Dehumanizing Discourse and Repression in Cuba

This essay originally published by Michael Lima in Latinoamerica21 argues there is a direct relationship between the official discourse of intolerance and dehumanization of the other in Cuba and political repression. It concludes by analyzing how this relationship between discourse and repression has a more destructive impact on the individual in Cuba due to their state of defenselessness without access to an independent judicial system to defend against human rights violations by the ruling elite.

Las frases excluyentes para referirse al pensamiento que difiera del oficialismo, el asesinato de la reputación y la agresión verbal y física de los opositores son una constante de los métodos del régimen.

Michael LimaApril 28, 2024Comment

Cuba's March 2024 Crackdown

Democratic Spaces has compiled a synopsis of repression in Cuba for the month of March, focusing primarily on the regime's response to the protests on March 17th and 18th, along with other repressive actions, their context, and implications, based on reports from various human rights organizations.

Michael LimaApril 4, 2024 Comment

Aniette Gonzalez: Silenced Activism

On March 26, 2024, the Provincial Court of Camagüey, consisting of Maydel Yadró Hernández, Yaneisy Estrada Robles (Ponente Judge), and Belkis Miranda Pérez, denied Aniette González's appeal, represented by her defense attorney Yanisdey Cruz, against her unjust three-year sentence for the alleged crime of "Offense against national symbols.” At Democratic Spaces, we strongly condemn the ongoing criminalization of peaceful protests in Cuba, and the denial of the appeal filed by Cuban activist Aniette Gonzalez against her unjust three-year prison sentence for the fabricated crime of "Offense against National Symbols."

Michael LimaMarch 31, 2024Comment

Exposing Religious Repression in Cuba

Reports on religious freedoms in Cuba suggest the Cuban regime employs control and surveillance measures to restrict the practice of religious freedom. In 2023, human rights NGOs documented a minimum of 936 instances of such violations. These violations range from hindering the attendance of the Ladies in White and relatives of political prisoners at Sunday masses, to police summons & harassment

Public protest in Cuba remains heavily suppressed

There are strategic changes in the official narrative of the Cuban dictatorship. Spokespersons of the Cuban regime, for the first time in more than 6 decades, announced a reluctant recognition of the protests in Santiago de Cuba and other places on the island on March 16-18. What we see is a change of repressive façade that responds to the regime’s high degree of unpopularity and the deterioration of its international image

Cuba Honors Belarusian Official, Canada Sanctions Him for Global Threat

While the Cuban regime awards Viktor Gulevich the the Antonio Maceo Medal in recognition of “extraordinary merits in operations, high combat qualities, or the training and preparation of their command staff, the Government of Canada has included Viktor Vladimirovich Gulevich in the list of members of the Belarusian regime and entities that “constitute a serious breach of international peace and security, leading to a serious international crisis.”

Popular protests across Cuba in March 2024

There are winds of change in Cuba, and the brave Cuban people are its protagonists. The recent demonstrations in cities like Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Cárdenas, and Bayamo on March 16t,. 17th and 18th are a reaffirmation that the heart of peaceful resistance against oppression and misery beats in Cuba. What follows is a summary of the protests along with photos and videos that capture popular demand in the voice of people across Cuba.

Michael LimaMarch 19, 2024 Comments

Sayli Navarro: An iconic image in the struggle for freedom in Cuba.

In the timeless struggle for freedom and democracy, there are iconic moments captured in photos that have become part of the history of resistance against oppression. While the Chinese remember the image of an anonymous hero standing before a column of tanks parading through Tiananmen Square after the massacre, and Venezuelans cherish the memory of a young man bravely protesting naked in front of the tanks of the Bolivarian National Guard during April 2017, Cubans have the image of Saylí Navarro. She stood tall, head held high, defiant, displaying courage and pride in being on the right side of history when she was arrested by thugs of the Ministry of the Interior in Cuba in 2013.

Michael LimaMarch 13, 2024Comment

Free Jose Daniel Ferrer and all Cuban political prisoners

Pro democracy leader & Cuban prisoner of conscience José Daniel Ferrer García, wrongfully imprisoned since July 11, 2021 and sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison has been subjected to the most brutal tortures, aiming to slowly kill him or force him into exile. He has endured extreme isolation, sonic attacks, lack of medical attention, beatings, and has been denied conjugal visits 15 times. He hasn't been allowed even a phone call with his family for a year, and the repression extends to his wife, Dr. Nelva Ortega Tamayo, who has been subjected to house arrest and threatened with detention if she publicly denounces the denial of visits to her husband.

Trudeau debe reconsiderar su política exterior hacia Cuba

Desde que el primer ministro Justin Trudeau asumió el cargo en 2015, la política exterior de Canadá hacia Cuba ha estado marcada por la incoherencia y la falta de acción en la defensa de los derechos humanos de un pueblo al que el gobierno canadiense considera "amigo." A pesar de que el primer ministro Trudeau afirma defender la democracia en otras partes del mundo, como Venezuela, Bielorrusia, Ucrania y otros países, su gobierno no mantiene el mismo rasero cuando se trata de Cuba.

