Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat | |
---|---|
Born | 1965
Havana |
Education | Doctor of Philosophy |
Alma mater | |
Occupation | Writer, visiting scholar |
Website | https://gutierrezboronat.com/ |
Position held | secretary ( Cuban Democratic Directorate) |
Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat was born in Havana, Cuba in 1965. Gutierrez-Boronat is an author, [1] spokesperson for the Cuban Democratic Directorate, [2] [3] member of the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance (a coalition of Cuban anti-communist groups inside and outside Cuba), [4] invited lecturer at Georgetown University, and community leader.
His family settled in the United States from Cuba in 1971 seeking freedom. In 1990, he co-founded Cuban American NGO, Directorio Democratico Cubano [5] "Directorio" seeking human rights and democratic change in Cuba. In 2005, Gutierrez-Boronat launched Radio República, [6] [7] a radio station offering uncensored news and information to Cubans on the island that transmits every day via shortwave, and also through AM frequencies and social media. [8] Radio República recently launched a podcast driven website allowing for programming to be downloaded and heard world-wide. The DDC receives funding from [NED]. [9] [10] The NED funds also went toward the Directorio’s Radio Republica operation.
Gutierrez-Boronat holds a PhD in the Philosophy of International Relations from the University of Miami (2005), [11] and a Master’s degree in Political Science (2001) [12] and undergraduate degrees in Communications and Political Science from Florida International University. [13]
Dr. Gutierrez Boronat has served as an international diplomat for the cause of a Free Cuba. In the past few years, he has met with President Donald J. Trump [14] and Vice President Mike Pence of the United States; with President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil; [15] with President Tsai-ing wen of the Republic of China (Taiwan); [16] with the Foreign Ministers of Costa Rica, [17] Chile, [18] and Peru; [19] and with members of Congress of the United States [20] and several Latin American countries. [21]
In October 2020, he organized the Anti-Communist and Anti-Socialist Caravan and Seminar in Miami, Florida, that according to observers drew about 30,000 vehicles and thousands of participants. [22] [23]
Dr. Gutierrez-Boronat has been instrumental in the creation of the Justice Cuba Commission, [24] composed of human rights experts from ten countries, which has investigated crimes against humanity of the Cuban government against the Cuban population, as well as in other nations. [25] [26] [27] The Justice Cuba Commission advocates for an international tribunal to try these crimes.
Gutierrez-Boronat signed the Madrid Charter, a document drafted by the far-right Spanish political party Vox that describes left-wing groups as enemies of Ibero-America involved in a "criminal project" that are "under the umbrella of the Cuban regime". [28]