Journalist
Consensus and Dissent in the Face of Trump’s Cuba Policy
Consensus and Dissent in the Face of Trump’s Cuba Policy 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 19 June 2017 – Over the weekend the official media have repeated ad nauseam the declaration of the government in response to Donald Trump’s speech about his policy toward Cuba. The declaration’s rhetoric recalls the years before the diplomatic thaw, when […] Continue reading
Trump recasts Cuba policy, takes harder line than Obama on military, travel
Trump recasts Cuba policy, takes harder line than Obama on military, travel BY PATRICIA MAZZEI AND NORA GÁMEZ TORRES pmazzei@miamiherald.com In an overhaul of one of his predecessor’s signature legacies, President Donald Trump will redraw U.S. policy toward Cuba on Friday, tightening travel restrictions for Americans that had been loosened under President Barack Obama and […] Continue reading
Trump’s announcement on Cuba could clash with Central American summit
Trump’s announcement on Cuba could clash with Central American summit BY MIMI WHITEFIELD mwhitefield@miamiherald.com If President Donald Trump outlines his new Cuba policy in Miami on Friday, it could upstage a Central American conference that is bringing regional presidents and Mexican and U.S. Cabinet members to town this week. Sources have told the Miami Herald […] Continue reading
The Unqualified Cuban Truth
Reinaldo Escobar: The Unqualified Cuban Truth / Somos+ Somos+, Leyla Belo, 23 MACH 2017 — Those who ever speak with Reinaldo cannot deny his innate genius, his sense of humor and gentleness of expression. A matter of decorum, isn’t it? That quality which is so scarce among many people nowadays. He does what he considers […] Continue reading
Cuba then and now: LGBT progress is real
Cuba then and now: LGBT progress is real As the country opens its doors even farther, U.S. fundamentalists are looking for influence and to proselytize — not a good omen for LGBT Cubans. Mark Segal, Philadelphia Gay News Jun 5, 2017 It was 20 years ago when I first reported on the state of LGBT […] Continue reading
Cuba: More Castroism but Without the Castros
Cuba: More Castroism but Without the Castros / Iván García Iván García, 17 May 2017 — In front of an old mansion on 17th Street in Vedado that now serves as the headquarters of the Union of Writers and Artists, there is a poster showing hundreds of men dressed in battle fatigues and lined up […] Continue reading
State Security Offensive Against ICLEP Citizen Journalists
State Security Offensive Against ICLEP Citizen Journalists 14ymedio, Havana, 23 May 2017 — Raúl Velázquez, executive director of the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and the Press (ICLEP) was released last Friday after being held for 72 hours in the second unit of the People’s Revolutionary Police (PNR) in Santiago de Cuba, as confirmed […] Continue reading
Economic Crime, the Pitfall in the Path
Economic Crime, the Pitfall in the Path 14ymedio, Generation Y, Yoani Sanchez, 22 May 2017 — The saleswoman described her merchandise in a murmur: loggerhead turtle steaks, beef and shrimp. The man salivated, but replied that he could not buy any of those products, the most persecuted in the informal market. Every opponent knows that […] Continue reading
The crisis in Venezuela, according to Cuba’s official press
The crisis in Venezuela, according to Cuba’s official press BORIS GONZÁLEZ ARENAS | La Habana | 2 de Junio de 2017 – 11:20 CEST. On Tuesday, May 23 journalist Irma Shelton Tase, of Cuban Television’s daily news broadcast, spotlighted statements made by Carlos Aquino, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of […] Continue reading
We Have Survived
We Have Survived 14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez, Havana, 21 May 2017 — Three years ago this digital daily was just a dream, a project on paper and a desire in the heads of several colleagues. On that 21 May 2014, the mirage took shape on the first cover of a site that robs us of our […] Continue reading
