Prison
Test for U.S. Shift on Cuba Is Whether Rights Improve
Test for U.S. Shift on Cuba Is Whether Rights Improve
By MICHAEL R. GORDONDEC. 24, 2014
WASHINGTON — President Obama’s decision to restore full diplomatic
relations with Cuba will face an early test next year as the White House
tries to make good on its contention that the policy shift will lead to
a gradual improvement in the Cuban government’s… Continue reading
Cuba’s Zeal for Tight Control Casts a Pall on New Markets
Cuba’s Zeal for Tight Control Casts a Pall on New Markets
By DAMIEN CAVEDEC. 23, 2014
MARIEL, Cuba — When Raúl Castro officially opened the new container
terminal here on Cuba’s northern coast, he described the project and the
special business zone alongside it as “a transcendent project for the
national economy.”
Official documents promised big incentives for investors: Foreign… Continue reading
Settlement results in $3.2 million check for Alan Gross
Settlement results in $3.2 million check for Alan Gross
BY MIMI WHITEFIELD
12/23/2014 7:00 AM 12/23/2014 10:05 PM
The U.S. Agency for International Development and Development
Alternatives Inc. finalized a settlement this week for claims related to
USAID subcontractor Alan Gross, who was released from a Cuban prison
last week.
Development Alternatives is the Maryland-based international development
firm that… Continue reading
Fidel’s Shocking Silence
Fidel’s Shocking Silence / Cubanet, Miriam Celaya
Posted on December 22, 2014
Cubanet, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 18 December 2014 — After the brief
speech by General-President, Raúl Castro, about the release of Alan
Gross and of “a Cuban-born citizen” at the service of the CIA, and of
other prisoners who received “prison benefits, including the release of
individuals the US… Continue reading
How a Cuban Spy and His Wife Came to Be Expectant Parents
How a Cuban Spy and His Wife Came to Be Expectant Parents
DEC. 22, 2014
It was no easy feat to get a vial of frozen sperm from Gerardo
Hernández, a Cuban spy serving two life sentences in California, to
Panama, where his wife, desperate to have a baby, was artificially
inseminated.
Yet the matter became an urgent priority over… Continue reading
Cuba says it might not turn over fugitive cop killer Chesimard
Cuba says it might not turn over fugitive cop killer Chesimard
Print By The Associated Press
on December 22, 2014 at 6:42 PM, updated December 23, 2014 at 12:55 AM
HAVANA — Cuba said Monday that it has a right to grant asylum to U.S.
fugitives, the clearest sign yet that the communist government has no
intention of extraditing America’s… Continue reading
Cuba harbors one of America’s most wanted fugitives, JoAnne Chesimard, a.k.a. Assata Shakur
Cuba harbors one of America’s most wanted fugitives, JoAnne Chesimard,
a.k.a. Assata Shakur
BY TINA GRIEGOTHE WASHINGTON POST
12/22/2014 1:00 AM 12/21/2014 9:34 PM
Last week’s announced shift in relations between Washington and Havana
has renewed the call for Cuba to turn over one of the United States’
most controversial fugitives — a woman U.S. law enforcement officials
call a… Continue reading
Cuba says U.S. must respect its communist system
Cuba says U.S. must respect its communist system
By Daniel Trotta
HAVANA (Reuters) – President Raul Castro demanded on Saturday that the
United States respect Cuba’s communist rule as the two countries work to
restore diplomatic ties, and warned that Cuban-American exiles might try
to sabotage the rapprochement.
U.S. President Barack Obama this week reset Washington’s Cold War-era
policy on… Continue reading
The beginning of the end of ‘Castroism’
The beginning of the end of ‘Castroism’
JOSÉ GABRIEL BARRENECHEA, Havana | Diciembre 20, 2014
Cubans continue to be as impressionable as ever. In the Island, the
masses have been only able to see the release of the three spies who
were released from American prison, and nothing else. Many members of
the opposition and exiles, in the meanwhile, only… Continue reading
As Cuba Emerges, So Does a Legacy of Betrayal and Hope
As Cuba Emerges, So Does a Legacy of Betrayal and Hope
By Maureen Mackey
President Obama’s dramatic move this week to normalize relations with
communist Cuba has ignited a whirlwind of emotions from Cuban Americans,
many of whom remain thunderstruck by the president’s actions on Thursday
after 50 years of bitter distrust between Washington and Havana.
