Cuba: Releasing with one hand while crushing with the other

In through one door and out through the other.

Ermis Carbonell protesting to be allowed to finish his studies

 Less than a month after President Obama's and Raul Castro's simultaneous speeches announcing the normalization of relations, the release of three Cuban spies ( one serving a life sentence for murder), and the further loosening of sanctions the results are unsurprising.

On the one hand there is the high profile release of 53 political prisoners along with the high profile coverage of the repression meted out against a daughter of the nomenklatura who dared to try to organize a free speech happening in the Plaza of the Revolution.

On the other hand dissidents have been arrested and brutally beaten down to the point that teeth have been knocked out and bones broken, but since they are not sons or daughters of the revolutionary elite their suffering doesn't make the news. For example today over twitter the Christian Liberation Movement highlighted the plight of one of their members who had engaged in a peaceful protest (video) to demand the right to return to university to complete his studies. Unfortunately in Cuba the the regime says that the "universities are for revolutionaries" and if one is a dissident one no longer has a right to an education. Ermis was expelled in 2013 with only three classes remaining to complete his studies. The expulsion was politically motivated.

"Ermis Carbonell of Christian Liberation Movement in Santiago de Cuba detained for protesting because they won't allow him to finish his studies. He received a beating, and is detained in a motorized unit in Santiago charged with contempt. According to Christian Liberation Movement spokesperson Regis Iglesias: "Ermis was beaten in the Palace and they fractured one arm.They transferred him to Motorized. Reported the MCL Provincial Coordinator Marcos Diaz."

On January 10, 2014 over twitter Rosa María Payá Acevedo tweeted: "As releases are announced Yosvani Melchor is transferred to a maximum security prison." This young man who is developmentally disabled has been jailed in order to blackmail his mom into becoming an informant for state security against the Christian Liberation Movement.

Mother and her unjustly imprisoned son Yosvani

Last Thursday night (January 8th) or Friday morning (January 9th) Alberto Romero, a Cuban American attorney visiting family in Cuba, was killed. Circumstances surrounding his death remain murky at this hour but is cause for concern.

Alberto Romero killed in Cuba

Prior to that on December 26, 2014 the dissident Marcelino Abreu was arrested for wearing a change bracelet and was repeatedly kicked by state security who in the process knocked out a tooth and broke his nose. He was released on January 6, 2014.

Marcelino Abreu beaten bloody for wearing a bracelet

 The laws that outlaw the basic exercise of fundamental human rights have not been changed one iota and the prisons will continue to be filled with those who dissent, and their will be new prisoners of conscience. The climate of fear continues in Cuba under the current regime that the United States will later this month pursue normal relations with.

Cuban dissident and rapper Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga, who on October 15, 2014 was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment in a sham trial. Angel was tear gassed and arrested on March 21, 2013, for criticizing the Castro regime and held since that time in conditions that can only be described as inhumane. He was finally released on January 8, 2015 and gave the following message:

“…I’m not really free yet, because our country is not yet free, but I am now alongside my children and my wife. I am here again, confronting the situation that all us Cubans have to face.”

Cuban rapper sentenced to six years in prison for his critical songs

"Art is inherently political. It is always political. It has always been political.It has political aspects. And that which we term political art only enhances that political aspect of art. It is taking up political themes and makes these themes its own." - Petr Motyčka, Art, Society, and Politics: Artists or Activists?, Forum 2000

Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga sentenced to 6 years

Cuban dissident and rapper Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga, whose stage name is "el Critico del Arte" (the 'Art Critic'), on October 15, 2014 was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment in a judicial process that fell far short of international standards. Angel was tear gassed and arrested on March 21, 2013, for criticizing the Castro regime and jailed since that time in conditions that can only be described as inhumane.  El Critico, is a member of the rap duo: Los Hijos Que Nadie Quiso (The Children that no one wanted). Other members of the group were targeted by regime agents.

