English Newsletters Archives | Boletines en Español
Donald Trump has boasted about the killing of 32 Cuban security personnel who died at the hands of U.S. Special Forces during the January 3 abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump called the Cubans “thugs and extortionists” who held Venezuela hostage for many years.
Yunio Estévez Samón, one of those killed in the U.S. attack, was neither a thug nor an extortionist. He was a 32-year-old cryptographer and a dedicated family man who has left behind a wife and three children. Belly of the Beast journalist Liz Oliva Fernández interviewed Claudia Rafaela, a close friend of Yunio’s, who talked about his death and the life he was building before it was cut short. See the interview.
Meanwhile, last week in Havana, thousands of Cubans joined in mourning alongside the families of those killed in Venezuela. And many more took to the streets to denounce U.S. aggression in a massive pro-government march to the U.S. Embassy.
Belly of the Beast was there to cover it all.
From Palenquito Hill to Caracas: The Story of Yunio
Yunio Estévez Samón was a cryptographer who pursued his passion for mathematics and computers after growing up in a poor village in eastern Cuba. He was also a dedicated father who was serving on an internationalist mission in Venezuela that was helping him save enough money to buy a small house in Havana for his wife and three children.
At 10:00 p.m. on January 3, Claudia received a phone call from a friend. “Claudia, Yunio died in the attack on Venezuela.”
Yunio had been sent to work in Venezuela as a communications specialist. “He was in charge of everything related to encrypting messages that were sent or received on matters of national security,” said Claudia.
Information about the circumstances of his death is limited. “I know very little about how he died,” said Claudia, who was told that Yunio was killed while fighting. “How does a cryptographer die in combat? I have no idea. I imagine that, as part of the resistance, everyone there was given a weapon.”
Read the full article about Yunio.
Thousands Gather in Havana to Honor Cubans Killed by U.S.
On Thursday, the remains of the 32 Cubans who were killed during the U.S. attack on Venezuela arrived in Cuba. Neither rain nor long lines stopped thousands from gathering at the headquarters of Cuba’s Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces to express their condolences. Watch the video of the day of mourning.
“We feel a mix of pride and deep pain,” said Marbelis Sánchez, the sister of Orlando Osoria López, one of the Cubans who were killed.
“He didn’t die in vain. He died defending Latin America,” added López’s father.
“If there are 32 no longer with us, there are millions of Cubans today who are ready to follow the path of those 32,” said a Cuban doctor who previously served on a medical mission in Venezuela.
“We’re Not Afraid:” Voices From Cubans’ March to U.S. Embassy
Tens of thousands of Cubans marched to the U.S. Embassy in Havana on Friday to denounce U.S. imperialism following the attack on Venezuela. People from all walks of life — military officers, retirees, workers, students — took to the streets to show their willingness to defend their country in the face of U.S. aggression. Watch our report on the march to the U.S. embassy.
The “March of the Fighting People” honored the Cubans who were killed in Venezuela and reaffirmed support for the Cuban revolution in the wake of Trump’s threat that Cuba “make a deal” with the United States.
“No one can mess with us. We don’t accept threats. Cuba deserves respect!” said one protester.
“We came to demand that Cuba remains free, that U.S. imperialism stays out of our affairs,” said another.
Support Our Work
Truly independent media relies on donations. Your tax-deductible donation helps us continue producing independent, on-the-ground reporting about Cuba that you won’t find anywhere else.
Every contribution — big or small — strengthens our journalism. Thank you for being part of our community!
DONATE NOW!
Follow us on WhatsApp and Telegram!
📡 For real-time updates: [WhatsApp] | [Telegram]
¿Hablas Español? Sign Up For Our Spanish Newsletter!
If you or someone you know prefers to read in Spanish, now you can receive our reporting, documentaries and exclusive insights directly in your inbox.
Suscríbete a Belly of the Beast en Español aquí.
Help us grow our Spanish-speaking community by forwarding this to friends, family and colleagues!
📢 We’re on Bluesky!
Follow us on Bluesky for updates, behind-the-scenes content and powerful stories from Cuba that you won’t find anywhere else. 👉 Follow us now!
Support Independent Journalism
Since launching in 2020, Belly of the Beast has become the go-to source for news and documentaries about Cuba.
We receive no money from any government or corporation and rely on the support of individuals to keep telling Cuba’s untold stories.
Here's how you can help:
Donate: Fuel our work and help us continue to provide independent, hard-hitting journalism.
Share: Know someone who would love our documentaries, video reports or articles? Forward this email or invite them to subscribe.
Suscríbete a Belly of the Beast en Español
|
