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Cuban authorities use tear gas to silence their anti-government slogans
Activists, members of the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy were arbitrarily detained on August 30 and 31 in the City of Guantanamo. Enyor Díaz Allen was at his home exercising his freedom of expression, manifesting his opinions against the Castro regime when he was detained on August 30 by National Revolutionary Police agents. The next day, Yordi García Fournier and Isael Poveda Silva were detained while visiting Díaz Allen on August 31 at the police unit he was being held. The youth had gone to the station to take him a packet of cigarettes when they were detained by authorities.
Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina, director of the Center for Alternative Studies of the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy, the activists began shouting from the prison cell “Down with Fidel” and “Down with Raul”. Authorities responded by using tear gas to silence them. Activists, members of the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy were arbitrarily detained on August 30 and 31 in the City of Guantanamo. ... more -
Cuban punk rocker spared jail term
A court in Havana, Cuba, has ordered a punk rock musician to pay a fine of $30 (£15) for public disorder for playing his band's music too loud.
However, Gorki Aguila was cleared of a more serious charge that could have led to a jail sentence. The lead singer of band Porno Para Ricardo is known for songs that ridicule Cuba's communist government. He had faced a possible four year term in prison for the crime known in Cuba as social dangerousness.
The controversial law allows the jailing of people who the authorities believe have been displaying behaviour that would indicate they could be on the verge of committing a crime. But, prior to the trial, prosecutors decided to drop the charge. Instead Mr Aguila was found guilty of public disorder for playing his group's music too loud while they were recording their new album. He was then ordered to pay a $30 fine and released.
Minutes later, the outspoken bushy-haired singer told reporters gathered outside his house that it was clear the international interest in his case had played a key role in the last-minute decision by prosecutors to drop the more serious charge he was facing.
He also vowed to continue criticising the Cuban government and its emblematic communist leaders like Fidel Castro and the current president, Raul Castro. Nothing, he said, could ever be gained by remaining silent. There has been no comment regarding the case from the Cuban authorities. A court in Havana, Cuba, has ordered a punk rock musician to pay a fine of $30 (£15) for public disorder for playing his band's m... more -
Cuban Rocker Critical of Castro Out of Jail, Fined $28
Following a two-hour trial, the court ordered Gorki Aguila to pay $28 and released the 39-year-old singer.
"I am very proud of all the people who have supported me, and I feel even more hate for this tyranny," Aguilar told reporters upon his release.
The fine is big money in a country where nearly everyone, Aguila included, works for the state and takes home an average of $19.50 per month.
But Aguila would have faced far more severe punishment had he been convicted of "social dangerousness," which the government defines as violating "communist morality." That charge is often used to detain would-be offenders before they have a chance to commit a crime.
Elizardo Sanchez, head of the independent Cuban Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation took the unusual step of attending the trial — which was open to Aguila's father and band mates as well as about 10 of his supporters, but closed to reporters.
Story continued at link... Following a two-hour trial, the court ordered Gorki Aguila to pay $28 and released the 39-year-old singer. ... more -
Dissident Cuban rocker fined $28, freed
GORKI FREE! Statement by Gorki
Gorki: Imaginate, de un juicio politico tuvieron que hacerme un juicio por conducta antisocial, por hacer ruido, etc, gracias a la enorme presion internacional y la verdad en la mano, y el abogado Henry Rosello, un valiente, gracias a eso pudimos derrotarlos.... Lo unico que me pudieron decir fue lo del ruido.... Te tengo que decir, estoy impresionado por el apoyo. Nunca me imagine que tanta gente en todo el mundo fuera a apoyarme de esa manera.
Gorki: "Imagine, from a political trial they had to try me for antisocial conduct, for making noise etc, thanks to the enormous international pressure y and the truth at hand, and the lawyer Henry Rosello, the brave, thanks to all that we were able to defeat them...The only thing they could tell me was about the noise ...I have to say that I am impressed by the support. I never imagined that so many people in the world would support me in this manner.