One of them Rodolfo Ramirez, known by his rapping name as El Primario, member of the hip-hop duo El Primario y Julito, was the victim of a brutal beating which left him with memory loss and serious injuries on his head. The attack occurred on July 21, 2013 at the Malecon (Sea wall) of Havana.

Meanwhile, Angel's plight has been documented by Free Muse, an organization that advocates freedom of expression for musicians and the Czech NGO, People in Need. An example of the lyrics that got the Art Critic into trouble can be found in the song "Mi Delito" (My Crime) were provided by People in Need and are excerpted below:

I did not invent the acts of repudiation
I did not sink the 13 de Marzo tug
I was not the one who killed Boitel 
I am not guilty for Mariel
I do not repress those who think differently
I did not lock up 75 innocent people
Look how many offenses you have kept hidden under lock and key
Yes this is my crime
To talk about what you have not.

Cuban rapper jailed for 17 months and counting for saying what others won't

"I did not invent the acts of repudiation / I did not sink the 13 de Marzo tug / I was not the one who killed Boitel / I am not guilty for Mariel / I do not repress those who think differently / I did not lock up 75 innocent people / Look how many offenses you have kept hidden under lock and key/ Yes this is my crime /To talk about what you have not." - El Critico, member of Los Hijos Que Nadie Quiso

 Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga "El Critico"

Marc Masferrer of the blog Uncommon Sense offers an update on the imprisoned activist and rapper known as  "El Critico."

The tortures continue for imprisoned Cuban activist/rap singer El Critico

Every day he is held in a Cuban prison without getting his day in court -- even if it is a Castro court -- is a day of torture for political prisoner Angel Yunier Remon Arzuaga, the activist and rap singer known as "El Critico."  It's just that some days are worse than others.

For example, in a recent telephone call to the Hablemos Press news agency Remon described how 10 guards grabbed him from his cell, splashed his eyes with pepper spray, bound his arms and then forcibly shaved his face and cut his hair.

Remon has been imprisoned for more than 17 months without trial since his arrest on March 26, 2013, during a police raid on his home. Prosecutors have charged him with "assault" and asked for an 8-year prison

 

People in Need make international appeal for jailed Cuban rapper El Critico

Imprisoned Cuban rapper faces show trial on June 20, 2014 below is a reproduction of People in Need's appeal for Angel Y. Arzuaga.

New international appeal to free El Critico

By Miranda Fuertes / People In Need

 

The striking case of Angel Yunier Remon Arzuaga, a young Cuban rapper from Bayamo who is more commonly known by the stage name El Critico del Arte, has been made public through the Twitter campaign #FreeElCritico and a petition in his name on change.org. He has been illegally imprisoned and is still waiting for a date to be set for a proper trial. Rumor has it that El Critico del Arte will be given an eight year sentence for resisting arrest.

This member of the group Los Hijos Que Nadie Quiso has freely expressed his discontent with the current regime in Cuba through his lyrics: “Yo no inventé lo de los actos de repudio/ yo no hundí el remolcador 13 de marzo/ yo no fui el que asesinó a Boitel/ yo no soy el culpable del Mariel/yo no reprimo al que piense diferente/ yo no tranqué a 75 inocentes/ mira cuantos delitos en la gaveta tú has guarda’o/ este sí es mi delito/ hablar de lo que tú no has habla’o” which means:  “ l did not invent the acts of repudiation / I did not sink the tug on March 13th / I was not the one who killed Boitel / I am not guilty for Mariel / I do not repress those who think differently / I did not lock up 75 innocent people / Look how many offenses you have kept hidden under lock and key/ Yes this is my crime /To talk about what you have not”.

He has paid dearly for exercising freedom of speech. Angel was violently arrested in March 2013 following the “antirevolutionary” speech he was holding in front of his house in Bayamo. He was beaten repeatedly, denied family visits, and was not given medical treatment. Just six months after being jailed he contracted cholera. His wife has also been subject to aggressive actions and was detained by the State Police, when she participated in a march of The Ladies in White – which take place every Sunday – to protest against his unfair detention and to denounce the political motivation behind it. He has already held both hunger and thirst strikes three times and has had to be hospitalized as a result.

