Jerry Brewer’s article entitled Cuba, FARC and their Sinister Presence in Venezuela presents the sad truth about the role of Cuba in Latin America, that the Obama administration is ignoring.

55 years of killings, tortures and oppression caused by the Castro regime in Cuba has been disregarded. 

Removing Cuba from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism is a big mistake. The Castro regime has spread death and destruction throughout Latin America, and its tentacles are now in Venezuela. I am hoping that the plan to restore relations with Cuba goes beyond the economics. Human rights in Cuba and in Venezuela must continue to be the priority for this administration. 

Celebrating Life in Union: A Cuban Story

Celebrating Life in Union is a story of human resilience, community, and brotherhood.  It follows a group of former Cuban political prisoners through their memory of imprisonment and their half century fight with the aging Castro regime.  Having developed a strong community for themselves that now crosses three generations in Union City, NJ they struggle with the realization that their own mortality may come before they can return to their homeland.  The movie is currently under distribution.

View the Trailer:

Purchase it here.

International Pressure Against Maduro to stop his Killing Machine

Violence has increased in Venezuela under the Nicolas Maduro's watch.  Maduro has demonstrated a blatant disregard for human rights, particularly against students and political leaders since he took office in 2014. Last week Antonio Ledezma, the Mayor of Caracas was arrested, and  Opposition leader Jorge Borges is “under investigation.”

This past Tuesday, a 14-year-old high school student from San Cristobal was shot in the head at point blank range when he was protesting. This style of murdering dissidents is becoming common in Venezuela. Last week we heard the senseless killing of three university students who were in police custody. They were found tortured to death.  The list of human right violations goes on and on with no end in sight.  The Maduro regime and his clan are very aware  that the Venezuelan problems of food shortage and lack of productivity are not going  away.  Protesters in Venezuela have emerged since last February against the regime’s inability to perform its duties.  Nicolas Maduro is again focusing his attention on oppression and human rights violations instead of solving the immediate economic crisis.

This past January, General Vladimir Padrino López, passed a resolution which gives  license to  police to murder students who protest.  This mandate supports the use of firearms and other weapons against “immediate aggressions” according with the Minister. 

International Pressure Against Maduro to stop his  Killing Machine 

The subsequent abuses of power in Venezuela has prompted international outrage. This past Wednesday the US Secretary of State John Kerry accused Maduro regime of  "egregious behavior" and promised  to expedite  the implementation of recent sanctions to those members of his cabinet that have committed human right violations. These sanctions are crucial, but in addition to the sanctions, international pressure must also  come from the UN, the OAE,  the European Communities, and all the democratic Latin American nations.

This is to stop  the Nicolas Maduro killing rampage and hopefully force him out of office through democratic means. 

It is interesting to note that the students today who are protesting this violent and oppressive regime only know Chavismo as a way of government. They have no other point of reference.

When Chavez came to power in 1999, most of the students where either toddlers or were just entering elementary school.  These young people only have known the Chavez Socialism of the XXI Century , a failing political ideology, hybrid from the collapsing  Cuban  political system under the Castro brothers, who are still holding  power after 56 years.
Maduro will not last that long. The protests will continue. Maduro will go,  but the question is,  how much more  damage will he cause on his way out.

The Rise of Hugo Chavez and the fall of Venezuela

It is hard to believe that Venezuela, until 1999, was considered a very stable democracy with a growing economy in Latin America. Venezuela never faced the levels of depression and human right violations, and the lack of food and goods that it is experiencing today.

The rise of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, with his demagogue talks about Socialism of the XXI century directed to the masses, and the elimination of multiple political parties in favor of the official party has been catastrophic.

Just like Hitler, Stalin or Mussolini did in their days, Hugo Chavez’s empty promises and handouts worked temporarily, but didn't solve the deep-seated problems of poverty and inequality in Venezuela.   Hugo Chavez demagogy, which emphasized in income redistribution, increasing wages by decree, and controlling prices artificially brought Venezuela's economy to its knees.
High oil income estimated to be about 250 billion dollars, during the last 14 years was pilfered or stolen by the government bureaucracy, military officers and bankers that do business with the government. In addition, the lack of accountability and transparency, which existed in the Chavez regime produced a level of corruption never seen before in Venezuela.

