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Saturday, August 31, 2013

Castro’s Strategy, in Short - A Perfect Manual for Disaster

Castro's Strategy, in Short: A Perfect Manual for Disaster / Manuel
Cuesta Morua
Posted on August 30, 2013

HAVANA, Cuba, August, www.cubanet.org — Does Raul Castro have a vision
for the state? After seven years in office the question bears asking.
Perhaps few people thought about it during the previous forty-six years
because most observers just assumed that Fidel Castro had a grand plan
for the state. But in perspective I do not think so. One can be a
political animal yet lack a strategic vision for the country. What is
clear, however, is that Fidel Castro did have the political fiber
required to constantly to remain in power.

He demonstrated the abilities necessary to fuse a founding myth with a
sense of opportunity and social control. And everything seemed perfect
politically as long as he was able to hide the brutality of his regime,
his absolute lack of principles and his incompetence at financial
management behind this fusion. But where his lack of vision for the
state can be seen is in not having left behind anything serious, such as
a legacy, in the three areas where he uprooted the myth: in the social,
in values and in the reconquest of the nation. In the end he did not
know how to do what politicians with a head for strategy do. He did not
know how to reinvent himself.

The followers of Castro, the tall one, can say what they want in his
defense. However, this only demonstrates that the confusion between
expectations and results continues to be fascinating material for two
types of study: mythology and clinical psychology. It has nothing to do
with reality.

Milk and marabou

It was hoped that whoever came to power in 2006 would take a healthy dip
in reality. Cuba had strayed so far from its revolutionary dreams that
this cleansing would be a preliminary step in confronting the task
refreshed and with mental clarity. Asians know a thing or two about the
relationship between the sauna and the mind. And this appears to be what
happened when Raul Castro, in a speech on July 26 of that year in
Camaguey, said two trivial words: milk and marabou. They indicated a
fresh return to the abandoned land, and an idealized return to the land
as metaphor; this after a lofty, fattened regime anchored to the rest of
the world only through rhetoric and foreign subsidies.

But strategically the shorter Castro could write a how-to book on
disaster. I will not dwell on the long list of his economic adjustments
and their social consequences. Much has been well and wisely said about
the failure of his so-called economic reforms, notwithstanding the
analytical obstinacy of an unwavering group of academics, prominent in
the news media, who did (and do) not realize that in terms of economic
reform Cuba had (and has) to learn to run, not just move. So I am not
interested in judging Raul Castro by his own words. We must measure the
man by his results, not by his efforts.

There are two areas I would like to visit in order to analyze what I
consider to be a worrying lack of national vision or strategic
proposals. One is the port of Mariel and the other is the set of factors
facilitating the exodus to what Cubans refer to as la Yuma, meaning
everything outside the island, whether it be Brazil, Haiti or the
United States itself.

The island as banana republic

Many see in the construction of the port of Mariel a brilliant strategic
move. I see the new port as a step towards turning the island into a
banana republic, as we used to be portrayed in the schools of most
Central American countries. A social poet, who visited several places in
our archipelago to feel its vibration before reflecting them in his
poetry, described us at the time as a synthesis that was simultaneously
powerful and depressing: Cuba, the ruin and the port.

I find no strategic value in a project that ratifies Cuba as a landlord
state, living off of a couple of assembly plants and on being the
connecting port-of-call between a super-power (the United States), an
emerging power (China) and a jolly secondary power (Brazil). Foregoing
the economic possibilities offered by the knowledge economy in favor of
one for which we are better prepared — one which depends on the crude
economics of the exploited and poorly paid port worker — does not get us
much closer to a strategic vision for the state. Nor does a property
owner prepared to collect tolls and warehouse fees from all who pass
through his ports. But that is indeed what is happening.

Mariel: a circle of illusion

This is because — and here the circle of illusion becomes complete —
such a step presupposes two additional elements. One is a deep knowledge
of the internal reality of the countries in question. The other is
effective control over the temptation of the governmental elite to
decide things lest they forget that there is a new port in Cuba called
Mariel.

Keep in mind what happened in the Soviet Union in 1989 and in Venezuela
in 2013. Having information about what really takes place in countries
that affect us economically, and being able to process it, is not the
strong point of revolutionary leaders. The former socialist superpower
collapsed and Maduro won in spite of losing. China is only interested in
money and we have none. And Planalto Palace — the headquarters Dilma
Rouseff took over from Lula da Silva — has been trembling lately.

Let us remember that investments in Mariel were being managed by a
risk-taking partner, President Lula, who held out the promise to a
Brazilian business conglomerate, Odebrecht, of a hypothetical opening by
the United States to Cuba. It is as though a fiancée were to put on a
wedding dress without knowing for sure that her intended would show up
to satisfy her nuptial ambitions. A fiancée who, on top of everything
else, behaved as though she did not have to do anything to attract the
very specific type of suitor she was after by showing him anything he
might possibly find attractive in her.

From subsidies to an economic enclave

There is nothing strategic about turning a subsidized economy into an
economic enclave within the confines of old-fashioned capitalism,
especially for a country that loudly demands — or rather politely
requests — a comprehensive modernization built on the foundations of a
knowledge-based economy.

If you are wondering why the government of Raul Castro is involved in
this issue, which we know as state strategy, then imagine all that can
be done by using Cuba's potential to assure the structural integrity of
the country, guaranteeing a relaxed transition and re-legitimized
mandate for successors who lack the pedigree of the mountains we know as
the Sierra Maestra.

A new port development provides no insurance in either of these areas.
It puts Diaz-Canal in quite a precarious position relative to two
interest groups. One is made up of real estate interests tied to
unproductive corporations, and the other is made up of citizens excluded
from sharing in the pie, which can only grow arithmetically rather than
exponentially.

And the exodus to la Yuma? Well, this is where the disconnect between
the sense of the treasury and the sense of State is perhaps best
revealed. Now that the treasury no longer puts food on the table, we
have weakened the possibilities of redefining the State by making an
overseas sojourn possible for what the utilitarian language of economics
calls human capital. It really surprises me that the emigration reform
law has been so widely applauded. After granting fifteen minutes of fame
to the restitution of a right that did not have to be taken away, there
should have come a serious and sober analysis of its medium and
long-term impact on the nation and the country, which are really the
same thing.

Living off remittances

Two facts continue to be confused: as an economic reform measure, the
migratory reform converts Cuba into the El Salvador of the Caribbean:
living off remittances. And as the restitution of a right, it destroys
the options to rethink an economic model to export the best young minds
of the country, as a country like India has avoided.

The media analysis has blurred the problem, focusing the discussion on
superficial political terms. They say that the Cuban government has
thrown the ball in the court of the rest of the world, as if it were a
tournament which, in reality, doesn't exist between states — all
countries let their own citizens leave and abrogate the right to allow
the citizens of other countries to enter — and obscure the principal
debate: the fate of a country, aging, losing in a trickle or a torrent
its potentially most productive and creative people and, on the other
hand, not rebuilding its image as a possible nation.

This the principal problem of our national security. And it only has one
origin: The concentration of the political in a single lineage. The
philosophers of this matter are right: politics begins beyond the family
sofa.

The problem takes on a new light, more dangerous in terms of national
security, with an immigration reform targeted to Cubans by the United
States, much deeper than that of Raul Castro. The granting of a
five-year multiple-entry visas to those who live on the island grants a
right foreigners greater than that granted by the Cuban State to its own
nationals living inside and outside the country. This is somewhat
embarrassing. Cubans from here can freely enter and leave the United
States for much longer than Cubans can enter and leave their country of
birth without renewing their permit.

Citizens of both countries

One of the results we have, one which I want to focus on, is this: we
Cubans have become, in theory, resident citizens of two countries. Cuba
is one, you choose the other. This is an issue that goes beyond the
transnational nature of our condition — very well analyzed by Haroldo
Dilla, a Cuban historian based in the Dominican Republic — because over
the long term it weakens the center that serves as the axis to the
global nature of citizenship. We Cubans will stay in the same place in
an ambivalence that weaken loyalties to a nationality that one now feels
and lives anemically. A strange and dangerous situation for a country
lacking a sense of solidity.

If the story says that the new U.S. policy serves to promote relations
between Cubans and Americans and between Cubans and Cuban Americans, in
reality we are moving to a scenario in which relations between
Cuban-Americans, in fact, resident on the island, and Cuban-Americans by
law, resident in the United States arise and are strengthened; and on
the other hand between Americans and Cubans residing on both shores.

All that will be left is an irreducible minority, regardless of their
ideological leanings, who will resist nationality in both, taking
American or Spanish nationality as strong reference points.

So, we return to the economic and cultural circuit of the United States
— in some way we have already entered that of Spain — which we
supposedly left more than half a century ago. Not to mention other
smaller circuits such as those of Jamaica and Italy.

Surrendering to this reality, hiding behind the anti-imperialist
rhetoric of "no one surrenders here," that keeps obsolete arms oiled and
"repaired," is evidence that the strategy of the State has never
accompanied the Castros. Will our paradigm as a nation ever be viable?
The question is not rhetorical.

From Cubanet

18 August 2013

Source: "Castro's Strategy, in Short: A Perfect Manual for Disaster /
Manuel Cuesta Morua | Translating Cuba" -
http://translatingcuba.com/castros-strategy-in-short-a-perfect-manual-for-disaster-manuel-cuesta-morua/

Prison Diary LII Dear Vilches, Welcome to the Space of Decorum

Prison Diary LII: Dear Vilches, Welcome to the Space of Decorum / Angel
Santiesteban
Posted on August 30, 2013

Any injustice against a single person, represents a threat to everyone.
Montesquieu

"God makes us, and freedom joins us."

This post I owe to the brave writer and friend Rafael Vilches Proenza
who, by dint of talent, earned the recognition of the intelligentsia of
the Island.

