New allegations shake the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Bayamo after several videos were made public, in which students expose the harassment they suffer from State Security, following protests against the rate hike by the state-run and sole Telecommunications Company of Cuba S.A. (ETECSA).
Together with the images, shared on the social network X and on Instagram by the user known as San Memero, the source that sent the videos stated: “The students who reported the harassment by security publicly requested protection from the school and they said that Security must be allowed to operate as they see fit, many students are afraid.”
The petition reveals not only fear but also the extent of normalization of institutionalized harassment.
On his Facebook profile, journalist José Raúl Gallego recalled that five students with a distinctly official discourse attempted to discredit his testimony after he published the initial complaint from Bayamo. However, none directly denied the existence of harassment or the methods of State Security. Their defense relied on evasions and empty slogans. In contrast, the new testimonies confirm the pressure experienced within the center.
“In the video, one of the young women is heard asking that State Security at least show some 'tact' and 'delicacy.' Student: they don’t need to have any of that. What cannot happen, under any circumstances, is for military personnel to harass individuals for expressing their opinions. We cannot normalize violations or ask for them to be carried out in a 'less harsh' manner. It simply cannot be, and in a free and democratic Cuba, none of this would take place,” Gallego argued.
The wave of university rebellion continues in Cuba, despite the fact that the regime seeks to silence them by every possible means. Students from the universities of Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba have released several statements accusing ETECSA of legitimizing inequality through excessive tariff increases, and denounce repression and censorship within their academic institutions.
Students from the José Antonio Echeverría Technological University of Havana, known as CUJAE, also reported repression by State Security this Sunday in response to their opposition to the price hike.
Also, over the weekend, it was revealed that State Security visited the homes of UCLV students, threatening them with jail and expulsion for organizing a university march.
Despite the fact that the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Computing at the University of Havana, the main initiator of the student strike, decided to reverse its stance on June 9, other faculties in the eastern and central regions of the country have chosen to continue and strengthen the protest.
However, activist Lara Crofs published a private conversation that reveals the price of speaking out in Cuba. Crofs denounced that young people are under tremendous pressure, facing "the political hurricane" that is experienced within the island.
In the message, a Journalism student from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Oriente acknowledges having removed, due to pressure and abandonment, the statement that officially called for a university strike until the rate hike was reversed. "The very guys who wrote that with me got scared and left me alone. I don't trust them anymore," he stated.
The academic strike supported by various faculties of Cuban universities is in opposition to ETECSA's restrictions, which limit top-ups in Cuban pesos (CUP) to 360 CUP every 30 days. When the package runs out, the customer relies on top-ups for plans at very high prices in CUP and foreign currency, far beyond the reach of most citizens who receive their salaries in a heavily devalued Cuban peso amid rampant inflation.
The decision, which the government insists on maintaining, is seen as exclusionary and contrary to the socialist ideal, in addition to impacting internet access and the ability to engage in academic and research activities, among other things.
Frequently Asked Questions about Repression in Cuban Universities and ETECSA's Price Hike
Why are student protests happening in Cuba?
The student protests in Cuba are due to the increase in ETECSA rates, which limits access to the internet, considered an exclusionary measure contrary to the socialist ideal. Students are demanding fairer rates and equitable connectivity, as the new rates make internet access unattainable for many Cubans who do not receive remittances or earnings in foreign currencies.
What role does State Security play in Cuban universities?
The State Security in Cuba is being accused of harassing university students who are participating in the protests against ETECSA's rate hike. Reports indicate that agents are visiting students at their homes, threatening them with imprisonment and expulsion, creating an atmosphere of fear and repression within the universities.
How has the Cuban government responded to the student protests?
The Cuban government has denied the existence of a student strike and has attempted to discredit the protests, labeling them as manipulated from abroad. Despite the evidence of repression and discontent, the regime insists on maintaining ETECSA's high rates, claiming they are necessary to prevent a technological collapse in the country.
What is the position of the University Student Federation (FEU) regarding the rate hike by ETECSA?
The FEU has issued a statement rejecting the new tariffs from ETECSA, deeming them harmful to access to information and education. While the FEU has traditionally been aligned with the government, its current critical stance reflects the discontent among students, who are demanding an urgent review of the measures and a solution that takes into account the economic realities faced by the student body.
Filed under: