Cuban journalist José Luis Tan Estrada departs for exile

The Camagüeyan journalist José Luis Tan Estrada, known for leading humanitarian aid campaigns and denouncing the abuses of the Cuban regime through social media, announced his decision to go into exile, driven by constant harassment and threats from the government.

During a live video streamed by Martí Noticias, the independent journalist recounted that he left Cuba facing "extremely difficult conditions."

"I stepped out with my eyes closed and my chest out," confessed Tan, who had previously suffered multiple episodes of harassment by the regime.

He also emphasized that the ongoing repression by the government, evident in internet blackouts, surveillance, persecution, and summonses, ultimately compelled him to leave his country.

"For more than two years, I have been facing constant repression from State Security," Tan declared to Martí Noticias, denouncing his expulsion from the University of Camagüey and a discrediting campaign organized by the government and the local party, turning people against him.

"That's something I couldn't achieve, and it is reflected in people on social media," said the young man, who in recent months has undertaken significant charitable activities, demonstrating a particular sensitivity towards the most vulnerable children and youth.

Tan recounted being imprisoned in Villa Marista, where he spent a week in a torture cell. During that time, due to inadequate nutrition, he lost two teeth, as he "chewed on a piece of salt as if it were a stone in the rice."

He also recalled the difficulties he faced even in receiving medical care in Cuba, stating that he had to do so “in secret, wearing a mask and a cap,” as no one wanted to risk helping him for fear of reprisals. Several friends offered their support, but always discreetly, as the clinic managers were afraid that if discovered, the regime would take action against them.

According to the activist, most of the threats from State Security were directed at his social media posts and his journalistic work, due to the "reach of his publications" and, in particular, to the "humanitarian aid" he was managing.

He emphasized that the officials disapproved of her posts because she was "denigrating the achievements of the Cuban Revolution."

Regarding his departure from the country, Tan explained that State Security "provided no assistance"; on the contrary, they hindered his plans.

He reported that on December 25, he attempted to travel to Nicaragua from Havana airport, but the Nicaraguan authorities denied him entry. "It is important to denounce the complicity of the Nicaraguan regime with the Cuban regime and State Security," he stated, adding that he lost $5,000 in the unsuccessful attempt.

Additionally, he revealed that he had received a new summons for January 9, "with agent Cristian, a repressor of State Security," under the pretext of allegedly violating the Social Communication Law.

Tan revealed to Martí Noticias that, thanks to information provided by close associates, he knew that before the end of the year or at the beginning of 2025, he would be imprisoned again under the pretext of having violated the New Communication Law.

After confirming this information, the journalist began to notice the presence of patrols stationed near his home. When there were no vehicles around, they positioned a enforcer on a Suzuki motorcycle in front of his house, مراقبًا له باستمرار.

On the other hand, the activist stated that not only was he a victim of repression, but also his neighbors and his own family, including his mother and younger brother, which was another factor that pushed him to leave Cuba.

"My mother has recently experienced an act of repudiation from a woman in the neighborhood who called her a counter-revolutionary, claiming that my support came from counter-revolutionaries... In other words, there were several actions that escalated, because State Security knows that the weakest link one has is family," she emphasized.

The young activist reported that he faced repression until the last moment, stating, "As I passed through immigration, the officer watching me looked at me several times, ordered me to stand in front of the camera about three times, made a call, then stood up and came back with another officer, a Major from the MININT, who threatened me. He told me that if I returned to Cuba, there would be consequences for me, using the term 'gusanito,' which was the word he chose."

Later, he was taken to a room where he was completely stripped of his clothes. "They pretended to be checking my belongings," the journalist recounted, who also reported that a Major from MININT was present when he boarded the flight to ensure he got on the plane.

He also expressed his gratitude to a friend, whose name he chose to keep anonymous, and thanks to whom he was able to travel to Guyana, where he is currently located.

Almost at the end of his statements to Martí Noticias, the young journalist from Camagüey confessed—tearfully—that the greatest pain of being in exile was leaving his family behind, especially his mother and little brother.

"I left behind people I helped, elderly individuals, orphaned children who depended on me, who ate because of me," he said, recounting with great sorrow that the day before he left for Havana, a grandfather and two orphaned children visited him, clearly indicating they were in need of assistance. "Such is the ruthlessness of the Cuban dictatorship."

"I'm sure that what I'm doing is hitting him right in the heart," were the comforting words spoken by Tan, finding solace in not being able to celebrate this New Year's Eve with his family.

"And they're not going to silence me, I'm not going to back down, and I will continue doing journalism and helping everyone I can," he concluded.

Just a few minutes after his statements to the Martí Noticias portal, journalist José Luis Tan Estrada shared heartfelt words on his Facebook profile, reflecting the bittersweet mix of sorrow and determination that characterized his departure into exile.

"This December 31 will be different. Far from my mom, my little brother, my family, my people, my land. Within four walls in an apartment in the middle of a city that wakes up earlier than usual, where English is mixed with its dialect. Where the coffee doesn’t taste like coffee. I look at the sky of Guyana and think of that of my Independent Republic of Camagüey," wrote the journalist, describing the sense of dislocation he faces away from Cuba.

He directly blamed the Cuban regime for his exile, stating that "my journalism, my social media posts, and my denunciations have struck at their Achilles' heel." He denounced the repressive methods of State Security, holding them responsible for forcing him to leave the island "in extreme situations and under threats."

Despite the adversities, the journalist reaffirmed his commitment to his work and his country. "To the henchmen of State Security, I say that I will continue to do journalism, that I will keep advocating for the freedom of political prisoners and for the freedom of #Cuba without cease," he wrote, assuring that neither distance nor exile will silence his voice in the fight for justice and freedom.

"Today, as I look to the future, I reaffirm my commitment to truth and justice. Although distance physically separates me from my home, my heart and my voice will always remain united in the struggle for a free country. This December 31, although different, will serve as a reminder that hope and resistance will never fade away," he concluded, ending with a spirited "Long live a Free Cuba!"

This message, full of courage and hope, reaffirms Tan's resolve to remain committed to the values that have defined him as a journalist and activist, even from exile.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Exile of Cuban Journalist José Luis Tan Estrada