The 74 — Reina Luisa Tamayo speaks out

Via the excellent blog of Zoé Valdés, we have a recording of a recent interview of Reina Luisa Tamayo Danger, the mother of the martyred Cuban hero Orlando Zapata Tamayo, conducted by Nelson Rubio.

At approximately the 4:15 mark of the recording, Rubio asks Reina Luisa Tamayo what she thinks of the letter asking for the end of the embargo against the Cuban dictatorship, which was signed by 74 prominent dissidents in Cuba

Below is my hastily prepared transcript of her answer and an even more hastily prepared translation:

Nosotros, esta familia, la familia Zapata, conjuntamente a los hermanos que nos pueden acompañar, no estamos de acuerdos. ¡Jamás podremos estar de acuerdo! Porque eso es… seria traicionar la memoria de ese hombre digno, negro de 42 años, que perdió su vida por la libertad de todos. ¡De todos!

Entonces, eso no… nosotros jamás podremos estar de acuerdo. Nosotros si seguimos y seguiremos lo que están claro y de corazón que buscan la libertad y la democracia por el pueblo de Cuba no podrán firmar esa carta porque no podemos estar de acuerdo. Precisamente, lo que estamos buscando es liberar a los cubanos y [ininteligible] para todos, no podemos buscar el mejoría para los Castros para que sigan arraigado que llevan ya 51 años y no quieren dejar el poder.

Porqué esta familia y la oposición se enfrenta al régimen pacíficamente tratando que los cubanos tengamos mejorías todos. Y esos hermanos que esta preso, que están enfermo, que están perdiendo sus vidas, aun ya el mió lo perdió, asesinado por ellos, todos esos hermanos no tenían que estár en la prisión.

Para mi, y para nosotros y esta familia, eso es una traición a la memoria del mártir, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, que va cumplirse cuatro meses de estar golpeado, asesinado por los hermanos Castro.

* * *
Us, our family, the Zapata family, together with the brothers who can join us, we do not agree. We can never agree! Because that is… it would be a betrayal to the memory of that dignified man, that black man of 42 years of age, who lost his life for the liberty of all. Of all!

Therefore, that is not… we can never agree. We will remain, and continue to remain with those who are clear and of good heart who seek liberty and democracy for all the people of Cuba, they cannot sign that letter because we cannot agree with it. Precisely, what we are seeking is the liberation of all Cubans and [unintelligible] for all, we cannot seek the betterment of the Castros so they can remain entrenched, for 51 years already, and refusing to give up their power.

Because this family and the opposition peacefully confronts the regime, trying to achieve betterment for all of us Cubans. And those brothers who are imprisoned, who are sick, that are losing their lives, although my son already lost his, assassinated by them, all those brothers never had to be in prison.

For me, and for us, and this family, that is a betrayal to the memory of the martyr, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, which it will be four months now since he was beaten and assassinated by the brothers Castro.

If anyone finds an error in the transcript or translation, please let us know either by email or in the comments section.