Brothers to the Rescue “Shoot Down” documentary premieres

Friends of Cuban Freedom, Miscellaneous 1 Response »
Jan 182008

Shoot Down, the documentary on the 1996 shootdown of two unarmed Brothers to the Rescue Cessnas by Castro’s supersonic MiG fighter jets (which we blogged about back in August), premieres today to a limited, invitation-only audience in Miami. I couldn’t make it–I aggravated an already bad leg injury which I’m currently nursing at home (not to mention that my invitation came via “unofficial” channels…).

The world premiere comes next week, January 25th. It will only run in select theaters, listed below the fold. One of the more remarkable things about the film is that the director, who debuts in that role, is the niece of one of the victims of the incident. Read more about it here.

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Posted by Castro Death Watch at 7:42 pm

Int’l Human Rights Day marches in Cuba, Miami, elsewhere

Friends of Cuban Freedom, From Other Blogs, Human Rights, Media Comments Off
Dec 102007

Bloggers United for Cuban Liberty (BUCL) and Babalu Blog are reporting a number of protest marches today–which is International Human Rights Day–in support of freedom for Cuba.

Some of the marches will take place in Miami and Los Angeles. Some are scheduled to take place in Cuba. Naturally, the Castroite dictatorship is trying to prevent these marches in Cuba (and if they had their way, in Miami and LA, too). BUCL put out a press release (we’ve copied it below but if you follow the link above you can read it as well) on the issue. As I write the post, Google News showed only 10 hits for the release and the story. That’s unbelievably pathetic and just shows you where the MSM stands on Cuba.

Anyway, listed below is the the full release from BUCl and also a graphic of their “Cambio” (Change) poster, which you can buy at BUCL.org for just $15.


Cambio en Cuba (Change in Cuba)

For Immediate Release

BUCL.org Joins Dr. Darsi Ferrer to Protest Apartheid-Like Policies in Cuba

Protest marches are scheduled Monday December 10 in Havana and cities around the world

Miami, FL December 7, 2007 — Bloggers United for Cuban Liberty (BUCL) extends its support and solidarity to the Cuban Dissident Dr. Darsi Ferrer on International Human Rights Day Monday, December 10. To commemorate this day, protest marches are being held to denounce what protestors are calling the immoral and illegal segregationist policies imposed by the Cuban government.

“In Cuba, apartheid is not racial, but political,” says Henry Gómez of BUCL. “The political system keeps foreigners and Cubans separate. For instance, many public accommodations that are open to tourists and high-level Communist bureaucrats are off limits to everyday Cubans.”

Protest marches will be held in Havana at the park on Calzada between D and E (Vedado), in Miami at the Graham Center at Florida International University (FIU), and in Los Angeles at 202 West First Street. The marches will begin at 11:00 am EST (8:00 am PST).

Regarding Cuba’s current system, Dr. Ferrer states, “The current constitution supposedly recognizes the rights and freedoms of the Cuban people. The penal code characterizes apartheid as a felony. In practice, both are systematically violated by the established public policy.” Dr. Ferrer continued, “People around the world were horrified with the ghettos of South Africa. It is time to condemn the apartheid suffered by the Cuban people.”

“The vast majority of Cubans crave change,” says Dr. Ferrer. “We’ve endured more than four decades of stagnation while the tyranny has failed in the political, economic and social arenas. It is time to put an end to so much suffering. We advocate change in order to live in freedom and democracy.”

Dr. Darsi Ferrer is the Director of the Juan Bruno Zayas Center for Health and Human Rights in Havana, Cuba, whose mission is to ensure the policies of international agencies that guarantee health-related rights of all persons, are recognized and adhered to in Cuba.

Bloggers United for Cuban Liberty is a confederation of Blogs and websites that pool resources and ideas for use in campaigns to raise awareness of the Cuban reality.