Vilches has followed the call of conscience to do his duty, and
responding to his feelings, forgot the gifts that the Government gives
to those who follow its dictates without opposition; thus, he is about
it enter the Cuban insile, his career as a ghost writer beginning, and
now many who call themselves friends will distance themselves from him,
especially those who were, for a time, advising him to leave this path
of freedom and continue to suck on the teat of the State.

They ar already plotting some strategy, so I ask my friend Vilches to
walk with firm steps. State Security is on the hunt, searching, trying,
how to muddy, at times, without an alibi, the desperation with which
they carry out their coarse punishments, as in my case, but they don't
know that the lash of their whip tastes heavenly, giving us another
reason for living.

Dear Vilches, welcome to the space of decorum, of transparency, tired of
speaking sotto voce, after making sure that nobody will be listening to
an honest judgment.

I swear I've heard those who called themselves friends, who wrote me
extravagant dedications in their books — and then came forward to sign
the document of the "eight women against violence" — being more critical
of the government than I am; as also happened with my literary masters,
hearing their discontent, their pleas for a way out of the crisis and a
political change, but then, when it was time for decency, they showed
caution and moved the flags, writing odes to the leaders of the
dictatorship, and signing whatever open letter is organized against
their colleagues.

Vilches, my brother, now it touches me to be in solidarity with you, you
have stayed to give me encouragement since the regime launched its
filthy thrust. I am experiencing the contradiction of feeling myself
happy to know that History will not record you as pusillanimous, that
you prefer to remain silent to not exchange your dignity for perks, but
in turn it saddens me to know that misery you will receive from many
around you, the betrayal, the loneliness; yet I predict for you that in
the end you will have the compensation of one who stays by your side,
worth more than a hundred, how else would you have discovered false
friends, the cowards?

I only ask that you notice that in addition to the fear in their souls,
they are acting in a mediocre play, none will go down in literary
history, so they do it, because it's the only way to be valued as
writers and receive trips abroad, of those who bring soap to clean the
skin because they have soiled their spirit; of those who have been taken
over by UNEAC. Do not expect solidarity, nor even bureaucratic
protection from what is supposed to the space that represents artists,
to defend us; because that place is just another arm of totalitarianism.

In the end history will render its accounts, because history is what
matters, it is where you can live forever.

From my captivity I send my thanks to you for joining the fight against
the dictatorship.

The embrace of forever, your brother Angel.

Lawton "settlement"*
August 2013

*Translator's note: "Settlement" is the euphemism for the Ministry of
the Interior "special" prison where Angel is now being held.

30 August 2013

Source: "Prison Diary LII: Dear Vilches, Welcome to the Space of Decorum
/ Angel Santiesteban | Translating Cuba" -
http://translatingcuba.com/prison-diary-lii-dear-vilches-welcome-to-the-space-of-decorum-angel-santiesteban/

UPEC and the Freedom of the Press

UPEC and the Freedom of the Press / Dimas Castellanos
Posted on August 30, 2013

The few expectations generated by the Ninth Congress of the Union of
Journalists and Writers of Cuba ( UPEC ), held last weekend, ended in
frustration. The changes that demand journalism plays an effective role
in social transformations were conspicuous by their absence. The
conclave ignored the issue of press freedom, a vital issue to delve into
the causes of the current crisis and suggest possible solutions,
although Cuba has a rich history in this area.

The Camaguey national hero Ignacio Agramonte, in defending his thesis in
law said: The right to think freely corresponds to the freedom of
discussion, of doubt, of opinion, as phases or directions of that.

The press in Cuba was inaugurated with Papel Periodico (Newsprint) in
Havana in 1790; it disseminated the accord reached with the Pact of
Zanjón of 1878, thanks to which Juan Gualberto Gomez won the legal
process against the colonial authorities which allowed the public
disclosure of the ideas of those supporting independence. It was
multiplied during the Republic: Diario de La Marina, Bohemia, El País,
El Mundo, Alerta, Noticias de Hoy, La Calle, Prensa Libre, Carteles and
Vanidades, to cite just ten. In 1930 there were 61 radio stations, a
number that placed Cuba 4th worldwide; and as for television, in 1950,
almost immediately after the United States, Television Radio Union
Channel 4, the third television station in Latin America, followed the
same year by Channel 6.

Thanks to the media, from the colony to the Republic , the debate of
ideas reached such importance that it is impossible to explain any event
in our history without considering the role of press freedom. The best
evidence was the allegation of Dr. Fidel Castro, known as History Will
Absolve Me, in which he said: Let me tell you a story: Once upon a time
there was a Republic. It had its Constitution, its laws, its freedoms, a
President, a Congress and Courts of Law. Everyone could assemble,
associate, speak and write with complete freedom. The people were not
satisfied with the government, but the people could change it… Public
opinion was respected and heeded and all problems of common interest
were freely discussed. There were political parties, hours of doctrine
on radio, debate programs on television, public meetings…"

The Russian historian, sociologist and politician Pavel Milyukov, in an
article entitled In defense of the word, defined the press as the finest
and most perfect expression of socio-psychological forms of interaction;
he explained that the rules of relationship between man and society
constitute the core of human rights and freedom of the press is the only
civil liberty can guarantee all the others.

If, from the ideas expressed, we accept that press freedom is an
indispensable factor for social development, any action to preclude it,
can only be described as an act against the development of the country
and the dignity of the people.

Yes, the nation really is everyone, Communists or not, revolutionaries
or not, intellectuals or not, everyone has the right to think, express
and disseminate their ideas freely, as active subjects in national
issues. The opposite is exclusion, totalitarianism or apartheid. So in
the age of the newest information technologies and communications, any
restrictions on press freedom in a country with such a rich tradition of
freedom are inadmissible.

Suffice it to recall that in difficult years like 1947, 1950 and the day
after the assault on the Moncada barracks in 1953, Noticias de Hoy (News
of Today), organ of the then Communist Party (People's Socialist Party)
was shut down. However, time and again, thanks to the so-called freedom
of the "bourgeois" press, the communists, supported by much of the
existing press, demanded that they be re-opened and succeeded, even
though Noticias de Hoy advocated class struggle to overthrow the ruling
system.

However — returning to the Cuban of today — the member of the Politburo,
Miguel Diaz-Canel, at the closing ceremony of UPEC, suggested that what
is needed to feed the desire to improve the press and make it more
virtuous press is dialogue. That is, the official press is virtuous and
those virtues, in his words, lie in having denounced the imperialist
campaigns of internal and external enemies, so it is able and has as its
mission to contribute to the achievement of a prosperous and sustainable
socialism. We need to support — said Diaz-Canel — a set of principles
for the Cuban press, extracted from the thoughts of José Martí and Fidel.

The question to Diaz-Canel is if what Fidel said about civil society and
citizens' freedoms during the Moncada trial retains its value, and with
respect to Martí it is good to remember the central idea that he
presented on the Third Anniversary of the Cuban Revolutionary Party: A
people is composition of many wills, vile or pure, frank and grim,
hindered by shyness or precipitated by ignorance.

Several journalists from the official press praised the subordination of
the press for the purpose of PCC, as in the case of Oscar Sánchez Serra,
in his article "The Congress of those we see, hear and read," published
in Granma on 15 July, that posited that the journalist is a builder of
socialism.

But the person who more clearly summarized the praises of the
subordination of the official press to the PCC was Victor Joaquin
Ortega, who in a short editorial appeared in the weekly Tribuna de La
Habana, Sunday, 14 July, wrote: "We are the weapon of the Communist
Party of Cuba, the only one we need for the struggle, the son of the
dignity and creative line of the Cuban Revolutionary Party founded and
led by the Apostle [José Martí]."

These and other similar proposals demonstrate that the journalism of
UPEC is the journalism of a political party and of a specific ideology,
so that it cannot define itself as representative of the Cuban press in
general, whose natural plurality extends beyond the communist ideas.

The official press sustains itself on the base of restrictions on the
freedom of the press, it as not — as Jorge Barata expressed it well in a
dossier on the subject published in Lay Space — plural, nor open, so it
is prevented from speaking in the name of Cuban society in total. The
PCC defines it politics, based on the limits established in the Cultural
Congress of 1961: Within the Revolution everything. Against the
Revolution nothing, a limit that should begin by defining what a
revolution is and then demonstrating that there is a revolution in Cuba.

The exclusion is not only unjust and unacceptable, but unreal, because
the new technologies prevent it. Another press has emerged, parallel and
coexisting with the official press. Lay Space, Coexistence, Critical
Observatory, Voices, the SPD Bulletin, Cuba Spring and dozens of blogs
and websites that do not respond to the PCC, whose importance lies in
the decision to participate, without permission, from differing views on
the problems of the nation. An alternative journalism, independent,
citizen and participatory, reflecting realities ignored by the official
press and complying with the requirements of traditional journalism and
includes others which are possible with the new technologies, despite
the obstacles represented by the lack of freedom of the press.

From Diario de Cuba

2 July 2013

Source: "UPEC and the Freedom of the Press / Dimas Castellanos |
Translating Cuba" -
http://translatingcuba.com/upec-and-the-freedom-of-the-press-dimas-castellanos/

The New School Term in Cuba - Teachers Hoping for Raises

The New School Term in Cuba: Teachers Hoping for Raises / Ivan Garcia
Posted on August 30, 2013

The Minister of Education, Ena Elsa Velázquez, is hoping to turn
corruption and academic fraud in Cuban schools around.

In her tour through several provinces to check on preparations for the
new school term beginning on September 2, Velázquez highlighted the
"social commitment of teachers and professors" to address illegalities
and acts of corruption.

She spoke of strengthening families' confidence in the educational
system and confronting "scholastic fraud and other more subtle and
nefarious distortions."

This requires great political and oratorical skill in analyzing the
conditions that for years have affected education on the island, to say
nothing of the low salaries paid to teachers.

As always in Cuba, one must separate demagoguery from reality. The
complacency of government officials causes them to suffer from an
irreversible myopia.

