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The vice president of the Union of Journalists of Cuba (UPEC) boasted about his indoctrinated and “snitching” humor by posting mocking messages on his social media directed at independent journalists who have been affected by the closure of Radio Martí and the recent cuts in U.S. funding for alternative media on the island.
Francisco Rodríguez Cruz, better known as Paquito de Cuba, used his social media to mock the reduction of funding from USAID and NED to independent Cuban media, writing: “Trump’s measures increase the unemployment rate by 20% among the ranks of the Cuban counter-revolution…”.
The comment was interpreted as mocking the Cuban journalists who work outside the totalitarian control of the communist system prevailing on the island, who face censorship, repression, and now greater difficulties in sustaining their informational spaces due to the drastic reduction of resources that will affect several media outlets in exile.
Not satisfied with that message, the vice president of UPEC published a series of photos showing him holding a portable radio with a puzzled expression, accompanied by the text: “Here I am trying to listen to Radio Martí…”.
The ironic gesture comes at a moment when the Cuban dictatorship celebrates the closure of the US-funded broadcaster, one of the few sources of information that managed to penetrate the censorship on the island.
Radio Martí has been a key medium for delivering news without the manipulation of the official Cuban press. For decades, its radio broadcasts have provided an informative alternative for Cuban citizens, although they have consistently faced interference and attacks from the regime.
However, the administration of Donald Trump decided to cut its funding amid a reassessment of priorities, a move that has been seen as an indirect concession to the government of Havana and a setback for the efforts of independent press.
Systematic attacks from the authorities
Rodríguez Cruz's statements reflect the official discourse of the regime, which has systematically discredited alternative media and independent journalists, labeling them as “mercenaries” or “paid by imperialism”.
From UPEC, the official apparatus of journalists aligned with the Communist Party, a rhetoric of criminalization has been promoted against those who seek to practice journalism outside of state control.
Rodríguez Cruz himself, who has previously been a spokesperson for radical positions within official journalism, has openly attacked colleagues who have chosen to leave state media in search of editorial independence.
On one occasion, he described it as "regrettable" that some former reporters from the state press have decided to join media outlets funded by international organizations.
His stance aligns with the regime's narrative, which not only represses journalists within the island, but also targets and discredits those who, from exile, attempt to report on the reality of Cuba.
The crisis of the free press in Cuba
The closure of Radio Martí and the cuts from USAID and NED pose an even greater challenge for the independent press in Cuba, which already operated under extremely adverse conditions.
Since the approval of Decree-Law 370 and the subsequent Social Communication Law, the Cuban government has tightened its control over information, criminalizing journalism outside of official media and imposing penalties on those who disseminate news contrary to the regime's narrative.
Journalists in Cuba face harassment, surveillance, arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on leaving the country. Many have had to go into exile to continue their journalistic work, and those who remain on the island work under constant threats.
Meanwhile, media funded by USAID and NED have been one of the few options to support independent journalism, but with the reduction of these funds, their operational capacity will be compromised.
Rodríguez Cruz's mockery is not only a display of cynicism but also a reflection of the Cuban regime's stance on press freedom. Instead of creating spaces for debate and diverse information, it chooses to ridicule those who attempt to present an alternative narrative to the official propaganda.
The outlook for independent press in Cuba is more uncertain than ever, and the attitude of the vice president of UPEC makes it clear that the government has no intention of allowing other voices to be heard.
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