The organization Cubalex reported the recent arbitrary detention of brothers Dional and Daniel Barrios Figueredo in Bayamo, Granma province, who participated in protests against the prolonged power outages affecting Cubans.
These demonstrations are part of a wave of protests that have emerged mainly in the eastern and central provinces of Cuba, amidst a profound energy crisis and social unrest. This situation has also impacted the capital, where the sound of pots and pans being banged and street protests signify the frustration of a populace on the brink of eruption.
Dional Barrios was detained on Thursday, November 7, when he was arrested at a station of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) in Bayamo, accused of "disturbing the peace."
His brother Daniel was arrested the day before, on November 6, after attending a demonstration as an observer in one of the areas of the city where power outages have been most frequent.
According to a report on social media by Yailet Barrios, daughter of Dional, the family has not been able to visit the detainees and has only received permission to send them some belongings through the police unit personnel, without any additional details about their legal situation.
Context of a country in protest against power outages.
The arrests of the Barrios Figueredo brothers are not isolated incidents in Cuba, where spontaneous protests have been occurring in various municipalities across the island for several months.
In October, the eastern and central provinces experienced an increase in power outages, with some lasting up to 12 hours a day. This situation sparked discontent among Cubans, as their daily lives are severely impacted, struggling to preserve food, lacking running water in many cases, and facing difficulties in carrying out essential activities.
Among the most prominent protests is the one in Encrucijada, in the Villa Clara province, where at the end of October, a group of residents took to the streets to peacefully protest after several consecutive nights of blackouts.
Armed with pots and flashlights, the residents of Encrucijada demanded that the authorities restore the electricity service and improve the situation in the region. This demonstration was swiftly suppressed by the police forces, who arrested several people, imposed fines, and tightened control in the area in the following days to prevent further gatherings.
In Manicaragua, also in Villa Clara, another group of citizens protested with pots and shouts of "We want light!" after enduring power outages of more than 10 consecutive hours. These protests were accompanied by temporary internet outages in the area, a strategy used by the authorities to prevent the demonstrations from spreading on social media and to keep the situation from gaining national and international visibility.
Despite these restrictions, several videos and photographs of the protest in Manicaragua managed to circulate on social media, highlighting the level of discontent among the residents due to the government's lack of response, which only acts to suppress.
Response of the regime to the protests
The Cuban government's reactions to the protests against power outages have included, in many cases, arbitrary detentions, police brutality, fines, and threats against those participating in these demonstrations.
According to testimonies gathered by human rights organizations like Cubalex, the regime has deployed State Security and PNR agents in areas with a history of protests, which discourages many Cubans from demonstrating.
Additionally, authorities regularly resort to cutting off internet access in areas of active protests, hindering communication among demonstrators and preventing images of the protests from reaching social media.
In this context, the Attorney General's Office recently issued a statement warning that it will proceed to detain and prosecute those who participate in demonstrations deemed "destabilizing."
The announcement came in response to spontaneous protests in various provinces, where Cubans took to the streets to express their frustration over the energy crisis. The Prosecutor's Office reiterated that criminal penalties would be imposed under charges of "public disorder" and "disturbance of the peace," in an attempt to deter the demonstrations.
This stance has been classified by human rights organizations as an escalation in state repression, aimed at silencing those who seek solutions to the deteriorating living conditions on the island.
This repressive context becomes even more evident in the case of the Barrios Figueredo brothers, who already have a history of conflicts with the authorities. Cubalex has noted that both are uncles of Maikol Fabián Figueredo Carbonel, a young man who participated in the protests of July 11, 2021 (known as 11J) when he was a minor.
Although he was initially released, the State Security allegedly fabricated a common crime against him, which currently keeps him in prison. This family background fuels the fear among the brothers' loved ones that the regime may attempt to take more severe reprisals against them.
The energy situation and the lack of effective responses have exacerbated social discontent in Cuba, where shortages and difficulties accessing basic products such as food and medicine have become a constant issue. Protests over blackouts contribute to the growing unrest among the population, which is facing a deteriorating economy and ongoing restrictions on their freedoms.
A city with a tradition of protests.
In recent months, Bayamo has become one of the main centers of protests in Cuba, where the population has repeatedly taken to the streets to demonstrate against the energy crisis and living conditions on the island.
On March 17, a protest in this city marked a milestone, with dozens of people gathered in the central park to express their rejection not only of power outages but also of the lack of civil rights and the government's overall management.
This demonstration, which included shouts of "Down with the dictatorship!" and slogans demanding freedom, was met with a significant deployment of State Security agents, who arrested several protesters, including well-known figures recognized for their activism on social media.
Despite the threats and state surveillance, the increasing number of citizens joining the protests in Bayamo and other cities reflects a deep social fatigue and a desire for change that goes beyond power outages, addressing structural issues and demands for greater freedoms.
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