These problems compounded by Nicolas Maduro's incompetence, this past year in office, to solve the shortage of food, electricity and other problems inherited from the Chavez’s regime.

The Maduro administration has demonstrated to be incapable of solving the severe corruption, economic problems, and food shortage in the country. This past year the regimen resulted in oppressing dissidents while his government continues excluding significant portions of society from decision-making. The result is that Venezuela has become poorer and a more backward society.
February 2014 kicked off the most severe repression and human right violations that Venezuela has seen in 50 years which led to hundred of people being incarcerated, abused and tortured by the Maduro regime.

February 2015 may mark the end of the Socialism of the XXI and the return to democracy in Venezuela.

The oil plunges and Maduro’s future plunges with it

The falling of the oil prices combined with US green light to oil companies to export crude oil are going to create a further economic crisis for countries like Venezuela that primarily depends on oil production.

In 2013, Venezuela ranked as one of the countries with the highest misery, not only on the economic part but also on personal security matters.

The appropriation of businesses by the Chavez regime forced many companies to close down or stop production completely which has devastated the country’s economy, forcing his follower Nicolas Maduro to further devaluate the currency due to growing shortages of food and other basic goods in the country.

According with a BBC report the Venezuelan annual inflation roused  to 63%  in  2014 and 2015  brings even a bleaker picture, transforming Venezuela into the perfect backdrop for a booming black market.

The drop of the oil prices is in my view the last step needed for the collapsing of the authoritarian and inefficient Maduro regime, leaving a once rich and prosperous country like Venezuela into an economic devastation.

Leopoldo Lopez calls for unity to a Venezuela that is on a brink of collapsing

Venezuelan political leader Leopoldo Lopez, a husband and a father of two who has been imprisoned by the Maduro regime since February 18, 2013 is calling on the Venezuelan people to stand united and exercise their rights to peaceful protests as it is permitted by the Venezuelan Bolivarian Constitution.  Leopoldo Lopez was the victim of political persecution by the late president Chavez, and the persecution has systematically been continued by Nicolas Maduro.

The falling of oil prices brings a different panorama for Venezuela and perhaps for Leopoldo Lopez, and the dozens students, political prisoners, and the Maduro regime.  In a country where not only human rights are missing but also there is a lack food, a lack of products and above all a lack of security, the Maduro regime knows that their  time in power is threatened by Maduro’s inability to solve Venezuelan’s unsustainable economy.

Perhaps the Leopoldo call for unity and to stand for Venezuelan freedom will resonate today more than ever with the Venezuelan people, tired of hoping for peace and prosperity. 

Response: "With Cuba, Nothing Can Be Simple"

I recently read an article called "With Cuba nothing can be simple" http://time.com/3646803/cuba-decision/ written by Jean-Paul Renaud  which I found fascinating, even though his personal journey is very different from that of many of my other Cuban friends'. These men and women fought the Castro regime, and paid with their freedom.  For them, the U.S. negotiations with a brutal dictator is  not an option. 

There is a dilemma on both sides of the embargo lift - each completely justified.  For those who oppose lifting the embargo their argument is: How can you move forward without forgetting the pain and anguish, the humiliation, the torture and death that the Cubans have gone through, and are still going through under the Castro regime? 

For those who support lifting the embargo: Why not to move forward and put and end to this nightmare created by the Castro regime?  As the author said, "with Cuba nothing can be simple”  is very true, but I think that the duty of the Cuban people is to make sure that the Cuban Holocaust is NEVER forgotten.

Why Cuban Americans are Angry Right Now

I've had multiple conversations recently about Cuban American reaction to all the news about Cuba. There is a lot of anger among folks in Miami and in cities like Union City, New Jersey, where the Cuban-American population is extremely high.

I understand why they are mad.

In my work interviewing Cuban former political prisoners, I've heard nightmarish stories, horrible stories of killing and torture and where people lost their families and everything that was important to them. They are angry because they are afraid that there will be no accountability for the atrocities committed by the Castro regime against the Cuban people.

