Carlos Otero Reveals Signing State Security Document in Cuba, Shares His "Commitment"

In a recent podcast, renowned Cuban presenter Carlos Otero disclosed an encounter with Cuba's State Security, where he was summoned just once to sign a document. This agreement required him to report any plots against Fidel Castro's life, particularly from foreigners he interacted with at the time.

Otero shared this revelation with YouTuber Darwin Santana on "El Mundo de Darwin," although he noted that he had previously discussed it on Oscar Haza's "A Mano Limpia," one of the first shows he joined upon arriving in the United States.

"They called me only once and had me sign a paper stating that if I saw or heard of any plans against Fidel Castro's life, I was to report it. From foreigners," Otero recounted candidly.

The presenter admitted to signing the document without hesitation but was quick to clarify that he never intended to honor that commitment.

"I signed it just like that, without any issue, just to be left alone. In fact, even if I had heard something, I wouldn't have reported it," he asserted.

Otero justified his stance by expressing his disillusionment with Fidel Castro, who he felt had deceived him for years. He concluded his story with a striking comment on the extent of surveillance he was under:

"They already knew. They had everything copied, even knew the color of my underwear," he revealed.

This incident occurred during a time when dollars were illegal in Cuba, and Cubans associating with foreigners were viewed with suspicion by the regime's intelligence apparatus.

"Fidel Castro deceived us. I grew up believing in the Cuban revolution. I thought I lived in paradise," Otero remarked earlier in the interview, encapsulating decades of manipulation and control over his life and career.

The State Security has a documented history of monitoring and recruiting artists and intellectuals as informants through interrogations, pressure, and signing "commitment" documents.

In the same interview, Otero narrated other instances of control and coercion.

Forced Performances and State Surveillance

The cast of "Sabadazo"—a program that reached 82% viewership during the Special Period—was forced to perform at the San Antonio de los Baños airbase for Raúl Castro and the military elite, without any compensation.

"It was mandatory. They tell you that you have to do this. You disappear. Forget it, you won't be on TV anymore," Otero described of the summons.

He also recounted an incident where State Security intercepted him on the Malecón while in a Cubanacán taxi to interrogate him about greeting dissident poet Raúl Rivero, who had just been released from prison.

Rivero was one of the 75 dissidents arrested during the 2003 Black Spring and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Otero left Cuba in 2007 through Canada, crossing the bridge into Buffalo, where he sought political asylum.

After 15 years hosting the show TN3 on América TeVé, he was dismissed from the channel in May 2022 and has since been running "La hora de Carlos" on YouTube.