They only see the successes. And they do exist. For a third-world
country, it is laudable to be able to provide free education and public
health. We may be better than Burma or Haiti, but there has been a
qualitative reversal in sectors which once were showpieces of the
Revolution.

There are schools but they lack good instructors, teaching material has
to be recycled, the merienda* has been eliminated in primary schools,
and lunch for boarding students is wretched.

And we have not even talked about the extreme politicization and
ideological content in course material and extracurricular activities.
These include everything from classes on how to load an AKM assault
rifle to fundraising for self-defense militias.

Too often the Cuban government likes to remind us that education and
health care are free. These are the cornerstones of the socialist model
that the world sees.

They are, however, distortions of reality. The state can subsidize the
health and education system thanks to the high tax rate it imposes on
workers. In countries where students pay not one penny towards the cost
of their education, the money to fund this "privilege" must come out of
the taxpayers' pocketbooks.

But this is not the case with Cuba. A percentage of the ridiculously low
salaries paid to workers and employees, excessive taxes on the
self-employed and import duties of up to 300% on hard-currency
remittances subsidize a significant portion of the national educational
system.
However, everyone who one way or another contributes to society —
whether it be by cutting cane or spending dollars they have received
from relatives in Miami — can and should demand a better education for
their children.

For a decade primary, secondary and pre-university education has been in
marked decline. Because of poor wages and low social status many
instructors go to work as porters in five-star hotels or as fry cooks in
a street-side stalls.
It is inconceivable that a policeman or armed forces officer would make
close to 900 Cuban pesos a month — not counting their ability to acquire
groceries, cleaning supplies and clothing at low prices, or to stay in
exclusive recreational villas — while a professor at a secondary school
makes only Cuban 350 to 400 pesos a month.

The teaching profession is one that is not highly valued in Cuba. It is
not an attractive alternative for university graduates. Only when there
is no other option, or when men are trying to evade military service, do
young people choose to study pedagogy.

The new school term will begin on Monday, September 2 in schools which
have received a fresh coat of cheap paint, whose furniture and windows
have been repaired and whose families have put aside some money for
their children's meriendas. Believe me, it is not easy to provide five
meriendas a week. Children's backpacks resemble those of mountain climbers.

The school uniform presents another problem. Some sadistic bureaucrat
decided that each student would get a new uniform every two terms. The
dim-witted technocrat did not stop to think that in their primary school
years children grow quite rapidly. Or that given the heat and the
carelessness typical at this age, students often return home with their
uniforms in tatters.

The solution was for families to buy uniforms on the black market for
five convertible pesos apiece. These are not their only expenses.

In case a child gets a mediocre professor — something now quite common
in primary and secondary education — parents must pay ten convertible
pesos a month to a retired teacher to tutor him after school.

As the Minister of Education follows her road map through the country,
checking on preparations for the next school term, teachers are hoping
the official will agree with them and announce a salary increase.

Teaching remains the worst paid profession in Cuba.

Iván García

*Translator's note: A traditional afternoon snack or light meal somewhat
comparable to tea time.

28 August 2013

Source: "The New School Term in Cuba: Teachers Hoping for Raises / Ivan
Garcia | Translating Cuba" -
http://translatingcuba.com/the-new-school-term-in-cuba-teachers-hoping-for-raises-ivan-garcia/

Se quejan de nuevos métodos abortivos

Se quejan de nuevos métodos abortivos
Yoennis de Jesús Guerra García
31 de agosto de 2013

Sancti Spíritus, Cuba – www.PayoLibre.com – Mujeres espirituanas
manifestaron este 29 de agosto su desconcierto por el nuevo método
abortivo empleado por el personal médico de la zona.

Según varias de las referidas damas, en el Hospital Provincial Camilo
Cienfuegos, el nuevo método utilizado consiste en la administración del
fármaco conocido como Misoprostol, cuyo uso fundamental es para
enfermedades estomacales.

Una de las afectadas expresó: "Parece que prefieren utilizar los efectos
secundarios de esa medicina para provocar abortos en los casos de
embarazos de hasta más de dos meses. De ese modo evitan una intervención
quirúrgica".

Agencia Yayabo Press

Source: "PayoLibre.com - Cuba -" -
http://payolibre.com/noticias/noticias2.php?id=9708

Liberan a preso político Yelky Puig Rodríguez

Liberan a preso político
Osmany Borroto Rodríguez
31 de agosto de 2013

Sancti Spíritus, Cuba – www.PayoLibre.com – El pasado jueves 29 de
agosto, al preso político Yelky Puig Rodríguez, quien cumplía una
sanción de un año de prisión, le fue dada la libertad condicional,
informó el propio cautivo desde su casa, en la ciudad de Pinar del Río.

Yelky, quien es miembro de la Corriente Agramontista y de la Alianza
Democrática Pinareña, expresó su disposición a continuar su lucha
pacífica en pro de la democracia.

"Me encerraron injustamente, pero no han podido cambiar mis
convicciones", concluyó.

Agencia Yayabo Press

Source: "PayoLibre.com - Cuba -" -
http://payolibre.com/noticias/noticias2.php?id=9707

Estudiantes universitarios se quejan de mala higiene

Estudiantes universitarios se quejan de mala higiene
Ada Olimpia
31 de agosto de 2013

Santa Clara, Cuba – www.PayoLibre.com – Alumnos de la Universidad de
Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara se quejaron ante directivos de la
escuela por la falta de higiene y ruidos.

Karen Domínguez Villanueva, estudiante de quinto año de medicina, dijo
que no se puede estudiar porque el mal olor de la piquera de carretones
tirados por caballos, al frente de la Universidad Serafín Ruiz de
Zárate, se hace insoportable. El orine de los animales corre por toda la
calle Acueducto, la cual constituye la entrada del centro.

Otro estudiante, Jaime Alonso Crespo, se quejó del bullicio constante
que proviene de la feria llamada "Candonga", donde desde horas de la
madrugada los vendedores particulares hacen sus pregones.

El Secretario del Consejo Ejecutivo de la Asamblea del Poder Popular
explicó ante representantes del estudiantado, que el gobierno no tiene
solución para la piquera de carretones porque no hay lugar cercano a las
instituciones hospitalarias que permitan que el público pueda acceder a
este tipo de transporte.

Al final del encuentro Prometieron aumentar el accionar de los
inspectores en cuanto a exigir la disciplina de los cocheros, y destacó
que el ruido proveniente de la feria es inevitable, y que harán estudios
urbanísticos para tratar de buscar una micro- localización futura para
ubicar el mercado particular.

La Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara está ubicada en calle
Acueducto y Circunvalación, Santa Clara, a 270 Km. de La Habana, Cuba.

Source: "PayoLibre.com - Cuba -" -
http://payolibre.com/noticias/noticias2.php?id=9706

Desatienden a donantes de sangre dirigentes de la salud

Desatienden a donantes de sangre dirigentes de la salud
Javier Sol Díaz
31 de agosto de 2013

Santa Clara, Cuba – www.PayoLibre.com – Donantes de sangre dijeron que
fueron lastimados durante la donación efectuada el 24 de agosto en un
consultorio médico debido a que no existían las condiciones necesarias
para ese evento.

Kirenia Zaldívar Machado, con más de 20 donaciones de sangre
voluntarias, destacó que no se cumplió el protocolo establecido por el
Ministerio de Salud Pública durante la extracción de sangre en el
Consultorio Médico del reparto Virginia de Santa Clara.

Señaló que no tomaron muestras de sangre, no midieron la tensión
arterial, no tuvieron en cuenta la cantidad de sangre extraída de
acuerdo a los parámetros establecidos (entre 250 y 500 gramos) y la
merienda distribuida era de baja calidad.
Yen Luis Trimiño, donante voluntario, añadió que fue parado de la
camilla con fatigas, sin permitirle su recuperación, ya que sólo tenían
una cama.

La enfermera Nancy Lima Calderón dijo que en esa unidad asistencial no
estaban creadas las condiciones, no hubo personal médico, faltó
coordinación entre funcionarios del Comité de Defensa de la Revolución
(CDR) y de la policlínica Marta Abreu, para enfrentar una donación
masiva como la que se llevó a cabo.

Source: "PayoLibre.com - Cuba -" -
http://payolibre.com/noticias/noticias2.php?id=9705

El cólera reaparece en la prisión de kilo 9

El cólera reaparece en la prisión de kilo 9
Juan Carlos Linares Balmaseda
31 de agosto de 2013

La Habana, Cuba – www.PayoLibre.com – Suena el teléfono. Lo tomo y
escucho la voz de Iván Álvarez Mosquera, que me dice:

–Oye, hay un caso de cólera aquí.

–¿Y sabes cómo se llama? –le pregunto.

– Sólo sé que se llama Boris –y sin hacer pausa Iván continúa–. Pero sí
se confirmó que es cólera y ahora está ingresado.

–¿Lo ingresaron ahí en la prisión? –inquiero.

–No, se lo llevaron para un hospital, y hasta hoy (jueves 29 de agosto
en la tarde) desconozco donde está –así reportó Álvarez Mosquera,
recluso en esa prisión.

De acuerdo con su informe, en la prisión ya se toman algunas medidas de
seguridad: ordenaron cambiar las sábanas más sucias de las camas, aunque
no todas. Y también pusieron un saco mojado con agua clorada en el piso,
justo a la entrada de cada barraca.

Respecto al material de aseo: jabón, detergente…, escasea y los
familiares de los reclusos tienen que llevarlos. Y el agua que se
consume la potabilización es pésima, y posiblemente no sea clorada.

–Así comenzaron las cosas haces unos meses atrás, cuando casi un tercio
de la población penal fue puesta en cuarentena, y de ella unos cuantos
presos diagnosticados de graves –concluyó Iván Álvarez Mosquera desde la
prisión Kilo 9, ubicada en la provincia de Camagüey.

