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2009 Human Rights Report: Cuba

State.Gov — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:20:46 GMT

Cuba, with a population of approximately 11 million, is a totalitarian state that does not tolerate opposition to official policy. The country is led by Raul Castro, who holds the positions of chief of state, president of the council of state and council of ministers, and commander in chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces. Although the constitution recognizes the unicameral National Assembly as the supreme authority, the Communist Party (CP) is recognized in the constitution as the only legal party and "the superior leading force of society and of the state." Fidel Castro remained the first secretary of the CP. The January 2008 elections for the National Assembly were neither free nor fair, and all of the candidates had to be preapproved by a CP candidacy commission, with the result that the CP candidates and their allies won 98.7 percent of the vote and 607 of 614 seats in the National Assembly. Civilian authorities, through the Ministry of the Interior, exercised control over the police, the internal security forces, and the prison system.......

Andy García invita a Guillermo Toledo a visitar las cárceles cubanas

El Mundo — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:52:53 GMT

El actor cubano Andy García se mostró sorprendido porque, tras la muerte de Orlando Zapata en Cuba, se hayan oído opiniones, como la de su compañero de profesión Guillermo Toledo, que tildan al fallecido disidente de "preso común" e invitó al intérprete español a visitar cuanto antes las cárceles cubanas......

Fariñas dice que un agente de Cuba se hizo pasar por un diplomático español

El Mundo — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:51:00 GMT

El disidente cubano Guillermo Fariñas, en huelga de hambre y sed desde hace 15 días, denunció este miércoles que un agente de la seguridad de la isla le llamó por teléfono haciéndose pasar por un diplomático español, lo que calificó de "provocación".

La portavoz de Fariñas, Liset Zamora, explicó que el suplantado fue el consejero político de la embajada española en Cuba, Carlos Pérez-Desoy, que visitó al opositor el lunes en su casa de Santa Clara, a 274 kilómetros al este de La Habana.....

Fariñas, escéptico ante la condena a Cuba del Parlamento Europeo

El Mundo — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:49:20 GMT

“La declaración llega con el cadáver caliente de Orlando Zapata”. Así de escéptico se mostró Guillermo Fariñas con la resolución que mañana aprobará el Parlamento Europeo y que condena con firmeza la muerte del disidente cubano Orlando Zapata. En el texto -muy crítico con el régimen cubano- se pide más diálogo con la oposición....

Big Brother is Talking

Diversity Lane Blog — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:46:45 GMT

Big Brother is Talking

Musical Special Podcast: Cal Tjader and Elis Regina and…???

THE CUBANOLOGY BI-WEEKLY and SPECIAL ARTICLES BLOG — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:46:24 GMT

This, my second podcastfeatured an musical Jazz Icon from the West Coast and one influential singer from Brazil, Elis Regina. Cal Tjader was very creative and never stopped learning. He was an enormous influence and a great part in the integration of Jazz with the Afro-Cuban beat.....

Martin agrees to contract extension with K-State

AP — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:34:18 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Frank Martin's grandmother sat in a small room for 12 hours a day and sewed. His uncle worked the docks in the hot Miami sun. His grandfather died of a heart attack while helping the family escape communist rule.

On Sunday, the son of impoverished Cuban immigrants fulfilled the American dream that had kept his family going through all the tough times, and he could hardly keep from weeping.

Struggling with his composure, Martin said Sunday he had agreed to a contract extension with Kansas State that will boost his annual salary to more than $1.5 million. On the same day, he was also picked as The Associated Press Big 12 coach of the year....

Andy García invitó al español Guillermo Toledo a visitar las cárceles cubanas

MOVCC — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:19:04 GMT

O ator cubano Andy García, na quarta-feira foi surpreendido porque, depois da morte de Orlando Zapata em Cuba, ouviu opiniões como a do intérprete Guillermo Toledo, que chamou o dissidente de "criminoso comum", e convidou o espanhol para visitar as prisões cubanas.

"Se o ator ou qualquer outra pessoa de qualquer parte do mundo acredita que Zapata era um criminoso comum ou um agente da CIA, que vá para Cuba passar alguns dias.....

Opinião de Lula sobre os presos cubanos gerou críticas, mas sua base é suportada

MOVCC — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:14:06 GMT

A comparação feita pelo presidente brasileiro Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, entre os presos políticos de Cuba e dos criminosos foi criticado até mesmo dentro de seu partido, que ainda se recusou quarta-feira a votação de uma censura à falta de liberdades em Cuba.....