His situation has been made more difficult by the isolated nature of the region where he lives, where media access is limited and the visibility of such cases is lower, which typically allows the State National Security forces to act with a higher degree of impunity.  Despite public support from politicians and artists, El Critico remains imprisoned more than one year after his detention.

We at People In Need strongly believe that the basic rights of freedom of expression, the manifestation of ideas, and freedom of belief must be available to all without fear of repression. We are convinced that anyone would stand up against someone that was overtly trying to oppress them for their beliefs. As the situation of El Critico has remained unchanged and his health is in peril, we are appealing to you, to speak up about his case to increase its visibility, and to give back to him the voice that was taken away in such an unlawful and violent way.

Cuban rappers continue to risk their freedom to criticize the regime
Although criticizing the Cuban government through music is a risky business, Cubans still use it to express their discontent with the communist regime. Whether they are established names in the industry, like Los Aldeanos, or younger musicians like Los Censurados or Los Hijos Que Nadie Quiso, they all rap their truth regardless of the risks they are undertaking. As difficult as it is to get information about this musical scene because of constant censoring, we have discovered that their struggle continues on a daily basis.

Los Censurados, a young Cuban rap duo, spoke about the harsh repression they face back home when they performed in Prague last March, following an invitation from People In Need. They dedicated their concert to all the imprisoned Cuban dissidents and in particular to El Critico del Arte, the rapper and human right activist.

Los Hijos Que Nadie Quiso:


Los Censurados and Los Hijos Que Nadie Quiso:


Miranda Fuertes
Miranda Fuertes is human rights defender focused on Cuba and based in Prague, Czech Republic

Music Freedom Day in Cuba

"During 2013, the human rights organization Freemuse registered 19 musicians killed, 7 abducted, and 18 music creators imprisoned. There are many reasons for organizing the annual ‘Music Freedom Day’ 3rd of March, which puts focus on musicians’ rights to freedom of expression."At least one of the 18 is a Cuban. His name is Angel Yunier Remon Arzuaga.

Rodolfo Ramirez, rapping name El Primario

Freemuse has documented the plight of punk rocker Gorki Águila imprisoned for two years and threatened with new trials for his anti-government lyrics and Cuban rappers Rodolfo Ramirez, known by his rapping name as El Primario brutally beaten by regime agents and Angel Yunier Remon Arzuaga, known best as “El Critico” imprisoned and brutalized since March 2013.

Rapper imprisoned since March 2013

This is just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to imprisoned and brutalized musicians in Cuba under the Castro's music has been systematically censored in what amounts to a Cuban cultural genocide that is depriving generations of Cubans of their heritage.

Below is a mash-up of musical styles with Gorki Águila and El Primario collaborating on the song ESTE AÑO SI SE CAE (This year it will fall).

Status Update from Gorki on Show Trial and need for Solidarity in Cuba

The importance of solidarity and international attention

Rodolfo Ramirez, rapping name El Primario

  Yesterday the news arrived first as rumor that the trial had been suspended then at 3:27pm over Facebook Gorki Águila gave the following status update:

At 2:00pm I was informed that the oral presentation of the trial scheduled for Tuesday, February 11 was suspended due to health reasons of my lawyer ... At no time did an official notice arrive to me so right now I am heading to the Marianao Summary Court 100 & 33 to make known my concerns with regards to this news and that they not be given any argument for accusing me of not appearing ... I ask the people who have joined the solidarity campaign not to abandon denouncing this because the authorities may take advantage of a break to attack with impunity. Any other information I will try to make available. Thanks to all friends. 

