Opposition to Fidel Castro

Dissident calls for reform in Cuba

Agencia EFEMay 15, 2013 19:00

Miami, May 15 (EFE).- Cuban dissident Manuel Cuesta Morua, the leader of the Arco Progresista group, called in Miami on Wednesday for a "new national project" that undertakes the structural reforms needed on the communist-run island and integrates all political positions and ideas. For real change to occur in Cuba, Cuesta Morua said, significant reforms must be implemented that bring change to the economic and political model in the area of "democratization and the relationship with power."

Fariñas: Cubans are being subjected to "social genocide"

Agencia EFEMay 13, 2013 17:30

Miami, May 13 (EFE).- Cuba's Communist government is carrying out a process of "social genocide" against the island's people, prominent dissident Guillermo Fariñas said Monday in Miami. "The Cuban government is (committing) social genocide because it's been trying to disintegrate and defame the Cuban nation for 54 years," the 51-year-old activist said in an interview with Efe.

Cuba to authorize more dissidents to leave country, activist says

Agencia EFEMay 1, 2013 16:16

Geneva, May 1 (EFE).- The Cuban government is preparing to authorize "dozens" of political opponents to leave the country in the coming weeks, the chairman of the dissident Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation said here Wednesday. Elizardo Sanchez is in Geneva while the U.N. Human Rights Council is evaluating the situation of basic liberties in Cuba.

Gloria Estefan's take on American Songbook due out in September

Agencia EFEMay 1, 2013 11:45

Miami, May 1 (EFE).- Gloria Estefan's "The Standards," a celebration of the American Songbook, will go on sale Sept. 10, Sony Masterworks said. Reflecting the international nature of her audience, the disc features songs sung in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French. Estefan, who contributed to Frank Sinatra's 1993 "Duets" album and, more recently, to Tony Bennett's "Viva Duets," sought out singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, violinist Joshua Bell and saxophonist Dave Koz to collaborate on the project.

On first visit to US, Cuban dissident seeks support

Agence France-PresseApril 25, 2013 12:46

A major Cuban dissident leader making her first visit abroad appealed Thursday for international support to pressure Havana to improve its human rights record. Berta Soler, leader of the Ladies in White movement, issued the call during a meeting with Robert Menendez and Marco Rubio, Cuban-American senators who are vehement critics of Cuba's communist regime. Soler said the Havana government depicts itself as benign but the reality for dissidents like her is one of daily abuse, both physical and verbal.

Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez thanks Spanish lawmakers for support

Agencia EFEApril 24, 2013 19:30

Madrid, Apr 24 (EFE).- Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez visited the lower house of the Spanish Parliament on Wednesday and praised the "solidarity" of Spanish lawmakers with the Cuban people and with the struggle for democracy by the island's civil activists and dissidents. Sanchez met with representatives of the lower house's Foreign Affairs Committee, with the exception of members of the United Left, or IU.

8 Years later, Cuba's Ladies in White collect Sakharov Prize

Agencia EFEApril 23, 2013 18:00

Brussels, Apr 23 (EFE).- Members of the Cuban dissident group Ladies in White collected Tuesday the Sakharov Prize that the European Parliament awarded them in 2005, and in the process had harsh words to say about the situation in their homeland. The ceremony of presenting the prize to the Ladies in White was finally being held eight years later, because in all these years this is the first time they have been allowed to travel abroad.

CORRECTED: Cuban dissident women pick up EU prize eight years later

Agence France-PresseApril 23, 2013 13:46

Cuba's "Ladies in White", who fought for the release of jailed Cuban dissidents, on Tuesday picked up the EU's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize -- eight years after winning the award. Five members of the group -- known in Spanish as "The Damas de Blanco" -- were finally able to travel to Brussels to accept the 2005 Sakharov award from the hands of European Parliament president Martin Schulz. "You are the symbol of resistance against the Cuban government, and thousands and thousands of Cubans support you inside and outside the country," Schulz said.

Cuban dissident women pick up EU prize eight years later

Agence France-PresseApril 23, 2013 13:05

Cuba's "Ladies in White," who fought for the release of jailed Cuban dissidents, on Tuesday picked up the EU's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize -- eight years after winning the award. Five members of the group -- known in Spanish as "The Damas de Blanco" -- were finally able to travel to Brussels to accept the 2005 Sakharov award from the hands of European Parliament president Martin Schulz. "You are the symbol of resistance against the Cuban government, and thousands and thousands of |Cubans support you inside and outside the country," Schulz said.

Cubans have access to info beyond gov't "pablum," dissident says

Agencia EFEApril 22, 2013 16:16

Madrid, Apr 22 (EFE).- Cuban blogger and activist Yoani Sanchez said Monday that a lot of true information about her country's social and political realities is available to Cubans who are fed up with the "pablum" the regime dishes out.