Interviews with Roberto de Miranda

Let me tell you something: you have to be very intelligent in dealing with the Cuban government. I think that the policy of several European governments that helped achieved the release of many political prisoners in our country has been a very smart one. There may be people who disagree with me, but I think that the Spanish government, knowing that the Cuban government is a proud and arrogant one, knew how to handle the situation when I was released in 2004.

I’m very grateful to the Spanish and French governments for their assistance in the release of the first 12 prisoners, who were the most ill. I think that the work performed by European Union governments with the Cuban government has been based on intelligent rather than confrontational policies.

I think that’s a very positive thing. Within this group of nations, I can point out the Eastern European nations who have always stood by the Cuban people and the dissidents. The work of Eastern European activists has to be appreciated, especially the way they’ve approached our homes to convey their solidarity.

Also, we should pay thanks to the work done by many young people in Latin American countries, like Venezuela, Costa Rica, or Uruguay. Regrettably, this hasn’t been the case for Latin American governments, which have constantly turned their backs on us. It’s sad to say, but going to Havana and filing a complaint at the Mexican consulate is basically asking to be kicked out of the embassy.

It’s not something I enjoy saying, but I must because I am here to tell the truth. Latin American governments are afraid of the Castro brothers. It’s an objective reality that is palpable even to the citizens of these countries. International support from European countries, on the other hand, has been really positive for our dissent.

Roberto de Miranda is a former teacher, educational freedom advocate, and prisoner of conscience in Cuba.

Born in the province of Camaguey in 1946, Miranda worked as a mathematics teacher in the 1980s. He was fired from his teaching position by school administrators for his refusal to participate in public political acts and for refusing to pass students who did not earn passing grades. He then co-founded and became the first president of the College of Teachers of Cuba (Colegio de Pedagogos de Cuba), a non-governmental organization that seeks “the de-ideologization of education in Cuba and denounces violations against students and professors who do not share the political ideals of the system.”

Miranda also founded the Félix Varela Independent Library in July 2000 and supported the Varela Project, a nonviolent citizens’ legislative initiative for democratic reforms in Cuba.

In 2003, Miranda was arrested, tried and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment under Article 91 of the Cuban Penal Code, which penalizes “an act with the objective of causing detrimental suffering to the independence of the Cuban state or to the integrity of its territory, in the interest of a foreign state.”

While in prison, Miranda was given the 2003 Pedro Luis Boitel Freedom Award, which is given annually to a Cuban who has displayed courage in nonviolent resistence to the Cuban government. Bulgarian Prime Minister Philip Dimitrov said during the ceremony, “Roberto de Miranda has been dedicated for many years to the promotion of free thought and has made important progress. The Castro regime abhors these types of people because they represent an independent civil society, which is one of the largest threats facing the government.”

Miranda was released from prison in 2010 and immigrated to the United States where he lives in Miami. He continues his work on behalf of freedom and democracy in Cuba.