What Will She Tell Her Children? That She Devoted Her Life to Violating Our Rights? [VIDEO]

I am a little delusional. Until a minute before the Maria Moors Cabot prize ceremony - held yesterday - I thought the Cuban government would change its decision and let me leave. So I saved the recording I made at the Immigration Office on Monday, October 12. Today, seeing that I am in the same place, I have decided to publish it, thinking especially of all those who are going through the same experience.

Emotion - having so much to say - did make me speak at a velocity difficult to subtitle, but I feel the relief of having said directly to those military uniforms everything I think about them and their absurd restrictions.

Forgive the problems with the video, but it is a completely amateur recording, like everything in this blog.

English Transcript of Video

[Informational text] The office with all the requirements for travel. Bureau of Immigration and Foreigners for the municipality of Plaza, at 17th Street, between J and K, Vedado.

Yoani: Who is last in line for information?

Clerk: Yoani?

Yoani: Well, I need to know if you have lifted the ban on my traveling that has been in effect for a year.

[Informational text] From here the recording is audio only.

Clerk: You still cannot travel.

Yoani: Still? And when will you lift this prohibition.? Do you have an idea? I need to know.

Clerk: Prohibition?

Yoani: Well, not allowing me to get on a plane is a prohibition.

Clerk: You are still not authorized to travel.

Yoani: And for what reason?

Clerk: I do not know the reason.

Yoani: I have no pending legal case, I'm not being prosecuted before a court. Pay attention to this citizen. I've already come many times. You know me here. What I want to know is if this prohibition is unending. If I will one day be able to leave the country. If I continue trying. What do I have to do?

You know this is a violation of my constitutional rights. You people are violating my rights as a citizen, the ability to travel, to leave and enter my country. It is very serious. That a military institution denies a fundamental right of a civilian citizen, it is like the right to an education, to food, the right to travel.

Clerk: At this time you cannot travel.

Yoani: Yes, I have heard it already, I repeat. But I what I want is to have the person who made the decision give me the answer to my face.

Clerk: I am giving it to you.

Yoani: No you are not giving me the answer, you are repeating to me the same thing it says in those papers. Why can't Yoani Sanchez leave the country? Why are you so afraid of my being outside of Cuba?

Clerk: At this time you cannot travel.

Yoani: Why don't you want me to put one foot on a plane? What are you afraid of? What can this 110 pound person do? Create a tsunami? Why then won't you let me leave the country?

Clerk: I already told you...

Yoani: You are being ridiculous. But no, I don't want to repeat. You are making a travesty of life. This institution, that you represent, this permission to leave, some day this is going to end. My grandchildren are not going to live under these conditions. When I tell them the story of how the institutions of my country violated my rights, my right to travel, they're not going to believe me. What will you tell your children? That you dedicated yourself to violating the rights of Cubans? Is that what you'll say? Because really, I feel sorry for you for what you are going to have to tell your children in the future.

Me, no. I've never violated the rights of anyone. I only want to exercise my right. And act like a free person. Why can't I? Why? Why do you routinely deny me permission? Who is the person who makes the decision? Why don't they stop being a coward and show their face? And say to me, "Yoani Sanchez, you are not traveling for one, two, three..." But no.

No, you are saying to me, "No." You are not giving me an explanation, the why. I am not being prosecuted in court. I have no pending cases, I've never been a soldier. I don't have State secrets. I'm not even a doctor, and you have prohibited medical personal from leaving for five years. They need to be freed. I am none of that. I am a person dedicated to letters. Why can't I leave. Ah... I do know why I can't leave, but I am waiting for you people to tell me. Because you have an ideological filter. This country is a huge prison, with an ideological boundary. And the citizens here are judged by political colors. Here there are first citizens, and second, and in the fifth category... I don't know what category I'm in but I must be in the basement, no? Why? Because of an ideological filter.

But one day this will end. Because this Nation has nothing to do with ideology, or with a party. This nation existed before you and it will exist after you. And then you are going to have to give an accounting of all the violations you visited upon Cubans. In truth, I'm very sorry but the future does not belong to you. The future is ours. I am 34-years-old, I am going to live it, I am going to live it. I am going to be very happy when I can travel freely. And all you are doing is tightening the rubber band.

When I can step foot outside this country, the consequences will be much greater because you made it happen. Every day more people read my blog, because you also have made that happen. More people are amazed and greet me in the street, because you have caused that. With your prohibitions and your authoritarianism and your police watching everything. The only thing you've done is to make what I do more attractive. So then, if I have to thank anyone I have to thank the organs of State Security, the Ministry of the Interior, and Immigration who have contributed to the phenomenon of my blog growing bigger and bigger. Really, thanks very much!

 

Follow Yoani Sanchez on Twitter: www.twitter.com/yoanigeny

Comments

[cuban1959]

This is for John McAuliff. It is unbelievable that you try to compare the ban of Americans to travel to Cuba to what us Cubans live in our country.
1st, Americans do not need a permit to get out of the US. Cubans do. I was denied mine 5 times and I had to come to FL in a boat. Of 14 people (10 with visas to get out) 5 people died.

