Madrid Spain.- Filmmaker Lester Hamlet denounced that the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) had prohibited him from entering the island for a period of five years.
“I received a call from the ICAIC Protocol department to let me know that, because I did not return to the island on time —a time determined by them— a sanction has been applied to me that prevents me from returning to Cuba in the next five years,” Hamlet explained this Wednesday through a publication in Facebook.
“My thoughts were confused by the arbitrariness of the so-called sanction, which is actually an announced exile,” said the director of films like Old house Y three times two.
“I already know that they do not want at home those of us who have different ideas regarding freedom and homeland. I already know and I have seen it in many imposed absences. I already know, in addition, that they feel the owners of your life, “added the director.
In his emotional message, he pointed out that, at 51 years old, he was venturing to restart his life in another place, “under the impact of knowing the exile in the first person”, even when “it was not a plan in his head”.
“That broken society continues its path towards the most absolute mediocrity. How sad not to be able to be a direct witness of its imminent end. I would have liked to see it, to experience together with my countrymen the joy of knowing that they are free. Nothing I can do. It will also be my turn to be away. (…) We all know that before, long before five years, all that stupidity that accompanies the dictatorship will have disappeared”, Lester Hamlet expressed.
Following these statements, the Cuban Minister of Culture, Alpidio Alonso Grau“rectified” and blamed the ICAIC protocol.
“Lester Hamlet can return to Cuba whenever he wishes, it is a constitutional right. Anything else you have been told by the ICAIC Protocol is an error. We will rectify it and we will do the corresponding analysis”, he said in Twitter Alpidio Alonso.
After the news of the exile, Hamlet received the support of numerous artists and Cubans in general.
“I roundly condemn the decision not to allow an honest artist, my friend Lester Hamlet Veira Rodríguez, to return to our country. I do not understand or believe that anyone can find any logical justification for this. But how far are they going to go?” said actress Yailene Sierra.
For her part, actress Tahimí Alvariño also stated: “I can’t believe it. Heredia comes to mind. How to deny you the land where you were born? What an outrage!
While humorist Iván Camejo considered: “At this point, what ICAIC has given you is a stimulus.”
The Cuban dictatorship for more than 60 years has maintained its policy of exile against those who express ideas contrary to the regime. Among the most recent cases of prohibition of entry to the country and violation of human rights are those of the activists Anamely Ramos Y Omara Ruiz Urquiola.
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