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¿Qué Bola?: What's New (and What Isn't) in Cuba

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2020

Julienne E. Grant
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In 2017, several colleagues and I published a “Guide to Cuban Law and Legal Research” in the summer issue of the International Journal of Legal Information (IJLI) (Vol. 45, no. 2). Since then, much has transpired in Cuba, and much has happened vis à vis the island's relationships with the outside world. The following article highlights a number of these developments and notes several new resources related to Cuban law and politics. I drew some of the article's content from a contribution I penned for the blog of the International Association of Law Libraries (IALL) in July 2019.

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Articles
Information
International Journal of Legal Information , Volume 47 , Issue 3 , Winter 2019 , pp. 141 - 148
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2020

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Footnotes

1

© Julienne E. Grant 2019. The author is Reference Librarian/Foreign and International Research Specialist in the Loyola University Chicago School of Law Library, and she is also an adjunct professor in the law school.

References

2 Julienne E. Grant, ¿Qué Bola?: What's New (and What's Not) in Cuba, INT'L ASS'N OF L. LIBR. BLOG (July 31, 2019), http://iall.org/que-bola-whats-new-and-whats-not-in-cuba/.

3 France 24 with AP, Raul Castro to Lead Cuba's Communist Party Until 2021, FRANCE 24 (Apr. 19, 2018), https://www.france24.com/en/20180419-raul-castro-leadership-cuba-communist-party-2021-diaz-canel.

4 See Pascal Fletcher, Cuba's New Constitution: What's In and What's Out, BBC NEWS (July 26, 2018), https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-44971445.

5 Sasha Ingber, Cuba Scraps Words Establishing Same-Sex Marriage from Drafted Constitution, NPR (Dec. 19, 2018), https://www.npr.org/2018/12/19/678155969/cuba-scraps-words-establishing-same-sex-marriage-from-drafted-constitution. See also Nelson Acosta & Sarah Marsh, In Rare Campaign for Cuba, Churches Advocate Against Gay Marriage, REUTERS (Oct. 16, 2018), https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-constitution/in-rare-campaign-for-cuba-churches-advocate-against-gay-marriage-idUSKCN1MQ2N7.

6 BBC, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Backs Same-Sex Marriage, BBC NEWS (Sept. 17, 2018), https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45546645.

7 Comisión Electoral Nacional, Información Validada de los Resultados del Referendo Constitucional Desarrollado el Pasado 24 de Febrero de 2019 Según Electores que Votaron (Feb. 28, 2019), http://www.eleccionesencuba.cu/sites/default/files/Estad%C3%ADsticas%20sobre%20resultados%20finales%20del%20Referendo%20Constitucional%20seg%C3%BAn%20electores%20que%20votaron.pdf. See also Cubahora, Comisión Electoral Publica Resultados Definitivos del Referendo Constitucional, CUBAHORA (March 1, 2019), http://www.cubahora.cu/especiales/reforma-constitucional-cuba/noticias/comsion-electoral.

8 Comisión Electoral Nacional, supra note 7.

9 See, e.g., Gabriel Salvia, A Dubious Referendum on a (Slightly) Revised Constitution Shows Growing Opposition to the Revolution in Cuba, GLOBAL AMERICANS (Feb. 27, 2019), https://theglobalamericans.org/2019/02/a-dubious-referendum-on-a-slightly-revised-constitution-shows-growing-opposition-to-the-revolution-in-cuba/.

10 CUBA DECIDE, Unified Call to Recognize the Illegitimacy of the Constitution that Is Being Imposed in Cuba (Feb. 25, 2019), https://cubadecide.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unified-call-to-recognize-the-ilegitimacy-of-the-constitution-2.pdf.

11 Press Statement, Michael R. Pompeo, Sec'y of State, Cuba's So-Called Referendum, U.S. EMBASSY HAVANA (Feb. 26, 2019), https://cu.usembassy.gov/cubas-so-called-referendum/.