Source: "PayoLibre.com - Cuba -" -
http://payolibre.com/articulos/articulos2.php?id=5754

Prohíben uso de telefonía pública a opositores

Prohíben uso de telefonía pública a opositores
VIERNES, 30 DE AGOSTO DE 2013 16:22
ESCRITO POR ROBERTO VALDIVIA

Cuba actualidad, Ciego de Ávila, (PD) De acuerdo con la información
suministrada por Guillermo Rodríguez Veritan, delegado del Partido
Democrático 30 de Noviembre Frank País (PD30Nov) en la provincia
Camagüey, miembros de la policía nacional visitan los centros "agentes",
(servicios de telefonía pública ubicados en casas particulares) del
poblado Cándido González, municipio Santa Cruz del Sur, para que estos
no permitan a opositores pacíficos realizar llamadas al resto de la
población.

Agrega Rodríguez Veritan que el teniente Almides de la Policía Nacional
Revolucionaria (PNR) a quien califica de "sicario y personajillo
corrupto", incapaz de resolver cualquiera o uno de tantos robos
registrados contra la población y mucho menos proteger la propiedad del
estado, visitó varios de estos centros de servicio público y a nombre de
la policía Seguridad del Estado, ordenó que no permitieran realizar
llamadas a quienes fueren opositores al gobierno. Esto viola el derecho
de comunicación entre seres humanos, lo cual constituye una flagrante
violación de la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos, precisó
el opositor pacífico.

Para Cuba noticias: valdirobe2012@gmail.com

Source: "Prohíben uso de telefonía pública a opositores | Cuba noticias
actualidad.Periodismo independiente." -
http://www.primaveradigital.org/primavera/cuba-noticias/3-ultimas-noticias/8503-prohiben-uso-de-telefonia-publica-a-opositores.html

El "todo incluido" inalcanzable para los negros de la isla

El "todo incluido" inalcanzable para los negros de la isla
Es un asunto social que calladamente se ha convertido en una bomba de
relojería. Los negros son los más pobres. Los que peor viven. Y los
menos representados en el poder.
Iván García Quintero
agosto 27, 2013

Josuán, ingeniero, 43 años, junto a su esposa y tres hijos, en una calle
aledaña al Capitolio de La Habana y bajo un sol de justicia, esperan el
ómnibus climatizado que lo llevará a Varadero, Matanzas, a 140
kilómetros de la capital.

"Es como viajar en una máquina del tiempo hacia el futuro. Este año
alquilé tres noches en el Hotel Patriarca. Ya me considero un
'veterano'. Es la cuarta ocasión que hago turismo 'todo incluido'. Te
puedo asegurar que no es fruto de mi trabajo. Se lo debo a mis parientes
que residen en Miami. Ellos me envían dólares suficientes para que cada
año mi familia pueda tener un oasis de mar y playa y gran cantidad de
comida y bebidas en un entorno fabuloso", señala.

Frente a la fábrica de tabacos Partagás, casi un centenar de personas
cargan sus mochilas y maletas de ruedas y abordan el bus que los
trasladará a diferentes hoteles de Varadero.

Cerca de las 11 de la mañana, con excepcional puntualidad, cosa rara en
Cuba, van subiendo a sus respectivos ómnibus. Pertenecen a Transtur,
principal transportista turístico en la isla, excepto la cadena Gaviota,
un emporio administrado por la cúpula militar que tiene su propia flota
de buses y aviones pintados de color verde claro.

Dentro de los excursionistas el número de negros y mestizos es reducido.
Apenas siete entre un centenar. Y es que si hacer turismo es una ilusión
para muchos en Cuba, para un negro o mestizo raya casi en lo imposible.

ASIGNATURA PENDIENTE

No es problema de leyes. Es un asunto social que calladamente se ha
convertido en una bomba de relojería. Los negros son los más pobres. Los
que peor viven. Y los menos representados en el poder. No así en la
cárcel. O en los hechos de sangre. Han quedado marginados a la música,
el deporte y la santería.

Hacer turismo 'todo incluido' es algo que le suena lejano a la gente de
piel oscura. Para ellos va quedando el campismo o las arenas sucias y
repletas de desperdicios de las playas del Este habanero. O un bailable
público con una orquesta mediocre de 'timba' o un reguetonero del
momento. Poco más.

Eso de pagar al contado 400, 500 o 800 pesos convertibles, el salario de
hasta cuatro años de trabajo, por tres o cuatro días en Varadero u otro
sitio turístico, lo ven como cosa de blancos.

Que la mayoría también vive mal, pero dos peldaños por encima de los
negros. Uno de los grandes 'logros' de la revolución de Fidel Castro es
haber socializado la pobreza. Hay, por supuesto, unos más pobres que
otros. Es verdad que apenas hay analfabetos. Y es raro que se muera una
persona por falta de atención médica. Pero aspirar a escalar en la
estructura social o política, obtener bienes materiales, vivir
decentemente y hacer turismo en tu propio país es una asignatura pendiente.

Así lo piensa Rolando, uno de los pocos turistas negros que bebe una
piña colada en una parada de quince minutos que ha hecho el bus. "Soy un
privilegiado. Esta vez pude alquilar seis noches en el Meliá Varadero.
Es la segunda ocasión que puedo hacerlo. No tengo familiares en el
extranjero que me envíe dólares. Soy cirujano. Y en mis prestaciones de
servicios en Sudáfrica y Venezuela he realizado negocios por la
izquierda. He ahorrado dinero que me permite vivir un poco mejor. La
primera vez que fui a un hotel de lujo los únicos negros eran
canadienses o africanos. No creo que ahora sea diferente. En Cuba la
vida es difícil para todos. Pero para los negros es aún más difícil".

SÓLO DESDE 2008

El ómnibus va distribuyendo a los turistas, nacionales y extranjeros, en
diferentes hoteles. Danilo y su familia se hospedarán cuatro noches en
el Memorie, a 17 kilómetros del centro del poblado Varadero. Es un hotel
inmenso y el de mayor hectárea y vegetación. Tiene 1.015 habitaciones,
el segundo más grande de Varadero. Diseñado a la usanza de la
arquitectura colonial cubana, es casi una mini ciudad. Las agencias de
turismo lo sugieren como una buena opción para las familias con hijos
pequeños.

"Mi esposa y yo lo escogimos por ser un hotel tranquilo y con un enorme
tobogán que es la delicia de los niños. Es la tercera vez que reservo en
Varadero con la opción de 'todo incluido'. Y ahora repito en el
Memorie", dice mientras espera un carrito eléctrico que le llevará el
equipaje a su habitación. En 2008, cuando el régimen autorizó a los
cubanos poder hacer turismo en hoteles de lujo, algunos excursionistas
se quejaban del maltrato por parte de los trabajadores.

"Existía discriminación. No pocos dependientes trataban a los nacionales
con cara de perro. Es verdad que los cubanos cargaban enormes cantidades
de comida, bebida y se llevaban jabones, papel sanitario y champú de las
habitaciones. Era lógico. Cogían lo que no tenían en sus casas o costaba
mucho dinero adquirirlo. Los empleados se burlaban de ellos. Pero era
una manera de actuar muy hipócrita, porque ellos también viven robando.
Pero las cosas han cambiado. Los turistas nacionales cargan bolsos de
comida con más discreción y los trabajadores han mejorado su trato hacia
ellos. Incluso muchos cubanos dejan propinas mayores que los europeos",
señala un español que trabaja en la administración del Memorie.

VUELTA A LA REALIDAD

En los hoteles 'todo incluido' no existe la usual y repetitiva
propaganda política que acompaña la vida diaria del cubano. El 13 de
agosto, cumpleaños de Fidel Castro, en ninguna actividad cultural o
recreativa en los hoteles de Varadero se recordó el onomástico del
comandante único.

Los cubanos se sienten como si viviesen en otro país. "Uno pierde hasta
el apetito, al ver tanta comida en el desayuno, almuerzo y cena. Eso es
un lujo para el 90% de la población. Además, cafeterías con meriendas
las 24 horas, un río de cerveza y ron, habitaciones climatizadas,
canales de televisión por cable y agua fría y caliente en los baños.
Tengo la sensación de estar en otro planeta", confiesa el ingeniero Josuán.

Lo peor es el regreso. Volver a casa, a desayunar café sin leche y dos
comidas casi siempre magras. Los que pueden hacerla. "No es fácil dejar
el aire acondicionado para retomar el ventilador. El día después de la
vuelta a la realidad, la familia se pasa horas contando anécdotas de la
experiencia vivida", dice Josuán apesadumbrado. Y se cuestiona por qué
es tan caro y exótico hacer turismo en tu propio país.

Hay preguntas que las autoridades verde olivo se sienten con el derecho
de no responder. Ésa es una. Entre otras muchas.

Publicado en Diario Las Américas el 26 de Agosto del 2013

Source: "El "todo incluido" inalcanzable para los negros de la isla" -
http://www.martinoticias.com/content/cuba-todo-incluido-varaderos-afrocubanos-/26828.html

El Instituto Cubano de Cine cambia de presidente en plena reforma del sector

Publicado el viernes, 08.30.13

El Instituto Cubano de Cine cambia de presidente en plena reforma del
sector
EFE

LA HABANA -- El hasta ahora vicepresidente del Instituto Cubano de Arte
e Industria Cinematográficos (ICAIC), Roberto Smith, fue nombrado nuevo
presidente de ese organismo estatal en momentos en que el cine de la
isla y sus instituciones viven un proceso de reformas, informaron
viernes medios locales.

Smith, un psicólogo vinculado al ICAIC y al Festival del Nuevo Cine
Latinoamericano desde 1979, será el cuarto presidente de la emblemática
institución fundada en 1959 tras la revolución cubana y sustituirá a
Omar González, quien fue su director desde 2000.

El nuevo nombramiento, que aún no ha sido divulgado oficialmente,
trascendió en una entrevista con Smith publicada por la revista digital
cubana "La Jiribilla".