This isn’t as simple… Continue reading
Castros the beneficiaries of perilous policy shift
Castros the beneficiaries of perilous policy shift
BY HELEN AGUIRRE FERRÉ
12/20/2014 2:00 PM 12/20/2014 7:00 PM
President Obama just blew oxygen into the moribund Cuban economy — and
its governing elite — by announcing the reestablishment of full
diplomatic relations and economic concessions, a dramatic shift in
diplomatic relations between the two countries. The change is huge, but… Continue reading
Raúl Castro – Despite a new relationship with the U.S., Cuba’s revolution will continue
Raúl Castro: Despite a new relationship with the U.S., Cuba’s revolution
will continue
BY MIMI WHITEFIELD
12/20/2014 2:10 PM 12/20/2014 8:19 PM
Despite U.S. promises of more trade and travel under renewed diplomatic
ties with the communist island, Cuban President Raúl Castro on Saturday
vowed his country would continue to make economic changes at its own
pace and wouldn’t… Continue reading
Lifting the Embargo Means Cuba Can No Longer Play Victim
Lifting the Embargo Means Cuba Can No Longer Play Victim
Jose Miguel Vivanco Dec. 19, 2014
The status quo has allowed the Cuban government to exploit U.S. policy
to garner sympathy abroad
Some critics contend that President Obama’s decision to re-establish
full diplomatic relations with Cuba means that the United States has
abandoned its commitment to protect human rights in… Continue reading
Castroism has won — again
Castroism has won — again
BY YOANI SÁNCHEZ GENERACIONYEN.WORDPRESS.COM
12/19/2014 7:12 PM 12/19/2014 7:12 PM
HAVANA — With that pessimism that by now has become chronic in our
society, many of us Cubans thought that Alan Gross would leave Cuba only
“feet first,” in an image depicting a fatal outcome. The obstinacy that
the Cuban government has shown in its… Continue reading
These American Fugitives May Be Hiding Out in Cuba
These American Fugitives May Be Hiding Out in Cuba
Dec 19, 2014, 2:15 PM ET
By MEGHAN KENEALLY
Former prisoner Alan Gross was thrilled to return to America from Cuba
earlier this week but there are dozens of other Americans who are in the
country for other reasons — and probably don’t plan on leaving.
Cuba has been a haven… Continue reading
President Obama’s ‘betrayal’ of Cuban democrats
President Obama’s ‘betrayal’ of Cuban democrats
By Editorial Board December 19 at 7:46 PM
PRESIDENT OBAMA said he decided to normalize relations with Cuba because
“we can do more to support the Cuban people and promote our values
through engagement.” So it’s important to know the reaction of those
Cubans who have put their lives on the line to fight… Continue reading
Sources identify mystery man freed in historic U.S.-Cuba deal
Sources identify mystery man freed in historic U.S.-Cuba deal
By Joe Johns and Dana Ford, CNN
December 19, 2014 — Updated 0236 GMT (1036 HKT)
Sources inside the government and out tell CNN his name is Rolando
Sarraff Trujillo
He was released along with Alan Gross, in exchange for three convicted
Cuban spies
Sarraff, a Cuban national, spent two decades… Continue reading
The Wall Around Cuba is Falling
The Wall Around Cuba is Falling
December 18, 2014
Fernando Ravsberg*
HAVANA TIMES — I got wind that Cuba and the United States were
exchanging prisoners while interviewing a group of medical doctors who
left for Brazil this Wednesday. When I told them the Cuban agents
imprisoned in the United States were on their way home, there was
applause, cheering… Continue reading
The US embargo is disappearing; so, too, must Cuba’s dictatorship
The US embargo is disappearing; so, too, must Cuba’s dictatorship
Supporters of the Castros have long argued that a transition to
democracy is made impossible by US hostility. That excuse may no longer
hold
Owen Jones
theguardian.com, Thursday 18 December 2014 11.23 GMT
‘If Cuba establishes democracy – while maintaining the grand
achievements of the revolution – it could become… Continue reading
Dissidents feel betrayed, abandoned
Dissidents feel betrayed, abandoned
BY FRANK CALZON CUBACENTER.ORG
12/18/2014 7:01 PM 12/18/2014 7:01 PM
Americans rejoice that an American hostage has been freed from a Cuban
prison. For five years, Raúl Castro bartered Alan Gross for the release
of Cubans convicted of spying on U.S. military bases. In the end,
President Obama struck the deal that he expects will reset… Continue reading
Obama’s decision, pro and con
Obama’s decision, pro and con
12/18/2014 7:10 PM 12/18/2014 7:10 PM
President Obama’s historic opening to Cuba is long overdue — and has a
chance of hastening the Castro dictatorship’s demise. Critics of the
accord should explain why they believe a policy that has failed
miserably for half a century could ever work.
What is it about Cuba that makes… Continue reading
Family – We’ve heard nothing of man hailed as superspy for U.S. in Cuba
Family: We’ve heard nothing of man hailed as superspy for U.S. in Cuba
BY NORA GAMEZ TORRESAND GLENN GARVIN
12/18/2014 10:04 PM 12/18/2014 10:36 PM
The family of a Cuban man believed to be Washington’s superspy in Havana
says he has disappeared from prison without a trace — and if he was
really flown to the United States as… Continue reading
