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The statements made by the former spy and current leader of the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, regarding Cuban emigration have sparked a wave of reactions among Cubans on social media.
Hernández Nordelo stated that Cubans do not leave the island in search of freedom, but rather for better economic conditions, which sparked outrage among those who have personally experienced the country's crisis and have chosen to emigrate.
For the national coordinator of the "neighborhood informers," freedom as a driving force behind the mass emigration of Cubans is a "tale." He expressed this alongside the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel and the official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), Johana Tablada de la Torre, during the airing of the podcast 'Desde la Presidencia.'
A note on this topic, published on Facebook by CiberCuba, sparked a wave of comments from Cubans who expressed their discontent and outrage over Hernández Nordelo's remarks, reminding him of the pain of thousands of families who lost loved ones at sea or during perilous journeys, as well as the millions who endure the suffering of separation.
The responses to his words were swift. "Cubans leave Cuba in search of prosperity, health, decent work, a stable economy, peace of mind, decent housing, a stable family, security, and a future for their children. And all of that is attained through FREEDOM," expressed a user on Facebook, in one of the most supported replies.
Another internet user pointed out that "families are forcibly divided. Children, parents, spouses have left—indeed, generations seeking decent work, freedom, in short, to live as human beings. Others have perished in the dangerous journeys they have undertaken, both across land and sea, due to the desperation we experience day by day in our country."
The criticism against the leader not only targeted his statements but also his privileged position within the system. "Gerardo Hernández speaks from the comfort of his comfortable life in Cuba. He doesn’t know what a regular Cuban suffers. He doesn’t know what it’s like to stand in an endless line for a bit of food or to live in fear of expressing what you think."
Some even referred to his status as a "hero" and reminded him of his exploitation by the dictator Fidel Castro. "If Gerardo believes so much in the 'prosperity' of Cuba, why doesn't he renounce all the privileges he has within the system and live like an average Cuban?" questioned another user.
There were also harsher responses: "Mr. Gerardo, are you aware of what you are saying? How much cynicism is in your words. Mockery and blackmail towards all those fathers and mothers who have lost their children at sea while searching for a better future and those who silently suffer the absence of their loved ones simply due to having no future and no possibility of choosing their destiny without impositions or repression."
The reactions reflected a deep frustration with the Cuban reality and the regime's stance on emigration. The assertion that Cubans do not flee due to a lack of freedom was met with strong criticism, highlighting repression, the absence of rights, and the impossibility of improving the quality of life on the island.
"People don't risk their lives for a steak sandwich," added another user, emphasizing that the crisis on the island is much more than just an economic issue; it's also political and social.
The controversy continues and shows that, far from believing the official narrative, Cubans who have had to emigrate know very well why they made that decision: in search of what they do not have and cannot have in Cuba.
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