Now, more than ever, as we try to understand the Cuban American tragedy, it important to hear what people went through in a communist Cuba.

In Celebrating Life in Union, narrated by Andy Garcia, we follow a group of former Cuban political prisoners through their memory of imprisonment and their half century fight with the aging Castro regime. See trailer and information below:



Celebrating Life in Union - narrated  by actor Andy Garcia - is about the resilience and brotherhood of a group of former Cuban political prisoners from the Escambray Movement in the 1960's. They were 17, 18 and 19 year old boys who fought with Fidel Castro against the dictator Fulgencio Batista in Cuba .  Later, they fought against Fidel Castro after the resignation of Huber Matos, the third highest-ranking officer of the Fidel Castro revolution. These men received 20 and in some cases 30 years in jail. They are now in their 70's and 80's having kept their brotherhood alive in Union City , New Jersey The documentary premiered at the New York City International Film Festival, and was nominated as "Most Inspirational" by Doc Miami International Film. 

Purchase the full documentary here: http://tinyurl.com/pt5uqro 

In a Desperate Move, the Maduro Regime Violates the VZ Constitution Once Again...

In a desperate move the Maduro Regime violates the Venezuelan Constitution by illegally appointing members to the Supreme Court and to the NEC (CNE)

2014 ends for Venezuela with more violations to the constitution by the Maduro dictatorship.

In a desperate move, Diosdado Cabello, the President of the National Assembly appoints members from this regime to the Venezuelan Supreme Court and to the National Electoral Center, in violation of the constitution. It is customary that Parliamentarians are selected through a process of three sessions before final selection. Diosdado Cabello, in a swift and an illegal move, appointed the parliamentarians arguing that “We are here for Chavez” to justify his blatant violation to the constitution.

The regime fears the worse with the economy falling rapidly at the speed of the barrel of oil, now at is lowest cost of $49.00 per barrel.  The Venezuelan are bracing for tumultuous and economically challenge 2015.

What I think: Once again, the regime is making SURE that the opposition has no chance to be a part of the Venezuelan democratic political process. Venezuelan politics continue with NO checks and balances.

Resources:

Denuncian que es ilegal extender plazo para sustituir a rectores del CNE

Mayoría parlamentaria chavista elige a magistrados de la Corte Suprema

Repost: "Facts and Subterfuge regarding the U.S. and Cuba Proposals"

My friend Jerry Brewer has an excellent site about Mexican and Latin American politics. He was nice enough to mention me and my work in a recent post about Cuba: "Facts and Subterfuge regarding the U.S. and Cuba Proposal."

"Communist ideology by the Castro regime has graphically meant death, destruction and misery to the island. Ask the Cubans who have lived it, and those now residing in the U.S."

Read the entire post here.

New relations with Cuba, but what about human rights?

Everyone brace yourself for a new era in Cuban-American relations. Obama’s action, to lift the embargo, has shocked his critics and his followers, but things in Cuba will not change as drastically as we may think.

President Obama, who has been openly against this American policy since he was a Senator, had promised to eliminate the embargo. Perhaps because nothing has changed since sanctions on Cuba,  or perhaps because the Obama administration realizes that the only way to get a handle on Cuba is through business and trading.

"These 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked. It's time for a new approach." - President Obama

While people often talk about the embargo, they don't always know all the facts. Despite the embargo, the United States is currently the fifth largest exporter to Cuba (6.6% of Cuba's imports are from the US). However, unlike democratic countries, Cuba must pay cash for all imports as credit is not allowed. 

A big question we should consider right now, will lift the embargo help alleviate human rights violations in Cuba? Violations are still happening in Cuba and will not disappear in the near future - embargo or not. Steps need to be taken by the Cuban government to change its abusive policies towards its people, and the U.S. should make sure that we're not supporting oppressive policies and behavior. 

The end of the Cuban’s falling socialist system might mean the end of the infiltration and manipulation in Latin America. But there is a lot of work to do to get there.