In a public statement artist Tania Bruguera says:
“Tired of suffering defamations in state media publications such as Gramma newspaper and Razones de Cuba as well as official websites from the Ministry of Culture such as La Jiribilla, I have decided to legally act against parties who have damaged myself and my family, psychologically, socially and professionally.”
Bruguera has championed freedom of expression in Cuba for many years, and is currently campaigning alongside fellow artists against Decree 349, a proposed artistic censorship law. She has been imprisoned by the government of Cuba several times along with other artists, most recently earlier this month.
Campaigns of defamation seem to be increasingly employed by authoritarian regimes against high profile figures including artists and journalists, whom they consider to be opponents, often in addition to legal cases and imprisonment – subjecting critics of the regime to a battle on all fronts. In recognition of this, by taking this unprecedented act Bruguera hopes to tackle and challenge this phenomenon and states:
“If it is true – as claimed by the lawyers who helped me prepare this defamation case against the Government – that this legal action is the first of its kind, then I hope it is the first of many; I hope that it serves in the future when a person is uncomfortable for saying and doing what they believe in for fear the Government may defame them publicly.”
By taking this action Bruguera hopes to give confidence to other artists and citizens to use existing legal structures such as laws against defamation for their protection.
Despite facing constant surveillance by the authorities since her release from jail and harassment including “menacing phone calls”, Bruguera has spoken of her need to remain in Cuba at a time that is “crucial for freedom of expression in Cuba and beyond”, putting aside international commitments including the Kochi Biennale. Bruguera is currently Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall artist, London.
She ends her statement “A nation doesn’t exist unless the rights of its citizens are respected.”
PUBLIC STATEMENT
Tired of suffering defamations in state media publications such as Gramma newspaper and Razones de Cuba as well as official websites from the Ministry of Culture such as La Jiribilla, I have decided to legally act against parties who have damaged myself and my family, psychologically, socially and professionally. Though in Cuba today people may think that asking for your rights is a worthless act, all citizens must be heard and our rights restored, including the right to receive answers when one is defamed (as granted by article 63 of the current constitution – an act sponsored by the Government itself).
The Cuban Government should not apply laws selectively to suit its convenience, nor to protect only those who execute work which suits its political interests. The Government cannot be exempt of responsibility.
I feel my reputation among Cuban artists, my neighbours and my friends is permanently damaged thanks to the persistent acts of defamation that take place not only in the press but also in other arenas; for example at meetings held by functionaries of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Interior, directors of the national museums and other functionaries and cultural agents working for the Government who have met with young artists, students and curators to discredit me. Unfortunately, the impact is not limited to this country – the defamation is designed to extend it’s tentacles, to reach other shores.
On December 11th, at the municipal police station correspondent to Old Havana I denounced the citizens Arthur Gonzalez, Antonio Rodríguez Salvador, the director of the website CubaDebate Randy Alonso Falcón, the director of La Jiribilla Anneris Ivette Leyva and the director of the Granmanewspaper Yailin Orta Rivera. After this I went to the customer service office of the General attorney and of the Consejo de Estado to submit my notice of legal action. Then I went to the National offices of the Revolutionary National Police where they confirmed that my case has been recorded in the national system. As such, I have now started the countdown to the thirty working days they have to give me an answer.
What I am asking for is not economic compensation but a public retraction of such defamation in the same newspapers where they originally appeared, and in the case of online sites, a note on the original articles rectifying its content.
If it is true – as claimed by the lawyers who helped me prepare this defamation case against the Government – that this legal action is the first of its kind, then I hope it is the first of many; I hope that the government next time thinks twice before defaming publicly someone who makes them uncomfortable because they are saying and doing what they believe in. A nation doesn’t exist unless the rights of its citizens are respected.
Tania Bruguera
Havana, December 11, 2018