Uncommon Sense

Cuban activist Alexander Tamayo arrested

The Heredia Project is a petition effort by the Cuban Christian Liberation Movement (MCL) to institutionalize protection of the Cuban people's basic human rights.

Which is why MCL activist Alexander Tamayo, who had been collecting signatures for the Heredia Project, was arrested this weekend after a Castroite goons surrounded his home.

Free Alexander Tamayo NOW!

Free jailed Cuban dissident rap musician Angel Yunier 'El Critico' Remon Arzuaga

The Pedazos de la Isla blog is using the premiere of a new video series to highlight the case of Cuban political prisoner Angel Yunier Remon Arzuaga:

Pedazos de la Isla also has the latest on how El Critico is doing in prison, as reported by leading dissident Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, head of the Patriotic Union of Cuba:

Ferrer emphasized the situation of dissident rapper Angel Yunier Remon Arzuaga, known as “El Critico”, who is also the secretary of UNPACU for the city of Bayamo. The musician has been behind bars for more than 2 months in the Bayamo prison known as Las Mangas, still without a trial. He was violently arrested after the political police raided his home in March, attacking him and other relatives with tear gas.

“I was able to briefly speak with Angel Yunier on May 20th. In Las Mangas prison there is a very critical situation“, said the dissident leader, “Angel told me about the horrible medical attention offered to sick prisoners. He also told me that numerous prisoners have so many problems and they turn to self-infliction to call attention on so many abuses, the severe hunger, the lack of medical care and other cruel treatments“.

The young dissident continues to be in a judicial limbo while the authorities have not given his family any details as to what his fate will be.

Religious freedom is still a myth in Cuba

The U.S. State Department on Tuesday released its annual assessment of religous freedom in Cuba.

Like other forms of liberty, the freedom to worship as they wish free of harassment, hostility and other repression, is a rarity on the island.

From the executive summary:

The constitution protects religious freedom, although in practice government policies and practice restricted religious freedom. The trend in the government’s respect for religious freedom did not change significantly during the year. While there were some advances in the ability of members of established churches to meet and worship, significant restrictions remained. The Cuban Communist Party, through its Office of Religious Affairs, continued to control most aspects of religious life. However, most religious groups reported increased ability to cultivate new members, hold religious activities, and conduct charitable and community service projects, while reporting fewer restrictions on religious expression, importation of religious materials, and travel. The government invited Pope Benedict XVI to visit and assisted in organizing papal masses in public squares in the center of the country’s two largest cities. The government’s repression of peaceful human rights activists, however, included preventing some of them from attending religious services. This trend was particularly marked during the Pope’s March visit, when the Cuban Council of Human Rights (CCDHRN) registered more than one thousand short term detentions.

Read the whole thing here.

For an example of how the Castro dictatorship targets many forms of religious expression, read this.

Nothing scares the Castro regime like Cuban Independence Day

Monday, May 20, ought to be a great day in Cuba, the 111th anniversary of the nation's independence from the United States. Intead, it's just another day for the Castro dictatorship to target its opposition for repression.

That was made clear this past Monday, May 13, when police in the town of Banes, in Holguin province, rounded up three activists with the Popular Christian Democratic Movement (MDPC) -- Daniel Mesa Castillo, Arnaldo Espósito Zaldívar and Reinaldo Rivera Hanswih. Officers raided their homes and took them to a local police station where they were held for more than eight hours, according to a report from Hablemos Press.

"The detained activists were subjected to separate interrogations, and threatened with because of their activism, and warned not to undertake any activity on May 20, which commemorates the anniversary of the birth of the Republic of Cuba," said Frank Martínez Ochoa, spokesman for the MDPC.

Before they were release, police gave the activists formal warnings, which they refused to sign.

Independence Day makes the Castro regime nervous because it represents the liberty that the Castro regime, and the dictatorships before it, have worked so hard to stamp out for decades. The only answer it has for those seeking freedom for Cuba, is only more repression, if only to ensure its continued and sorry survival.

Cuban dissident Guillermo Farinas arrives in Miami, denounces Castro's reforms as 'cosmetic'

Guillermo Farinas arrives Sunday in Miami.

Perhaps Raul Castro's most highly touted "reform" has been the lifting of limits on the ability of most -- but not all -- Cubans to travel overseas.

However, the independent journalist and activist Guillermo Farinas, the latest prominent dissident to take advantage of this change, is not convinced. He used his arrival at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon to dismiss the notion that the Castro dictatorship is instituting anything new.

The changes are "cosmetic," said Farinas, a veteran of numerous hunger strikes against the regime. "The repression is very strong."

Eventually, Farinas' travels will take him to Europe, where he will finally be able to receive the Sahkarov human rights prize he was awarded in 2010 but has been unable to accept because of the Castro regime's prior limits on his ability to go overseas.

Farinas is one of the giants of the Cuban opposition, repeatedly laying his life on the line on behalf of his fellow activists.

In 2010, Farinas marked the death of prisoner of conscience Orlando Zapata Tamayo after a lengthy hunger strike by starting his own hunger strike to demand the release of seriously ill political prisoners. His protest almost killed him.

