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It flashed on my phone screen.
It arrived as an e-mail.
"espera mi llamada".
I couldn't wait, but I had to wait, and then the phone buzzed.
"¿de verdad que quieres enterarte de esto?"
(do you really want to know about it?) was the first phrase of my friend in Havana.
I am just writing what can be written of the conversation, and I better get my notes in bullet points, so I make sure everybody understands the gravity of the situation. This is not a matter of a literary exercise, this is to be read and understood quickly.
1- Whoever is in control in the country (somebody has to be in control) has increased the represion to levels unseen since the sixties. All the snitches, plain clothes secret police, and "volunteers" are on the loose, and ready to attack. Also, special forces of the ministry of the interior are joining the police in patrols in certain neighborhoods even with canine suport.
2- The police dispersed the line for the USIS, as soon as one hour after the U.S.A talk about giving more visas to doctors and other people to leave Cuba... ¿no podian hacerlo en silencio? (can't they do it silently?) was the question I got from the other end. So, in less than one hour the plans gets shreded, because we refuse to understand that we are dealing with a terrorist regime.
3- The Cuban population is defenseless. With or without the kasstros, whoever is in charge -that's still a mystery- has ordered cautionary arrests left and right. Some youths have been carted off to unknown destinations.
4- Chalk is a subversive material. No more chalk, so you can't write KillCastro in the bodega wall.
5- There's an offensive against short wave radios and satellite dishes. They are taking away the radios and cuting a few feet of lenght in the cables of the antenas, rendering them unusable.
6- The famous prayer for fidel: my source says that elements from the Religion Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba hounded the best known relgious figures of the country and pressured them into at least calling for prayers for kasstro's health. At least in the Church of La Merced, plain clothes agents of the secret police were present on Sunday mass. The priest didn't mention kasstro, nor the climate of insecurity, which I think that is an act of valor contrasting with the "official position" of the Catholic Church which bent itself out shape to please however is in charge.
7- They're revoking visas on arrival for both journalists and tourists. Many people suspected of being human right activists or independent journalist were send back to their countries of origin in the next flight out of Cuba.
8- The people of Cuba doesn't know how is in charge, and they don't care, because it is the same as before if not worse.
9- The Committees of Defense of the Revolution have taken away the rationing card of people suspected of being dissidents -names withheld.
10- There's no news about the commencement of the school year. It's thought that something could set it back, like a big state funeral or an anouncement in shifting of powers. No shool uniforms have been sold yet.
11- Personals computers require written autorization to have them. The sale of computer parts to the press corps and foreing companies has been restricted (I don't know until what degree)SIM cards for cell phones were not sold during this week.
12- Cuban nationals working for foreing enterprises were prevented from reaching their places of employment in at least two cases (names and enterprises whitheld)
13- The rumor of kasstro sending a message just before or during his birthday continues to run in Havana. At least one third of the people believe that he is either dead or permanently incapacitated.
14- And lastly, some computer servers were deprived from accessing the internet, they can only access the local intranet now.
As you can see, there's a lot happening, and the crackdown is even stronger than reported.
It flashed on my phone screen.
It arrived as an e-mail.
"espera mi llamada".
I couldn't wait, but I had to wait, and then the phone buzzed.
"¿de verdad que quieres enterarte de esto?"
(do you really want to know about it?) was the first phrase of my friend in Havana.
I am just writing what can be written of the conversation, and I better get my notes in bullet points, so I make sure everybody understands the gravity of the situation. This is not a matter of a literary exercise, this is to be read and understood quickly.
1- Whoever is in control in the country (somebody has to be in control) has increased the represion to levels unseen since the sixties. All the snitches, plain clothes secret police, and "volunteers" are on the loose, and ready to attack. Also, special forces of the ministry of the interior are joining the police in patrols in certain neighborhoods even with canine suport.
2- The police dispersed the line for the USIS, as soon as one hour after the U.S.A talk about giving more visas to doctors and other people to leave Cuba... ¿no podian hacerlo en silencio? (can't they do it silently?) was the question I got from the other end. So, in less than one hour the plans gets shreded, because we refuse to understand that we are dealing with a terrorist regime.
3- The Cuban population is defenseless. With or without the kasstros, whoever is in charge -that's still a mystery- has ordered cautionary arrests left and right. Some youths have been carted off to unknown destinations.
4- Chalk is a subversive material. No more chalk, so you can't write KillCastro in the bodega wall.
5- There's an offensive against short wave radios and satellite dishes. They are taking away the radios and cuting a few feet of lenght in the cables of the antenas, rendering them unusable.
6- The famous prayer for fidel: my source says that elements from the Religion Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba hounded the best known relgious figures of the country and pressured them into at least calling for prayers for kasstro's health. At least in the Church of La Merced, plain clothes agents of the secret police were present on Sunday mass. The priest didn't mention kasstro, nor the climate of insecurity, which I think that is an act of valor contrasting with the "official position" of the Catholic Church which bent itself out shape to please however is in charge.
7- They're revoking visas on arrival for both journalists and tourists. Many people suspected of being human right activists or independent journalist were send back to their countries of origin in the next flight out of Cuba.
8- The people of Cuba doesn't know how is in charge, and they don't care, because it is the same as before if not worse.
