The Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer denounced on Tuesday a complete internet service outage in the Altamira neighborhood of Santiago de Cuba, where the headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) is located, following the visit of a team of journalists from the international agency Reuters.
The complaint was made by her sister, Ana Belkis Ferrer, who reported on social media: “ALERT! The communist Castro-Canel dictatorship has cut off internet service in the entire Altamira area, Santiago de Cuba, following a visit from journalists from Reuters to the main headquarters of UNPACU. Since internet access became available to the public, the service has never been cut to this extent before.”
The service interruption coincides with the participation of José Daniel Ferrer and the Cuban opposition figure Rosa María Payá in a hearing before the Human Rights Subcommittee of the European Parliament, where both presented the critical human rights situation on the island.
During his intervention, Payá denounced that Cuba is experiencing a deep structural crisis, describing it as a "failed state." He spoke of power outages of up to 20 hours a day, a collapse of transportation, extreme shortages of food and medicine, and a healthcare system unable to attend to patients with serious or chronic illnesses.
"People are dying due to a lack of antibiotics," he said, citing the case of the child Damir Ortiz, who passed away last Saturday for not receiving timely treatment. He also emphasized that human rights defenders are especially vulnerable in a country where dissent is criminalized.
For his part, Ferrer—anticipating the regime's censorship, sent a video of his speech to the European Parliament—accused the Cuban government of being the largest violator of human rights in Latin America and of openly supporting Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
He recalled that, since the protests on July 11, 2021, he has tightened legislation to criminalize freedom of expression on the island, even on social media.
“The regime continues to imprison hundreds of political prisoners, many of whom are victims of physical and psychological torture. At least six demonstrators from July 11 have died in custody,” stated Ferrer, who was a victim of arbitrary detention and torture.
Independent organizations have reported that in Cuba there are no guarantees for freedom of the press, association, or unionization, and that citizen complaints are often met with repression.
He also stated that the dictatorship is attempting to obstruct the humanitarian work of UNPACU, with surrounding his home and arbitrary arrests in his neighborhood in Santiago de Cuba.
Frequently Asked Questions about José Daniel Ferrer's Situation and Repression in Cuba
Why was the internet service cut in Altamira, Santiago de Cuba?
The internet outage in Altamira was reported by José Daniel Ferrer following the visit of Reuters journalists to the UNPACU headquarters. It is seen as a retaliation by the Cuban regime to silence critical voices and prevent the dissemination of independent information. This action coincides with the participation of Ferrer and Rosa María Payá in a hearing of the European Parliament where they denounced the human rights situation in Cuba.
How has the Cuban regime affected the humanitarian work of José Daniel Ferrer?
The Cuban regime has intensified the police cordon around Ferrer's home to hinder his humanitarian work. Ferrer reports that agents of the PNR and plainclothes officers are blocking the distribution of food and medical assistance he provides to vulnerable individuals. Despite these reprisals, Ferrer and his team have managed to feed thousands of needy people, thanks to the support of exiled Cubans.
What has been the international reaction to the situation of José Daniel Ferrer?
The international community, particularly the United States, has expressed its outrage over the police harassment faced by Ferrer and the citizens who receive his assistance. The U.S. State Department has expressed its support for Ferrer and has condemned the repression by the Cuban regime, urging the protection of citizens rather than their repression. Ferrer has expressed gratitude for these signs of international solidarity.
What complaints have José Daniel Ferrer and Rosa María Payá made before the European Parliament?
Ferrer and Payá reported on the critical human rights situation in Cuba before the Human Rights Subcommittee of the European Parliament. They highlighted issues such as blackouts, extreme shortages of food and medicine, and the criminalization of dissent. They also accused the Cuban regime of being the largest human rights violator in Latin America and of supporting Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Filed under:
