Cuban actress and influencer María Karla Rivero Veloz, better known as Maka, has issued a firm response to Sandro Castro, the grandson of Fidel Castro. This comes after Sandro’s recent interview with CNN, where he claimed his grandfather had principles and respected others.
Maka's retort is deeply personal, rooted in her family's history. Her father, the dissident poet and journalist Raúl Rivero, was one of the 75 activists arrested on March 18, 2003, during the Black Spring crackdown, the largest assault on peaceful opposition orchestrated by Fidel Castro. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison following summary trials.
"Was it respect to imprison individuals for their beliefs? Was it respect to condemn my father and so many others for dissent? No, that was not respect. That was repression," Maka declared in a video posted on her Facebook channel, "La casa de Maka."
The Reality Behind the Words
The actress highlighted what she sees as the real issue: "The most troubling part isn't just what he says, but the calmness with which he says it. As if history didn't exist. As if there weren't names, sentences, and broken families behind those words."
Maka also debunked Sandro's portrayal of himself as just another Cuban, denying any special privileges due to his last name.
Contradictions in Sandro's Claims
Reacting to Sandro's mention of his "almost empty" refrigerator, Maka was forthright: "Cubans don't have refrigerators that are almost empty. They're just empty. If they even have one."
The CNN interview with Sandro was conducted at night in his apartment in the Kohly neighborhood of Havana during a blackout. However, he had his own generator, a double-door refrigerator running, and air conditioning, all of which contradicted his narrative.
Maka also pointed out the stark contrast between Sandro's circumstances and those of ordinary Cubans: "You criticize the government publicly, and nothing happens. Meanwhile, there are young people in Cuba imprisoned today for saying exactly what you did. For demanding freedom, food, electricity. They aren’t interviewed; they are incarcerated."
She concluded emphatically: "You are not just another Cuban. You are indeed protected. And that’s the difference you try to gloss over, but it’s clearer than ever. It wasn't a Cuban who spoke. It was privilege trying to pass as the people."
Voices of Experience
Maka wasn't alone in her response. Idalmis Menéndez, Fidel Castro's former daughter-in-law who lived for four years in the dictator's official residence, also publicly challenged Sandro on Thursday: "You do have privileges, Sandro, because you were born at the heart of power."
Maka's father, Raúl Rivero Castañeda, served his prison term in Canaleta prison in Ciego de Ávila, where she could visit him for only two hours every three months. He was released in November 2004 due to international pressure, received the UNESCO-Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize the same year, and went into exile in Spain and later Miami, where he passed away on November 6, 2021, at the age of 75.
In a February 2024 interview with CubaNet, Maka succinctly described her father in three words: "My dad was brave."
Understanding Cuba's Political Climate
What was the Black Spring in Cuba?
The Black Spring refers to a massive crackdown on Cuban dissidents in March 2003, where 75 activists, journalists, and opposition figures were arrested and given long prison sentences under the regime of Fidel Castro.
Who was Raúl Rivero?
Raúl Rivero was a prominent Cuban poet and journalist known for his dissident activities against the Cuban government. He was imprisoned during the Black Spring and later exiled, receiving international recognition for his commitment to press freedom.
How did Maka respond to Sandro Castro's claims?
Maka responded by challenging Sandro's claims about his grandfather's respect for others, highlighting her father's imprisonment as an example of repression, and pointing out the discrepancies in Sandro's portrayal of life in Cuba.