Playwright Junior García Aguilera has become a loudspeaker for many Cuban compatriots who have been silenced for decades. He admits that he was lucky because under his status as an artistenjoy a space where they can express themselves with some freedom, albeit with many restrictions. Theatre let you disagree with the tyranny of the communist regime, which oppressed its people for 60 years. However, there came a point where he felt that this was not enough. He was born with a calling change the world through his art, and life has taught him how to truly achieve this you had to “cross the border”…
That was done. He considers himself more a “citizen”. But today he is one of the most visible leaders of Cuban dissidence. They say it drives the government crazy, it shocks the regime. And it’s obvious that your speech is very uncomfortable… I think the further the better. Perhaps that’s why allowed him to leave the island on November 17, after promote 15N and spearheading the freedom movement that caused the “cultural explosion” of the past 11 july… Day “social outbreak – the largest in the history of Cuba, ”exclaims the Junior.
So it was tough repressed by “black berets”but he believes that this was a big step towards the liberation of the Cuban people. Change must start from the bottom. People need to know “The True History of Cuba”, Explain. However, he is well aware that much remains to be done. The Cuban government will do everything it can to prevent this, and he will help it, as was emphasized in the interview. LD…
They turned off 15N
The day before the call, Sunday 14 novemberThe junior suggested visiting the Vedado quarter of Havana, alone and in silence, carrying a white rose. Peaceful protest, “almost a religious liturgy,” he adds. But they didn’t allow it. This is the only day that confesses that he was scared…
“My house was surrounded by about 200 people. They were standing in front of my door, on the ground floor, in the street, in the corners … They did not even let accredited journalists or anyone through. They pretended to be my neighbors, although I didn’t know any of them, ”he exclaims. “Their They shouted at us: Get out of this area, this area doesn’t love you. This area belongs to the communists. Traitor, mercenary. ” He could not help but fear for his family. “For my wife, for my mother-in-law, who were with me in the house.” “I saw in the eyes of those people. hate I haven’t seen before“, – he comments.
But the truth is that he was not surprised that his initiative was blocked. “On CubaAchieving this is practically utopia, “he admits,” we knew it was not easy. ” “The regime threatened us with the worst”, Explain. They didn’t want the march to take place under any circumstances. It was originally organized on 20 November. They were told that they would remove the tanks because it was celebrated on National Defense Day and the troops were going to mobilize three days before. So they changed the date. But that didn’t work either.
“They used mayors, governors, prosecutors to intimidate us. They used their sympathizers, who posted images with sticks on social networks, even with nails on the tip, where they said that they were about to hit everyone who dared to demonstrate “. As indicated by the protest organizer,” this it is very difficult under a dictatorship to exercise the right as elementary as meeting those who think alike and peaceful demonstrations. “
“They say the streets belong to revolutionaries,” he blurts out with a half smile, “but we feel more revolutionary than they do, we want to change something when they want to stagnate.” “Word the revolution has lost all meaning in Cuba “, the verdict.
Dictatorship of fear
The regime managed to instill fear in the population. It costs perpetuate oneself in power… According to Junior, they have achieved more in Cuba than is prevalent in countries “where there is more violence and they seem dead on the streets.” Here it matches Cuban scientist Eduardo Lopez-Collazo, with whom we also interviewed a few days ago in LD… Cubans grow up with it psychological terror…
“From the moment you are born, fear is in you, and fear it grows in your head“says the playwright. So much so that you cannot speak freely or with your family.” Many times, when you criticize out loud, they ask you to speak quietly, “he assures. I believe that” the walls have ears. “
“They have achieved this everyone doesn’t trust everyoneHe warns. “Parents don’t trust their children … They don’t trust their closest friends or partner … There are things that you dont even dare say pillow… And this mistrust, this fear kept them there, in power, and managed to silence a significant part of the population. “But Junior has faith,” he assures. “There is no evil that lasts 100 years,” he said. exclaims: “The body of the nation can no longer bear it.”
Change scam
This is not an “ideological problem, if not cultural problem“- says the playwright. – When they understand that this is a place where people who suffer, do not have minimum freedoms and rights, then everything can change,” he assures.
But the change that Cubans yearn for must be for the better. “This does not mean a return to the past.This does not mean bringing Cuba to the state in which it was before 1959, it cannot mean preserving everything the same, ”he clarifies. This is what he calls “cheating.” replace one dictatorship with another, or replace it with a negative thought. It’s about building a country with the whole world. “
<< What is happening in Cuba now is that sovereignty is not in the hands of the people or citizens, sovereignty stolen for a caste that has been in power for more than 60 years and does not want to give it up because it enjoys privileges that the rest of the population does not have, ”he says.
For change to take place, people need to know “history that was denied”, It is said. “When decent people learn with dignity the true story of what happened in Cuba over the past 60 years, they will understand that you cannot stand regime raised on injustice, abuse and, unfortunately, crimes against the citizens themselves. “
Euphemisms of the regime
The Cuban government wrote history at will, logically always in its favor. Nothing is called by name. “When I was 10 years old, ‘Special period’… This was the way to call worst crisis Cuba has ever been“Junior explains,” They didn’t want to call her that … But we went to school with broken shoes … And many times without breakfast, with a glass of sugar (on our stomach). “
“We did endure terrible suffering, but nevertheless they made us believe we were lucky he was born in the best country in the world, – he assures. “The regime was perfect tartuffe… He managed to convince a large part of the world with the help of masks. “The artists had to make great efforts to show reality and learn how to carry it in the best possible way.” We started with humor, because that’s what always saved us, “she notes.
“We created a humorous group in the middle of the Special Period. We were so hungry that we named her Chicken with rice“And so” we began to make a theater about reality, about the discussion of ideas, and with frontal criticism of the regime… “It gave me a lot of problems,” he admits. “They began to watch me closely, they considered me an uncomfortable artist.” But the worst happened later. ” People told me to stay there and not leave the theater. But i crossed the line“Yes, his only weapon is ‘words, ideas and the struggle for thought.’
Rules of necessity
The Cuban people live in poverty and this doesn’t let him fight for what belongs to him. “The need is so great that people do not have time think about human rights“Mourns the playwright.” They spend the day in long lines trying to get a basic product. “This is one of the formulas that the communist government uses to subdue its people. But not the only one.
“The regime remained on their feet thanks to the exploitation of their victims– assures Junior Garcia. He does this, for example, with the help of so-called “internationalization missions” or “medical teams”. “We all know that it is solidarity market“that the regime is making a profit and, in addition, exploiting its workers,” he explains. up to 80% of your salary“It seems incomprehensible that they agree to“ go out in those conditions almost slavery“But“ at least it allows them to bring their kids a TV, toys or sweets. ”“ In Cuba, sometimes that’s not possible, ”he snaps.
“The one who remains in Cuba It depends on the money you left“An artist who recently arrived from the island tells about this. He describes a paradoxical scenario, almost a joke. ” To those who left Some time ago they were told: traitors, traitors. Now they tell them: bring dollars, bring dollarsCubans joke about it, but it’s not “terribly tragic” anymore. The reality is that “those whom they called traitors, the regime now demands money. this is as if your own rapist is blackmailing you“.
Junior Garcia is confident that he will do his best to change the reality of his country. “We cannot shift this burden onto new generations, I cannot let my son have this cross“, – he says. His greatest desire:” to end fundamentalism and find a vaccine against intolerance. “
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