"No hay duda de que dirigir el ICAIC en un momento en que se debate el
futuro del cine cubano como parte del proceso de transformaciones que
está viviendo la isla es un desafío", indicó la publicación.

El propio Smith explicó en la entrevista que el "proceso de
transformación del ICAIC, va más allá de la institución y busca
propuestas de desarrollo para todo el cine cubano".

"Es un ejercicio de reflexión colectiva que dirige el Ministerio de
Cultura, coordinan los directivos del ICAIC, apoyan los principales
organismos del Estado cubano y en el que participan, activa y
decisivamente, los creadores", apuntó.

Con ese fin, según precisó, se creó un Grupo Temporal de Trabajo
constituido "por indicación de la dirección del país".

Entre las principales peticiones de los creadores cubanos ante la
reforma está la promulgación de una ley de cine que "ordene y proteja"
el sector y para las producciones autónomas que no cuentan con respaldo
oficial aunque son toleradas.

También abogan por un "Fondo Nacional de Fomento Cinematográfico" al que
accedan todos los realizadores por igual, beneficios fiscales y la
participación en festivales internacionales y mecanismos de
distribución, que hasta ahora controla en exclusiva el ICAIC.

Por resolver se suman otros problemas como el deterioro de muchas salas
cinematográficas, de los archivos fílmicos, y la deficiente promoción de
las obras.

"El ICAIC del futuro será el mismo y, a la vez, diferente, porque lo es
la época en que vivimos, tanto en el mundo que nos incluye, como en
nuestro propio país", afirmó Smith.

"La Industria cinematográfica cubana tendrá un centro en las productoras
del ICAIC, pero debe estar multiplicada en otras productoras estatales y
no estatales, legalmente reconocidas e integradas a un sistema de
producción audiovisual nacional", añadió.

El nuevo presidente del ICAIC dijo que en el sector confían en que el
Estado continúe apoyando la producción cinematográfica pero "serán
necesarias otras fuentes de financiamiento y, entre estas, las
coproducciones que no atenten contra la soberanía y la calidad de la
obra cinematográfica".

Source: "El Instituto Cubano de Cine cambia de presidente en plena
reforma del sector - Cuba - ElNuevoHerald.com" -
http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2013/08/30/1555413/el-instituto-cubano-de-cine-cambia.html

Informe de Bahamas - Cubanos fueron sometidos a salvaje golpiza por 2 horas

Informe de Bahamas: Cubanos fueron sometidos a salvaje golpiza por 2 horas
Publicado el Viernes, 30 Agosto 2013 13:46
Por Redacción CaféFuerte

Los cubanos detenidos en Bahamas fueron brutalmente golpeados en el
Centro de Carmichael durante casi dos horas después de que intentaran
escapar y uno de ellos pareció perder temporalmente la conciencia como
resultado de los abusos, según reveló un guardia entrevistado durante la
investigación inicial del incidente.

Los testimonios de dos custodios del lugar figuran en el informe de la
Fuerza Real de Defensa de Bahamas (RBDF, por sus siglas en inglés), con
fecha del 19 de julio, el cual fue obtenido por el periódico The Nassau
Guardian.

La información del reporte gubernamental no solo confirma las denuncias
por abusos de los guardias bahamenses que divulgó un video filmado
clandestinamente dentro de la instalación, sino que ofrece detalles
mucho más comprometedores sobre la violencia desplegada contra los
inmigrantes cubanos.

Al parecer, las palizas ocurrieron después los detenidos intentaron
escapar de las instalaciones del Centro de Detención, el pasado 20 de
mayo. El video fue entregado y difundido por el canal America TeVe-Canal
41 de Miami a comienzos de junio.

"El informe contiene detalles explosivos de los abusos que habrían
tenido lugar en las instalaciones. Un guardia informó que los detenidos
fueron rociados con gas pimienta en los ojos y las heridas después de
los golpes recibidos", señaló el periódico.

Golpiza sin final

Los golpes siguieron ese día por algún rato.

Un guardia dijo a los investigadores que uno de sus colegas se preocupó
cuando un detenido pareció perder brevemente el conocimiento, y él
decidió salir de la habitación donde se efectuaba la golpiza.

"Mi joven compañero fue demasiado lejos", dijo el guardia.

El documento añade que al comienzo de la entrevista, un guardia pareció
molestarse y dijo haber tenido una conversación airada con uno de los
investigadores jefes del caso.

Durante el intercambio verbal, el guardia amenazó al investigador con
informar lo que estaba pasando a Alfred Gray, ministro de Agricultura,
Recursos Marinos y Gobierno Local, y miembro del Parlamento bahamés.

El guardia se habría referido a Gray como "un socio mío", de acuerdo con
el informe completado por un alto oficial de inteligencia de la RBDF.

El custiodio entrevistado también alegó que había informado al Ministro
de Seguridad Nacional de Bahamas, Bernard Nottage, que uno de los
cubanos lo había acusado de facilitarles teléfonos celulares a los
detenidos.

Venta de celulares

Al ser cuestionado sobre los celulares, el guardia dijo que había visto
dos custodios vendiendo los aparatos entre los detenidos.

El entrevistado añadió que tras el intento de fuga de los detenidos
alrededor de las 4:15 a.m. del 20 de mayo, alguien le ordenó llevar a
tres hombres cubanos detenidos a las oficinas de RBDF.

"En camino hacia esa locación, varios guardias comenzaron a golpear
violentamente a los detenidos frente a los funcionarios de inmigración",
indica el reporte.

Según el relato, en ese momento los detenidos fueron llevados a un
pequeño cuarto en la parte de la oficina de RBDF, donde había barras y
otros equipos para ejercicios físicos, y allí continuó la golpiza en
presencia de la mayoría de los custodios.

El entrevistado admitió incluso que él aguantó a uno de los detenidos
mientras otro guardia lo golpeaba y pateaba, a la vez que otro de los
custodios le daba con un batón policial por la cabeza, la cadera y las
piernas.

Probando la hombría bahamense

El guardia abandonó el local cuando vio que el detenido comenzó a
sangrar, pero momentos después escuchó al responsable del grupo incitar
a los más jóvenes custodios a "probar su hombría golpeando a los
detenidos", apuntó el reporte.

Luego de una hora de golpiza, los detenidos fueron sacados del local de
guardia y situados en un lugar opuesto, cerca de la entrada del edificio.

"Fue entonces que los guardias rociaron gas pimienta en los ojos,
heridas y moretones de los detenidos", relató el diario.

La escena fue vista por el resto de los cubanos detenidos -entre ellos
mujeres y niños- que estaban ya fuera de sus dormitorios.

"Aparentemente, esto fue hecho para enviar un mensaje a la amplia
mayoría del grupo para que no intentara escapar", indicó el informe. "Un
momento después, los detenidos fueron retornados al salón de ejercicios
y la golpiza continuó en presencia de otros miembros de la guardia".

Oposición pide explicaciones

El artículo de The Nassau Guardian muestra las fotos tomadas a los
detenidos Carlos Pupo Mendoza y Jordan Berta Cantero, quienes figuraban
en el grupo de 50 cubanos recluidos en el campamento de Nassau. Pupo y
Cantero fueron repatriados en el primer grupo enviado a La Habana, con
24 personas, el pasado 16 de agosto.

Las revelaciones ofrecen por primera vez detalles de primera mano sobre
lo sucedido en el Centro de Detención de Carmichael, contado por
guaridas bahamenses y registrado por un reporte gubernamental.

El gobierno de Bahamas ha negado los atropellos e incluso consideró que
el video presentado en la televisión de Miami era "una fabricación".

El ministro de Inmigración y Asuntos Exteriores de Bahamas, Fred
Mitchel, anunció una investigación independiente sobre las denuncias de
los cubanos. La pesquisa la encabezan un ex intergrante del Tribunal de
Apelaciones y un líder religioso, pero los resultados tomarán al menos
un mes en conocerse.

La oposición política en Bahamas está pidiendo explicaciones al gobierno
sobre las revelaciones emergidas en el reporte de RBDF, y han pedido la
renuncia de Mitchel y otros altos funcionarios.

Source: "Informe de Bahamas: Cubanos fueron sometidos a salvaje golpiza
por 2 horas" -
http://cafefuerte.com/cuba/noticias-de-cuba/sociedad/3129-informe-de-bahamas-cubanos-fueron-sometidos-a-salvaje-golpiza

La televisión cubana se rinde a la publicidad

La televisión cubana se rinde a la publicidad
Cubavisión Internacional ofrece "servicios de publicidad con descuentos
atractivos, gastos de producción no incluidos y tarifas especiales".
Luis Felipe Rojas
agosto 30, 2013

​Los directivos del canal televisivo Cubavisión Internacional anunciaron
la reposición en su programación habitual del servicio de publicidad. En
un encuentro sostenido en el Salón de los Embajadores del Hotel Nacional
de Cuba se informó a la prensa nacional e internacional, según un
reporte del sitio web del canal.

La medida viene a tono con la intención del gobierno de La Habana de dar
la imagen de los cambios que ha prometido Raúl Castro y Cubavisión
Internacional es un canal que no ven la mayoría de los ciudadanos en la
isla, aunque el imperativo mayor es de corte económico.

En la página de internet del canal está publicada una relación de
precios de anuncios de 30 segundos que se colocan en la programación de
cambio o en cortes programados. Por ejemplo, de lunes a viernes, de 6:30
a 9:00 AM. insertar un spot publicitario cuesta 120 CUC. Si el anuncio
se pasa en el horario entre las 9:00 AM y las dos de la tarde, el costo
baja a 90 CUC.

A partir de las dos de la tarde, un spot cuesta 150 CUC, en un espacio
que llaman "mediodía premium" y en el horario estelar "Prime time
noche", que va desde las ocho a las 12:30 de la madrugada el spot cuesta
200 CUC.

