Uncommon Sense

Imprisoned Cuban rap singer vows to continue hunger strike for freedom #FreeElCritico

El Critico

Critically ill after more than two weeks on hunger strike, which includes more than a week without drinking water, imprisoned Cuban political activist and rap singer Ángel Yunier Remón Arzuaga, or "El Critico," on Thursday renewed his vow to continue the protest until either he is released or dies.

Radio Marti has the report:

Trial of Cuban Lady In White Sonia Garro Alfosno postponed #FreeSonia

The trial of of Cuban Dama De Blanco Sonia Garro Alfonso, her husband Ramón Alejandro Muñoz González and another activist, Eugenio Hernández Hernández, originally scheduled for Friday, has been postponed, according to reports from the island.

No reason was given for the delay -- a prominent dissident said it is common for trials of dissidents to be delayed. But maybe it was because the authorities feared a large demonstration of support from Garro's fellow Damas and other activists. On Thursday, police blocked several members of the group from going to the Havana airport to welcome the group's leader, Berta Soler, after a visit to the United States, according to Martinoticias.

The authorities did not disclose the new trial date.

Garro, Munoz and Hernandez have been in jail since March 2012 after they were arrested in a police raid during which officers fired rubber bullets. The arrests were part of crackdown in advance of Pope Benedixt XVI's visit to Cuba.

Only recently did the government file formal charges against the three: Assault, public disorder and attempted murder; and disclose recommended punishments: 10 years for Alfonso, 14 years for Munoz and 11 years for Hernandez.

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In response, supporters of Alfonso and the others will take to the streets, and the Internet, on Friday to demand the Castro dictatorship release them. Whether on Facebook or Twitter, use the hash take #FreeSonia.

And if you are in New York City, you can participate in a protest outside the Cuban Mission to the United Nations.

Imprisoned Cuba rap singer to Castro: 'Give me freedom or death' #FreeElCritico

After two weeks on hunger strike, imprisoned political activist and rap singer Ángel Yunier Remón Arzuaga -- better known as El Critico -- has a message for his captors:

"Give me liberty or give me death."

Pedazos de la Isla has the latest, on El Critico, who on the verge of death, has been transferred to a hospital.

Cuban political prisoners need world to pay attention as they stand 'trial' on Friday

The sister of Cuban political prisoner Sonia Garro Alfonso on Tuesday called on the international campaign to pay attention to what happens to her sister as she, her husband and another activist stand trial on supposed criminal charges against them.

"This government uses all its power against dissidents," said Yamilet Garro. "Every day, they invent new witnesses and accusations.:

Sonia Garro, her husband Ramón Alejandro Muñoz González and activist Eugenio Hernández Hernández were arrested in March 2012, in advance of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Cuba, and have since been subjected to various abuses while in jail. Among the tortures Garro has suffered, Cuban officials have denied her treatment for kidney infections.

They have been charged with attempted murder, assault and public disorder. Prosecutors have recommended 10 years in prison for Garro; 14 years for Munoz; and 11 years for Hernandez -- which would be some of the harshest punishments for opposition activists since the "black spring" of 2003.

Their trial is 10 a.m. Friday in Havana.

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Here's one thing you can do to ensure the Castro regime knows there are some who will be watching what happens on Friday:

Cuban police arrest 7 Damas De Blanco as they leave Sunday Mass in Cardenas

Among the acts of repression reported Sunday from across Cuba was the arrest of seven Damas De Blanco, or "Ladies In White," as they walked from a church after Mass.

Among the seven was Alejandrina Garcia de la Rivas, the wife of former Group of 75 prisoner of conscience Diosdado Gonzalez.

Less than three months ago, I was fortuante to meet Garcia during her visit to Tampa.

In her remarks to a gathering at Casa de Cuba and later in a brief private conversation, Garcia impressed with her forthrightness in her condemnations of the Castro regime.

Alejandrina Garcia de la Rivas (Photo: Uncommon Sense)

It is no surprise that she and the others decided to go to Mass, as a group, despite the obvious risks.

Garcia and the others -- Ester Hernandez Linares, Yamila Sendra Ruiz, Katiuska Rodriguez, Marisol Hernandez, , Margarita Cienfuegos and Leticia Ramos -- were later released. according to tweets from Ramos.

Alejandrina Garcia de la Rivas and the author. (Photo: Uncommon Sense)

Damas De Blanco arrested on 15th straight Sunday of repression in Cuba

If you are a Cuban Damas De Blanco, or "Lady In White," going to Sunday Mass carries with it the risk of arrest. This morning, for the 15th Sunday in a row, it happened in the city of Colon, in Matanzas province.

It also happened in the cities of Santa Clara and Cardenas. Other activists, including men, were also arrested.

Just another Sunday in Castro's Cuba.

 

Castro dictatorship uses mob to attack Cuban church

Religious liberty is just another freedom not allowed in Cuba.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports on the latest illustration of this:

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) condemns attempts by Cuban State Security and Communist Party officials to forcibly confiscate a property which serves as the national headquarters of the Apostolic Movement, one of the largest protestant Christian networks on the island.

