English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Somos+, 2 July 2015 — The coming of WiFi to Cuba is very good news. Better still is the reduction in prices from 4.25 CUC to 2.00 CUC, although that is still a very high barrier for connection to the Internet. [Roughly 2 days wages for one hour. -ed.] From here I want to congratulate … Continue reading “Technology Rationed in a Technophobic Country / Somos+, Javier Cabrera”
Cubanet.org, Ernesto Perez Chang, Havana, 16 June 2015 — To judge by the avalanche of television programs that in recent weeks have been dedicated to so-called “domestic tourism,” in Cuba all families have adequate income to become a major market for the island’s hotel groups and resorts. Several Round Tables with the participation of ministers, … Continue reading “Domestic Tourism, the Faces of Deceit / Cubanet, Ernesto Perez Chang”
14ymedio, Havana, 19 June 2015 — “It’s never too late if the WiFi is good,” the officials of the Cuban Telecommuniations Company (Etecsa) might say, announcing the opening in the coming weeks of 35 Internet browsing rooms with WiFi technology in public spaces throughout the country. The information was published this Thursday in the newspaper … Continue reading “WiFi is Extended Throughout Cuba / 14ymedio”
See here for background information on this series of posts. René Vázquez Díaz, Sweden, 2007 — Last year, during a period of several months, personalities committed to the politics of cultural repression during the 1970s were interviewed on various Cuban television programs. The reappearance on the small screen of odious characters who call to mind … Continue reading “Rene Vazquez Diaz: Cuban Forgettings / Intellectual Debate”
Authored by the editors of Angel’s blog. We learned from relatives of Ángel Santiesteban-Prats that he was returned to Guardafronteras Prison Unit in Jaimanitas where they keep him unjustly incarcerated. He was transferred Tuesday morning for the second time in four days to the sinister facilities known as Villa Marista, the central prison of State … Continue reading “CUBA: Ángel Santiesteban once again in Guardafronteras Prison Unit”
Update – Posted by the editors of Angel’s Blog This morning, June 10th, 24 hours have passed without any news of Ángel Santiesteban, who was moved for the second time in four days to Villa Marista and—although we cannot confirm it—we are informed that he was taken there by the political police. We will not … Continue reading “URGENT: No news since yesterday of Ángel Santiesteban, who was transferred to Villa Marista”
Reporters Without Borders to Hollande: “Mr. President, France should seek the immediate and unconditional release of Yoennis de Jesus Guerra Garcia, Juan Antonio Torres, and Angell Santiesteban-Prats.” Note: This post was written by the editor of Angel’s blog. Once again, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) demonstrates its commitment to the serious situation in Cuba and writes … Continue reading “Reporters Without Borders to Hollande: “Mr. President, France should…””
“We sleep with the lights off, we have no roll calls or formations all day, we get up whenever (…) Plenty of water, electric lights, food, clean clothes and all for free” Cubanet.org, Roberto Jesus Quinones Haces, Guantanamo, 15 May 2015 – This May 15 marks the 60th anniversary of the release of the Moncadistas. … Continue reading “Fidel Castro’s “Hardships” in Prison / Cubanet, Roberto Jesus Quinones”
Cubanet, Rafael Alcides, Havana, 13 May 2015 – Extremely worried, doctoral candidate in physics Antonio Rodiles and his wife the actress and political activist Ailer Gonzalez, in their home, related to me two events that I have prayed over, that those events that started with the blood of Moncada wouldn’t end up being a circular … Continue reading “The Harvest of the Sowing of Violence / Cubanet, Rafael Alcides”
ROSA MARIA AND DEATH Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, 11 May 2015 Since she was a little girl, death was a guest in her home. A guest no one invited in the midst of the family happiness, rather an intruder imposed by a fascist State called Revolution. A totalitarian state that began killing before the assault on … Continue reading “Rosa Maria Returns to the Revolution of Death / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
14ymedio, Jose Gabriel Barrenchea, Santa Clara, 21 April 2015 – Recently we have been hearing the official spokesmen of Castro’s submissive society accusing everybody of being terrorists. However, did you know that the Castro Revolution came to power on a wave of urban terrorism, which left in its wake a quite significant sum of “collateral … Continue reading “Terrorism and the Revolution of 1959 / 14ymedio, Jose Gabriel Barrenchea”
14ymedio, Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, Santiago de Cuba, 9 May 2015 – The drought has become an undesirable comrade for the residents of Santiago de Cuba. For years, the city has suffered low rainfall, deficiencies in the water supply system, and an erratic distribution policy. In the midst of the celebrations for the fifth centenary of … Continue reading “The water does not come to Santiago de Cuba / 14ymedio, Yosmany Mayeta Labrada”
Dimas Castellanos, 24 April 2015 — Elections for delegates to the Municipal Assemblies of People’s Power were held in Cuba on April 19. In light of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with the United States, they highlight the pressing need to expand the reforms to the political arena. For the first time close to one … Continue reading “Elections Highlight Need for Political Change in Cuba / Dimas Castellanos”
Our “mercenaries” do not plant bombs, nor do they plan attempts on people’s lives, nor sabotages, as did those who today are in power. Cubanet, Rafael Alcides, Havana, 30 April 2015 – A young Communist, lamenting how the Cuban government delegation (supposedly there representing Cuban civil society) made fools of themselves in Panama, told me, … Continue reading “Their Weapon is the Word, Peaceful is their Struggle / Cubanet, Rafael Alcides”
Cubanet, Rafael Alcides, Havana, 10 April 2015 – Thinking of my son Reuben (whom I have not seen in twenty-one years, five more than his age when he emigrated in 1993) I wrote in 2003 a text collected in a booklet in 2011 which was published by Mangolele, in Logrono, Spain. Here it is: ASTRONOMICAL Miami … Continue reading “Made in Cuba / Cubanet, Rafael Alcides”