Lula Da Silva Justica la prision de los disidentes en Cuba

Martha Colmenares — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:27:27 GMT

Pronto se irá Lula y ya se quita la careta. La comparación que hace el mandatario de Brasil, Lula da Silva de los presidiarios políticos cubanos con los presos comunes, tiene que causar indignación. Además, según las declaraciones reseñadas en las agencias “defendió el derecho de Cuba de detener disidentes políticos y criticó a los que realizan huelga de hambre”. Decía yo en mi artículo....

Autoridades dejarán morir a Guillermo Fariñas

El Nuevo Herald — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:50:32 GMT

El diario oficial cubano Granma informó el lunes que las autoridades de la isla permitirán que el disidente Guillermo Fariñas muera si continúa en su huelga de hambre, alegando que no sería ético alimentarlo a la fuerza y que el gobierno ‘‘no aceptará presiones ni chantajes''.

El artículo significa "mi sentencia de muerte'', dijo Fariñas, quien agregó que las autoridades cubanas están "preparando a la opinión pública para mi muerte'' y será ‘‘responsable de la manera en que termine mi huelga de hambre''.....

Honeymoon cancelled

The Economist — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:43:00 GMT

THE Cubans who hawk second-hand books from makeshift stalls in Havana’s Plaza de Armas were thrilled when Barack Obama was elected. Could millions of American tourists be far behind, they wondered. Word went out that the vendors were in the market for pre-revolutionary American paraphernalia such as Life magazines and Coca-Cola signs or newspapers from the Spanish-American War. But hopes that Mr Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Raúl Castro, would end a 50-year freeze in relations between their countries have proved wildly premature....

The Che iPhone App

American Thinker — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:37:13 GMT

You knew it was coming. Well, now you can carry around Che Guevara's quotes on your iPhone -- as just announced by the good folks at iPhone!Alas, many of us, though not customer of this unquestionably hip product, suspect that most of Che Guevara's hippest quotes are missing from this hippest of iPhones. Among those we fear were overlooked:
"My nostrils dilate while savoring the acrid odor of gunpowder and blood...Crazy with fury I will stain my rifle red while slaughtering any surrendered enemy that falls in my hands! With the deaths of my enemies I prepare my being for the sacred fight and join the triumphant proletariat with a bestial howl!" (From Che's own diaries, later immortalized as The Motorcycles Diaries, though we note that executive producer Robert Redford "overlooked" this unquestionably dramatic citation for his movie.).....

Special Post: “Climate Money” by Joanne Nova

THE CUBANOLOGY BI-WEEKLY and SPECIAL ARTICLES BLOG — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:55:22 GMT

This here is a special post that will open your eyes and help you realize the reason for the green movement. This Four part report by Joanne Nova on “Climate Money” explains, in detail, how global warming is just another scheme to make money. You have thermometers placed near hot surface areas, scientist taking money to exaggerate and create a state of panic concerning carbon emissions, Cap n’ Trade and much, much more........

Cuban TV runs series on attempts to kill Castro

Deccan Chronicle — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:53:33 GMT

Cuban state television has premiered the series "El que debe vivir", which will examine some of the 638 attempts to kill former president Fidel Castro.

The first episode of the eight-part series, broadcast Sunday night in prime time, ran 70 minutes and covered the earliest attempts to kill Castro before his rebel forces defeated dictator Fulgencio Batista's army in 1959........

US eases web services

ZeeNews — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:50:11 GMT

Washington: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday a US decision to allow exports of Web tools to Iran was intended to allow Iranians to "communicate without being blocked by their own government."

The Treasury Department on Monday eased sanctions on Iran, Cuba and Sudan to allow exports by US companies of services related to Web browsing, blogging, email,...........

What will occur if there were suddenly an Earthquake in Cuba?

THE CUBANOLOGY BI-WEEKLY and SPECIAL ARTICLES BLOG — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:55:57 GMT

Very interesting, in light of the widely publicized andnowtotally commercialized Haiti earthquake, I ask the readers here, what will occur if there were suddenly an Earthquake in Cuba? “Very interesting”, I’m sure you are all saying to yourselves, but with a giant question mark at the end. But before you even think of an answer, I will give you my opinion of what exactly will occur, if you don’t mind, please? I will give you my assessment, if there were an earthquake with the same magnitude as Haiti. What will occur, in my opinion, if such a catastrophe would take place in Cuba, the country where I was born. Let’s set the scenario here and let’s make La Habana the epicenter......

Life of Juanita Castro (1965)

Andy Warhol — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:05:52 GMT

Based on a Life magazine article in which Fidel Castro's sister, Juanita, denounced her brother, inspired by rumors that Castro's brother, Raul, was a transvestite, and that Castro himself had once appeared as an extra in an Esther Williams movie, The Life of Juanita Castro rewrites history as a high-camp farce. Juanita, Fidel, Raul, and fellow revolutionary Che Guevara (all played by women) sit on a stage throughout the film along with screenwriter Ronald Tavel, who feeds them all of their lines and actions. They sit facing a camera they think is filming them, but in fact all the action was shot with a camera placed off to the side....