The property, which is also the home of one of the network’s national leaders, is located in the central Cuban city of Camagüey. It was legally transferred by the former owner, Reverend Omar Gude Perez, to his nephew, Reverend Yiorvis Bravo Denis, before Reverend Gude Perez left the country earlier this year. In mid-September, Reverend Bravo Denis was summoned to appear at court, where he produced the documents, signed and notarized by a government lawyer, that prove his ownership of the property.

Since then the family has been subjected to continued harassment, including ‘acts of repudiation,’ where violent and verbally abusive mobs organised by state security agents surround the property to intimidate the inhabitants.

In a show of solidarity, however, leaders and members of other churches from across the city and country have joined Reverend Bravo Denis and his family inside the property. The family believes that this physical demonstration of support has protected them thus far.

Government officials have now begun a defamation campaign, targeting Reverends Bravo Denis and Gude Perez. This week the First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party in Camagüey met with members of the state media, including radio, print and television journalists, to instruct them to publish defamatory pieces targeting both church leaders. The journalists were specifically told to “emphasise that Yiorvis and Omar are not pastors, but rather common criminals.”

Family members of Reverend Bravo Denis say the situation remains tense. The property is surrounded by state security agents day and night. An independent journalist who attempted to interview the church members received verbal death threats from state security agents. “They now realise that in the eyes of the world, they’ve lost the legal battle to confiscate the house...This has caused a huge scandal in the city of Camagüey, where nothing like this has ever really happened in the very heart of the city before,” said Kenia Denis, the wife of Reverend Gude Perez and aunt of Reverend Bravo Denis.

CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “We urge the international community to condemn the Cuban government’s actions in targeting this family and church over the past month, as a matter of urgency. This campaign of harassment and intimidation, aimed at a group of people who have committed no crime, is unacceptable and reveals the true stance of the Cuban Communist Party when it comes to freedom of religion or belief. We call on the Cuban government to cease its targeting of Reverend Bravo Denis and the Apostolic Movement, and to facilitate a process whereby the network can operate legally. We commend the people of Cuba and of Camagüey in particular for their brave show of solidarity with Reverend Bravo Denis and his family during these attacks; we stand with them in spirit.”

This video from CSW illustrates perfectly what is happening:

 

See more videos here.

(H/T Babalu.)

Imprisoned Cuban political activist and rapper 'El Critico' near death

Cuban rapper Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga has committed himself to fight the power that is the Castro dictatorship.

Just as determined, the Castro dictatorship is prepared to settle its accounts with the brave young man.

The Castro dictatorship indicated this week that it plans to sentenced Remón, also known as "El Critico," to eight years in prison on some sort of trumped up charge.

We can pray that he lives that long.

At that same time details of the legal "case" against him were revealed, sources on the island reported that months of tortures and other abuses by his jailers, a bout with cholera and hunger strikes since his arrest March 26 have left him near death.

El Critico's imprisonment overlapped the July visit to Cuba by American hip-hop superstar Jay-Z and his superiorly talented wife Beyonce. Their intervention in El Criticio's predicament -- or even acknolwedgement -- would be wonderful. But let's be serious ...

Instead, let us raise our own voices, let us take El Critico's place in fighting the power, to demand:

#FreeElCritico

Imprisoned couple Sonia Garro and Ramón Muñoz to stand 'trial' Nov. 1

Almost 20 months after they were arrested and after numerous tortures and other abuses while in jail since, Cuban Dama De Blacno Sonia Garro Alfonso and her husband Ramón Alejandro Muñoz González will stand trial Nov. 1.

The couple was arrested March 17, 2012 ,during a crackdown preceding Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the Cuba. Police broke into their home and fired tear gas and rubber bullets to subdue them. They, along with a second man, Eugenio Hernández Hernández, were held without formal charges being filed until this past September, when authorities indicated they would be tried for public disorder, attempted murder and other "crimes."

They will be tried in a special state security courthouse in Havana. The proceedings will be closed to the public.

Prosecutors are seeking a 10-year sentence for Alfonso; 14 years for Muñoz; and 11 years for Hernández .

Cuban dissident Lilvio Fernandez released from jail a day after arrest

A day after he was arrested, Cuban dissident leader Lilvio Fernandez on Wednesday was released from a Castro jail cell, commited more than ever his work for a free Cuba.

Fernandez, head of Active Youth, United Cuba, or JACU, was released under "an injunction," and fined 2,000 pesos for possession of a computer, camera and other electronic equipment.

Fernandez told Martinoticias.com that he was beaten while in police custody.

"The proof is in the bruises on my body," Fernandez said.

Despite what happened to him, Fernandez said he remains committed to convening a first-ever national congress for JACU. In addition to Fernandez, police also arrested, detained and then released four of the group's provincial coordinators.

"They don't want us to have the congress," Fernandez said of his captors. "They will have to return me to prison and not release me. I am going to do it, that is my commitment to the cause."

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