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The priest Alberto Reyes, one of the most respected voices within the Catholic Church in Cuba, compared the current political and social climate to that of the final days of Fulgencio Batista's regime, asserting that the country is now under an even more devastating tyranny that has plunged the people not only into repression but also into hunger, institutional collapse, and widespread despair.
In a critical reflection published on Facebook, it was pointed out that, unlike the Batista dictatorship, where the main issue was the usurpation of power, the current regime goes much further, affecting every aspect of daily life.
Reyes stated that in Cuba there is social discontent, rejection of the government, fear of repression, and above all, an immense desire for radical change.
Communism has brought to the country hospitals without medicine, constant blackouts, shortages of water and fuel, miserable salaries, abandonment of the elderly, silenced artists, and professionals with no future, he detailed.
"Are they blind, and cannot see? Are they foolish, and see, but do not understand? Or do they see, understand, but have lost the goodness that makes them human?" the priest asks firmly of those in power in Cuba.
Next, CiberCuba shares the full text of the publication by Alberto Reyes Pías:
I have been thinking… (106) by Alberto Reyes Pías
I have been thinking about the X-ray of a nun
As a child, I heard many times about the atmosphere that prevailed in the final days of Batista, and it feels as if those times have returned. Everywhere you go, it's the same: social discontent, rejection of the government, fear of repression, and above all, an immense, deep, genuine desire for radical change, for the end of a system that has become a nightmare.
But, evidently, there are differences. With Batista, the Problem, with a capital P, was the usurpation of power, the discontent with a dictator who had taken over the country's government while ignoring the will of the people. The struggle against Batista had one objective: the restoration of democracy and the freedom it provides.
Outside that realm, life was not only possible but, in many places, the problems were those brought on by excessive abundance and the indifference towards the poor that it provokes.
Today it is not like that. We have returned, yes, to the same political point: to the rejection of another tyranny, another dictatorship, with the same desire to regain the democracy and freedom that it offers.
But today there is more, much more. Sister Nadieska Almeida, Daughter of Charity, has published one of the best and most comprehensive analyses of today’s Cuba, that Cuba which is attempted to be hidden behind news reports that mock our intelligence, elaborate ministerial trips, or the smoke of cigars.
Sister Nadieska couldn’t have been more thorough and clear. What else robs us of life today, besides a tyrannical and dictatorial political system? Widespread hunger, the suffering of political prisoners and their families, the lack of electricity, the sick without medicine, the shortage of medical supplies in hospitals, the lack of water, the plight of the fields, the absence of religious freedom, the lack of fuel, workers without protection, the absurd obligation of military service, the insecurity of the elderly, pitiful wages, censorship of artists, the impossibility of a dignified burial, children without childhood, the absence of treatment for patients with psychiatric disorders, retirees without resources, frustrated professionals, lies and the ongoing cycle of empty promises, mockery of the people's dignity, gag laws, and threats of imprisonment and death.
And I wonder: are those who hold power in this country blind and unable to see? Are they foolish, seeing but not understanding? Or do they see and understand, yet have lost the kindness that makes them human, choosing the evil that makes one believe, like Cain, that they are not responsible for their brother?
In any case, I join the cry of Sister Nadieska, her 'Enough already!', our 'Enough already!', because it is not right to crush an entire people endlessly, and it is time, it is time for this to end once and for all."
Frequently asked questions about Alberto Reyes' criticisms of the Cuban regime
Why is Father Alberto Reyes critical of the Cuban regime?
Alberto Reyes criticizes the Cuban regime for the lack of freedoms and fundamental rights that the government imposes on its people. He points out repression, manipulation, and misery as consequences of a system that maintains control through fear and lies, preventing Cubans from living in an environment of freedom and prosperity.
What does Alberto Reyes propose to change the situation in Cuba?
Alberto Reyes proposes to fight for a definitive change that does not rely solely on time, but on the actions of citizens. He suggests fostering an atmosphere of honesty, expressing the truth, and refraining from participating in acts that support the regime. Additionally, he advocates for justice and freedom as cornerstones for a better future in Cuba.
What is Alberto Reyes' position on Fidel Castro's legacy?
Reyes sees Fidel Castro's legacy as negative, stating that his need for prominence and control created an environment of false adulation and repression. He criticizes that Castro's influence remains present, affecting the Cuban reality by maintaining a regime incapable of recognizing and addressing the country's problems.
How does Alberto Reyes describe the current situation in Cuba?
Alberto Reyes describes the situation in Cuba as critical, with serious economic and social issues such as the scarcity of food and medicine. He highlights the despair of the people, who live under a regime that has lost the support of the populace and responds with repression to any manifestation of change.
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