Roberto Barbon, Japan’s First Latin Baseball Player, Still Feels at Home

New York Times — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:10:58 GMT

ASHIYA, Japan — Many of the more than 900 foreigners who have played here over the 73 seasons of Nippon Professional Baseball have had careers analogous to the country’s famed cherry blossom: they burst open with an awing brilliance and then, just as suddenly, withered away. Some, despite great fanfare, never blossomed at all......

The die is cast

The Economist — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:45:16 GMT

“EVERYTHING there is to say about health care has been said and just about everyone has said it…now is the time to make a decision.” So declared President Barack Obama on March 3rd to an audience of doctors and nurses gathered at the White House. After a year of dithering, he is now leaping into action....

«Tengo menos miedo a la muerte que a mi conciencia»

Hoy.es — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:40:38 GMT

En sus casi veinte años en la oposición, Guillermo Fariñas ha recurrido a huelgas de hambre en veintitrés ocasiones. Son casi las diez de la noche del día de su primer desmayo después de ocho días sin probar ni alimentos ni agua. Con su hablar reposado, un poco agudizado por la debilidad, atiende con paciencia a periodistas y amigos en su casa de Santa Clara. Agradece la atención y se muestra firme en sus convicciones. Está decidido a inmolarse antes...

159 Ways the Senate Bill Is a Government Takeover of Health Care

GOP.gov — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:19:10 GMT

1. Grant program for consumer assistance offices (Section 1002, p. 37) 2. Grant program for states to monitor premium increases (Section 1003, p. 42) 3. Committee to review administrative simplification standards (Section 1104, p. 71) 4. Demonstration program for state wellness programs (Section 1201, p. 93) 5. Grant program to establish state Exchanges (Section 1311(a), p. 130) 6. State American Health Benefit Exchanges (Section 1311(b), p. 131) 7. Exchange grants to establish consumer navigator programs (Section 1311(i), p. 150) 8. Grant program for state cooperatives (Section 1322, p. 169)

Fidel Castro Is Back in Charge

Newsweek — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:17:18 GMT

When Raúl Castro became president of Cuba in 2006, he raised hopes, at home and abroad, that he would usher in a new era of reform. His brother, El Comandante Fidel, was struck with some sort of intestinal illness and rendered incapable of governing. So in stepped Raúl with promises to undertake "structural" change in the country. He distributed parcels of idle land to farmers. He encouraged young people, many of whom feel restive about their country's system, to "fearlessly debate" the country's problems. He decreed that Cubans could finally buy cell phones and computers, and could stay at tourist hotels that had previously been off-limits to them....

Havana food production fails to meet expectations

AP — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:37:31 GMT

Production of fruits and vegetables in Cuba's capital and surrounding farmlands is 40 percent lower than expected so far this year, as the island's agricultural sector continues to founder despite a series of reforms. The Communist Party newspaper Granma said Havana province, which includes the city of the same name, fell short of its targets through the end of February largely because of government ineptitude.

The Left Is Never Right

BurtPrelutsky.com — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:33:28 GMT

During his State of the Union address, with eight of the Supreme Court justices sitting right in front of him like clay pigeons, Barack Obama told the world that he would have to correct their mistake by bringing back McCain-Feingold. Well, why wouldn’t he say such a stupid thing? After all, he’s been wrong about everything else......

NOSOTROS, MIEMBROS DEL GRUPO DE LOS 75, CUBANOS ENCARCELADOS INJUSTAMENTE DURANTE LA PRIMAVERA NEGRA DE 2003.....

www.miscelaneasdecuba.net — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:33:15 GMT

Todos los Prisioneros de Conciencia y Políticos, la oposición democrática, el pueblo cubano y todas las instituciones religiosas, civiles o fraternales pueden:

- Conmemorar el día 18 de marzo de 2010, fecha nefasta en que se cumplen 7 años de la infame represión que injustamente llevó a prisión a un grupo de dignos cubanos por el único hecho de ejercitar su libertad de pensamiento.

Rangel Steps Aside From Post During Ethics Inquiry

New York Times — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:58:00 GMT

Representative Charles B. Rangel of New York announced on Wednesday that he would temporarily step down from his powerful post as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee in an attempt to avert a politically bruising fight over permanently stripping the gavel from his hands....

