Operation deployed against leaders of the Women's Network for Equality in Cuba

Two members of the Women's Network for Equality (RMI) in Cuba, Nancy Alfaya and Marthadela Tamayo, have been under siege in their homes by State Security agents since Thursday afternoon. At the moment, none of them have been able to leave their house.

“This is the best proof of lpolitical violence against women. Because we are peacefully organizing to empower women in their rights,” denounced Tamayo, through a post on Facebook.

Alfaya and Tamayo, coordinator and organizer, respectively, of the entity belonging to the Citizen Committee for Racial Integration (CIR), had made a massive call to Cuban women to attend the Gender Table scheduled for this day, starting at 2:00 p.m. (local time).

The meeting was part of the “United for Our Rights” campaign and also, as part of the debate table, the launch of a Gender Guide, developed by Tamayo during her four months of study in Washington, United States, was scheduled.

“United for Our Rights” is a campaign led by the Cuban Alliance for Inclusion (ACI) and the Cuban Women's Network. Its objective is to “eradicate political violence against women” and make public the “recent wave of arrests, threats and restrictions,” he explained toCyberCubaa source who preferred to remain anonymous.

In turn, the organizers aim to demand from the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) three basic actions to reduce violence against all women on the Island:updating data on femicides; the preparation of officials to respond to complaints of violence; andthe classification of gender violence in Cuba, as a crime, in the Penal Code or through a specific law.

Apparently, Alfaya and Tamayo were not the only participants in the crusade who ended up being victims of police repression.

“Activists and campaign coordinators were detained in their homes, where they were also prohibited from leaving, and summoned to attend interrogations, due to state security. Likewise, relatives were fined and detained,” the source added.

Such was the case of Jorge Olivera, Alfaya's husband, and Osvaldo Navarro, Tamayo's husband. Even Juan Antonio Madrazo Luna, coordinator of the CIR, was taken in a patrol car to his home by a State Security agent, who identified himself as “Major Alejandro.”

“Major Alejandro” was also responsible for “warning” Tamayo and his spouse that they could not leave their home until Friday at 8:00 p.m. Likewise, he informed them that the country was in a "conjunctural situation", so gender activities would not be allowed "neither now, nor ever."