2 nd, This was said by someone but I have to repeat it. Cuba stole all the US properties with zero compensation. Soon after, all private property from the Cubans too.

3 rd, Cuba allied with USSR and brought nuclear weapons. What do you think Castro wanted to do with that? Yo should be concerned as your country is only a few miles away but you seem not know this.
4 th, Cuba has exported guerrillas all over, causing a lot of problems and death. Chaves is a direct product of Havana and now a regional problem for Democracy and the US.

Lastly, Americans can go to Cuba. They do all the time. They go to Mexico or Canada and then to Cuba. The Cubans do not stamp your passport. They need your dollars.

You should read a History book before you make such a comparison. Have you ever been in Cuba? Have you tried to live or raise a family in my country? I know the answer is no.

This comparison is a joke.

[hraisz]

Now Yoani Sanchez knows how we Americans feel.. NONE of us is allowed to travel!

Will she write to Obama to support the right of ordinary Americans to travel?? If we could travel, perhaps we could bring the prize to her in Havana.

[sandokan1]

Freedom will one day come back to Cuba for all. It will come back because of people with a lot of courage like you Yoani. You are the revolutionary, they are the counter revolutionary and the reactionary supporting a totally corrupt regime.

[Cuban Patriot]

Part 3
Stop, read Yoani’s transcript and realize that the Cuba you would like the right to sip a mojito at is the Cuba that won’t allow her to even speak to you if you did go. Perhaps that doesn’t bother you and by your remarks it does seem to be the case. There is more to freedom than just taking a vacation in an oppressed nation.

[jmcauliff]

Reality check:

Yoani is not barred from seeing international visitors, both private and diplomatic.

I travel to Cuba every year because of my work and consider myself lucky if I even see a beach for half a day out of seven. I personally don't need a change in policy, but I want other Americans to have the same freedom to engage with the complicated reality of Cuba today for themselves rather than depend on simplistic and misleading perspectives from exiles, dissidents or ideologists.

There are a number of other countries in the world that are equally or more authoritarian than Cuba. Do you propose Americans be banned from visiting China and Egypt because you don't approve of their political systems or respect for civil liberties?

The conveniently anonymous "Cuban Patriot" proves my point that the two governments must act to change the parameters of their bilateral relationship and not remain bound by the bitterness of personal histories. .

John McAuliff
Fund for Reconciliation and Development

[elena1]

China an Egypt did not steal corporations or properties from American citizens like Cuba did without due compensation, Read some history and them we can talk about Cuba.

[elena1]

Also if you want other americans to enjoy the same freedoms you enjoy, what about 13 million Cuban who cannot go ANYWHERE?

[SigmundF]

What a magnanimous tyrant is the one our merchant defends!!!
So goodhearted is this tyrant that allows Yoani to receive international visitors, both private and diplomatic!!!!!!.... Oh sorry mighty one, I didn't note this gracious gesture of you!!!!
I didn't neither note that is a horrendous mistake to truth that simplistic and misleading perspectives from exiles that preferred to die in Florida's Strait then live theirs life in this wonderful dictatorship Castro created. You are right, dear merchant, no one can truth those dissidents that spent 20 or 30 years in Castro's jail suffering torture, humiliations and forgotten by the rest of the world. It is incredible to pretend to truth those people that lived theirs entire life in this paradisaical tyranny you defend because the most of them are workers and farmers that had became ideologists after escaping the Eden !!!!!!

[Cuban Patriot]

Part 2
. Cuba is currently facing grave financial hardships that may finally cripple this oppressive regime and force the people to rise against their oppressors. Perhaps that is what these spurned travelers do not wish to see? It is possible as you often hear the remark “see Cuba before it is spoiled”. I hope that is not the case, but regrettably I do not know their hearts. And in regards to the Rodney King mentality of “can’t we all just get along” and have a reconciliation between Cubans and Cuban-Americans. What reconciliation are you speaking of? There are no real issues between the two groups as they are actually one. The separation is between the Cuban Communist regime and all Cubans as we have seen in this blog post. What reconciliation can there be between a government that killed your relatives, stole your freedoms, and is destroying your future. Mr. McAuliffe wants all Cubans to overlook the trivialities of oppression when he cannot even overlook not being allowed the use of a beach for the sake of freedom. If some as Mr. McAuliffe have no respect for real freedom that is their right, but please do not do further damage to the cause of the freedom of others.

[jmcauliff]

Did Yoani condemn the equally unacceptable US prohibition of travel to Cuba by the voting members of the NY Philharmonic Society which sabotaged its concerts in Havana? Does she denounce in equally strong language the denial of the freedom to travel of all Americans except those with a Cuban family?

Requirement of a travel license is an exit visa by another name.

How about this for reciprocity: both countries end restrictions on travel to the other by their citizens.

