Ángel de Fana Serrano, one of the most emblematic "planted" political prisoners in Cuban history, stated in an interview with CiberCuba that it is the Cuban people—not the exile—who are asking for "the bombs to start falling now," reflecting the extreme desperation that the Island is experiencing.
De Fana, who spent 20 years in Cuban prisons, was emphatic in clarifying that the call for radical action does not come from him or from the exiles.
"Not us. The Cuban people who are suffering what they are suffering, and who possibly none of the peoples of Hispanoamerica have endured at any moment in their modern history," he declared.
"No one wants the bomb to fall on their head, but what I mean to say is what I hear, what they tell me: 'When are the Americans coming?' They are writing it on the walls. 'When is Trump coming?'. In other words, when will they put an end to communism?" he clarified.
The historic inmate stated that his personal position is different: "I would like everything in Cuba to be resolved peacefully; I wish we could make a transition without violence."
De Fana stated that he trusts the Cuban people and believes that freedom can be achieved without the need for military intervention from the United States.
He recalled that there are more and more Cubans protesting, and that there may come a time when the vast majority of the people take to the streets to demonstrate, possibly with the support of the military.
"There are members of the Cuban Armed Forces who do not have blood on their hands, who are also waiting for change to happen, and there are people from the nomenclature who are waiting for change, who already know that they have nothing to expect from communism," he added.
The "plantado" emphasized that Cubans are very nationalistic and have confidence that an American intervention will not take away their independence. "What will take away our freedom is communism, not independence. (...). But yes, the United States is a great ally and we need help, just like from other peoples," he said.
Regarding the negotiations between both governments, he was emphatic in stating that he does not want an outcome like that of Venezuela.
"We deserve to regain the opportunity for freedom, for freedom, to recover prosperity, peace, and happiness. That is what all Cubans deserve. Even those who have not stained their hands with blood, but who have made the mistake of embracing communism or enduring it out of fear or for any reason. No, what we want is happiness and democracy so that all Cubans can return to our country to live in peace and happiness there, in our homeland," he stated.
De Fana referred to the negotiations between Washington and Havana that took place on April 10, when delegations from both countries met in Havana to discuss political prisoners.
As a leader of the organization Plantados hasta la Libertad y la Democracia en Cuba, he maintained communication with current opponents and prisoners within Cuba, as well as with their families. "This demand must be the primary one; the unconditional freedom of all political prisoners has to be absolute," he emphasized regarding the ongoing negotiations between the governments of Cuba and the United States.
He recalled that in 1976, along with 137 other prisoners at the Combinado del Este, he signed a letter rejecting any negotiation that did not include the unconditional release of all political prisoners.
That stance has not changed in light of the current conversations between the State Department and the regime. "We categorically refuse to engage in any negotiation that does not include the unconditional release of all Cuban political prisoners and the end of the communist regime," he stated.
De Fana also warned about the regime's practice of releasing prisoners only to exile them. "In some cases, the regime releases some prisoners, but exports them, as it did to us, exiling us or leaving them in Cuba, but without rights, without the ability to speak, without the normal rights of a citizen," he noted.
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