12 Constitución de la República [CONST.][CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC], April 10, 2019, Gaceta Oficial Extraordinaria [GOE], No. 5, April 10, 2019, http://media.cubadebate.cu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Constituci%C3%B3n-de-la-Rep%C3%BAblica-de-Cuba.pdf.

13 For an overview of the new constitution's provisions, see Teresa García Castro & Raudiel Peña Barrios, Cuba Has a New Constitution. What Happens Next?, WASH. OFF. ON LATIN AM. (April 10, 2019), https://www.wola.org/analysis/cuba-new-constitution-what-happens-next/.

14 The Council of State has effectively been purged of its members who had roles in the 1959 Revolution. See Marc Frank & Nelson Acosta, Cuba Reshuffles to Improve Governance, Old Guard Removed from Council of State, U.S. NEWS & WORLD REP. (Oct. 10, 2019), https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2019-10-10/cuba-reshuffles-to-improve-governance-old-guard-removed-from-council-of-state.

15 Miguel Díaz-Canel will likely become the PCC's First Secretary when Raúl Castro retires in 2021. France 24 with AP, supra note 3. Some Cuban legal experts are optimistic about the long-term effect of the new constitution, predicting that it could launch progressive changes on the island, albeit slowly. See Andrea Rodriguez, Amid Crisis, Cuba Plans Revamp of State and Legal System, AP NEWS (March 13, 2019), https://www.apnews.com/ee5ea44978d544cf8720abd11a99b99d.

16 National News Staff, May the Constitution Have the Laws Needed for Its Implementation, GRANMA (May 7, 2019), http://en.granma.cu/cuba/2019-05-07/may-the-constitution-have-the-laws-needed-for-its-implementation. The Associated Press also reported that between sixty and eighty laws will be required to replace those that have become obsolete with the new constitution. See Rodriguez, supra note 15.

17 National News Staff, supra note 16.

18 Ley No. 127, Ley Electoral [LE], [Law No. 127, Electoral Law], July 13, 2019, Gaceta Oficial [GO], No. 60, Aug. 19, 2019), http://media.cubadebate.cu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/GOC-2019-O60.pdf.

19 Nelson Acosta & Sarah Marsh, Cuba Passes Law to Improve Governance that Keeps One-Party System, REUTERS (July 13, 2019), https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-assembly-politics/cuba-passes-law-to-improve-governance-that-keeps-one-party-system-idUSKCN1U80N6.

20 LE art. 217.1.

21 Decreto 349/2018, Contravenciones de las Regulaciones en Materia de Política Cultural y Sobre la Prestación de Servicios Artísticas [DCRMPCPSA], [Decree 349/2018, Violations of the Regulations in the Area of Cultural Policy and on the Rendering of Artistic Services], April 20, 2018, Gaceta Oficial Extraordinaria [GOE], No. 35, July 10, 2018, http://juriscuba.com/legislacion-2/decretos-2/decreto-no-349/.

22 Mimi Whitefield, New Cuba Law that Artists Say Amounts to State Censorship Will Be Implemented Gradually, MIAMI HERALD (Dec. 7, 2018), https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article222724555.html. See also Artists at Risk Connection & Cubalex, Art Under Pressure: Decree 349 Restricts Creative Freedom in Cuba (March 4, 2019), https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Art-Under-Pressure.pdf.

23 Decreto Ley 373/2019, Del Creador Audiovisual y Cinematográfica Independiente [DLCACI] [Decree-Law 373/2019, On Independent Audiovisual and Cinematographic Creators], March 25, 2019, Gaceta Oficial [GO], No. 43, June 27, 2019, http://media.cubadebate.cu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GOC-2019-O43.pdf?utm_source=TopicaPlus&utm_campaign=Cuba&utm_medium=email.

24 Sarah Marsh, Cuba Legalizes Independent Movie-Making, REUTERS (June 27, 2019), https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1TS364.

