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The reactivation of the "Open Forums," the mobilization mechanism used by Fidel Castro in the early 2000s, seems to be gaining new momentum in the province of Guantánamo, following a recent call circulated by state media in that province.
It is the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC) that is responsible for the "invitation" to the Guantanamo people to participate in an Anti-Imperialist Open Forum, which will take place on February 26 at 7:00 AM in the Plaza de la Revolución Mariana Grajales.
The meeting, as reported by the official newspaper Venceremos, aims to strengthen the unity of Cubans in support of peace, sovereignty, and the rejection of the interventionist and rights-violating policies implemented by the U.S. government.
The event will feature the participation of workers from the 15 unions in the area, as well as pioneers and students from the Federation of Secondary Education Students (FEEM) and the Federation of University Students (FEU), who will be dressed in the colors of the national flag.
In the midst of a context marked by fuel scarcity, which has been one of the regime's justifications for explaining the occurrence of prolonged blackouts and the deterioration of basic services in the country, the call includes designated collection points in various Popular Councils of the city.
The Open Tribunes were part of the strategy of the Cuban regime to rally the people in the demand for the release of Elián González and the five spies imprisoned in the United States.
They were held every Saturday in all municipalities of Cuba, starting from December 1999, with the first one taking place in the town of Artemisa, and continuing until Sunday, March 12, when the last was called in the municipality of Caimanera in Guantanamo.
Each event involved mobilization from the early morning, the use of hundreds of vehicles, the distribution of food, pullovers, and flags, along with the infrastructure of a mass event, such as stage, sound equipment, and chairs.
Their execution was another means of indoctrination, as they were broadcast live on Cubavisión and were fully replayed later on the national radio and television network. They even continued during the electricity emergency declared in the second half of 2004. Among the speakers, as well as among the audience, there were often children and adolescents.
On the other hand, the return of these events, nearly 20 years since the last one, is framed within other actions by the regime, among which stands out a recent conducting of a combat march, where the controversy over the number of participants reported by the authorities did not convince public opinion.
Official media and individuals associated with the regime reported an attendance of over 500,000 people. However, an objective analysis of the available images and the technical data from the gathering contradicted these figures.
Likewise, Cuban leaders have launched a new propaganda strategy called "anti-imperialist neighborhood debates", promoted by the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR).
The purpose of these meetings is to deflect responsibility for the economic and social crisis the country is experiencing, blaming it on the sanctions imposed by the United States, particularly those of the Donald Trump administration.
The first of these events took place in Hatibonico, a municipality of Caimanera, in Guantánamo.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Reactivation of Open Forums in Cuba
What are the Open Forums in Cuba?
The Open Tribunes are mass mobilization events organized by the Cuban regime to promote its ideology and reinforce the unity of the people against imperialism, especially American imperialism. Originally, they were used to demand the release of Elián González and the five spies imprisoned in the United States in the early 2000s.
Why are the Open Forums being reactivated in Guantánamo?
The reactivation of the Open Tribunes in Guantánamo is part of a strategy by the Cuban regime to reinforce the unity of the people in favor of peace and sovereignty, rejecting the interventionist policies of the United States. This call seeks to mobilize the population and divert attention from the economic and social crisis facing the country.
What criticisms do the Open Forums receive in the current context of Cuba?
The Open Forums have been criticized for being a tool for indoctrination that utilizes considerable resources at a time when the country is facing a severe economic crisis. Critics argue that these events do not address the real needs of the Cuban people, such as the lack of food, medicine, and the deterioration of basic services.
How is transportation being organized for the Open Stages in Guantánamo?
In the midst of the fuel shortage, the Cuban regime has established collection points in various Popular Councils of Guantánamo to facilitate the transportation of participants to the Open Tribunes. This organization aims to ensure high attendance despite the current logistical challenges.
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