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By Monica "La Benjamina", on April 27, 2010, at 12:27 pm
From the Wall Street Journal today (page A16 for those of you who receive the print copy):
For more than a month, Cuba's Ladies in White have been getting leaned on. Castro's goons have taken to surrounding them after the women go to Mass in Havana and march for their loved ones in prison. Now Dania Virgen García [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on April 23, 2010, at 5:48 pm
From Penultimos Dias, La Voz Del Morro published Rafael Fernandez Fajardo's testimony. Fajardo is forbidden from leaving Cuba and is accused by Cuba's State Security. He tried to leave during the Mariel exodus, but was unable to board the ships due to the constant beatings he was receiving from government officials. To this day, he [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on April 15, 2010, at 12:03 am
From Capitol Hill Cubans:
The Miami New Times' Erik Maza has compiled a list of, "Ten Cuban Bloggers You Haven't Heard Of."
His list is right on point. Please check them out, as they undertake great risk to inform the world about Cuba's realities (most have English translations, which we've linked):
Yoani Sanchez is on the cover [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on April 14, 2010, at 11:16 pm
According to El Nuevo Herald, the Spanish Senate has asked for the "immediate and unconditional" release of Cuba's prisoners of conscience and has officially condemned the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo.
The declaration also calls on the Cuban authorities to allow representatives from the Red Cross and the United Nations to visit Cuban prisons.
Farinas acknowledged the [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on April 6, 2010, at 1:19 pm
From Marc Masferrer over at Uncommon Sense:
In response to a virtual death sentence handed down by the Cuban dictator Raúl Castro himself, Guillermo Fariñas on Monday renewed his vow to continue his hunger strike until the "ultimate consequences."
Fariñas said his death would be "a murder by the state."
"Now more than ever, [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on April 6, 2010, at 11:49 am
Via El Nuevo Herald, Juanes has thrown his support behind las Damas de Blanco for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.
“For their daily, peaceful struggle, I propose that the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize be awarded to las Damas de Blanco so that their example can be admired and followed by all those who suffer injustices.”
“The [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on March 31, 2010, at 5:54 pm
Right on cue, as I was writing about the power of Twitter, Yoani Sanchez posted the following:
"Licet, who speaks for Coco Fariñas, needs to recharge her cell phone account in order to keep posting on Twitter @farinascuba. You can contribute at turecarga.com, cell phone: +5352625640"
Here's a chance for us to directly help dissidents in Cuba. [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on March 31, 2010, at 5:09 pm
Cubans are pouncing all over Twitter. The beauty of it is that you can send posts via text message, thereby eliminating the need for rare and expensive computer/Internet access. Just today I learned the following on Twitter:
- In Havana, the Museum of Universal Art was surrounded by police and firefighters. Rumors were that there was [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on March 31, 2010, at 4:07 pm
@convivenciacuba and Yoani Sanchez wonder, via Twitter, whether the Pope will address Cuba, Fariñas, las Damas de Blanco or Cuba's political prisoners in his Papal Message for Easter. I would be very surprised if he did. What do you think?
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By Monica "La Benjamina", on March 30, 2010, at 10:07 pm
http://twitter.com/yoanisanchez
Yoani's latest posts on Twitter tonight indicate that she believe the government is losing its stronghold over the people. Below is my best attempt at an English translation -- forgive me any inaccuracies:
"After a really bad case of the flu, I have now returned to Twitter-space"
"The island has been shaken by social and political tremors [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on March 28, 2010, at 3:44 pm
Standing next to the statue of Jose Marti, Paquito d'Rivera led the crowd of ~1,000 supporters in singing the Cuban National Anthem today during the march to support las Damas de Blanco in New York City.
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By Monica "La Benjamina", on March 28, 2010, at 3:43 pm
It was 40 degrees and raining, but still hundreds of people showed up to march in support of las Damas de Blanco, including Carlos Eire and Paquito d'Rivera. Images below:
It was 40 degrees and raining, but still hundreds of people showed up to march in support of las Damas de Blanco, including Carlos Eire and [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on March 26, 2010, at 3:18 pm
I can't remember a time where so many Cuban prospects were in the system and trying out for Major League ball clubs. According to the LA Times, the "last two years have seen the largest exodus of Cuban baseball talent since Fidel Castro took power half a century ago, with more than 40 players defecting." [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on March 26, 2010, at 11:29 am
This Sunday, March 28, New York City will also march in support of las Damas de Blanco. This silent march will take place at 1 PM and will begin at the South Fountain in front of the Met (83rd St and 5th Ave). We will walk alongside the perimeter of Central Park and end at [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on September 12, 2009, at 11:21 am
By Monica "La Benjamina", on September 11, 2009, at 9:53 am
Robert Talhami, a loving father and husband, was an equity derivatives broker for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th floor of One World Trade Center. He was an immigrant, just like many of us, moving to the United States from Jordan with his family at the age of 7. Robert graduated high school in Caracas, [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on August 4, 2009, at 5:19 pm
An article published by the Associated Press today talks about HerdictWeb, an online censorship tracker launched by Harvard University. On HerdictWeb, users can anonymously report websites they are unable to access. The site amalgamates the results in an attempt to uncover cases of online censorship.
The site has a bunch of results from your usual suspects [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on August 3, 2009, at 10:53 pm
I knew reggaeton was becoming increasingly popular in Cuba, but was shocked to see it being used as a medium of political discourse. Hey, I'll support whatever it takes to reach the Cuban youth. If you can understand Spanish and reggaeton, check out these two videos below (h/t Penultimos Dias). Try to keep your food [...]
By Monica "La Benjamina", on March 16, 2009, at 1:07 am
Yesterday marked the first time I have ever witnessed another country express their political discontent during a baseball game. Do you remember the events that transpired in Puerto Rico during the first World Baseball Classic? Cuban exile fans attended Cuba’s games with anti-Castro signs and the Cuban government essentially flipped out when they saw those [...]
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