In Castro’s Cuba, some pigs more equal than others

Oddity: In Castro's Cuba, some pigs more equal than others
By Andrea Rodriguez
Associated Press Published: October 23, 2015 3:23PM

Jailing of street artist has Orwellian feel

HAVANA — The Cuban street artist known as El Sexto was freed this week
after spending 10 months behind bars for attempting to set free in a
public park two pigs painted with the names of the country's highest
leaders.

International human rights groups called his case a vivid demonstration
of how Cuba's harsh limits on free expression remain in full force
despite its economic opening and detente with the United States.

Maldonado, 33, was arrested a week after the declaration of detente last
year as he drove toward Havana's Central Park in a rented car with two
pigs covered with green paint and the names Fidel and Raul in red, in
mockery of Cuba's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and his brother who
has led the country since 2008.


Untouchables


Until recently, Maldonado's case had drawn less attention than that of
expatriate Cuban artist Tania Bruguera, who was briefly arrested and had
her passport confiscated after she tried to convene a free speech forum
in Cuba's Plaza of the Revolution shortly after Dec. 17. Bruguera has
since had her passport returned and left Cuba.

But in recent months, Amnesty International and other human rights group
began calling for Maldonado's release and describing his case as a test
of Cuba's openness to dissent.

His detention showed that "there are some topics and themes that
journalists and writers know they can't touch," said Elizardo Sanchez,
head of Cuba's non-governmental Cuban Commission for Human Rights and
National Reconciliation.

Maldonado told The Associated Press that he had been held without charge
since Dec. 25 "simply because I made fun of the highest leaders of this
revolution."


Swift and harsh condemnation


Cuba has been gradually loosening central control of the economy and
allowing slightly more open discourse in state-run media and an art
world that requires state approval for everything from gallery and
theater space to permission to import materials.

The country's leaders remain sacrosanct however, and attempts at
political organization or questioning of the country's single-party
system are met with swift and harsh condemnation.

While never formally charged, Maldonado was accused of the crime of
disrespect toward government officials, a violation that can bring a 1-
to 3-year sentence under Cuban law.

"We are very happy to learn that in the end he is being freed," said
Robin Guittard, Caribbean campaigner for Amnesty International. "He's
just an artist who tried to do an art show, to use his legitimate right
to freedom of expression. That should never lead people to be sent to
prison. That's a very cold reminder of what's the situation of freedom
of expression today in Cuba."


Creative dissent


In April, Maldonado received the Vaclav Havel International Prize for
Creative Dissent from the New York-based Human Rights Foundation.

"A government that doesn't let itself be criticized starts to lose
credibility," said Maldonado's mother, Maria Victoria Machado.

Dressed in grey shorts, sneakers and a T-shirt, Maldonaldo munched a
sandwich Tuesday afternoon as relatives, well-wishers and reporters
began to fill his home.

"I want to now connect with the people that supported me, " he said,
telling the AP that he planned to request a visa for the United States
and travel to Miami "to be close to people who think like I do, people
in exile, who had to leave."

He said he planned to recover his strength and energy and return to Cuba
after six months.

Source: Oddity: In Castro's Cuba, some pigs more equal than others -
Friday Extra - The Daily Astorian -
http://www.dailyastorian.com/friday-extra/20151023/oddity-in-castros-cuba-some-pigs-more-equal-than-others