Thugs Beat Pregnant Pro-Democracy Dissident ‘in the Belly,’ Put Father in the Hospital
Cuba: Thugs Beat Pregnant Pro-Democracy Dissident ‘in the Belly,’ Put Father in the Hospital by FRANCES MARTEL29 Mar 2017110 SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER An unidentified mob attacked two members of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) – a pregnant teen and her activist father – on Sunday night, hurling bottles at them and reportedly […] Continue reading
Thugs Beat Pregnant Pro-Democracy Dissident 'in the Belly,' Put Father in the Hospital
Cuba: Thugs Beat Pregnant Pro-Democracy Dissident ‘in the Belly,’ Put
Father in the Hospital
by FRANCES MARTEL29 Mar 2017110
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
An unidentified mob attacked two members of the Patriotic Union of Cuba
(UNPACU) – a pregnant teen and her activist father – on Sunday night,
hurling bottles at them and reportedly punching the woman in the… Continue reading
Legal Process Opens Against ‘14ymedio’ Reporter in Camagüey
Legal Process Opens Against ‘14ymedio’ Reporter in Camagüey 14ymedio, Havana, 23 March 2017 – This Wednesday the gates have begun to close around independent journalist Sol Garcia Basulto, who has been charged with the crime of “usurpation of legal capacity.” (In other words, “practicing journalism without a license.”) The correspondent for this newspaper in Camaguey […] Continue reading
PostCastro Cuba isn't that different from before
Post-Fidel-Castro Cuba isn’t that different from before
Deepa Fernandes, PRI’s The World
For years, opponents of Cuba’s socialist revolution pegged the system’s
downfall to the inevitable death of its leader, Fidel Castro. Yet,
months after Castro’s death, there have been no major protests on the
streets of Havana, no popular uprising against the ruling Communist Party.
As Gladys Esther Marta… Continue reading
PostCastro Cuba isn’t that different from before
Post-Fidel-Castro Cuba isn’t that different from before Deepa Fernandes, PRI’s The World For years, opponents of Cuba’s socialist revolution pegged the system’s downfall to the inevitable death of its leader, Fidel Castro. Yet, months after Castro’s death, there have been no major protests on the streets of Havana, no popular uprising against the ruling Communist […] Continue reading
‘When I’m 64’: Beatlemania blooms belatedly in Cuba
‘When I’m 64’: Beatlemania blooms belatedly in Cuba Carlos BATISTA AFP March 22, 2017 More Havana (AFP) – While their American and European peers twisted and shouted to The Beatles in the 1960s, in Cuba childhood sweethearts Gisela and Hector kept their Beatlemania a naughty secret. Now, still Beatles-crazy after all these years, but with […] Continue reading
'When I'm 64': Beatlemania blooms belatedly in Cuba
‘When I’m 64’: Beatlemania blooms belatedly in Cuba
Carlos BATISTA
AFP March 22, 2017
More
Havana (AFP) – While their American and European peers twisted and
shouted to The Beatles in the 1960s, in Cuba childhood sweethearts
Gisela and Hector kept their Beatlemania a naughty secret.
Now, still Beatles-crazy after all these years, but with the communist
island’s Cold War-era… Continue reading
We’ve Been Investigating Ivan Garcia for Five Years
“We’ve Been Investigating Ivan Garcia for Five Years” / Iván García Iván García Quintero, Havana, 19 March 2017 — When the summons arrived for an interview with a police official, the girl’s puzzled family thought it was a mistake. Let’s call them Kenia, Pedro, and Camila. They are neighbors of mine and prefer to remain […] Continue reading
We've Been Investigating Ivan Garcia for Five Years
“We’ve Been Investigating Ivan Garcia for Five Years” / Iván García
Iván García Quintero, Havana, 19 March 2017 — When the summons arrived
for an interview with a police official, the girl’s puzzled family
thought it was a mistake.
Let’s call them Kenia, Pedro, and Camila. They are neighbors of mine and
prefer to remain anonymous.