More here http://thehavananote.com/2009/10/yoani_and_ny_philharmonic_deni_1.html

John McAuliff
Fund for Reconciliation and Development

[SigmundF]

Yes, she did..... she did it several times...... she has left it very clear that she is against travel restriction to American citizens to Cuba and against the embargo. Last time she did it was yesterday (10/15/09) in the radio program "Prohibido Callarse" ("Forbidden to be silent") in radio station WQBA 11.40 AM of Miami.
But the problem here is not a problem of reciprocity between Cuba and USA..... the real problem here is a case of flagrant violation of the movement freedom of a person because hers way of thinking. USA is not the only country Yoani is not allowed to travel to. She has been denied her right to travel to Spain, Germany, Switzerland and USA..... so..... she is being handled as a obducted person, as a prisoner in her own country.

[jmcauliff]

Can you provide links to Yoani's blogs or interviews that address limits on travel for all
Americans and her opposition to the embargo?

Absent real issues of security, I don't believe any government has the right to limit its citizens' international travel. The motives of both Cuba and the US in requiring exit visas or travel licenses are primarily political, although both governments may argue there is a dimension of national security.

Frankly I think a small country under constant attack by a far larger and more powerful neighbor can make a better case that it faces multiple dimensions of endangerment but Cuba should recognize it does damage to its international standing and thus security by taking such heavy handed actions.

The US explicitly uses denial of the freedom of travel of its citizens as a weapon to hurt and pressure Cuba. In reality, I think the primary goal is to sustain a hostile relationship which would be hard to do if hundreds of thousands if not millions of Americans traveled to the island.

John McAuliff
Fund for Reconciliation and Development.

[SigmundF]

Here is an article of Yoani where she touch this issue:

http://www.desdecuba.com/generationy/?page_id=256

In an open online interview with readers of the Spanish newspaper "El Pais" .
Commenter Gaby , comment #27, with date 23/04/2008 at 15:57 hours asked:

Do you believe USA is taking steps toward the end of the embargo?

Yoani answer was:

I am delighted thinking that this year can be the last year of the embargo. US gov. has to renewing its Cuba politic because this old politic has not worked the last 50 years. Caught between this rivalry is the Cuban people and my desire is that the Cuban people would become the center of priorities for both the Cuban and US gov.

Here is the link:
http://www.elpais.com/edigitales/entrevista.html?encuentro=3739

I can produce more links if you think those are not enough

[SigmundF]

I really do not find that small country under constant attack of USA. I USA getting multiples benefices of helping Castro to keep the power. I see US presidents, signing year after year a law that confiscate weapons, transport and logistic of army groups that pretend to fight Castro, a law that put in jail these people for 10 years and condemn them to pay fines up to $250 000. I see USA saying "we have an embargo" but selling 85% of all food the dictators buy, I see USA giving millions of dollars in donations and permitting the affluence of thousands of millions of dollars from Miami to Cuba. I see USA helping to open the scape valve of mass emigration each time the internal situation of the dictatorship becomes unstable. I see USA collecting the benefices of the destruction the tyranny caused in Cuba, I see Miami collecting the huge tourism industry the tyranny destroyed in Cuba and making this industry flourishing in Miami, I see Miami's port and Fort Lauderdale port become bigger while Havana's port became smaller due to the destruction the tyranny caused to Cuba's commerce. I see the Hispanic media industry and the records production and distribution industry, once in Havana, today flourishing in Miami..... the list of industries and capital leaving Cuba and relocating in Florida is extensive.... so, ...... Why will USA attack Cuba????..... Why would USA finishing this convenient status quo????

[SigmundF]

Cubans have to get visa even to get in their own country and of course a special permit to get out.

[SigmundF]

The only parts in dispute I know in Cuba are the tyranny in the red corner with a huge record of killing, incarcerating, harassing and destroying and in the opposite corner the Cuban people with Tens thousands dead, hundred thousands in jail and millions in exile.......

[SigmundF]

So, what reconciliation are you working for????

[jmcauliff]

Between the US and Cuba, just as I sought successfully of the US with Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Country to country reconciliation, and, in the words of President Obama, "mutual respect", is a prerequisite for broad scale reconciliation between Cubans and Cuban Americans. Reconciliation does not mean agreement, it means acceptance of differences, with each side naturally hoping that the other will over time move in its direction.

John McAuliff
Fund for Reconciliation and Development

[SigmundF]

I will not repeat my last comment...... I only repeat that I do not see USA and Cuba as 2 nations in conflict but 2 nations that behave as partners if not as allies ..... only that this partnership is very inconvenient for the Cuban nation and only convenient for the dictators bank accounts and some Americans businessmen . You belong to the last group and I do not blame you for trying to get economical advantage of a special situation.... it is what every businessmen in the world do in one o other way..... but..... the question is that a whole nation freedom and welfare is on the table in this case..... and ....there is a lot of voters in USA that votes politicians and presidents according how they handles this disgusting situation that involve you and the tyrants .... and the reason for this behavior is easy... what you and your fellows businessmen are pushing out together with the tyranny will affect to our children, our parents and our brothers in Cuba.... can affect them by making them more hungrier, more sick, less free, more beaten, more jailed or dead.......

[DeSwiss]

The Patriarchy.

Different recipe, but it taste's just the same......