25 Decreto Ley No. 370/2018, Sobre La Informatización de la Sociedad en Cuba [DLISC] [Decree Law No. 370/2018, On the Computerization of Cuban Society], Dec. 17, 2018, Gaceta Oficial [GO], No. 45, July 4, 2019, https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.cu/pdf/GOC-2019-O45.pdf. For more on this law, see Elaine Diaz Rodriguez, Cuba Has a New Law that Punishes Hosting Websites on Foreign Servers, HAVANA TIMES (July 5, 2019), https://havanatimes.org/features/cuba-has-a-new-law-that-punishes-hosting-websites-on-foreign-servers/.

26 The Gaceta Oficial is regulated by Decreto No. 62, Normas para la Publicación en la Gaceta Oficial [DNPGO], [Decree No. 62, Rules for Publication in the Official Gazette], Jan. 30, 1980, https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.cu/html/ipublicaciongaceta.html.

27 See the Resource Center on “Cuba Sanctions” of the U.S. Dept. of the Treasury (Office of Foreign Asset Control) for specific information on the changes to the CACR (Cuban Asset Control Regulations), https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/pages/cuba.aspx (last updated Sept. 13, 2019). For changes to the EAR (Export Administration Regulations), see the “Cuba” page of the U.S. Dept. of Commerce (Bureau of Industry and Security), https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/policy-guidance/country-guidance/sanctioned-destinations/cuba (last visited Oct. 18, 2019).

28 Press Release, U.S. Dept. of the Treasury, Treasury and Commerce Implement Changes to Cuba Sanctions Rules (June 4, 2019), https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm700.

29 For a list of categories, and detailed descriptions of each, see U.S. Dept. of the Treasury, OFAC FAQs: Other Sanctions Programs, Cuba Sanctions, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/faqs/Sanctions/Pages/faq_other.aspx#cuba (last updated Sept. 16, 2019).

30 See U.S. Dept. of State, Cuba Travel Advisory, Travel.State.gov (Aug. 23, 2018), https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/cuba-travel-advisory.html.

31 Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (Libertad) Act of 1996 (Helms-Burton Act), Pub. L. No. 104-114, Title III, 110 Stat. 785, 814 ((codified at 22 U.S.C. §§ 6081–85 (2012)).

32 Havana Docks Corp. v. Carnival Corp., No. 1:19-cv-21724 (S.D. Fla., filed May 2, 2019).

33 Lopez Regueiro v. Am. Airlines et al., No. 1: 19-cv-23965 (S.D. Fla., filed Sept. 25, 2019).

34 Exxon Mobil v. Corporación CIMEX et al., No. 1.19-cv-01277 (D.D.C., filed May 2, 2019).

35 Gonzalez v. Amazon.com et al., No. 1:19-cv-23988 (S.D. Fla., filed Sept. 26, 2019).

36 Nelson Acosta & Sarah Marsh, Cuba Sees Tourism Dropping by 8.5 percent Due to Trump Travel Restrictions, REUTERS (July 11, 2019), https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-tourism/cuba-sees-tourism-dropping-8-5-due-to-trump-travel-restrictions-idUSKCN1U62UR.

37 Mimi Whitefield, Cuba Feels the Pinch of the Trump Administration's Travel Restrictions, L.A. TIMES (Aug. 11, 2019), https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-08-10/cuba-feels-the-pinch-of-the-trump-administrations-travel-restrictions.

38 UN Affairs, At UN, Cuba Slams ‘Criminal’ Practices Undermining Country's Development, UN NEWS (Sept. 28, 2019), https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/09/1048052.

39 See William M. LeoGrande, An Energy Crisis is Putting Cuba's Post-Castro Leadership to Its First Test, WORLD POL. REV. (Oct. 8, 2019), https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/28247/an-energy-crisis-is-putting-cuba-s-post-castro-leadership-to-its-first-test.

