The town of Baire, in the municipality of Contramaestre, took to the streets to protest against the power outages, food scarcity, and lack of drinking water that have been affecting the eastern population for weeks.
At the cry of "Baire is heated up," people took to the streets to demand freedom. Expressions against the government were heard, such as "Down with Díaz-Canel!"
The journalist Yosmany Mayeta reported on Facebook that after 7:40 p.m., residents of the neighborhoods La Salada, El Transformador, and Avicinia began to bang pots and shout slogans against the Government, amid a prolonged blackout that had already lasted over 30 hours.
During the protest, the regime cut off internet access throughout the municipality, a tactic well-known for preventing the spread of images and testimonies. The connection was restored about 30 minutes later, at which point several residents were able to share videos and post messages of support on social media.
The protesters avoided the main road to evade police checkpoints and marched through back streets, covering Avenida 8 and Avenida Central (Avenida 4) until they reached the Central Park of Baire, where they shouted in front of the police unit and next to the house of the president of the People's Council, Salvador.
Some videos show Cubans striking pots and pans, walking in groups through dark streets, shouting slogans of "Freedom!" and "We want electricity and food!", while other neighbors stood on the sidewalks cheering them on.
Contramaestre woke up under siege, with patrols, Ministry of Interior agents, and plainclothes police surrounding the main streets and parks. The number of detentions is unknown, but local activists fear new waves of arrests in the coming days.
The opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer García, recently released from prison and exiled to the United States, posted a message on social media stating that "Baire is once again a symbol of rebellion against tyranny."
He remembered that it was precisely in that town where the historic Grito de Baire took place on February 24, 1895, marking the beginning of the War of Independence against Spain.
"Santiago de Cuba, tired of oppression and misery, takes to the streets to protest against the dictatorship. All of Cuba must amplify these cries for freedom. There will be new political prisoners; they and their families will need all our support. Down with tyranny!" wrote Ferrer.
Cuba is experiencing one of its worst economic crises in decades, with daily blackouts, uncontrolled inflation, shortages, and a lack of medicines.
The protests in Contramaestre are part of other recent demonstrations recorded in Guantánamo, Holguín, and Camagüey, where the people, exhausted by misery and repression, demand freedom and changes from the government.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Protests in Cuba due to Blackouts and Shortages
Why are protests taking place in Baire, Santiago de Cuba?
The protests in Baire are due to prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and lack of drinking water affecting the population. Residents have taken to the streets in response to the lack of essential services and the repression of the Cuban regime, demanding freedom and improvements in their living conditions.
How has the Cuban government responded to these protests?
The Cuban regime has resorted to repression tactics, such as cutting off internet access during demonstrations and deploying police forces to control protests. Detentions are reported and there is an increased police presence in the affected areas, which reflects a strategy of criminalizing public discontent rather than addressing the population's demands.
What impact does this situation have on the daily lives of Cubans?
The crisis in basic services in Cuba is severely affecting the daily lives of its citizens. Prolonged power outages, shortages of food and water, and uncontrolled inflation are causing a collapse in living conditions, pushing the population to the brink of desperation.
Are there recent precedents of similar protests in Cuba?
Recently, several protests have been reported in different regions of Cuba, including Guantánamo, Holguín, Camagüey, and Havana. These demonstrations have been driven by similar issues of shortages and blackouts, highlighting a pattern of increasing discontent and government repression in response to citizens' demands.
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