A LAS 2 PM FUI INFORMADO DE QUE LA VISTA ORAL DEL JUCIO DEL MARTES 11 DE FEBRERO FUE SUSPENDIDA DEBIDO A RAZONES DE SALUD DE MI ABOGADA ..... EN NINGUN MOMENTO ME LLEGO UNA NOTIFICACION OFICIAL POR ESO AHORA MISMO ME DIRIJO HACIA LA SALA SUMARIA DE MARIANAO 100 Y 33 PARA HACER CONSTAR MI PROCUPACION ANTE ESTA NOTICIA Y QUE NO TENGAN POSIBLE ARGUMENTO ALGUNO PARA ACUSARME DE NO PRESENTACION ..... LES PIDO A LAS PERSONAS QUE SE HAN SUMEDO A LA CAMPANA DE SOLIDARIDAD QUE NO ABANDONEN LA DENUNCIA PUESTO QUE LAS AUTORIDADES PUEDEN APROVECHAR DICHA PAUSA PARA ARREMETER DESPUES IMPUNEMENTE . CUALQUIER OTRA INFORMACION TRATARE DE HACRELA LLEGAR .GRACIAS A TODOS LOS AMIGOS


At 9:32am  today Gorki posted the following Facebook status update:

If the alleged justice of the Castros make a mockery of these documents it is proof of its arbitrariness. Their laws mean nothing to them when it comes to achieve their objectives... In my 2008 trial they accused me of pre-criminal social dangerous conduct but the solidarity was so great that they were obliged to change the charge to disobedience and a fine of 600 pesos for the alleged crime. This is only achieved through unity. Lets unite once again and change the laws of the Castros, Viva Liberty. Thanks to all friends

SI LA SUPUESTA JUSTICIA DE LOS CASTRO SE BURLA DE ESTOS DOCUMENTOS ES PRUEVA DE SU ADBITRARIEDAD .. SUS LEYES NO SIGNICAN NADA PARA ELLOS MISMOS A LA HORA DE CUMPLIR SUS PROPOSITOS .... EN EL JUCIO DEL 2008 ME ACUSABAN DE PELIGROCIDAD SOCIAL CONDUCTA PREDELICTIVA PERO LA SOLIDARIDAD FUE TAN GRANDE QUE SE VIERON OBLIGADOS A CAMBIAR EL DELITO POR UNA MULTA DE 600 PESOS EN UN SUPUESTO DELITO DE DESOBEDIENCIA, ESTO UNICAMENTE LO LOGRA LA UNIDAD , UNAMONOS UNA VEZ MAS Y CAMBIEMOS LAS LEYES DE LOS CASTRO, VIVA LA LIBERTAD . GRACIAS A TODOS LOS AMIGOS

 The importance of generating and maintaining attention is critically important for anyone who dissents from the official government line. Rodolfo Ramirez, known by his rapping name as El Primario, member of the hip-hop duo El Primario y Julito,who appears in the above video was so badly beaten by an agent of state security that he is suffering from memory loss, and his face is completely disfigured. Another who is not in the video but is a fellow rapper is Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga, whose stage name is "el Critico del Arte" (the 'Art Critic') he has also been badly beaten up and jailed since March 26, 2013 and has been so mistreated that it has driven him to hunger strikes that have compounded the deterioration of his health caused by the beatings.

At the same time that the campaign for solidarity has provided much needed protection for Gorki in other parts of Cuba the repression continues. On  the mornings of February 5th and again on February 11th the home of Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez" was invaded and ransacked and Antúnez violently arrested and taken out of the city and held for hours. All his belongings seized during the first raid. No search warrant or notice that his property was to be confiscated for some legal reason. Nothing.  His wife, Yris Tamara Pérez Aguilera, detained, abused and beaten on February 5th as she was going to the offices of State Security to ascertain her husband's plight. This morning, February 11, at 6:00am without warning their home was invaded again and both were detained and beaten. This has led Antúnez to take the extreme measure yesterday to announce a hunger and thirst strike in protest.

