English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Last May I was overwhelmed when browsing in the apartment of Yoani Sanchez I came across her book Word Press: a blog to talk to the world. Three years earlier I had noted her famous blog (Generation Y) and, stimulated by it, I opened my blog, Island Anchor, also hosted on the platform Cuban Voices. … Continue reading “Yoani Sanchez’s Technical Book / Miguel Iturria Savón”
The punishment cell is narrow, is five feet wide by two long, cold and there is not even a blanket for cover. From the hole in the floor that serves as a toilet, a rat occasionally emerges and looks curiously at the curled up man lying there. Outside shouts are heard, metal banging, and the … Continue reading “Wilman Villar Mendoza: The Death of a Dissident / Yoani Sánchez”
If the rumor about Cuban baseball is confirmed, I think the bad news for the national sport will exceed that having played a tournament in Rotterdam to forget, or that of having been deprived, for the umpteenth time in recent years, of an international title (this time, by Taipei of China). The threatening rumor is … Continue reading “The Passion Kills Us / Ernesto Morales Licea”
Antecedent. On December 15, 2009 the government intervened in the courtyard of the house where Karina Galvez held gatherings of the journal Coexistence and they built a wall, seizing the covered terrace, pantry and bathroom, which had been built inside the courtyard of her property. The wall remains and the case is in the Supreme … Continue reading “Sustained Harassment Incidents in Pinar del Rio, Cuba / IntraMuros”
If the democratic left in the world wants to take lessons of what not to do in state policy, please look to Spain. History tends to fickle twists. And perfect anonymous types, after death, joined the army of sacred cows. Also the inverse. Distinguished in life, when God took them, they were despised. But however … Continue reading “Spain: Zapatero Reinvents the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) / Iván García”
At the close of the Eighth Ordinary Session of the National Assembly of Popular Power, on December 23, 2011, General Raul Castro announced that “in a humanitarian and sovereign gesture,” the State Council of the Republic of Cuba had agreed to pardon more than 2,900 Cuban and foreign prisoners. Despite the positive that will come … Continue reading “Of Pardon and Amnesty / Dimas Castellano”
The trial of Amado Interian was held on the afternoon of December 13th in Courtroom Number 7 of the Havana Court. He is a former police officer who shot a 14-year-old teenager named Angel Izquierdo. The trial had been suspended on December 9th due to a nonappearance by the defendant. Amado Interian was dressed like an inmate, but it was … Continue reading “Trial of a Former Policeman Who Shot a Black Teenager / Laritza Diversent”
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. Psalm 25:21 King James Bible At 10:34 PM I received a text message from my brother the Pastor Yordi Alberto Toranzo Collado in which he told me: “Bishop Pereira and Oscar Carpio Licea (administrator) threaten my family with possible eviction this coming Saturday, the … Continue reading “Condemning the Attitude of Bishop Ricardo Pereira, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Cuba / Ricardo Medina”
On Thursday November 10 Decree-Law 288 on the legalization of the sale of homes took effect. Complemented with six ministerial resolutions, the decree significantly changes the legislation in effect in this area since the 60′s of last century. With the new provisions Cubans, formal owners of property, become actual owners. Now they can not only … Continue reading “A First Step / Dimas Castellanos”
There are pathetic and laughable reports, which seem to be the result of manipulation and the desire to perpetuate at all costs by certain figures of the state, without looking at their reflection in the mirror. This is the case of Fidel Castro being in the Guinness Book of World Records for being “the person … Continue reading “Die Hard / Miguel Iturria Savon”
The Cuban Revolution has always raised great passions. Millions within and outside the island are split between those who applaud and offering moving excuses, or those who clench their fists and launch incendiary accusations. But without a doubt, among the picturesque barbarities that flourish under the tropical sky there is one that is particularly atrocious: … Continue reading “Chronicle of Asclepius in Cuba (Part 1) / Jeovany J. Vega”
… I should introduce to you the nation that lives here and lives in the diaspora; Cubans suffer, live and hope here and also suffer, live, and hope out there. We are a single people that, navigating the seas on logs, continues to look for unity… Mons. ++ Pedro Claro Meurice Estíu 24/1/98 (Words of welcome to … Continue reading “Rest in Peace Monsignor++Pedro Claro Meurice Estíu / Ricardo Medina”
It causes chills to know that the historic leader of the Cuban revolution did research on different crops to improve nutrition for the Cuban people. I don’t want to be a harbinger of ill omen. But reviewing Castro’s “experiments” in 52 years of olive-green government, he didn’t come up with any that were successful. Let’s review the record. Let’s … Continue reading “Fidel Castro’s Experiments / Iván García”
Various witnesses were called by the Havana Tribunal to participate in a murder trial which began this morning, December 9th, against Amado Interian, a retired police officer who is accused of shooting a black, 14-year-old teenager on July 15th of this year. The teenager’s name was Alain Izquierdo. According to Ismael Suarez Herce, a 17-year-old cousin of the victim who … Continue reading “The Havana Tribunal will judge a former military man today who shot a teenager / Laritza Diversent”
A few days ago I read in Granma, the official mouthpiece of the Central Committee of the Party, an article about the end of the debate by the Parliamentary Commission, in whose mind they had analyzed among other things, the effectiveness of the economic model. What they were saying to the population was “we are … Continue reading ““That Old Newspaper Yellowed With Age“ / Yaremis Flores”
