Cuba before the digital Revolution

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America

Cuba before the digital Revolution

Many young Cubans hope that with the visit of the US President to have access to the Internet is facilitated. For journalists, it is now necessary to life. From Havana, Ines Pohl.

Maria Ramon laughs, grimaces, and waves in your cell phone. You are throwing air kisses to the little device. Then thick tears flow over her cheeks. Maria has seen it three weeks ago for the first Time her grandson on the Phone. In real life, she has met him before. He is five and lives in Miami. She is 63 and lives in Havana.

So far, the people that have spoken of the Revolution in Cuba would have meant the overthrow of the government of the dictator Batista by Fidel Castro. That could change. Because at the Moment, a very different Revolution in the socialist country. And it is no coincidence that US President Barack Obama during his historic state visit, has repeatedly pointed to the importance of the Internet. Because it is the digital Revolution, especially young Cubans and Cubans so much hope.

Use of the Internet is for many Cubans only at public Hotspots possible

Monopolization of the media

Independent media are banned in Cuba. All official media are controlled by the state, the Communist party or the trade unions. What kind of the same thing. As this monopolization was written in the Constitution, there was, of course, still no Internet. And this gap in the System now, young journalists, in order to supply the Cubans with legitimate journalistic Information. More and more Online portals and Online platforms are established, about the journalists, their contributions can publish without that, the pages are blocked or you need to worry about personal sanctions.

Elaine Díaz is head of the independent Online Portal “Periodismo de Barrio”. The coverage of the United States or other countries, and leaves them with other media. Your it comes, to write uncensored about what is happening in Cuba, in this period of transition. “It is very important that there is a Power or a group that acts as a sort of Overseer, ensures that these changes are happening, going in the right direction,” she says. This task could meet a free press, would also be capable to organize the dialogue between the state leadership, representatives of the economy and the Cubans.

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They don’t want people to consume the information, but on the other hand, reporting on social media to participate. “But this is difficult because many people use the Internet, much like in the US or Europe, especially for personal communication.”

Cuba does not leave the Old

Abraham Jiménez is the editor of the online magazine “El Estornudo” and another young Cuban who is very grateful for the visit of President Obama. The young people needed exactly this hope, he says, in order to remain in Cuba, in order to make the change – and the island did not leave it up to those who would leave everything the same. “The fact that we have a Medium that belongs to us and not from a politician or the state, is influenced, shows that in Cuba to make a change begins.“

Even de-limited access to the worldwide network. In Havana, there are currently only 25 Hotspots, which comes into the network. Day and night the people gather here, with the access codes that you can buy at the state-owned telephone authority, Etecsa, to dial into the net – if you have a Computer or Internet-enabled mobile phone.

These are the pitfalls of progress. And a harbinger for what could well be in Cuba with an Opening. And that is that the gap between the Rich, who are often supported by family members from abroad, and the often very poor people of the country will always gape further apart. But this is not the only criticism there is to the huge changes experienced by the country.

The fight for human rights

Berta Soler is one of the most well-known human rights activists in Havana. She is the Chairman of the “White ladies”, the fighting since 2003 for the release of political prisoners. It holds little of the euphoria surrounding the visit of US President Obama. On the contrary, you told us before his arrival, that they are not feared, to be locked up, so that Obama wouldn’t notice, as they fought for the release of dissidents.

And, in fact, only a few hours before the arrival of Obama, the group was arrested in your allsonntäglichen protest March, and for several hours held. At least two Cuban journalists were detained by the police for several hours. The Film footage and photographs show how brutal the Cuban police access and not by the attending international press and hold.

Because the government, suspect that members of the White ladies, even before the landing of Obama clearly wanted to make, what happens to people who dare to protest during the state visit.

Berta Soler is of the opinion that Obama should not have been, if the human rights would have improved the situation really, if human rights were really respected. Of the changes and Openings of the last two years, it holds little. All of which are ultimately only cosmetic changes, which solved none of the real problems. “I will fight for change in Cuba, the solve our problems and inequalities still greater.”

Everything is just a facade

On Tuesday, Obama will meet with representatives from human rights to organize stations. That was his condition for a state visit. Berta Soler will also be there and want to make it clear what happens to people who protest in public against the arbitrariness of the state.

During his trip Obama will have enough seen facades were freshly painted for him. Berta Soler wants to tell him the naked truth. And tell me what happened with your Girlfriends, just a few hours before, an American President has set foot for the first Time in 88 years, Cuban soil.