La solidaridad de Coco

Octavo Cerco (Original Spanish) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:18:19 GMT

Hebert, Lía y yo éramos la viva imagen del desamparo. Habíamos salido de la Habana pasada la media noche y deambulábamos –finalmente– por Santa Clara, buscando el incierto paradero del Ciro y Claudio, que habían sido arrestados en Placetas.
Sólo lo había visto una vez de pasada. No podía imaginar que meses más tarde estaría en el rellano de su puerta, a las cuatro de la mañana, dándole al timbre con todas mis..................

Solidarity with Coco

Octavo Cerco (English Version) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:11:34 GMT

Hebert, Lía and I were the very image of helplessness. We had left Havana after midnight and made our wandering way, finally, to Santa Clara, searching for Ciro and Claudio, whereabouts unknown, who had been arrested in Placetas.

I had only seen him once in passing. I could not imagine that months later I would be on his doorstep, at four in the morning, ringing the bell with all my might.

Blogger: Fariñas is ready to die

Uncommon Sense — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:38:21 GMT

In the poor, out-of-the-way neighborhood of La Chirusa, in the city of Santa Clara of Villa Clara Province, about 185 miles east of Havana, Guillermo Fariñas Hernandez, 48 years of age, is quite a character.....

Two Cuban Music Legends and a Podcast

THE CUBANOLOGY BI-WEEKLY and SPECIAL ARTICLES BLOG — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:31:19 GMT

Mario Bauza’ and Rolando LaSerie were very instrumental, respectively, in spreading Cuban Music to the United States and traditionally keeping it alive after the Castro took over. Mario Bauza’ introduced it to America and also helped blend it with Jazz. Rolando LaSerie brought it from Cuba and kept it alive after 1959....

Charlie Rangel on the brink

Politico — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:01:09 GMT

Charlie Rangel is on the verge of losing his Ways and Means gavel – by choice or by force, permanently or temporarily – and is taking the night to review his options, according to Democratic insiders.

As he emerged Tuesday night from a meeting in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s ceremonial office – sometimes known on Capitol Hill as “the woodshed” – the New York Democrat insisted that he is still the chairman of the powerful tax-writing committee....

In need of repair

The Economist — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:51:32 GMT

RELIEF was the initial reaction in Chile to what seemed relatively limited damage given the scale of the earthquake that shook the centre and south of the country in the early hours of Saturday February 27th. That picture has been replaced gradually by dismay as the full extent of the cost begins to emerge. By Sunday evening, the number of confirmed deaths had reached over 700 and is still likely to rise, according to President Michelle Bachelet. This is still a low toll, however, for a quake of 8.8magnitude, one of the largest in the world since 1900.....

Cuba accused of crackdown after prisoner death

Reuters India — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:20:35 GMT

HAVANA (Reuters) - The Cuban government detained at least 126 people, including dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez, in a crackdown following the hunger strike death of political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a Cuban human rights group said on Monday.

Many were attending or en route to Zapata's funeral on Thursday........

Cuba accused of crackdown after prisoner death

Reuters India — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:17:02 GMT

Coverage comes with price of self-censorship

Miami Herald — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:24:44 GMT

One Spanish journalist based in Cuba for five years wrote that ``rare is the journalist who does not soften his reports, to avoid being expelled from the country.''

Another based there for four years wrote, ``Self-censorship is a very common practice,'' and ``No one on the island can write the truth of what happens there. Correspondents can only come close to reality.''.....

Cable & Wireless group moves on Cuba

Timesonline — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:20:56 GMT

THE international arm of Cable & Wireless is close to securing a foothold in Cuba, the first step of an expansion plan as it prepares for life after its UK arm has been demerged next month..........

Update on Cuban Political Prisoners who have died in Hunger Strikes

THE CUBANOLOGY BI-WEEKLY and SPECIAL ARTICLES BLOG — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:09:26 GMT

In my latest article, I covered the Death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo and the disastrous media coverage . I have an update from Cuba Archive which list all the documented deaths of Cuban Political prisoners who underwent hunger strikes (11 Documented Cases):.......

Massive 8.8-Magnitude Quake Hits Chile

Wall Street Journal — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:17:52 GMT

Talca, Chile -- Shell-shocked Chileans struggled to deal with the aftermath of a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake that ripped through the southern half of the country early Saturday morning, killing at least 300 people as it shook the country for more than a minute.

The quake, one of the biggest ever measured, struck just after 3:30 a.m. local time, toppling buildings, collapsing roads and cutting off power and telecommunications services......

In ever-closer union, divided we stand

The Economist — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:53:17 GMT

It’s a tough life being a Latin American president nowadays, with so many summits to go to. The latest, involving 32 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, took place this week in Playa del Carmen, a resort on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. The leaders agreed to set up a permanent regional body....