English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Pedro Campos, Havana, 21 December 2015 – The year 2015 is drawing to a close and Cuba is living in critical times. There are five main factors that contribute to the Cuban situation: the breach of the fundamental agreements of the 6th Communist Party Congress; the aging and political exhaustion of the “historic leadership”; … Continue reading “Critical Times for Cuba / 14ymedio, Pedro Campos”
14ymedio, Pedro Campos, Havana, 4 December 2015 – Cubans wanting to leave the country for the United States found in Ecuador’s visa waiver a chance to undertake the journey by different routes, but basically traversing a continent via Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. Nicaragua’s recent decision to close passage to some … Continue reading “Possible Regional Implications Of The Cuban Migration Crisis In Central America / 14ymedio, Pedro Campos”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar (Special envoy), La Cruz, Costa Rica, 29 November 2015 — About 10 miles from the border with Nicaragua is the canton of La Cruz in the province of Guanacaste, in Costa Rica. Peñas Blancas is there, the most important outpost in the north and the place where serious incidents between Cuban migrants … Continue reading “Hope And Fear At The Border / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
Reinaldo Escobar, Mexico City, 5 September 2015 – A long time ago, I can’t remember where, I read a phrase that said, “When you have to choose between two betrayals you will recognize that you are lost.” The label of “traitor” has been used indiscriminately in Cuba during the last half century, by the government … Continue reading “Betrayals / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 17 July 2015 – Four years Ecuador has been the route of Cubans who want to reach the United States. For many it was the first step towards the El Dorado of the North. In recent weeks, a fear has been growing that the South American nation might toughen the requirements for access … Continue reading “Ecuador, The Route to El Dorado / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
14ymedio, Havana, 24 February 2015 — Short-duration detentions increased considerably in Cuba in 2014, according to the annual report published today by Amnesty International. The human rights organization, with headquarters in London, emphasizes that the situation with respect to freedom of expression, association and assembly, infringed on by criminal prosecutions for political reasons, did not … Continue reading “Amnesty International Denounces Increase in Arbitrary Detentions in Cuba / 14ymedio”
Although Cecilio, an intensive care doctor, knows it will be hard spending two years in a desolate corner of Africa — a continent now synonymous with Ebola and death — there is no other option at hand for remodeling his dilapidated home in a poor neighborhood of Havana. Nor does he have the legal tools … Continue reading “Well-Being in Cuba Hides Behind a Visa / Ivan Garcia”
As part of the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the South Sea (Pacific Ocean) by Spanish explorer and conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the leaders of 22 Latin America countries plus Spain, Portugal and Andorra gathered in Panama October 18-19. They held, there, the XXIII Iberoamerican Summit, for this occasion, taking … Continue reading “The Boycott of ALBA / Juan Juan Almeida”
The presidential elections on October 7 may not be the triumphant military parade announced by Hugo Chavez. The Chavez vote has been trending downward. Capriles has gained the advantage. He has come from behind. Now it is a house-to-house campaign for the undecided vote. This is a concern for more than one person in Cuba. … Continue reading “The Cuban Regime Crosses Its Fingers Before Venezuelan Elections / Iván García”
The miter leans slightly with the rhythm of the ritual, leaving his back exposed to the stone face of José Martí. On the table of the Mass, the chalice rests and reflects from its golden surface a relief of Che Guevara mounted on the facade of the Ministry of the Interior. Benedict XVI officiates mass … Continue reading “The Papal Mantle and The Red Mass – Reflections on the Pope’s Visit to Cuba / Yoani Sanchez”
Fifty years ago, on May 10, 1960, the Matamoros Trio, headed by Siro Rodriguez, Rafael Cueto, and Miguel Matamoros, performed in public for the last time. They bid their farewells on the program called Partagas Thursdays, one of the most popular Cuban TV shows at the time. According to the Colombian investigator, Walter G. Magaña, … Continue reading “What they Don’t Tell Us about the Matamoros Trio”
Not yet having overcome the gray and cold, with little bread and scant shelter, which we Cubans have passed through in these days of January 2010, news of the earthquake in Haiti came to us. With the passing of the hours, we learned the magnitude of the catastrophe, a tragedy that grows daily. The entire … Continue reading “As Much Pain As Hope”