40 Michael Weissenstein & Andrea Rodriguez, Cuba Launches Widespread Rationing in Face of Crisis, AP NEWS (May 10, 2019), https://www.apnews.com/42b62f24be9b4e0d9f764f1a3fa9647a. For photos of Cubans waiting in line for various staples, see #LaColaChallenge on Twitter.

41 Michael Weissenstein & Andrea Rodriguez, Cuba Announces Increase in Wages as Part of Economic Reform, AP NEWS (June 28, 2019), https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/cuba-announces-increase-wages-part-economic-reform-n1024451.

42 Marc Frank, Cuba Battling Economic Crisis, Imposes Sweeping Price Controls, REUTERS (July 30, 2019), https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-economy/cuba-battling-economic-crisis-imposes-sweeping-price-controls-idUSKCN1UP28Y?il=0.

43 Sarah Marsh & Nelson Acosta, Amid Crippling Sanctions, Cuba Deploys Oxen, Wood-Fired Ovens to Overcome Fuel Crisis, REUTERS (Sept. 20, 2019), https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-economy/amid-crippling-sanctions-cuba-deploys-oxen-wood-fired-ovens-to-overcome-fuel-crisis-idUSKBN1W518L.

44 Sarah Marsh & Marc Frank, Cuba Studying Cryptocurrency as Part of Economic Crisis Measures, REUTERS (July 2, 2019), https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-economy/cuba-studying-cryptocurrency-as-part-of-economic-crisis-measures-idUSKCN1TY04X.

45 Sarah Marsh, Skirting U.S. Sanctions, Cubans Flock to Cryptocurrency to Shop Online, Send Funds, REUTERS (Sept. 12, 2019), https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-cryptocurrency-idUSKCN1VX2H0.

46 Ed Augustin, Cubans’ Resilience Sorely Tested as US Oil Sanctions Bite, THE GUARDIAN (Oct. 13, 2019). https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/13/cuba-oil-sanctions-shortages.

47 BBC, Cuba Gay Rights Activists Arrested at Havana Pride Parade, BBC NEWS (May 12, 2019), https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-48242255.

48 Madrid Newsroom & Emma Pinedo, Cuba Forces Dissidents into Exile, Advocacy Group Says, REUTERS (June 19, 2019), https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-rights/cuba-forces-dissidents-into-exile-advocacy-group-says-idUSKCN1TK0Q8. An executive summary of the report is available on the Cuban Prisoners Defenders website.

49 Committee to Protect Journalists, “Most Censored Countries,” CPJ (Sept. 10, 2019), https://cpj.org/reports/2019/09/10-most-censored-eritrea-north-korea-turkmenistan-journalist.php.

50 Cubanet, Cuban Regime Sentences Cubanet Independent Journalist Roberto Quiñones to One Year in Prison, CUBANET (Aug. 9, 2019), https://www.cubanet.org/english/cuban-regime-sentences-journalist-roberto-quinones-prison/.

51 Center for a Free Cuba, CubaBrief: IACHR Hearing on Serious Human Rights Violations in Cuba (Sept. 24, 2019), https://www.cubacenter.org/archives/2019/9/24/cubabrief-iachr-hearing-on-serious-human-rights-violations-in-cuba.

52 Referring specifically to Ferrer's detention, the U.S. government imposed additional economic sanctions on Cuba. See Erich Beech, Makini Brice, & Sarah Marsh, UPDATE 1-U.S. Hits Cuba with New Sanctions Over Human Rights, Venezuela, REUTERS (October 18, 2019), https://uk.reuters.com/article/usa-cuba/update-1-us-hits-cuba-with-new-sanctions-over-human-rights-venezuela-idUKL2N2731TN.

53 See, e.g., Cuba: Overview, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/americas/cuba/ (last visited Oct. 21, 2019).

54 Sarah Marsh, Twitter Restores Some Blocked Cuban Official Accounts, REUTERS (Sept. 13, 2019), https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-twitter/twitter-restores-some-blocked-cuban-official-accounts-idUSKCN1VY259.