Interview with Janisset Rivero

              Human Rights Oral History Project
Interview with Janisset Rivero
Miami, Florida, June 2, 2014
Interview 5312.0022
Interviewed by Julio Estorino
Recorded by Javier Carrion
Outline by Julio Estorino and Fernando Espino
Interview with Janisset Rivero, a Cuban activist and founding member of Directorio Democrático Cubano. In 1994, Janisset initiated Operación Boitel, a campaign of travel to other countries to incite support for the Cuban opposition movement. She testified before the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2002. She is currently a professor of Spanish literature at Florida International University in Miami, Florida.
This interview forms part of the Human Rights Oral History Project (HROHP) of the Cuban Heritage Collection, University of Miami Libraries. The Project aims to capture the testimonies of Cuban dissidents. In its first phase, HROHP focuses on the Black Spring of 2003 when the Cuban government arrested 75 activists. Interviews were conducted with a number of the dissidents who served time in prison as part of the Grupo de los 75 (Group of the 75) and with members of the Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White), an organization of the wives, mothers, daughters, and other female relatives of jailed dissidents. The Human Rights Oral History Project was launched in 2013 with funding from the Marlins Foundation.
This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor.
Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the Cuban Heritage Collection. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact the Cuban Heritage Collection at chc@miami.edu.
The following outline is written in Spanish, as the original interview was conducted. Janisset Rivero 2
June 2, 2014
INTERVIEW OUTLINE
Part 1
− 00:00:24 – Nacimiento. Familia e infancia. Educación. Exilio a Venezuela como adolescente.
− 00:09:52 – Tu adolescencia y educación en Venezuela.
− 00:11:51 – ¿Por qué tu familia decide irse a los Estados Unidos?
− 00:13:15 – La percepción de Cuba en los ojos de los venezolanos.
− 00:17:30 – Tu vida en los Estados Unidos.
− 00:19:40 – El Directorio Revolucionario Democrático Cubano. Su incepción y evolución.
− 00:22:31 – Tu vida personal y profesional en Miami.
− 00:26:29 – El primer contacto del Directorio con la oposición cubana.
− 00:32:45 – La relación de los grupos opositores adentro y afuera de la isla. Cooperación del Directorio con los grupos adentro.
− 00:41:39 – La Comisión de Derechos Humanos en Geneva.
− 00:46:29 – Conflictos entre los grupos opositores dentro de Cuba y los grupos exilios.
− 00:52:25 – ¿A qué punto la política partidista en los Estados Unidos ha llegado a afectar los esfuerzos de las organizaciones cubanas exiliadas?
− 00:54:34 – Tu familia, matrimonio, hijos.
− 01:02:28 – La oposición en Cuba hoy en día.
− 01:06:17 – El futuro de Cuba.
− 01:08:50 – Tus publicaciones.
− 01:11:06 – La diversificación de la oposición cubana.