We must remain vigilant for Gorki. The show trial has been suspended for the time being and can be reconvened at any moment. The dictatorship hates what he represents, and as we saw with Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas even high visibility is not enough to protect one who lives free in Cuba. We need to continue gathering signatures for the petition demanding his freedom. At the same time there are others who also need our attention.

UN General Assembly Considers Cuba's Candidacy to Rights Council as Rights Situation Worsens in Cuba

Artist dying on hunger strike demanding freedom

Cuban dissident and rapper Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga, whose stage name is “el Critico del Arte” (the “Art Critic”) has been unjustly imprisoned since March 2013  is at this moment dying on hunger strike demanding his freedom after being beaten and arbitrarily detained.

Next week on November 12, 2013 the General Assembly of the United Nations will hold elections that will determine the new membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Unfortunately, a number of egregious human rights violators will most likely be, once again, elected to this international body.

One of the candidates is Cuba. Between 2012 and 2013 the human rights trends in Cuba have deteriorated. Nonviolent activists have been threatened, beaten, mutilated, attacked with machetes and killed by regime agents.

Press freedoms continue to be non-existent as reported by Yoani Sanchez to the General Assembly of the Inter-American Press Agency.

Even areas in which regime claims to have improved saw the same old restrictions to freedom of movement and attacks on houses of worship.

For the reasons outlined above and many more it is important to let the international community know that the government operating in Cuba should not be on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, Yris Tamara Perez Aguilera, Rolando Rodriguez Lobaina, Berta Soler, Sayli Navarro and other activists on October 29, 2013 addressed the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to denounce the worsening human rights situation in the island.

This is why Rosa Maria Paya on November 5, 2013 went to the United Nations in New York City and addressed Cuba's human rights record before an international gathering of activists and organizations.

#FreeElCritico: Free dissident rapper Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga

Cuban dissident and rapper unjustly imprisoned for 7 months on hunger strike

Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga on hunger strike

Cuban dissident and rapper Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga, whose stage name is "el Critico del Arte" (the 'Art Critic'), was tear gassed and arrested on March 21, 2013, for criticizing the Castro regime.  He is still in prison without charges six months later and officials had denied his wife, Yudisbel Roseyo, the right to visit her husband. This changed now that her husband's condition has become critical.

After over six months of arbitrary detention where he has suffered beatings, a bout of cholera, and harassment Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga began a hunger strike.

The Pedazos de la Isla blog is closely following Angel's plight. Over the past 15 days the dissident rapper has been on a hunger strike which seven days ago he escalated into a hunger and thirst strike and is now in intensive care. According to Pedazos de la Isla:

On the night of Monday, October 28th, a doctor from Las Mangas Prison called Yudisbel to inform her that her husband was refusing to accept an IV  as a form of protest and that he was in a critical state.  Yudisbel was able to sustain a brief conversation with him but barely understood what he was saying, except for a phrase where he affirmed that it’s either “freedom or death” for him.

After a number of hours, a group of doctors picked Yudisbel up from her home and took her to the prison, where she was able to briefly see Yunier.  The rapper accepted an IV at that moment and when he had a bit more energy he told his wife that he had been beat 2 days prior and reaffirms his pro-freedom position.

On her part, Roseyo Mojena has said that she will also continue “on the streets” and although she is deeply worried for the life of her husband, she said she is supporting his struggle.  The couple has a 9 month old son.

Angel Yunier is not the only Cuban rapper persecuted for dissenting from the official line.  Rodolfo Ramirez, known by his rapping name as El Primario was the victim of a brutal beating which left him with memory loss and serious injuries on his head. The attack occurred on Sunday, July 21, 2013 at the Havana sea wall.

Rodolfo Ramirez before and after July 21, 2013 beating

Hopefully rappers around the world will demonstrate their solidarity with their counterparts in Cuba who are being targeted for expressing themselves. In the meantime please show your solidarity by letting others know about his plight by tweeting the hashtag: #FreeElCritico