El periodista independiente Juan González Febles, director del semanario
Primavera Digital, considera que "la familia Castro no ve por qué tiene
que quedarse detrás en su fortuna, como sus semejantes en América Latina
como Lula Da Silva, los Kichner en Argentina y los herederos de Hugo
Chávez", afirma.

"Estoy completamente seguro que eso de la publicidad sería para los
inversionistas extranjeros y para cuentapropistas del corte de Kacho y
sus corte. El paso del socialismo real a un corporativismo de corte
fascista implica la creación de inversionistas, industriales nacionales
que van a salir de la esfera gobernante o artistas. Así pasó en
Alemania, hubo negocios que estaban en manos de nacionales que estaban
cerca del aparato fascista. Tienen que haber generales que "con el fruto
de sus ahorros y su trabajo honrado" se conviertan en inversionistas",
concluye, con la fina ironía que lo caracteriza.

La información del canal televisivo refiere que ahora "retoma los
servicios de publicidad con descuentos atractivos, gastos de producción
no incluidos y tarifas especiales durante eventos deportivos u otros de
gran relevancia internacional", ya que no tiene alcance popular.

La atracción de capital internacional tiene lugar en medio de la crisis
económica y durante mucho tiempo la prensa cubana ha criticado la
publicidad que aparece en la televisión del mundo capitalista.

"No son los cambios que necesitamos los cubanos", dice el periodista
independiente Leonel Alberto Pérez Belete, quien en varias ocasiones ha
tocado el tema de la publicidad.

"Dentro de la televisión en general, la publicidad ha sido un gran tabú.
Que vuelva realmente lo encuentro muy positivo. Los productos cubanos
tienen muy mala calidad, lo que quieren hacer es un cambio de imagen
respecto al mundo. El mercado turístico ha decaído y el gobierno tiene
una fuerte competencia en los particulares, la página Revolico.com le
hace mucha fuerza, a pesar de que los cubanos no cuentan con Internet.
Recuerda que desaparecieron los clasificados, aquellos que salían en la
revista Opina", finalizó.

La aparición de publicidad en los últimos años ha tenido antecedentes
como los festivales del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano, eventos deportivos
patrocinados o actividades recreativas. Quienes tengan acceso a la
programación de Cubavisión Internacional asistirán al conocido
latiguillo de la televisión comercial "Volvemos en un momento, después
de la publicidad".

Source: "La televisión cubana se rinde a la publicidad" -
http://www.martinoticias.com/content/cubavision-tv-cuba-habana-raul-castro-publicidad-comercial/26965.html

La cúpula militar del poder en Cuba

Publicado el sábado, 08.31.13

La cúpula militar del poder en Cuba
PEDRO ROIG

Desde 1959 el Ejército Revolucionario es la fuerza suprema de poder en
Cuba. A diferencia de la Unión Soviética, donde el Partido Comunista
tomó el control del Estado y el ejército fue purgado por Stalin, Fidel
Castro forjó en el ejército la matriz de su autoridad totalitaria,
delegando a los cuadros civiles del Partido la administración burocrática.

El alto mando militar es hoy con Raúl Castro, como ayer con Fidel, el
factor decisivo que por más de medio siglo sostiene la tiranía en el
poder. Todos los altos mandos de las Fuerzas Armadas son miembros del
Comité Central del Partido y los militares controlan el Buró Político,
que es en la práctica la máxima autoridad del Estado cubano.

En su mayoría, la cúpula militar tiene sus raíces en la provincia de
Oriente, incluyendo a Fidel y Raúl Castro, Abelardo Colomé "Furry"
(ministro del Interior), Leopoldo Cintras (ministro de las Fuerzas
Armadas), Álvaro López Miera (viceministro primero del MINFAR y jefe del
Estado Mayor del Ejército), Samuel Rodiles (jefe del Instituto de
Planificación Física), Ulises Rosales (ministro de Agricultura), Ramón
Pardo (jefe del Estado Mayor Nacional de la Defensa Civil), Enrique
Lusson (ministro de Transporte) y Joaquín Quinta Sola (viceministro del
MINFAR). Hombres formados en la obediencia a Fidel y Raúl Castro y cuya
limitada cultura se reduce a la propaganda marxista y antiyanqui.

El fusilamiento del general Arnaldo Ochoa en 1989 marca el castigo que
sufren los críticos del máximo líder. Hecho que quedó grabado en la
memoria colectiva del ejército entrenado en el uso de la violencia y la
represión como arma política. Ninguna dictadura podría sobrevivir por
tantos años de fracasos si no recurriera al terror.

Los encargados del trabajo "sucio" de represión son los generales Carlos
Fernández Gondin (viceministro primero del MININT), Eduardo Delgado
(jefe de la Dirección de Inteligencia del MININT), y el vicealmirante
Julio César Gandarilla (jefe de la Contrainteligencia Militar). En este
frío y despiadado grupo se cultiva el espíritu de casta, la
inflexibilidad ante el opositor y la crueldad sin límites. Aquí no hay
vestigios de remordimientos. Ana Belén Montes, la espía que penetró los
más altos círculos del Pentágono, y los 5 miembros de la Red Avispa
participaron en este entorno de psicópatas.

En la actualidad los militares controlan más del 70% de la economía de
Cuba. El coronel Luis Alberto Rodríguez Calleja, yerno de Raúl Castro,
es el director del Grupo de Administración de Empresas (GAESA). El mayor
conglomerado de negocios del Estado cubano bajo el control del Ejército.
GAESA no publica estados financieros. Entre sus funciones, Calleja
supervisa el mega-proyecto del puerto de Mariel.

El coronel Héctor Oroza Busutin es el jefe de CIMEX, absorbido por GAESA
y que administra las operaciones de múltiples empresas que incluyen
servicios de comida rápida, tiendas y hasta joyerías. Todas funcionan en
moneda fuerte. El general Luis Pérez Rospide es el director del grupo
GAVIOTA S.A., también integrada a GAESA, que maneja líneas aéreas para
turistas y hoteles de 4 y 5 estrellas y miles de empleados. El general
Salvador Pardo es ministro de Industrias y el coronel Manuel Marrero
ministro de Turismo.

Estas son claras evidencias del control de las Fuerzas Armadas en la
vida política y económica de Cuba. Funesta tradición de militarismo que
está profundamente enraizada en nuestra cultura política. Infortunado
país que perdió el rumbo, tiranizado por militares que como en otros
tiempos históricos, aplastan las libertades ciudadanas y disfrutan a
plenitud los privilegios del poder. Triste destino de la Isla trágica.

Investigador asociado del Instituto de Estudios Cubanos y
Cubano-Americanos de la Universidad de Miami. Es abogado, historiador y
autor de " La Muerte de un Sueño".

Source: "PEDRO ROIG: La cúpula militar del poder en Cuba - Opinión -
ElNuevoHerald.com" -
http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2013/08/31/1555649/pedro-roig-la-cupula-militar-del.html

Comentando noticias de Cuba

Publicado el 08-31-2013

Comentando noticias de Cuba
Por Ángel Cuadra

No podemos dejar de llamar la atención sobre la lucha desigual que
disidentes y opositores siguen librando en Cuba, porque el mundo sigue
en su estruendosa marcha, y puede apagarse, u oírse a media voz, el
clamor de esos luchadores que, en heroica indefensión, se enfrentan a la
dictadura totalitaria y feroz impuesta sobre el pueblo de Cuba. Por eso
hay que subirle el volumen a esa media voz que reclama libertad y
democracia para nuestro agobiado país, y que sigan repitiéndose sus
noticias, entre otras:

Huelga de hambre: En el momento en que escribo estas líneas, estaba, o
está aún, en estado muy grave, en una prolongada huelga de hambre en
Cuba, el opositor Iván Fernández Depestre. Las últimas noticias que
tenemos de este caso, es que, ante la presión interna y la
internacional, las autoridades decidieron remitirlo a un hospital, en la
provincia de Las Villas, donde reside en una cárcel local, donde no es
seguro ya que pueda sobrevivir, dada la intencionalmente tardía acción
por salvarle la vida.

Protesta pública: Como la ola represiva del Gobierno no se detiene, en
la ciudad de Santiago de Cuba ha sido arrestado con violencia y agresión
física, el opositor por los derechos humanos, Armando Verdecia Díaz.
Ante ese abuso represivo, un grupo de compañeros de lucha y de vecinos
llevó a cabo una protesta pública, que se extendió hasta las puertas del
Arzobispado de Santiago, en solicitud de mediación de la Iglesia ante
las autoridades, en ayuda de Verdecia. Y mientras el pueblo acudía a la
ayuda de la Iglesia, la Policía reprimió con violencia al grupo reclamante.

Deporte y contradicción: En estos días se ha estado realizando en Tampa
un encuentro deportivo, propiciado por un polémico contratista (al menos
esto es lo que se ve exteriormente). Se trata del viaje que desde la
isla ha hecho el equipo de béisbol, o sea, de "pelota", conocido en Cuba
como los "Industriales", para realizar algunos juegos de exhibición con
otro equipo, formado para el caso, por peloteros cubanos residentes aquí
en Estados Unidos, que habían venido hace tiempo al destierro. El evento
consiste en una especie de "homenaje extramuros" a los "Industriales",
por su larga existencia allá en la isla; celebración que, desde un punto
de vista, parece más adecuada realizarla allá.

No es mi objetivo hacer un comentario más sobre este aspecto, sino
resaltar la contradicción -llamémosla así- de que mientras este evento
se preparaba y realizaba aquí en Estados Unidos, en Europa, en los
Juegos Olímpicos recién efectuados en Moscú, uno de los atletas del
equipo olímpico de campo y pista cubano, desertaba y pedía asilo a fin
de no regresar a Cuba.

Se trata de Orlando Ortega, de 22 años, destacado al punto de que lo
consideraban como el heredero del gran corredor cubano Dayson Robles,
recordista internacional, en el evento de 110 metros con vallas, quien
también está fuera del país.

