A serious incident put the life of a mother and her three children at risk in the city of Santa Clara early Monday morning, February 24.
The attempted arson occurred when Marcos Martínez Capote, a neighbor of Yunisley Suárez Rodríguez, tried to set her home on fire by opening the window of his bedroom and igniting a fire inside.
Fortunately, neither she nor her children suffered physical injuries, although they lost a large part of their belongings, reported the Cuban activist Irma Lidia Cepero, known on social media as Irma Broek.
According to reports, Suárez Rodríguez had filed a formal complaint against Martínez Capote at the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) unit in Santa Clara just four days before the attack, warning about the threats he was receiving.
However, the aggressor remained at large despite the history of violence and substance abuse attributed to him.
The case has sparked outrage in the community and on social media, where activists and citizens are demanding that authorities take immediate action to protect the victim and her family.
Both the PNR of Santa Clara and Governor Milaxy Yanet Sánchez Armas, along with other state security agencies, are held responsible for the inaction that allowed the situation to escalate to an attempted homicide.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that Yunisley Suárez's husband, Aron Yanko is currently in prison serving a sentence of one and a half years for "aggravated contempt" due to a meme.
Yanko, a professional nurse, was arrested and sentenced in what his loved ones consider to be a disproportionate punishment. While he remains in prison, his wife and children are left vulnerable to further attacks without an effective response from the authorities.
This case highlights the deficiencies in the protection of citizens and the impunity with which some aggressors can act.
Frequently Asked Questions about Violence and Femicide in Cuba
What happened in the incident in Santa Clara where a man tried to burn a house?
In Santa Clara, a man named Marcos Martínez Capote attempted to set fire to the home of his neighbor, Yunisley Suárez Rodríguez, while she and her three children were inside. Fortunately, they did not suffer physical injuries, but they lost many of their belongings. The assailant, despite previous reports of threats, remained free, which has sparked outrage in the community.
Why is the community upset with the response of the authorities in Cuba?
The community is outraged because, despite previous reports by Yunisley Suárez Rodríguez against Marcos Martínez Capote, the authorities did not take action to prevent the attack. The inaction of the National Revolutionary Police and other state security agencies has been identified as a factor that allowed the situation to escalate. This case highlights the shortcomings in the protection of citizens in Cuba.
How does this incident relate to other cases of violence in Cuba?
This incident is part of a series of cases of violence and femicides that have occurred in Cuba, where the lack of effective action by the authorities is a common denominator. In many cases, such as the murder of Elaine González Estrada and other attempts at femicide, early warnings are not deemed crucial by the authorities, resulting in avoidable tragedies.
What measures are being taken in Cuba to combat gender-based violence?
Despite the increase in gender-based violence, the Cuban government has not officially recognized femicide as a crime. However, a national system for the registration, care, follow-up, and monitoring of gender-based violence within the family has been established, although its effectiveness continues to be questioned by feminist organizations and activists.
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