Contact:
Henry Gómez
305-788-4766
hgomez@bucl.org

###

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Posted by Castro Death Watch at 8:29 am

Dogs live better than Cuban political prisoners

Cuban Dissidents, Friends of Cuban Freedom, Human Rights Comments Off
Nov 202007

I’m sure even fleas live better than anyone imprisoned in Castro’s gulag, simply for what he believes in. Just ask Mr. Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta, prisoner in Castro’s Kilo 8 Prison in Camaguey, Cuba:

I’m letting it be known that my state of health is failing at an extremely dangerous pace. My physical well-being remains under the Sword of Damocles, and I could die. My days are slowly coming to an end because of the various dangerous illnesses from which I suffer: high blood pressure, a right bundle branch block in my heart, hypertensive retinopathy, a heart murmur, a pyloric-duodenal prolapse, chronic dermatitis, asthma, cervical arthritis, lumbo-sacral arthralgia, vitiligo, kidney and liver disorders, and an obvious immunological deficiency. I’m extremely underweight, which is quite worrisome.

Faced with this dangerous picture, prison authorities have demonstrated a policy of disinterest and indifference until last October 23rd when I sewed my mouth shut as a fair complaint against the violation of my rights and the awful living conditions under which I am kept as if I were a wild animal while the prison officials’ dogs live under exceptional conditions.

Mr. Herrera was one of the 75 dissidents imprisoned by the Castro regime in 2003, while the world’s attention was focused on the U.S. on the eve of the Iraq war. Read the rest of this brave man’s testimony at Marc Mas Ferrer’s Uncommon Sense.

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Posted by Castro Death Watch at 7:56 am

Happy Veteran’s Day

Anti-Communism, Friends of Cuban Freedom Comments Off
Nov 112007

Soldier at Arlington National Cemetary
Click on thumbnail for full image.

Happy Veteran’s Day and a hearty “Thank You” to those who have served, especially during wartime.

As a special Veteran’s Day treat I invite you to visit a site I just added to the blogroll here at Castro Death Watch, the Cuban-American Veterans Association.

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Posted by Castro Death Watch at 4:56 pm

1-800-NO-2-CASTRO

Anti-Communism, Cuban Dissidents, Friends of Cuban Freedom, From Other Blogs, Human Rights Comments Off
Nov 082007

The Miami Herald, Babalu Blog and other blogs are reporting a new initiative to help those repressed by the Castro government in Cuba. The initiative was launched by the Cuban Democratic Directorate (Directorio Democrático Cubano in Spanish), so I looked them up and found the press release here.

Basically, they plan to staff (24 hours a day) an international toll-free hotline where Cubans on the island can call to report any acts of political persecution by the Castro regime. The hotline number is 1-877-303-YONO (“Yo no” is Spanish for “I won’t” or “Not I” and is an allusion to the Directorate’s “I will not cooperate with the dictatorship” campaign).

According to the press release, “(t)his initiative from several pro-democracy exile organizations is a response to the increase in resistance actions on the Island such as protests by young Cubans wearing bracelets with the word CAMBIO, or change, as well as the public dissatisfaction demonstrated regarding Chinese buses recently bought by the Havana regime.”

This is awesome. This is incredible. The concept seems so obvious, I had a “Gee, I could’ve had a V-8″ moment when I first read about it.

But now, for the benefit of anyone reading this in Spanish (mostly, on the rare off-chance someone in Cuba might actually be able to read this blog), I’ve reproduced the entire press release in Spanish, below.

EXTRA: I found the following video (Spanish) on the “Cambio” and “Yono” campaigns on Youtube.

AUMENTA REPRESIÓN EN CUBA: EXILIADOS CREAN LÍNEA DIRECTA DE LA RESISTENCIA CÍVICA
07/11/2007 | Directorio Democrático Cubano

Organizaciones del exilio cubano encabezadas por ex presos políticos dieron a conocer durante una conferencia de prensa hoy miércoles, que reconocerán como perseguidos políticos a todo cubano que, por no cooperar con la dictadura y rechazar la farsa electoral, sean reprimidos o detenidos. También reconocerán como prisionero político todo aquel que sea encarcelado por los mismos motivos.