Kenia was summoned to… Continue reading
A Year After Obama’s Visit, Cubans Feel Disillusioned With His Legacy
A Year After Obama’s Visit, Cubans Feel Disillusioned With His Legacy / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar 14ymedio, Luz Escobar, 19 March 2017 – It rained when the presidential plane touched down on the tarmac at Havana’s Airport. On 20 March 2016, Barack Obama began a historic visit to the island that awakened hopes and sparked questions. […] Continue reading
A Year After Obama's Visit, Cubans Feel Disillusioned With His Legacy
A Year After Obama’s Visit, Cubans Feel Disillusioned With His Legacy /
14ymedio, Luz Escobar
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, 19 March 2017 – It rained when the presidential
plane touched down on the tarmac at Havana’s Airport. On 20 March 2016,
Barack Obama began a historic visit to the island that awakened hopes
and sparked questions. One year after that visit,… Continue reading
Repression in Cuba Comes in Many Forms
Repression in Cuba Comes in Many Forms March 7, 2017 By Osmel Ramirez Alvarez HAVANA TIMES — Every Sunday, there is the “Los Chinos” agro-market fair in the city of Holguin in eastern Cuba. Trucks loaded with produce come from all over the country, mainly from its central provinces. As there is competition and since […] Continue reading
Family, Freedom and the Oswaldo Payá Prize
Family, Freedom and the Oswaldo Payá Prize BORIS GONZÁLEZ ARENAS | La Habana | 26 de Febrero de 2017 – 12:04 CET. The home of Oswaldo Payá, the Cuban political leader who was killed, along with Harold Cepero, under murky circumstances in 2012, has a small living room. It is a space consonant with a […] Continue reading
The Countdown Begins For Raul Castro’s Departure From Power
The Countdown Begins For Raul Castro’s Departure From Power / 14ymedio 14ymedio, Havana, 24 February 2017 — On February 24 of next year Raul Castro must leave the presidency of Cuba if he is to fulfill the promise he has made several times. His announced departure from power is looked on with suspicion by some […] Continue reading
Official Journalism in Cuba – Empty Nutshells
Official Journalism in Cuba: Empty Nutshells February 14, 2017 By Vicente Morin Aguado HAVANA TIMES — On February 7th, the Cuban Communist Party’s (PCC) press published several articles about the reporting behavior of young people belonging to the government’s journalism sector. Before that, on January 20th, a comment made by Yeilen Delgado Calvo in Juventud […] Continue reading
The Punk Who Didn’t Cry For Fidel
The Punk Who Didn’t Cry For Fidel / 14ymedio, Pablo De LLano 14ymedio, Pablo de Llano, Miami, 22 January 2017 — Minutes after the announcement of the death of Fidel Castro, last November 25, Danilo Maldonado Machado passed by his mother’s house and knocked on the window of her room. Maria Victoria Machado opened and […] Continue reading
Changes to immigration policy will not stem the Cuban exodus, those on the island say
Changes to immigration policy will not stem the Cuban exodus, those on the island say BY NORA GÁMEZ TORRES ngameztorres@elnuevoherald.com When Washington put an end to a preferential immigration policy for Cuban migrants nearly two weeks ago, the official reasoning behind the move was to stem the flow of an increasing exodus and prompt democratic […] Continue reading
Cuban Faces of 2016 – José Ramírez Pantoja, Journalist (b. Holguín)
Cuban Faces of 2016: José Ramírez Pantoja, Journalist (b. Holguín) / 14ymedio 14ymedio, Havana, 27 December 2016 – Cuban faces of 2016: The journalist José Ramírez Pantoja starred this year in one of the most publicized cases of censorship within the official press. The reporter was fired from his job at Radio Holguin after being […] Continue reading
Inter-American Press Association Names Henry Constantin VicePresident for Cuba
Inter-American Press Association Names Henry Constantin Vice President for Cuba / 14ymedio 14ymedio, 30 December 2016 — The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) has named independent journalist Henry Constantín Ferreiro as regional vice president for Cuba. Director of the magazine La Hora de Cuba and a resident of the city of Camagüey, the reporter told 14ymedio […] Continue reading
2016 was a truly historic year for Cuba