Hunger strikes against the Castro regime are usually futile, but Farinas' protest, along with Zapata's death, were key in the regime's decision that summer to release dozens of the island's most prominent political prisoners.

When it comes to the lifting of the ability of Cubans to travel overseas, Farinas may be wrong, the change is much more than cosmetic. Because it has allowed Farinas and other prominent dissidents -- from Yoani Sanchez to Antonio Rodiles to Rosa Maya Paya and many others -- a new platform and new audiences for their anti-Castro messages. Each has raised their stature, and that of the entire opposition.

The dictatorship probably didn't count on that, but it wouldn't be the first time that Farinas and the others have proven it wrong.

From exile, 2 Ladies In White extend 'helping hands' to Cubans in Cuba

They are now living in exile in Kentucky, but  two Cuban Damas De Blanco ("Ladies In White") have not forgotten the people of Cuba, especially those in Holguin province in the eastern part of the country. (Generally speaking, that's the part of Cuba my father's family is from.)

Martha Diaz Rondon and Caridad Caballero Batista, two Cuban patriots forced to leave the island because of their opposition to the Castro dictatorship, are the forces behind Manos Solidarias ("Helping Hands.")

From their website:

The Lady in White, Martha Diaz Rondon founded “Manos Solidarias” in 2009. With very limited resources she saved money to bring gifts to children, disabled, elderly and rural households in Holguin, Cuba. After, the Ladies in White Laura María Labrada Pollan (Havana), Caridad Caballero Batista (Holguin), Gertrudis Ojeda Suarez (Banes) were integrated into this humanitarian work. Martha Diaz Rondon and Caridad Caballero Batista now live in Kentucky, USA and will continue their work in exile with our help.

Learns about how these Cubans are helping Cubans, and what you can do to assist their efforts.

Teenage Cuban dissident calls on youth worldwide to support fight for freedom

Enrique Lozada

As he recovers from a lengthy hunger strike that helped force the Castro regime to release his father from jail, Enrique Lozada, 17, has a message for Cuba and the world.

Via Pedazos de la Isla:

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Transcription and English translation, here:

“I am seventeen years old.  I want to call on the youth of the world, not just the ones in my country.  I want to convoke them so that they manifest themselves against the injustices that daily attempt against family harmony.  I want to call on them to take a stand against all injustices that constantly go against our families, because we must fight against violence, against all things that violate our dignity and our morals.

I want to tell the Cuban authorities and the Cuban dictatorship that neither the beatings nor the imprisonments will stop us from demanding our rights.  We are going to keep demanding freedom, we are going to keep speaking up for a Cuba where there is democracy, and we are even willing to give our lives for our country, for the land where we were born, for our sky, we are willing to do it.

To the civilized world, where there is democracy and freedom, I say that Cuba will soon be free, and soon, in Cuba there will be social justice.  Cuba will soon be democratic.”

Pope Francis to leader of Cuban Ladies In White: 'Continue onward'

Read about Wednesday's brief but historic meeting between Pope Francis and Berta Soler, the leader of the Cuban Damas De Blanco, here and here.

And for some perspective about how important the above photo is, read Carlos Eire's post at Babalu:

It would be great to have an audio recording of the words exchanged.  But...well....  at least we know that they speak the same language, and that Berta knows how to deliver a message.  As Cubans would say: "ella no tiene pelos en la lengua." (She has no hairs on her tongue - she can be brutally frank.)

This was not a private audience.  Every wednesday morning the pope celebrates mass, delivers a brief talk to a large invited audience, blesses them, and then mingles with the crowd.  Getting a spot in the front row is difficult and takes some clout.

Berta was well placed, and had a chance to catch the pope's eye.  And he may have been alerted to her presence.

It may seem like an insignificant encounter to some, but this is a big deal, and the rulers of the Castro Kingdom will gnash their teeth when they see this photo.  The Cuban flag draped between the two figures in white will be a great irritant to the tyrants, because they refuse to accept the fact that Cuba belongs to all Cubans, not just to their slave-drivers and those slaves who agree to submit to the lash. .

So, even though this was a brief encounter, it delivers a potent message.

Pope Francis linked up with Berta in the midst of a large crowd.  Sad to say, but Benedict XVI would have probably avoided the Lady in White.

Former Cuban political prisoner Luis E. Lozada: I was beaten tortured while in jail

The Cuban opposition scored a big win this week when the Castro regime released activist Luis Enrique Lozada just shy of a month after he was unjustly arrested. Following Lozada's example, other activists had used hunger strikes and other protests to demand the dictatorship release their compatriot.

Now come the horror stories -- stories of beatings and other tortures Lozada was forced to endure while in jail.

A photo of one of Lozada's injuries, via Martinoticias.

Martinoticias has the report.

Cuba releases political prisoner Luis E. Lozada; activists end hunger strikes

From Cuba, activist Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia reports on the release of political prisoner Luis Enrique Lozada, who had been on hunger strike since soon after his arrest on April 9.

Hunger strikes are not the way to fight the Castro dictatorship. But there is no denying that Lozada's release is a big victory for the peaceful opposition in Cuba.

Read more here.