Democratic Spaces Support for European Parliament Joint Motion for Resolution on the critical human rights situation in Cuba

Without pressure, there is no change. That's why I consider the recent joint motion for a European Parliament resolution on the critical human rights situation in Cuba presented in the European Parliament with 285 votes in favor, 172 against, and 46 abstentions, approved on February 29, 2024, to be of great importance. This motion for an EU resolution calls for targeted sanctions (Magnitsky style) against the handpicked president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and the main perpetrators of serious human rights violations in Cuba.

Michael LimaMarch 3, 2024Comment

Trudeau must change its policy on Cuba, which is leveraged by China, Russia, Iran

Canada's foreign policy on the Cuban regime needs reevaluation in light of unprecedented levels of repression in Cuba since July 2021. As China, Russia, and Iran leverage Cuba, Ottawa prioritizes trade over human rights & democracy. Since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took office in 2015, Canada's foreign policy towards Cuba has been marked by inconsistency and a lack of action in defending the human rights of a people whom the Canadian government considers "friends." Despite Trudeau's claims to defend democracy in other parts of the world, such as Venezuela, Belarus, Ukraine, his government does not uphold the same standard when it comes to Cuba.

Las Notificaciones Rojas de INTERPOL como arma de persecusion politica del regimen cubano

Democratic Spaces, una ONG canadiense de derechos humanos que apoya el derecho soberano de toda persona a participar en la resistencia pacífica contra toda forma de opresión en Cuba y en cualquier otro lugar, condena enérgicamente el uso distorsionado que el régimen cubano hace del sistema de notificaciones rojas de INTERPOL. Esta manipulación tiene por objeto perseguir, detener, encarcelar, difamar, restringir la libertad de circulación y silenciar a los críticos a escala mundial. Consideramos que se trata de un claro ejemplo de represión transnacional, una táctica empleada sistemáticamente por los gobiernos autoritarios para reprimir la disidencia más allá de sus fronteras, especialmente dentro de las comunidades de la diáspora y el exilio.

Michael LimaFebruary 8, 2024Comment

The Cuban Regime's Weaponization of INTERPOL's Red Notices

Democratic Spaces, a Canadian human rights NGO that supports the sovereign right of every individual to engage in peaceful resistance against all forms of oppression in Cuba and elsewhere, strongly condemns the Cuban regime's distorted use of INTERPOL's Red Notice system. This manipulation aims to persecute, arrest, imprison, defame, restrict freedom of movement, and silence critics globally. We view this as a clear instance of transnational repression, a tactic systematically employed by authoritarian governments to suppress dissent beyond their borders, especially within diaspora and exile communities.

Michael LimaFebruary 8, 2024Comment

Cubans: The Real Story. What about Canada?

On November 21, 2023 Michael Lima, Director of Democratic Spaces presented a paper on the human rights situation in Cuba, and the regime’s alliances with Russia and China with a special focus on the urgent need for Canada to reformulate its foreign policy on Cuba. The paper offered key recommendations for Canada to help advance human rights in Cuba.

Democratic Spaces Stands With Israel

Democratic Spaces, a Canadian NGO dedicated to championing democracy and human rights in Cuba, issues a resolute condemnation of the recent terrorist assault by Hamas on Israel. We grieve the heartbreaking loss of innocent lives in these inexplicable acts of violence. At this challenging juncture, we extend unwavering solidarity to the people of Israel, conveying our heartfelt condolences to the grieving families.

Michael LimaOctober 9, 2023Comment

Call on Canada to deny the Cuban regime a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.

Democratic Spaces calls on Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly and Canada's Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York and Geneva, Bob Rae and Leslie E. Norton to deny Cuba a seat at the Human Rights Council as its regime is responsible for gross human rights abuses.

Michael Lima, Director of Democratic Spaces, met with MP Tony Baldinelli.

As part of the visibility and advocacy campaign carried out by the Canadian NGO Democratic Spaces in support of the release of José Daniel Ferrer García and all conscience prisoners in Cuba, Michael Lima, Director of Democratic Spaces met with MP Tony Baldinelli.

Michael LimaAugust 18, 2023Comment

LIBEREN A JOSE DANIEL FERRER, PRISIONERO DE CONCIENCIA CUBANO

Al cumplirse tres meses desde que el 17 de marzo de 2023 el Arzobispo de Santiago de Cuba Dionisio García Ibáñez vIera por última vez con vida al Prisionero de Conciencia y líder prodemocrático cubano, José Daniel Ferrer, publicamos esta carta dirigida a los gobiernos democráticos, organizaciones de derechos humanos y legisladores de Canadá y de todo el mundo pidiendo fe de vida y apoyo para presionar por su liberación inmediata e incondicional.

Michael LimaJune 17, 2023Comment

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE OF JOSÉ DANIEL FERRER CUBAN PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE

Open letter submitted by Democratic Spaces along with the Council for the Democratic Transition of Cuba and the Patriotic Union of Cuba demanding proof of life of José Daniel Ferrer after three months of enforced disappearance. We call for his immediate and unconditional release along with all Cuban political prisoners

Democratic Spaces

Info

Action

Contact