2016 was a truly historic year for Cuba BY NORA GÁMEZ TORRES ngameztorres@elnuevoherald.com The death of Fidel Castro marked the end of a truly historic year for Cuba. After years of false rumors that he had died, the former Cuban ruler finally passed away at 10:29 p.m. Nov. 25, according to a statement read by […] Continue reading
What Fidel Castro Left Us (Part 2)
What Fidel Castro Left Us (Part 2) / Iván García Ivan Garcia, 19 December 2016 — According to Luisa, 76, a former prostitute, the first time she collected money for sex, she bathed herself three times trying to remove the smell of an old man who sweated over her body. “I was once young and […] Continue reading
“Get on that plane or go to jail,” Cuban Authorities Tell American Lawyer
“Get on that plane or go to jail,” Cuban Authorities Tell American Lawyer / 14ymedio 14ymedio, Havana, 18 December 2016 – The American lawyer Kimberley Motley, arrested Friday in Havana, returned to the United States after being subjected to three interrogations, the last of which, held at the Havana airport, made her miss her flight. […] Continue reading
Agreement between Cuba and EU criticized as soft on human rights
Agreement between Cuba and EU criticized as soft on human rights BY NORA GÁMEZ TORRES ngameztorres@elnuevoherald.com A new agreement of cooperation and political dialogue between the Cuban government and the European Union has come under intense attack by European parliament members, Cuban dissidents and human rights organizations. “The EU should have asked for an end […] Continue reading
Independent Reporters Arrested Are Threatened With Trial
Independent Reporters Arrested Are Threatened With Trial / Cubanet Cubanet, Vladimir Turró Páez, Havana, 3 December 2016 — The independent journalists Manuel Guerra Pérez and Lisbey Lora, arrested this last Monday by the United Territorial Investigations of the San Jose Police in the province of Mayabeque, have been threatened with going to trial, according to […] Continue reading
Police Free ‘14ymedio’ Journalist Reinaldo Escobar
Police Free ‘14ymedio’ Journalist Reinaldo Escobar / 14ymedio 14ymedio, Havana, 1 December 2016 — The journalist Reinaldo Escobar, editor in chief of 14ymedio, was detained for more than four hours on Thursday, in the midst of the control measures that the Government deployed after the death of Fidel Castro. The reporter gave an interview to […] Continue reading
Fidel Castro Dies for Real
Fidel Castro Dies for Real / Iván García Ivan Garcia, 26 November 2016 — At midnight no one was talking about the biggest news story of the year along crowded Tenth of October Avenue. A group of drunks was downing white rum from little cardboard cartons, cheap hookers were plying their trade in a tiny […] Continue reading
Tania Bruguera – Cuban artist fights for free expression
Tania Bruguera: Cuban artist fights for free expression How the internationally renowned dissident artist turned a performance piece into a fight for freedom of expression. by Carlos Manuel Alvarez Carlos Manuel Alvarez is a Cuban journalist. Havana, Cuba – It is December 17, 2014 and the Cuban artist Tania Bruguera is at Pope Francis’ weekly […] Continue reading
Miami’s exile community is full of people whose paths crossed Fidel Castro’s
Miami’s exile community is full of people whose paths crossed Fidel Castro’s BY ANA VECIANA SUAREZ Miami’s tightly knit and often contentious exile community is full of people whose paths crossed Fidel Castro’s. They knew him when he was a college student struggling for attention, when he was holed up in the Sierra Maestra mountains […] Continue reading
Fidel Castro is dead
Fidel Castro is dead BY GLENN GARVIN ggarvin@MiamiHerald.com Fidel Castro, who towered over his Caribbean island for nearly five decades, a shaggy-bearded figure in combat fatigues whose long shadow spread across Latin America and the world, is dead at age 90. His brother Raul announced the death late Friday night. Millions cheered Fidel Castro on […] Continue reading
Will history absolve Fidel Castro, or will he end up vilified?
Will history absolve Fidel Castro, or will he end up vilified? BY ANDRES OPPENHEIMER aoppenheimer@MiamiHerald.com How will Fidel Castro be remembered? Will history absolve him, as he defiantly proclaimed as a young revolutionary in the early 1950s? Or will he end up like so many other Latin American strongmen, who wielded immense power in their […] Continue reading