentiary in Bayamo are prohibiting that the Cuban political prisoner Ariel Arzuaga Pena, who is serving a sentence of 6 years for the supposed crime of double attempt, receive his medications, according to his wife, Lady in White Yakelin Garcia Jaenz. “Since the beginning of April, Ariel has not been … Continue reading “SOS For a Woman from Bayamo / Luis Felipe Rojas”
This post was written by Luis Felipe Rojas as soon as he was released from his 4 day detention on Wednesday, March 28th, as Pope Benedict XVI was heading out of Cuba. I was detained on Saturday, March 24th at 8 AM. I had just left my house to buy bread for my children, and … Continue reading “104 Hours in the Darkness / Luis Felipe Rojas”
ALTHOUGH I AM a lapsed Catholic — a Catholic “my way,” as are almost all Cubans who claim to be one — I never denied it, in the time when the churches were closed or almost empty and the “tell me about your life” questionnaires had that famous question about whether you had religious beliefs. … Continue reading “Embarrassment / From Voices 14 / Luis Cino”
Everything I write seems so innocent to me. We can not imagine the heart of darkness of the Castro regime. There is still a gag law to prevent people from expressing their discontent and not only of the homicidal and tortures committed against other Cubans on the island We know those things if we get … Continue reading “The Darkening of the Light / Lilianne Ruz”
Translation of this collage which shows the homes of some dissidents, targets of state vandalism: (1st row) Terrorist paint attack in homes of peaceful dissidents. It is common practice to carry out these attacks at night, while everyone is sleeping. However, they tend to also do them during mob repudiation attacks, organized by State Security … Continue reading “Paint Used to Cause Terror / Luis Felipe Rojas”
This past 28th of January, the Cuban government presented us a renovated Jose Marti amid the shouts of the little red pioneers, portraits of Fidel Castro, and songs of Silvio Rodriguez. The celebration was also marked by beatings, arrests, and restrictions on movement of various pro-democracy activists throughout the entire island who were trying to … Continue reading “Marti for Everyone? / Luis Felipe Rojas”
This is what the tutored mobs do to those who demand freedom of rights and expression. This is what the combined forces of the G2 and the Rapid Response Brigades did to a group of women who assisted mass and then carried out a march with flowers in their hands in Palma Soriano. And that’s … Continue reading “Evidence / Luis Felipe Rojas”
What happens when the old art forms of attacking and killing become the norms of a country? What can we expect from oppressors and the oppressed if not the most acid fruit of human relations: violence? Belkis, wife of former political prisoner Jose Daniel Ferrer, had her arm cut open after she was attacked by … Continue reading “Agenda of the Political Police, Agenda of the State / Luis Felipe Rojas”
This article was written by Luis Felipe Rojas and published on the digital newspaper, Cubaencuentro. Little time has passed since the conclusion of the VI Cuban Communist Party Congress, and now very few have faith in those promises. In the spectrum known as Social Political, the government does nothing to truly set these reforms in … Continue reading “Cuba, the Same Ration of Hate / Luis Felipe Rojas”
In 52 years of Revolution, Cubans have become used to attending parades and events. Not always spontaneously. The members of rapid response brigades — paramilitary shock troops — are called to hold repudiation rallies and verbal lynchings against opponents, in particular against the Ladies in White. Two weeks after the military parade in the Plaza … Continue reading “Cuba, Another Parade / Iván García”
I hope that those of you who have difficulties reading Julio Cortazar because of his leftist inclinations will excuse me for this citation. The brilliant Argentine stands on his affective deficiencies (his relationship with dictatorial regimes such as the Castro government or the Nicaraguan government of Daniel Ortega does annul his talent to write fiction). … Continue reading “The Persecutors (Without Other Stories) / Luis Felipe Rojas”
From a public pay phone and despite the fact that she was being watched by police agents in civilian clothes, the woman for which one man decided to climb up on his roof and yell anti-governmental slogans (as can be seen in this video,), Sonia Garro Alfonso told El Mundo that she and her husband, … Continue reading ““We are Frustrated by the Stress of the Constant Repression”, declared the dissident Sonia Garro / Iván García”