Por lo general, las dictaduras dedican grandes recursos al deporte, para
exhibir sus triunfos, como hace el de Cuba, como logros del sistema
político. Con tal dedicación y medios, atletas cubanos han tenido
notables triunfos, y varios atletas se han destacado en competencias y
olimpiadas internacionales. Pero a pesar de todo lo anterior, cabe la
interrogante del por qué tantos atletas cubanos han desertado -y
desertan- dejándolo todo detrás y se lanzan a la conquista de un futuro
incierto, aunque lleno de esperanzas y posibilidades, a las que suponen
tener acceso en la libertad, y ésta resulta ser de un valor primordial
entre todos.

De esto mucho ya se ha hablado y abundan las explicaciones. Pero en el
caso de Orlando Ortega se añade un elemento más: la larga separación de
su madre, que tuvo que marcharse de Cuba y se radicó en Estados Unidos.
La sistemática y cruel separación familiar que ha creado el régimen
castrocomunista, agrega un ingrediente más a estas deserciones, como es
en el caso de Orlando Ortega. De ahí estas palabras suyas: "Estoy
haciendo los trámites para irme a Tampa, Estados Unidos, donde vive mi
mamá, y junto a ella comenzar una nueva vida, pero sin abandonar nunca
el atletismo".

Source: "Diario Las Americas - Comentando noticias de Cuba" -
http://www.diariolasamericas.com/noticia/160792/comentando-noticias-de-cuba

Cuba navega a ritmo lento

El acceso a internet aún no ha alcanzado altas cifras en La Habana

Cuba navega a ritmo lento
Americaeconomica.com

A principios de junio, se abrieron en Cuba salas públicas con conexión a
internet. Desde entonces, en estos tres meses se han concentado a la red
unos 100.000 ciudadanos, un bajo porcentaje teniendo en cuenta los 11
millones de habitantes que tiene en país. La escasa penetración se debe
principalmente al alto coste del servicio: 4,50 dólares por una hora de
internet. Así lo ha comentado este jueves el monopolio estatal Etecsa.

La prensa de la zona recoge, haciéndose eco precisamente de las palabras
de Ana María Romero, trabajadora de la compañía de comunicaciones, que
del total, "60,000 utilizan las prestaciones de navegación internacional
y el resto el correo internacional y la navegación nacional, en las
salas habilitadas en todo el país".

Por ciudades, las que cuentan con más intenautas son La Habana, Matanzas
y Villa Clara, aunque podría ser porque sus tarifas son más económicas,
se encuentran en 1,50 dólares para el correo electrónico 0,60 para la
navegación.

El pasado 4 de junio, la compañía abrió 118 salas de Internet en todo el
país. Es la primera vez que se ofrece este servicio, que anteriormente
solo se ofrecía en hoteles y centros turísticos por un precio de 6
dólares por hora de navegación.

Aunque parezca que el aperturismo ha llegado a la isla en este sentido,
el acceso a Internet en los hogares sigue siendo restringido y solo
pueden usarlo (a través de una línea telefónica) médicos, periodistas y
otros profesionales que cuenten con el permiso de sus empresas.

La reciente conexión de un cable submarino desde Venezuela ha abierto
las posibilidades de este servicio, las autoridades cubanas han señalado
que hay muchas limitaciones financieras a la hora de aumentarlo.

En 2012 las autoridades han llegado a contabilizar 2,87 millones de
usuarios. Así lo señala el informe Tecnología de la Información y las
Comunicaciones, de la estatal Oficina Nacional de Estadística.

El mismo documento ha señalado que al cierre del año pasado en el país
se habían contabilizado 834.000 ordenadores, de las que 500.000 estaban
conectados en red.

2013-08-30

Source: "Cuba navega a ritmo lento / TELECOMUNICACIONES /
Americaeconomica.com" -
http://www.americaeconomica.com/index.php?noticia=16523&name=TELECOMUNICACIONES

'Una Noche' Stars, Who Play Twins Fleeing Cuba, Expecting Twins After Fleeing Cuba

'Una Noche' Stars, Who Play Twins Fleeing Cuba, Expecting Twins After
Fleeing Cuba
2:13 PM PDT 8/30/2013 by Seth Abramovitch

The pair, who play brother and sister in the critically acclaimed new
film, vanished on their way to Tribeca; now they are in love, in America
and in need of diapers.
It's a remarkable story of art imitating life, sort of.

A pair of young Cuban actors who play twins who attempt to flee the
Communist country have sought political asylum in the U.S. -- and are
now expecting twins of their own.
The film is Una Noche, a gripping tale of a trio of beautiful Havana
teenagers and their daring escape from the city. It began as the thesis
film project from NYU film student Lucy Molloy. The project gained the
interest of NYU alum Spike Lee, who offered his input from the early
script stages and championed Una Noche through its debut on the film
2012 festival circuit. There it collected a slew of awards, including
best actor, best cinematography and best new narrative director at the
Tribeca Film Festival.
It was on the way to that festival in April 2012 that two of the film's
stars -- Javier Nunez Florian and Anailin de la Rua de la Torre, who
play sensitive twin siblings Elio and Lila -- vanished from the Miami
Airport during a layover to New York City. Only costar Dariel Arrechaga
-- who plays their horny, hotheaded pal Raul -- made it to Tribeca,
telling reporters there that he had no knowledge of their whereabouts.
Three days later, the missing Cuban actors confirmed to Reuters that
they were alive and well and seeking political asylum. The dramatic
getaway made international headlines.
The pair, now both 21, have at last resurfaced, showing up to a recent
Spanish-language press event in Miami. (The film is already in theaters
in Miami and New York and currently available on iTunes; it gets a Los
Angeles theatrical opening on Friday, Sept. 6.) It turns out that Nunez
Florian and de la Rua de la Torre -- both non-actors chosen by Molloy
after auditioning over 2,000 Cuban youth -- fell in love on the set, and
are currently living together as boyfriend and girlfriend in Las Vegas.
What's more, de la Rua de la Torre is four months pregnant with twins.
"It's just crazy, because they're twins in the movie," a flabbergasted
Molloy tells The Hollywood Reporter by phone. "The screen twins are
having real twins together!" Last week's press event in Miami was the
first time the 33-year-old London native had laid eyes on her leads
since shooting wrapped in 2010. Both stars are still interested in
pursuing acting careers, Molloy says, but de la Rua de la Torre is
waiting tables to get by while Nunez Florian has been "doing this and
that." Arrechaga has been living legally in New York City, a source
close to the actor tells THR.
STORY: Cuban Actors Missing From Tribeca Film Festival Resurface in Miami
The development is made all the stranger by the fact that Molloy, who
had lived in Cuba for a number of years before shooting Una Noche, had
noticed a great many pairs of identical twins living there and sought
them out when casting extras: "If you look through the movie, a lot of
them are identical twins. I just found it really amazing that there was
so many twins in Havana. I thought it would be cool to incorporate that
-- and because [Elio and Lila are] twins in the movie."
The Cuban government has so far remained silent on the actors'
defections. Recent changes in Cuba's travel laws have increased the
length its citizens can leave the country from 11 to 24 months.
Meanwhile, on the American side, a new visa policy offers Cubans five
years to visit the U.S., during which they can stay up to six months at
a time.
"It's lucky for them," Molloy offers, hopefully. "They should be able to
return to Cuba to see their family."

Source: "'Una Noche' Stars, Who Play Twins Fleeing Cuba, Expecting Twins
After Fleeing Cuba" -
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/una-noche-stars-who-play-618522

Major Department Store in Havana Shut Down for Health Issues

Major Department Store in Havana Shut Down for Health Issues
August 29, 2013
Daniel Palacios (Cafe Fuerte)

HAVANA TIMES — Havana's Almacenes Ultra department store will remain
closed "until further notice" on instructions from the Cuban Ministry of
Public Health (MINSAP).

The busy store was closed last week owing to "large concentrations of
mosquitos and rodents and severe leaks in sanitary facilities," store
sources confirmed.

Located in Centro Havana, Almacenes Ultra is one of the busiest State
department stores in the Cuban capital, drawing thousands of customers
every day.

"The store looks very pretty from the outside, but things are rather
different behind the counters. The warehouses aren't as clean as we
would want," said one of the cashiers at the store, who chose to remain
anonymous. The clerk was transferred to a neighboring hardware store.

No announcements as to when the store will reopen have yet been made.
Several of the more important services that had been offered in the
store, such as money transfers via Western Union, were relocated at the
Yumuri and Carlos III shopping centers in Havana.

Officials from MINSAP and the Anti-Epidemic Campaign have been seen
inspecting store facilities.

This incident arises within the context of intense efforts undertaken in
Havana to combat several outbreaks of dengue fever and cholera,
epidemics that threaten to place the island's sanitary authorities in
check once again. Havana was hit by outbreaks of these two illnesses at
the beginning of the year.

Official efforts to contain the spread notwithstanding, garbage piled up
around the city and the deplorable condition of Havana's sewage system
continue to be huge obstacles in the way of eradicating these illnesses.