"
Full interview available here in Spanish
http://www.blacksheepofexile.blogspot.com/ GORKI FREE! Statement by Gorki ... more -
Cuban rocker deemed government threat on trial today
The court appearance is today help spread the word and put the dictatorship on notice! Keep an eye out in the news. Forward this to other people of goodwill that can help.
Click on here for background CNN story on the band
http://www.pornopararicardo.com/videos/gorki-en-cnn-cub...
Cuba is to charge a punk rocker today with "social dangerousness" because his songs denounce and deride the communist government. Gorki Aguila, lead singer of Porno para Ricardo, faces up to four years in prison for openly defying the revolution and scorning Fidel and Raul Castro as "geriatrics". The 39-year-old has been in police custody since Monday and was due to appear at the Playa municipal court in western Havana to be charged with subverting "communist morality".
Police arrested Aguila at his home where he was completing a new album provisionally called Geriatric Central Committee, a reference to the ageing leadership. Formed 10 years ago as part of an underground music movement, Porno para Ricardo is banned from official airwaves.
From Cuban rocker deemed government threat
Star news services
http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/772277.html The court appearance is today help spread the word and put the dictatorship on notice! Keep an eye out in the news. Forward this to ot... more -
Watch video of referree kicked in head at olympics
Assault and battery of the referee because you don't like to follow the rules.
Fidel Castro defends the assault.
No surprise there. How many dissidents has he had beaten, tortured, denied medical assistance, and executed over the years?
The answer is a lot, but we don't know the number because the International Red Cross has only been able to visit Cuba once in the past 49 years and that was in 1988! Twenty years ago!
Saying that the Olympic games are rigged by the mafia and that the Cuban athletes were robbed. Raises interesting questions. First the olympics were held in China by his close friends the Chinese communists and they got the most medals...are they mafia?
If so they behave just like Mr. Castro - beating up dissidents and locking them up when they speak out when they don't execute them.
From one mafia to another - they should understand each other. Assault and battery of the referee because you don't like to follow the rules. Fidel Castro defends the assault. ... more -
un grande magazziono a Cuba
nonostante le recenti parole di Raul castro continua l' "apertura" di cuba al capitalismo.
nella capitale Cubana il primo grande magazzino modello self service..
"i prezzi sono proibitivi ma almeno" ,dicono le persone in fila, "qui si trovano le cose"
http://www.unita.it/view.asp?IDcontent=77690
io nel mio piccolo penso che bisogna trovare il modo di salvare cuba, non in quanto simbolo dell'antiamericanismo, non in quanto patria acquisita del Che, anche se la sua tenerezza e rabbia mi manca...
no cuba va salvata perchè è il simbolo che "si può vivere senza" ed essere felice.
anche a me la vecchia polizia segreta di Castro (fidel prima e raul poi) mi fa venire l'orticaria rotante a pallini viola ma è mai possibile che non esista un modello alternativo? o si crede nel capitalismo sfrenato stile USA o nella polizia politica?
io intanto rispovero delle vecchie parole del reddivivo Folla Jack (che recentemente ha ricominciato a scrivere sul giornale fondato da Gramsci) nonostante le recenti parole di Raul castro continua l' "apertura" di cuba al capitalismo. ... more -
McCain campaign running Obama-Castro ad
The McCain campaign has a new web ad out placing Barack Obama, for the second time, side-by-side with a foreign dictator. This time, it's Fidel Castro.
A Democrat in south Florida alerted the Huffington Post to the image, which shows Obama and Castro, profiled side-by-side, above a quote from the Cuban leader praising the Illinois Democrat as "the most advanced candidate."
Picture association is a time-honored tool in political campaigns (think: former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland having his mug pasted beside Osama Bin Laden's during the 2002 congressional elections). And indeed, this is not the first time that the presumptive Republican nominee has used the tactic. Early in June, McCain's campaign launched a web ad placing Obama beside Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underneath the caption: "Is it OK to unconditionally meet with anti-American foreign leaders?"