Durante la conferencia, que tuvo lugar en la sede de Los Municipios de Cuba en el Exilio, se hizo pública una línea telefónica internacional que estará disponible las 24 horas del día para informar los actos de no cooperación que se lleven a cabo en la Isla, y por las cuales personas caigan presas o sean víctimas de persecución política por desarrollar nuevas formas de resistencia cívica dentro de la campaña de la no cooperación.

El teléfono, 1-877-303-YONO, estará disponible a todo el público a partir de este viernes y será atendida por el Presidio Político Histórico Cubano. Esta iniciativa de distintas organizaciones pro democráticas del exilio es una respuesta de ayuda por el aumento de actos de resistencia: las protestas por los jóvenes con las manillas CAMBIO y el descontento público demostrado hacia los autobuses chinos recién comprados por el régimen de Cuba.

“Nosotros nos encargaremos de documentar y publicar estas acciones, de dirigir a los organismos internacionales de los derechos humanos hacia el respaldo a estos perseguidos, y de hacerle llegar asistencia económica recaudada privadamente en las comunidades cubanas en el exilio a aquellos compatriotas que la necesiten al estar luchando por la libertad dentro de Cuba,” expresó Angel De Fana, de Plantados Hasta la Libertad y la Democracia en Cuba.

TODOS POR EL CAMBIO

LLAMEN A LA LINEA DIRECTA DE LA RESISTENCIA:

1-877-303-YONO

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Posted by Castro Death Watch at 10:41 pm

Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

Anti-Communism, Bush, Cuban Dissidents, Friends of Cuban Freedom, From Other Blogs, Human Rights Comments Off
Nov 062007

President Bush awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dr. Biscet
President George W. Bush presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Yan Valdes Morejon and Winnie Biscet in honor of their father Oscar Elias Biscet during a ceremony Monday, Nov. 5, 2007, in the East Room. “Oscar Biscet is a healer — known to 11 million Cubans as a physician, a community organizer, and an advocate for human rights,” said the President about the imprisoned physician. “The international community agrees that Dr. Biscet’s imprisonment is unjust, yet the regime has refused every call for his release.” White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian.

President Bush awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet yesterday. Of course, because Dr. Biscet is locked in Fidel Castro’s gulag, the President had to present the award to Dr. Biscet’s son and daughter.

There’s not much for me to add to this, other than to say if anyone deserves the Presidential Medal of Freedom, it’s Dr. Biscet. I’ll leave you with a few links below.

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Posted by Castro Death Watch at 8:49 pm

The Presidential Medal of Freedom goes to..

Cuban Dissidents, Friends of Cuban Freedom Comments Off
Oct 302007

…prominent Castro critic and political prisoner of the regime, Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet:

Oscar Elias Biscet is a champion in the fight against tyranny and oppression. Despite being persecuted and imprisoned for his beliefs, he continues to advocate for a free Cuba in which the rights of all people are respected.

The ceremony for Dr. Biscet and the seven other recipients of this year’s award takes place November 5. As Babalu Blog notes, Dr. Biscet ain’t too likely to show up for his award–thanks to Castro.

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Posted by Castro Death Watch at 7:19 am

President Bush puts the lie to Castro’s ‘embargo’ excuse

Anti-Communism, Bush, Cuban Embargo, Friends of Cuban Freedom Comments Off
Oct 242007

President Bush delivers remarks on Cuba policy at State Department
President George W. Bush greets his guests Marlenis Gonzalez, right, and her daughter Melissa, center, Wednesday, October 24, 2007, after his remarks on Cuba policy at the State Department in Washington, D.C. Melissa’s father, Jorge Luis Gonzalez Tanquero is currently being held in a Cuban prison after being arrested for crimes against the regime. White House photo by Eric Draper.