Source: "Major Department Store in Havana Shut Down for Health Issues" -
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=98401

Port Manatee Cuba travel plans

Port Manatee Cuba travel plans
Posted on August 30, 2013
by Bobeth Yates

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. - How would you like to take a trip to
Cuba...legally? It is possible from several ports across the state,
and now Port Manatee may soon be adding the service.
When many people think of Cuba, the first thought that comes to mind is
Ricky Ricardo playing "Babalu". That image dates back to the 40's but
for most people in the United States, getting a more updated vision of
the country has not been possible. That's because of U.S. imposed travel
restrictions.
"The embargo against Cuba from many years ago is still in place and it
really hasn't changed much so that basically blocked everything to do
with Cuba including travel," said Steve Briggs the owner of VIP World
Travel.
But, Port Manatee officials are exploring the option of adding a cruise
or ferry service that would travel from Port Manatee to Cuba.
And many we spoke with say they are open to the idea. "I would go in a
heartbeat we've been wanting to go to Cuba forever," said Sarasota
resident Kim Soto.
Still other are a little skeptical.
"Is it legal? Well I might check it out," added Doug Trottier.
While the details of Port Manatee's travel plan have not been released
yet. Briggs says traveling to the country is becoming more common now
that the United States is loosening some of its restrictions on the country.
"If anybody said they wanted to go to Cuba the answer was just no, but
that's been changing no," said Briggs
But for Port Manatee or any agency wanting to move forward with Cuba
travel plans they must first get permission from the U.S. government and
prove that the trip meets certain criteria. That includes not spending
any money in the county. And, that's just the beginning.
"There's a number of tour companies who are now be able to sell trips to
Cuba but they have to sell them as a people to people exchange program.
Like some type of cultural exchange or art exchange," added Briggs.
Port Manatee Official were not available for comment. But we do know
they are not the only port in the state who has attempted similar travel
plans.

Source: "Port Manatee Cuba travel plans - Sarasota News | Mysuncoast.com
and ABC 7: Manatee Newsroom" -
http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/manatee_newsroom/port-manatee-cuba-travel-plans/article_0c524214-11be-11e3-9062-0019bb30f31a.html

Cuba's boxers go professional

30 August 2013 Last updated at 04:00 GMT Share this pageEmailPrint

Cuba's boxers go professional
By Sarah Rainsford
BBC News, Havana

Cuba's boxers have been the poster-boys of its amateur sports ethos for
over five decades.

Drilled to fight for the country, not for cash, they have won an
impressive 34 Olympic gold medals over the years.

But in a move that would have been unimaginable while Fidel Castro was
in charge, the island's elite fighters are now entering the ring as
professionals for the first time.

Ten top Cuban boxers have been sent to Mexico for their first foray into
the World Series of Boxing this week. Run by the governing body of
amateur boxing, AIBA, the league allows fighters to receive a regular
salary as well as bonuses.

Cuba's communist authorities are currently considering going even
further, allowing boxers to join a fully-professional series with
10-round fights that AIBA plans to launch next year.

Boxers in both series remain eligible for the Olympics.

So at La Finca training camp on the edge of Havana, the workouts have
been even more rigorous in recent months.

By 07:30 each morning, two dozen or so elite fighters have been breaking
a sweat in the cavernous, well-worn gym, sprinting, skipping and
shadow-punching to the commands of their exacting coach.

They have had to up their game for the World Series, where they face
five-round bouts instead of the three they are used to as amateurs.

They will also shed their protective headgear and shirts.

"We know it's different. But nothing is impossible," defending World
Champion bantamweight Lazaro Alvarez shrugged, a few days before
departing for the exhibition match in Mexico.

Cuban fighters routinely go eight or 10 rounds in training, he pointed
out, and he had no worries about losing the head guard.

On guard
"You have to be more careful, more defensive, to make sure the blows
don't go straight for your head. But you readjust," he said.

The World Series was launched in 2010 and AIBA has been courting
participation by Cuba - a nation that has produced boxing legends like
Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon, with three Olympic triumphs apiece.

"This event will lift the athletes' level a lot and so lift the quality
of boxing at the Olympics. It is precisely what we needed to stimulate
our athletes," believes national coach Roland Acebel, who sees the new
style as more dynamic.

"We have a slogan that a boxer is made by fighting. If he doesn't fight,
he falls behind," he argues, adding that his team is filled with new
enthusiasm.

But there are other factors driving this radical shift in policy. Like
many Cuban sports, boxing has been badly hit by defections in recent years.

Fighters can earn as little as the $20 (£13) average monthly state
salary and even champions take home under $300 a month.

Talent flight
In the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, several boxers skipped the
country to try their fortune in the professional ring, and Cuba failed
to win gold for the first time since 1972.

Anxious to retain the rest, trainers talk of increasing the
"psychological" work with fighters; the Boxing Federation says it helped
resolve complaints over perks such as apartments and cars - and Cuba
signed-up for the World Series.

An official at the state sports institute, INDER, told the BBC that
boxers' salaries will vary between $1,500 and $5,000 a month plus bonuses.

If so, that would be a huge increase - although an undisclosed cut will
be retained by the state.

"I'm mainly surprised this change took so long," says John Duncan,
author of In the Red Corner, an insider's account of Cuban boxing.

The sport has been amateur-only on the communist-run island since 1961.

John Duncan believes Cuba's reticence stemmed from its "strong distaste"
for professional boxing, rooted in the exploitation of Cuban boxers by
US promoters before the revolution.

"Now it seems that Cuba's decided that if its boxers are going to defect
and go pro and there is money to be made, then the state should get a
piece of it," the writer argues, pointing out that the athletes pay
nothing for their years of training.

Higher calling
"Sport is everywhere in Cuba, it's an integral part of the system. But
it's expensive to keep all that going now there's less money," he adds.

So if it ever turns a profit, the World Series could help plug the
funding shortfall.

"We will improve conditions for our athletes. We will improve the
quality of their training, and their quality of life," National Boxing
Federation chief Alberto Puig concedes of the new venture.

But he insists that Cuban boxing retains a higher calling.

"The fundamental motivation for the fighters, is demonstrating what
Cuban boxing is capable of," Mr Puig argues. Some argue that the true
test of that would be in the fully professional ring.

Cuba says joining the AIBA professional series is "an option" that it is
studying. AIBA says it "would be delighted" to welcome them, in the future.

But for now the fighters' own ambitions remain unchanged.

"For me, to be an Olympic champion would be the highest achievement,"
says Julio Cesar la Cruz, a light heavyweight who missed out on a medal
last year in London.

In the future, he could achieve that as a professional.

Source: "BBC News - Cuba's boxers go professional" -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23883164

Cuban arrivals from Bahamas allege beatings and sexual abuses

Posted on Saturday, 08.31.13

Cuban arrivals from Bahamas allege beatings and sexual abuses
BY JUAN O. TAMAYO
JTAMAYO@ELNUEVOHERALD.COM

The first Cubans to arrive in Miami from a notorious migrant detention
center in Bahamas this month alleged Friday that guards regularly beat
some of the male inmates and sexually abused some of the women.

One of the women repatriated from the center to Cuba earlier this month
arrived pregnant by a guard, according to the Democracy Movement, a
Miami group that has been helping the undocumented migrants detained in
Nassau.

The movement led a string of protests against the Bahamas government
this summer after detainees at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre
smuggled out cell phone images of inmates sewing their lips together in
protest and an alleged guard kicking prisoners.

Randy Rodriguez, 31, his wife Misleidy Olivera, 30, and their two
children were the first detainees to speak in person to journalists
about conditions at the center after they arrived in Miami on a flight
from Nassau.

"That video is real, and after the video came the beatings" by guards as
punishment for the negative publicity, said Rodriguez.

Bahamas Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell has said the video is a fake,
though Bahamas news media reports this week indicate it is real. He said
recently that the allegations are under investigation.

"I wish to say that no one from the Bahamas government has admitted that
there was any abuse of detainees by the Bahamas government," he said in
an Aug. 18 statement.

Detainee Alexander Vásquez said he suffered a punctured lung from two
broken ribs and his brother suffered a cut on his head that required 17
stitches in a hospital. Rodriguez said he still has a lump on his
forehead, from a kick, that refuses to go away.

One night the guards tear gassed the wards to force everyone outside
despite a heavy rain and then kept them, face down on the ground and
lined up should-to-shoulder, from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m., he said.

One hefty guard then counted the inmates, twice, by walking on their
backs, each step counting one prisoner, he added.

Rodriguez said he took part in a 17-day hunger strike that never became
public, and after the video incident was taken to Fox Hill maximum
security prison and imprisoned put in a cell with a cop killer, a rapist
and an apparently deranged man.

Food was delivered to the Carmichael Road center only once every three
days, he added, and the Cuban men usually saved their meager rations of
bottled water for their female relatives and children in a separate ward.

He weighted about 232 pounds when he was sent to the detention center
and now weighs 183 pounds, he said.

His wife said she was not sexually abused by guards during their stay
because she stayed with their children, but added in a low voice that,
"It is true that the women, to get water or food, have to sell their
bodies."

Democracy Movement chief Ramón Saúl Sánchez, who greeted the family on
their arrival, said a 24-year-old woman repatriated from Nassau to
Havana last week had reported that she was six months pregnant by a
guard at the detention center.

Rodriguez's son Landy, 12, speaking briefly at a news conference just
hours after the family's arrival in Miami, said that conditions at the
detention center had been "very bad" while his 4-year-old brother Leandy
dozed on his father's lap.

"I don't know what the guards had against us," the father said. "We were
treated barbarically, and I don't know why."

Rodriguez said his group of 10 relatives and friends from the north
central town of Caibarien set off of in a 19-foot boat hand-made with
bits of lumber and metal sheeting and headed for Florida but were
intercepted Aug. 12, 2012 by the U.S. Coast Guard. They were taken to
Nassau, apparently because they were in Bahamian waters.

He was later approved for U.S. asylum, he said, because he could be
sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for taking his children out of the
island without permission and because of help from Rep. Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen, a Miami Republican.

Bahamas repatriated 24 Cubans to Havana on Aug. 16 and another eight on
the 21st, including several of the alleged victims of beatings and
sexual abuse in what Sánchez has complained is an attempt to silence
their reports of abuses.

Another 18 undocumented Cubans detained in the Bahamas will be allowed
to fly to Panama, which has agreed to issue them "territorial asylum"
while they try to arrange onward trips to the United States.

Joining Sánchez in a news conference was MarleineBastien, executive
director for Haitian Women of Miami, who said that Haitians also have
been complaining about the treatment at the Carmichael Road center "for
many years."

Source: "Cuban arrivals from Bahamas allege beatings and sexual abuses -
Cuba - MiamiHerald.com" -
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/31/3596914/cuban-arrivals-from-bahamas-allege.html