The repressive forces of the Cuban regime detained demonstrators from Encrucijada who protested on Thursday, November 7, against the prolonged blackouts that have severely impacted the population following the latest total collapse of the national electroenergetic system (SEN).
The protests arose from widespread discontent caused by the constant blackouts experienced after the successive total collapses of the National Electrical System (SEN), along with the routine of intermittent blackouts scheduled by the Electric Union (UNE) at the request of authorities from a regime that has evaded its responsibility to guarantee essential public services to the population, leading to widespread frustration over the energy crisis.
In the absence of effective solutions from the government, dissatisfaction led the residents of Encrucijada to take to the streets to voice their frustration. After more than 48 hours without electricity, the residents gathered in front of the headquarters of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power and the Communist Party to express their outrage through a loud pots and pans protest.
However, the authorities' repressive response has been swift and decisive. According to the organization Cubalex, which focuses on defending human rights in Cuba, at least eight protesters from Encrucijada were arbitrarily detained the day after the demonstrations.
"We confirm arbitrary detentions in Encrucijada, Villa Clara, following the peaceful protests on November 7 against prolonged power outages. So far, at least eight people remain in custody," the NGO reported.
Among those detained are Rafael Camacho Herrera, Héctor Luis Olivera Rodríguez, Rodel Rodríguez Espinosa, Marcos Daniel Díaz Rodríguez, Andy Pérez Mederos, Rubén Martel, and Raciel Cárdenas Díaz. Alejandro Morales Pereira, whose home was surrounded by special brigades and who was threatened by the repressors, has not been arrested.
The situation is even more concerning in the case of Marcos Daniel, who, according to reports, had heart surgery, raising worries about his health while in custody.
Another notable arrest is that of Yandri Torres Quintana, who was apprehended around 2:00 p.m. at his mother's house, located in the Abel Santamaría area. Torres Quintana is currently held in the prison known as La Pendiente in Santa Clara, which intensifies tensions in the region and highlights the government's firm stance against the protests.
The demonstration in Encrucijada took place with dozens of people demanding the restoration of electric service. Videos shared on social media showed protesters banging pots and shouting slogans, including: "They won't silence us!"
The citizens demanded an immediate solution, forcing the municipal leaders to come before the crowd. Hours after the protest, the Electric Company of Villa Clara announced the restoration of service in several circuits of the municipality, including the areas of Jutiero, Vizcaya, and Comunidad la Sierra.
"Authorities cut off internet access to prevent people from live streaming. Additionally, State Security agents provoked protesters by pushing them and snatching their phones to stop them from recording. A local source confirmed that during the protest, an agent used a flashlight to illuminate the faces of the protesters while saying, 'I know you,' in a clear act of intimidation," reported Cubalex.
According to the NGO's report, the detainees were taken to "Prevention" in Santa Clara. "They were removed from the police unit handcuffed and through a garage to avoid being seen. Meanwhile, their family members waited outside demanding their release," the organization specified.
"According to the information received, the authorities are accusing peaceful protesters of 'public disorder' and further claim that they wrote the phrase 'Homeland and Life' on the facade of a leader's home following the protest," Cubalex added.
For its part, the organization Justicia 11J reported on its social media that there were detentions in the town of Manicaragua, also in Villa Clara, following similar incidents. The protests included clashes with authorities, pot-banging, street blockades, and damage to state facilities.
The protests in Encrucijada are part of a wave of demonstrations that have spread across Cuba in response to power outages that have lasted up to 60 hours or more.
This Friday, protests and pot-banging took place in neighborhoods of Nuevo Vedado and Guanabacoa in Havana to criticize the authorities responsible for the nearly 60 hours of blackout since the last total collapse of the National Electric System.
The detention of peaceful protesters is not a new phenomenon in Cuba, but it underscores the repression of the totalitarian regime and its determination to silence those who demand improvements in already precarious living conditions.
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