Unlike that spot, the Castro advertisement actually uses the foreign leader's words against Obama. But the quote is misleading in regards to the actual political dynamics in play. For starters, since Obama became the de facto nominee, Castro has been critical of his candidacy, arguing that he has not called for serious alterations to U.S.-Cuban relations and would willingly allow the island nation to suffer from hunger. Obama, meanwhile, has criticized Castro as a repeated abuser of human rights and a tyrant whose time has passed.
Moreover, the guilt by endorser meme is something that even McCain has disavowed. When questions started being raised about his supporter, John Hagee, the Senator washed his hands of the pastor's controversial statements. "When he endorses me," McCain said, months before he rejected Hagee's endorsement, "it does not mean that I embrace everything that he stands for and believes."
For now, it seems the McCain camp is using its Castro ad on sites catering to South Florida - obviously a politically important geographic region. An email to McCain staffers went unanswered, but if readers have any more information, please send us tips. The McCain campaign has a new web ad out placing Barack Obama, for the second time, side-by-side with a foreign dictator. This time, i... more -
An Innovative and Fresh Cuba That You Must Inhale
Wow, have you seen Cuba's new look of passive capitalism? ... Or is this just another Castro mirror trick?
It's a new and exciting country of opportunities and its Cuba! Cuba? You might say?
Yes, Cuba! At least that is what the Cuban government wants its citizens and the rest of the world to believe. Wow, have you seen Cuba's new look of passive capitalism? ... Or is this just another Castro mirror trick? ... more -
Fidel Castro in Farc hostage plea
He said he had energetically criticised the "cruel methods of kidnapping and holding prisoners in the jungle".
But at the same time, Mr Castro added the rebel movement should not lay down its weapons. He said he had energetically criticised the "cruel methods of kidnapping and holding prisoners in the jungle". ... more -
Are Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez Brothers?
Normally MSNBC does a pretty good job of not acting like FOX News and mixing up extremely important details, like improperly placing a (D) or an (R) after a politician's name, but today, during MSNBC's Morning Joe program with Joe Scarborough I caught something quite odd.
During an interview with former GOP Presidential Candidate, Ron Paul, the crawl at the bottom of the screen implied that former Cuban President Fidel Castro and current Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are brothers.
The exact quote from the crawl: THE 81 YEAR OLD FORMER CUBAN PRESIDENT LOOKS VIGOROUS AND ANIMATED AS HE CHATTED MONDAY WITH HIS BROTHER, PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ, AND WITH VENEZUELAN PRES. HUGO CHAVEZ.
Someone probably meant to say "...Monday with his brother, President Raul Castro, and with Venezuelan Pres. Hugo Chavez" but they screwed it up. Like I said, this is a rare slip up for MSNBC, but they gotta get it together and catch things like that. Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro and NOT brothers.
Here's the video, the quote begins to crawl across the bottom about 1:05 into it, check that out. As an added bonus, it's a moderately interesting interview with Ron Paul: Normally MSNBC does a pretty good job of not acting like FOX News and mixing up extremely important details, like improperly placing a... more -
Castro’s stinging Obama "endorsement"
Fidel Castro stepped aside as president of Cuba in February and has not been seen much since undergoing surgery in July 2006, but he is still very much a presence in the island nation he has turned over to his brother Raúl.
He also is full of opinions, and on Monday he gave Senator Barack Obama an endorsement of sorts, calling him “the most progressive candidate to the U.S. presidency” while also berating him for his plan to continue the trade embargo against Cuba. “Were I to defend him, I would do his adversaries an enormous favor,” Mr. Castro said. “I have therefore no reservations about criticizing him.”