9- The Committees of Defense of the Revolution have taken away the rationing card of people suspected of being dissidents -names withheld.
10- There's no news about the commencement of the school year. It's thought that something could set it back, like a big state funeral or an anouncement in shifting of powers. No shool uniforms have been sold yet.
11- Personals computers require written autorization to have them. The sale of computer parts to the press corps and foreing companies has been restricted (I don't know until what degree)SIM cards for cell phones were not sold during this week.
12- Cuban nationals working for foreing enterprises were prevented from reaching their places of employment in at least two cases (names and enterprises whitheld)
13- The rumor of kasstro sending a message just before or during his birthday continues to run in Havana. At least one third of the people believe that he is either dead or permanently incapacitated.
14- And lastly, some computer servers were deprived from accessing the internet, they can only access the local intranet now.
As you can see, there's a lot happening, and the crackdown is even stronger than reported.
9 Comments:
I can confirm all of your points. It's getting more grim every day.
And the world stands by and watches, as usual.
Peaceful transition, my ass.
A U.S. aircraft carrier and 2 warships parked in front of the Malecon, in international waters, would change the equation.
You're absolutely right my friend. The despair is growing in Cuba, but they have been corralled like animals. They are fearing the worse. They know that the repressive forces have no qualms in killing people as they have done before, as in the 13 de Marzo tugboat massacre. If they have to quench a riot in blood they will do it! This is not a transition, Eleggua, this is just a continuation of the dictatorship by other means.
It may even be worse than before, amigo.
Could go the North Korean way.
I receive a lot of info I can't publish because it endangers people.
Most Europeans won't listen. Last minute flights to Varadero are cheap, all inclusive.
But what do you expect from a world that votes Cuba into the Human Rights Council.
We will be alone, once again.
Where are men like Porfrio Reemberto El Negro Ramírez, who fought to the last bullet in the Sierra de Escambray, before being executed by those "brave" revolucionarios?
«Quien haya pasado por todos estos horrores debe sentirse feliz de morir, porque sabe que habrá de descansar de tanta opresión, de tanta ignominia, de tanta cobardía y porque sabe que habrá de sembrar el ejemplo para futuras generaciones...Sé que voy a morir dentro de pocas horas, no tengo miedo, por el contrario, jamás en mi vida me he sentido tan seguro de mí mismo; sé que mi muerte no habrá sido en vano....»
This, dear Che-lovers, is a man, not the coward who begged for his miserable life in Bolivia.
I just got my daily report and my
sources confirm all of this and go further.
The catholic church in Kuba was threatened with massive reprisals if a WORD was uttered against KaSStro and they were forced to play along the "let us pray for THE BEAST" I can only assume the Church in Miami had no choice but to follow along fearing that any acts considered counterrevolutionary may endanger the catholic church in Kuba.
People are DISAPPEARING as they did in the first years of HELL. You are taken out in the middle of the night and no one knows were you have been taken. Two cases have been reported within blocks from where I used to live.
The lines to the USIS have been broken up with bats , both by military personnel and goons. Noone dares get on the “cola”. EXCELLENT strategy Mr. Bush.
There was a small explosion on the gas station on the Rotonda to the Concha Beach, reasons unknown but the few clients at La Cecilia (right across the street) were taken into custody, funny because most of them were military personnel.
The "reserves" are walking the streets with what amounts to chunks of broom sticks and a few have been assaulted while making their rounds. I guess they are the only targets that can be confronted.
Food is scarcer than ever, seems that all normal deliveries have stopped. Noone knows who is RUNNING the place!
The official news from the apparatik is that a FULL transition has taken place , and they no longer speak of KaSStro coming back to power. I guess that they can not picture going through this shit again and again every time EL SUMO blows his hemorrhoids.
Things look bad, worse than we can imagine and here we sit 90 miles from hell, but my AC is blowing at a very confy 70 degrees!
Right now I am VERY VERY ASHAMED!
the regime is scared to death of what's happening and will repress until thevery end
Eleggua:
I don’t even think that would be necessary, NOW was the time to do away with the wet/foot dry/foot policy. In fact the order should’ve been ANY CUBAN WHO MAKES IT TO USA WATERS WILL BE GRANTED ASYLUM. Of course people will use fucking corks to get going. As this mass takes to the water, Washington issues a warning that the exodus is putting the USA in danger. The GOONS (I don’t think we can say KaSStro anymore) will begin shooting on sight and the USA may also intervene on the grounds of genocide, even bringing the Vipers nest (UN) into the game. Technically NOT a shot needs to be fired just INTELLIGENT and POWERFUL policies is what is needed , we need to stop the knee jerk brain farts NOW!
Operational words in Havana right now: "Cuba has accomplished a peaceful transition". This is the mantra that's being repeated on radio and TV. Meaning, the transition from one dictatorship to another.
Still, no word of raul, or on the conditions of kasstro's health or lack of it thereof.
This situation promises to take the wrong turn at any point now!
I know...
But even if the Marines landed in Havana, few shots would be fired.
I bet you a Cuban salary that within two hours the Marines would be playing baseball with the kids on the Prado.
And a plane would leave for China.
This reminds me of an old Soviet joke.
Pravda announces: The Soviet Union has achieved another victory!!!
We can now turn shit into butter!!!
(Still working on color and taste)
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