Cuba’s 64 Years of Agrarian Reform: Nothing to Celebrate

14ymedio, Elías Amor Bravo, Economist, 21 May 2023 — Fidel Castro activated a plan, not deviating one millimeter from its content, for seizing power in Cuba following the fall of the Batista regime. And in that plan, one of the first actions — when the execution machinery was in full swing at La Cabaña fortress … Continue reading “Cuba’s 64 Years of Agrarian Reform: Nothing to Celebrate”

Iroel Sanchez, One of the Most Sectarian Voices of the Cuban Regime, Dies

14ymedio, Havana, 18 May 2023 — On Thursday afternoon, computer engineer Iroel Sánchez Espinosa, one of the most extreme voices of Cuban official propaganda, died in Havana at the age of 58. Known for his constant defamation campaigns against dissent and the independent press, so far the cause of his death has not been made … Continue reading “Iroel Sanchez, One of the Most Sectarian Voices of the Cuban Regime, Dies”

Three Cuban Hockey Players Remain in Spain: ‘We Were Hungrier Than a Caged Lion’

14ymedio, Havana, 9 May 2023 — Three members of the Cuban field hockey team left their delegation in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday. Yadira Miclín Galbán, Marianela López and Daylin Suárez Pérez were touring Europe with their team and were being trained from May 3 to 13 to participate in the Central American Games in San … Continue reading “Three Cuban Hockey Players Remain in Spain: ‘We Were Hungrier Than a Caged Lion’”

The Cuban Regime Will Try Those Arrested in Caimanera for Disturbing Public Order

14ymedio, Havana, 9 May 2023 — Those arrested in this Saturday’s anti-government protests in Caimanera, Guantánamo, will be tried for “altering public order.” In an informative note, Saimara Llamaré Galano, president of the Assembly of People’s Power of this town, assured that what happened will not go “unpunished” and that the detainees will have “all … Continue reading “The Cuban Regime Will Try Those Arrested in Caimanera for Disturbing Public Order”

The Human Rights Commission Forces Mexico to Re-Accept a Family of Cubans

14ymedio, Ángel Salinas, Mexico, 5 May 5, 2023 — The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) on Thursday ordered the National Institute of Migration (INM) to repair the damage caused to a family of four Cubans that it deported in November 2022 “despite having refugee status.” The measure includes “some compensation,” without specifying what it consists … Continue reading “The Human Rights Commission Forces Mexico to Re-Accept a Family of Cubans”

‘I Do Not Rule Out an Uprising Against the Cuban Regime, But There Are Many Factors Against It’

14ymedio, Xavier Carbonell, Madrid, 22 April 2023 – On a visit to Madrid, a Catholic priest from Camagüey, Alberto Reyes, talks about Cuba as an island out of time. “There’s no present and no future there”, he says, “only the lethargy of continuity”. The most obvious symptom: the ‘re-election’ of Miguel Díaz-Canel, a decisive bet … Continue reading “‘I Do Not Rule Out an Uprising Against the Cuban Regime, But There Are Many Factors Against It’”

Political Police Interrogates Activist Yasmany Gonzalez for Graffiti Against the Cuban Regime

14ymedio, Havana, 21 April 2023 — Activist Yasmany González Valdés was arrested this Thursday at his house in Central Havana and transferred to the State Security headquarters in the capital, Villa Marista. His wife, Ilsa Ramos, confirmed this on Friday to 14ymedio. Hours earlier, the Observatory for Cultural Rights (ODC) had reported in a Twitter … Continue reading “Political Police Interrogates Activist Yasmany Gonzalez for Graffiti Against the Cuban Regime”

Solitary Confinement: More Cruel and Inhuman Treatment of Detained Persons by the Cuban State / Cubalex

Cubalex, 4 April 2023 — Cuba’s Law of Penal Procedure (LPP) obliges police officers to permit communication between detained persons and their family members, as a required formality when they are being charged. Nevertheless, the absence of judicial control over detention has permitted use of institutionalised practices such as prolonged solitary confinement and coercive isolation. … Continue reading “Solitary Confinement: More Cruel and Inhuman Treatment of Detained Persons by the Cuban State / Cubalex”

The Regime Returns a Cuban-Born Tourist to Canada for Her Criticism on Facebook

14ymedio, Madrid, 21 April 2023 — Glenda Corella Céspedes arrived in Canada in 2012, when the Cuban government agreed to her request to leave the country after eight years of waiting. Her life in Toronto went smoothly until March 7. She decided to return to the Island to attend her brother’s wedding and was met … Continue reading “The Regime Returns a Cuban-Born Tourist to Canada for Her Criticism on Facebook”

Sorolla, Hijacked in Havana

14ymedio, Xavier Carbonell, Salamanca, 14 April 2023 – After arduous negotiations with the government in Valencia over a period of seven years, Havana has given its reply: the paintings of Joaquín Sorolla, currently in the custody of the city’s Museum of Fine Art, and whose journey to Spain for the centenary of the death of … Continue reading “Sorolla, Hijacked in Havana”

The War Over the Expropriated Brands in Cuba Extends to Beer

EFE (via 14ymedio), Miami, Jorge I. Pérez, 29 March 2023 —  Cuban-American businessman Manny Portuondo was missing something when he inaugurated La Tropical brewery in Miami two years ago, a replica of the one that existed in Cuba with the same name: its most popular beer, Cristal, which in April will begin to be sold … Continue reading “The War Over the Expropriated Brands in Cuba Extends to Beer”

Amnesty International Denounces the Hundreds of Prisoners in Cuba for Exercising ‘Their Human Rights’

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 28 March 2023 — The NGO Amnesty International (AI) denounced on Monday in its annual report the “hundreds of people” in prison in Cuba for “the peaceful exercise of their human rights” — including “three prisoners of conscience” — and the “repression” of “dissidence” and protests. In its document, which summarizes … Continue reading “Amnesty International Denounces the Hundreds of Prisoners in Cuba for Exercising ‘Their Human Rights’”

Police Arrest an Activist in Camaguey for ‘Insulting’ the Cuban Flag

14ymedio, Havana, 25 March 2023 — Activist Aniette González was arrested on Thursday in Camagüey after posting her photographs during a performance with the Cuban flag. Accused of “insulting the symbols of the homeland,” she was transferred to Villa María Luisa, the headquarters of State Security in the province, according to reports of several users. … Continue reading “Police Arrest an Activist in Camaguey for ‘Insulting’ the Cuban Flag”

‘No to the PCC’, a New Protest Sign Against the Cuban Regime Appears in Havana

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 23 March 2023 – A new protest sign against the dictatorship caused surprise among Havana residents on Thursday. This time it had  the words “No to the PCC” (Cuban Communist Party), written in giant capitals on the wall at the back of Aguirre Park, in the Revolution Square district. The … Continue reading “‘No to the PCC’, a New Protest Sign Against the Cuban Regime Appears in Havana”

Rumors on Social Networks in Cuba Tend to be True

14ymedio, Havana, 13 March 13, 2023 — Since the end of 2020, attacks on freedom of expression have increased, and access to information in the country’s online space has been reduced. The Government blocks social networks and independent media, interrupts mobile data connections and resorts to fake profiles on social networks for its disinformation campaigns, … Continue reading “Rumors on Social Networks in Cuba Tend to be True”