Mr. Castro, 81, was reacting to Mr. Obama’s pledge last week to the Cuban American National Foundation in Miami to maintain the trade sanctions against Cuba as leverage to press for democratic change there. But Mr. Obama also promised to ease restrictions on travel to the island and sending money to relatives there... Fidel Castro stepped aside as president of Cuba in February and has not been seen much since undergoing surgery in July 2006, but he i... more -
Castro making reforms in Cuba
It was featured in The New York Times that Raul Castro, Fidel's brother and successor is implementing reforms in Cuba to make the lives of Cubans more liveable. It was featured in The New York Times that Raul Castro, Fidel's brother and successor is implementing reforms in Cuba to make the... more
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Cuba to commute death sentences
Cuba's President Raul Castro says nearly all death sentences are to be commuted to prison terms of between 30 years and life.
It is the latest in a series of liberalising measures. Mr Castro said the decision was humanitarian and not due to international pressure.
Three people charged with terrorism will stay on death row for the time being. Their cases will be reviewed.
The death penalty will remain on the statute book in Cuba.
Mr Castro also announced he was convening a Communist Party congress next year - the first for more than a decade.
The congress is expected to chart Cuba's future political and economic agenda.
Cuba has been under pressure from human-rights organisations to abolish the death penalty, which is carried out by firing squad.
There are no official figures, but the Cuban Human Rights Commission estimates that between 40 and 50 inmates could be affected.
The only exceptions to the death penalty changes are two Central Americans charged with a hotel bombing that killed an Italian tourist, and a Cuban American charged with murder during an attempt at armed infiltration of the island.
"It would be irresponsible and disingenuous to renounce the dissuasive power that capital punishment has on the real terrorists, the imperialist mercenaries," Mr Castro said in a speech to the Communist Party central committee. Cuba's President Raul Castro says nearly all death sentences are to be commuted to prison terms of between 30 years and life. ... more -
Cubans line up to buy mobile phones
HUNDREDS of Cubans lined up at state-owned telephone offices today as the new Government under President Raul Castro began selling mobile phone service to the general public for the first time.
Thousands were expected to take advantage of the opportunity in the coming days, even though opening the service and buying the cheapest mobile phone was priced at the equivalent of more than nine months of state wages.
"It is a very good measure, but what we earn does not correspond with the price," said 33-year-old Gustavo, who nevertheless waited with around 100 others at an office in Havana's colonial district to buy the service.
Raul Castro has moved quickly to ease restrictions in the communist country since succeeding his ailing older brother Fidel Castro as president in February.
Cubans are now allowed to buy DVD players, computers and other electronic goods, and stay at tourist hotels previously reserved only for foreigners.
Cuba has the lowest rate of mobile telephone use in Latin America and the service was restricted until now to foreigners or government officials and employees.
Customers will pay for their calls with prepaid cards bought in hard currency, and can receive and make international calls.
Cuban telecommunications monopoly ETECSA, a joint venture with Telecom Italia, announced last month it would begin selling the service. HUNDREDS of Cubans lined up at state-owned telephone offices today as the new Government under President Raul Castro began selling mob... more -
Cubans line up for their first cellular phone lines: Scientific American
The freedom to ask "Can you hear me now?"
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Cuba joins the consumer world | The Australian
It seems like change is coming very fast, is it an illusion? Tell me what you think
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Cuba lifts ban on citizens staying in tourist hotels - Worldnews.com
Is this the beginning of change?
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The Cuban Cowboy
Jorge Navarro fronts the Latin-tinged surf rock band the Cuban Cowboys. The son of Cuban exiles, he sings about his parents' longing for their homeland and about what it means to grow up Cuban in the United States -- all with a healthy dose of humor. Jorge Navarro fronts the Latin-tinged surf rock band the Cuban Cowboys. The son of Cuban exiles, he sings about his parents' long... more
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The Cuba You Don't See
What's life really like in Cuba for the average twenty something? One young man lets Current in on the truth behind the facade.
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Fidel Castro
