Libertad a Tania Bruguera / Free Tania Bruguera (Havana, Cuba)

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URGENTE // ‪#‎Cuba‬ ‪#‎Tania‬ Bruguera liberada por Seguridad del Estado.

Tania no quiso salir hasta que todos los detenidos por causa de la performance artística fueran liberados. Estuvo detenida en la Estación Policial de Acosta y Diez de Octubre. “No puedo permitir que personas por mi causa queden presas, no puedo aceptar que el público de una obra de arte político sea reprimido, censurado y sufra por mi causa”, declaró la artista después de su liberación.

Bruguera ya está en el apartamento de su familia en El Vedado, va a descansar inmediatamente y compartir con su madre. Por el momento no hará declaraciones adicionales, y agradece el inmenso apoyo y cariño recibido. Según fuentes de la familia, está agotada psicológicamente.

 

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General Raúl Castro Ruz
Presidente de la República de Cuba
La Habana, Cuba.

El día 30 de diciembre de 2014 la artista Tania Bruguera convocó a una nueva escenificación del performance El Susurro de Tatlin (Versión para la Habana) (2009) a ser presentado en la Plaza de la Revolución de la Habana, Cuba. La intención de la artista, que fue ampliamente comunicada por los medios, era propiciar un momento de reflexión y debate civilizado sobre los cambios que la sociedad y gobierno cubanos habrán de experimentar a partir del restablecimiento de las relaciones diplomáticas con Estados Unidos anunciado el pasado 17 de diciembre.

Vemos con honda preocupación que esa iniciativa no sólo no encontró eco de parte de las autoridades, sino que motivó la detención de la artista y una diversidad de ciudadanos cubanos. Con todo respeto, solicitamos a usted el descargo de Tania Bruguera y los demás detenidos. Bruguera es una de las artistas latinoamericanas más reconocidas alrededor del mundo, con una obra enfocada en la intervención social y política que es resultado, como ella misma lo ha manifestado repetidamente, de la formación que produjo la Revolución cubana. Estamos convencidos que su detención y la retención de su pasaporte son reacciones inadecuadas ante una obra artística que sólo buscaba crear un espacio público de discusión.

Respetuosamente,

Cuauhtémoc Medina, Curador y crítico de arte, México
Andrea Giunta, Historiadora del arte, Argentina
Miguel López, Curador y crítico de arte, Perú
Octavio Zaya, Curador y crítico de arte, España y Estados Unidos

Lista de firmantes completa: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lvieH8mIJ1hHcnDAKTCp5LAthiFa9Y5o0YtK4D1nKjQ/edit#gid=913517279

 

ENGLISH VERSION

General Raúl Castro Ruz
President of the Republic of Cuba
Havana, Cuba

On the 30th of December 2014, the artist Tania Bruguera called for a public recreation of her performance artwork Tatlin’s Whisper (Havana Version) (2009) at the Plaza de La Revolución in La Havana, Cuba. The intention of the artist—extensively communicated by the media—was to generate a moment of reflection and debate about the changes that Cuba’s society and government should undergo as a result of the restoration of normal diplomatic relations with the United States, announced on December 17.

We are profoundly troubled by the fact that this initiative did not find a positive echo with the authorities and has led to the disturbing detention of the artist and more Cuban citizens. By this means, we respectfully ask for the release of Tania Bruguera and all other citizens detained. Recognized internationally as one of the most important Latin American artists, Bruguera’s work focuses on social intervention and politics; as she has noted on repeated occasions, her form of artistic engagement is a result of the education provided by the Cuban Revolution. We firmly believe her detention, and the withdrawal of her Cuban passport, are inappropriate responses to a work of art that simply sought to open space for public discussion.

Respectfully,

Cuauhtémoc Medina, Art curator and critic, Mexico
Andrea Giunta, Art historian, Argentina
Miguel López, Art curator and critic, Peru
Octavio Zaya, Art curator and critic, Spain and USA

See full list of signatories: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lvieH8mIJ1hHcnDAKTCp5LAthiFa9Y5o0YtK4D1nKjQ/edit#gid=913517279

 

Please sign and share this petition!

 

More background on this story:

Cuba Again Arrests Artist Seeking Dissidents’ Release

The Cuban artist Tania Bruguera, who splits her time between the United States and Havana, traveled to Cuba in recent days seeking to pull off a bold experiment. She called on Cubans from all walks of life to meet at Havana’s iconic Revolution Square on Tuesday at 3 p.m., where they would take turns at a microphone to outline their vision for the new era in the country. Word of the event, which was billed as both a performance and a street protest, was shared on social media using the hashtag #YoTambiénExijo, which means “I also demand.”

Ms. Bruguera’s plan was the first test of whether the Obama administration’s decision to normalize relations with Cuba earlier this month would prod the Castro regime to be more tolerant of critical voices. Disappointingly, but not surprisingly, the government barred prominent critics, including Ms. Bruguera, from reaching the square. Some were detained and others were reportedly prevented from leaving their homes. In the end, the performance wasn’t held. […]

Human rights monitors said that up to 50 government opponents were arrested around the time that Ms. Bruguera was detained Tuesday before she could carry out an open mike performance in Havana’s Revolution Square in which she planned to ask citizens to speak about their visions for the country.

Most of the activists were eventually released. But the independent news site14ymedio.com, whose editor was briefly detained, said about 15 dissidents remained in custody into Thursday, though some were released as the day wore on.

Ms. Bruguera, after a second arrest and release on Wednesday, went to a municipal jail on Thursday along with several dissidents, pressing for the release of the other detainees. It was unclear why she and the others were taken into custody, and the government made no statement. […]

Source: The New York Times

 

Tania Bruguera, prevented from leaving Cuba in the coming months

01/01/2015. Bruguera may not leave Cuba in the next 2-3 months. They have pressed charges against her for resistance and disruption of public order.

The Cuban artist Tania Bruguera is already back to her house, at Havana’s neighborhood El Vedado. She has been released for a second time, after having a lengthy conversation with Seguridad del Estado, because she convened a meeting (also thwarted by security forces) after being discharged earlier today, with journalists and citizens at the Monument to the Victims of Maine, in Havana’s Malecón.

The next effort of #YoTambienExijo will be to achieve that these charges be dismissed, because the artist has not incurred in nothing that is not within her universally recognized rights as a citizen and artist.

#YoTambienExijo Will also focus on ensuring that those who are still deprived of their freedom in Cuba are released immediately, and around 9 am, on 01/01/2015, Tania Bruguera will be informed of developments on this matter. If they had not been released before that time, she will take steps to achieve their liberation.

“Now I will take a rest, I will sleep today. Today I am a proud sister. Today I am more the sister of all Cubans. Today I met the true solidarity.” Said Deborah Bruguera and continues: “To you all and everyone, today I am a happy person because we are all more united, our rights begin to be listened and to take voice. An hour and a half ago a new year has started, a year that brings more hope and rights for all. #Exíjelos!

#DescansoFinalmente #MañanaEnPieConTodo #FuerzaCubanos #YoTambienExijo Hope”

Source: YoTambienExijo