Censorship in Cuba
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Censorship in Cuba has been reported on extensively, and resulted in European Union sanctions [1] as well as statements of protest from groups, governments, and noted individuals (see below).
In August of 2006, the Cuban government announced a warning to owners of illegal television satellite dishes, citing as a concern that the United States could use the dishes to transmit programming with "destabilizing, subversive content."[2]
Sanctions, imposed by the European Union in 2003 as a response to a crackdown against dissidents, were not renewed in 2006, in spite of a finding by the EU council that "the state of human rights had deteriorated"[citation needed] since sanctions were initially imposed. 20 reporters imprisoned in 2003 are still in jail, including Guillermo Fariñas.[3]
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and its Committee of Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression expressed their deep concern about the continuing violations of the basic human right to freedom of access to information and freedom of expression in Cuba.[4]
The Office for Cuban Affairs of the United States government issued a statement praising the Global Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations for their efforts to bring attention to the “unjust jailing of journalists” in Cuba.[5]
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[edit] Music Censorship
Censorship in Cuba extends heavily onto music. In 2002, “Following the Hip Hop Festival held in Havana in August, the Casa de Cultura in Alamar received an order from the Ministry of Culture to review the lyrics of rap songs before the start of any concert.” [6] Cuban rappers responded by altering their music/lyric styles. “Underground’s beat slowed down its tempo and rappers started changing up their lyrics. The strident notes coming from the barrios and caseríos that scared the State so much when they first came out started softening themselves to take advantage of the promotional opportunities offered by those same people who initiated the hunting spree.” [7] For more information here is an interview with Dr. Mario Masvidal who is a former Cuban radio personality where he gives his thoughts on music censorship in Cuba.
[edit] Chronology of events
- 1963 - Cuba begins to jam foreign radio broadcasts[citation needed]
- 2006 - Cuba jams Radio Republica, a clandestine broadcast to Cuba on 7205 kHz[citation needed]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Green, Eric 2005 Cuban Women's Group Awarded European Parliament's Sakharov Prize Prize also awarded to press freedom group, Nigerian human-rights lawyer. U.S. State Department. http://usinfo.state.gov/wh/Archive/2005/Oct/27-257396.html “In an October 26 statement, the European Parliament, which awards the prize annually, said the group of Cuban women has been protesting peacefully every Sunday since 2004 against the continued detention of their husbands and sons, who are political dissidents in Cuba. The women wear white as a symbol of peace and the innocence of those imprisoned.”
- ^ Thompson, Ginger. "Cuba: Warning On TV Dishes", New York Times, August 10, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
- ^ "Dismay at the European Union’s decision not to re-impose Cuba sanctions", Reporters Without Borders, 2006-06-04. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
- ^ Access to Information and Intellectual Freedom in Cuba American Library Association
- ^ Green, Eric. "U.S. Lauds Press Freedom Advocates’ Criticism of Cuba", News From Washington, United States Government, 2006-11-06. Retrieved on 2006-12-08.
- ^ Censorship against young poets and rap artists Jorge Alberto Aguiar Diaz, Cuba News. 12/13/2002
- ^ Joseph, Welmo Romero. 2008. "From Hip-hop to Reggaeton: Is There Only a Step?" In Reading Reggaeton (forthcoming, Duke University Press).
