Cuban Artist Luis Manuel Otero Disappears

Yanelys Nuñez Leyva

HAVANA TIMES – At the beginning of his pilgrimage to the Rincon de San Lazaro sanctuary, Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero has been arrested (apparently) by the Cuban State Security, when he was at Carlos III and Belascoain streets in Centro Habana.

I say apparently because he disappeared yesterday December 14 without leaving a trace around 10:30 p.m., while resting in the company of a friend, Jose Ernesto Alonso, with whom I have also lost all contact.

I asked for both at the closest police stations, Zapata and C; and Dragons with Zanja, but neither of them offered any information on them.

The intention of this new work of Luis, which the pilgrimage is part of, is to ask San Lazaro the following:

Oh! Saint Lazarus
You who are stronger than all presidents
and the forces of this world
I ask you to help me with your divine power,
in this situation that afflicts the Cuban people
and me as one of them,
in this moment of despair
and that men cannot solve.
I summon you and I ask you miraculous saint
that you eliminate all miseries for Cubans;
that neither death and violence
be the path of transition;
I ask you for genuine democracy
where legality protects us.

Saint Lazarus you have my supplications
I ask you to remove the blockade,
Prosperity
Freedom of expression
Freedom for political prisoners
Free access to the Internet
Cessation of race, gender and creed discrimination;
no more repression!

OH! Babalú
You who always lived abandoned of everything,
sick and hungry, nobody would help you,
and you always had a good heart
and you knew how to put your trust in God
Intercede today for us.
Make my generation regain faith.

Latest news: Luis Manuel Otero found at a Police Station in Lawton.