Cuban priest denounces possible retaliation after criticizing the regime: "This is how our car dawned."

The Cuban priest Lester Rafael Zayas Díaz reported this Monday an act of vandalism against his vehicle, parked in front of the convent where he resides in El Vedado, Havana.

In a post on his Facebook profile, Zayas shared images of the car with shattered windows, which occurred following a night of widespread power outage in the area.

“Today, our car looked like this after a long night of blackout throughout Vedado. Right in front of our convent,” wrote the priest, who interpreted the incident as a possible act of retaliation for his recent public criticisms of the Cuban government.

Zayas expressed his hope that the incident was driven by the desperation and needs of those living amidst growing misery, although he did not hide his concern about what he sees as a possible act of retaliation by the regime.

“Miseries continue to rise, leading to acts of vandalism driven by the need to acquire the essentials for survival. Or at least, that's what I want to believe. Otherwise, I might think it’s a form of revenge against some for expressing the common sentiment,” he pointed out.

The previous Saturday, the religious leader shared on Facebook an extensive and forceful message in which he criticized the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel for blaming the people for the increase in electricity consumption while not acknowledging the collapse of the national energy system.

"Seeing a ruler (...) blaming the people for something that, in no way, can be the people's fault" was, in his words, "a grotesque, ugly, and unacceptable mockery."

In that same text, Zayas harshly questioned the insensitivity of the leaders and the disconnection between their discourse and the everyday reality faced by Cubans.

"This town wants to obtain the rightful right to eat with dignity, to have 24 hours of electricity, to speak freely, to be consulted about what it wants and desires, to not be afraid to protest if necessary,” he wrote."

Far from retracting, the priest has taken on an increasingly critical role in public debate, in the midst of a national context marked by power outages, inflation, repression, and unpopular measures such as the increase in telecommunications service fees.

Although Zayas did not directly accuse any entity for the damages suffered, his publications reflect an increasing concern about the personal cost of expressing dissenting opinions in a climate of rising political intolerance.

"It is true that coincidences exist, but does it always happen the same way?" he wondered, leaving in the air a suspicion that many share, but few dare to voice openly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Criticism of the Cuban Regime and Repression