President Bush gave a great speech on the United States’ Cuba policy today at the State Department. You can read the entire speech here. Or read the fact sheet on Cuba policy, titled Encouraging Freedom, Justice, and Prosperity in Cuba, here. Or you can watch video of the President’s speech here.

It was a thing of beauty. So much of it was good, that I would have had to have posted the whole thing here–I’ve posted links above instead. For my money, the best part was when he named names of political prisoners in Castro’s gulag–some of these prisoners’ families were at the speech (see photo above).

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Posted by Castro Death Watch at 11:28 pm

Bay of Pigs remembered

Anti-Communism, Bay of Pigs, Friends of Cuban Freedom, From Other Blogs Comments Off
Oct 192007

I was surprised to learn the CIA actually has an art gallery. Well, they’ve added a new piece to it: a painting depicting an air attack on Castro’s soldiers. The painting was unveiled at museum dedicated to flight in Birmingham, Alabama, according to this Miami Herald article.

Val Prieto of Babalu Blog was in Birmingham covering the event, read about it on his blog. While you’re at it, check out his photo of the beautiful painting.

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Posted by Castro Death Watch at 7:45 am

Massachusetts colleges?!?! What the…?

Anti-Communism, Cuba's Economy, Friends of Cuban Freedom 2 Responses »
Oct 172007

The last place on God’s green earth–the ABSOLUTE last place–that you’d expect to find a viewpoint on Cuba other than “Castro/Che good, U.S. bad” would be a college newspaper, especially that of a liberal Massachusetts college.

So I hope you’ll excuse my utter shock when I discovered this morning not one, but two–TWO–Massachusetts college newspapers presenting the truth about Cuba.

First, from the Harvard (yes, THAT Harvard) Crimson, a piece on Andy Garcia, who visited campus to screen The Lost City:

Critics have blasted the film for presenting a misleading view of pre-revolutionary Cuba.

After the screening, Garcia told The Crimson that those critics were misinformed.

“When you make a movie about a political open wound, people will come at you with a political agenda,” Garcia said. “If a French filmmaker had made this movie, you would not have heard the same things. But I am a Cuban exile.”

Richard A. Serna ’10, vice president of the Latino Men’s Collective, which helped organize the event with the Harvard Cuban American Undergraduate Student Association (CAUSA), said Garcia brought a different perspective to the debate over Cuba.

“Garcia is someone who is trying to tell a story that hasn’t been told,” he said.

Indeed he is. Next, from the University of Massachusetts’ Daily Collegian, we get an editorial–by a student, Ben Duffy, whose name suggests he is not of Cuban descent–titled Guevara: fiend, not folk hero:

The future T-shirt icon oversaw La Cabaña fortress, a true house of horrors where opponents of the reigning Castro regime were executed. José Vilasuso, a lawyer at the fortress, prepared indictments for people who were summarily convicted on little or no evidence. “The statements of the investigating officer constituted irrefutable proof of wrongdoing,” Vilasuso said. “The defense lawyer simply admitted the accusations and requested the generosity of the government in order to reduce the sentence…[Che] reprimanded in private more than one colleague; in public, he chastised us all: ‘Don’t delay these trials. This is a revolution, the proofs are secondary… They are a gang of criminals and murderers. Besides, remember that there is an Appeals Tribunal.’” Yes, there was appealing authority. His name was Che Guevara.

Vilasuso continues: “Nevertheless, in La Cabaña, until June of 1959, about 600 prisoners were executed, plus an indefinite number of prison sentences.”

So Che executed hundreds of people, and he’s the hero. Felix Rodriguez executed Che, and he’s the villain. Whose face belongs on a T-shirt?

Bravo, Massachusetts!

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Posted by Castro Death Watch at 7:38 am
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