Students from the José Antonio Echeverría Technological University of Havana, known as CUJAE, reported this Sunday repression from State Security in response to their opposition to the rate hike.
According to the independent media Árbol Invertido, students from that higher education institution described “a climate of fear and persecution instilled by the direct interference of the Cuban political police.”
In addition to interrogations, harassment, threats of expulsion, and the confiscation of mobile phones against students participating in the fight against the fare hike, students reported the deletion of the collective WhatsApp group "CUJAE habla."
"The state security was at the school and interrogated several people, many from the scholarship program. Today, the 'CUJAE talks' group was disbanded. Perhaps they found the person who was managing it," said a student to the independent media.
"One of the university students, on behalf of the Cuban student community facing the extensive repressive apparatus of the regime, expresses in a chat sent as a call for attention that they need support: 'We need backing and more from those outside who can give visibility to everything we are doing,'" Árbol Invertido stated in a post.
This Monday, the independent media also shared a screenshot of a message from a student who claimed that during the week there was a “strange atmosphere” at the school scholarship after the appearance of a sheet with a painting on it.
Additionally, a "general inspection" of the students' rooms has been scheduled for this week, coinciding with the aforementioned interrogations by State Security at the institution
Initial statement from the FEU of CUJAE
Since last Tuesday, La FEU and the UJC of CUJAE strongly condemned the measures taken by ETECSA.
In a joint official statement, the Council of the University Student Federation (FEU) and the Committee of the Young Communist Union (UJC) not only called for alternative solutions to those proposed, but also demanded that ETECSA show more respect towards the people.
"We once again express our discontent and request other solutions that are more concrete in terms of timing and inclusive. In addition, we call for a more respectful stance from the directors who make public statements towards the population,” concludes what is just the first paragraph of the sharp and surprising statement from CUJAE.
University students demanded not only technical and economic corrections but also a change in attitude and tone from the representatives of the state-owned company, who—according to the text—have provided vague and repetitive explanations without clearly addressing the actual impact on the citizens.
Repression at the University of Las Villas
On Sunday, it was revealed that threats of imprisonment and expulsion were the response from State Security against students from the Central University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas (UCLV) who were organizing a university march for this Monday.
The report was shared by journalist Mario J. Pentón, who relayed the testimony of a student from that university.
"In my Faculty of Economic Sciences, State Security has already started to take action. They visited three students at their homes, threatened to expel them from the university and even with imprisonment," reads the message sent by the student.
"One of them was the administrator of the WhatsApp channel 'The Voice of Everyone', which aimed to unite university students and had already gained over 500 followers in just a few hours. A university rally was being organized for Monday, but he was forced to shut down the channel," he specified.
Pentón also shared a screenshot of the WhatsApp group where the threatened student wrote a retraction.
"The young people were threatened in front of their families and forced to write messages in the WhatsApp group of the faculty 'repenting' and expressing support for the FEU. All of this was clearly under coercion," Pentón reported.
Last Wednesday, students from UCLV announced that they were joining the academic strike initiated by other Cuban universities in protest against the restrictions imposed by the Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA), which they deem discriminatory and exclusionary.
Frequently Asked Questions about the repression at CUJAE and the tariff increase by ETECSA
Why are the students of CUJAE protesting against ETECSA?
The students of CUJAE are protesting against ETECSA's restrictions because they limit top-ups in Cuban pesos (CUP) to 360 CUP every 30 days, which they consider an exclusionary measure and contrary to the socialist ideal. These restrictions impact their access to the internet and their ability to engage in academic and research activities.
How has the Cuban government responded to the student protests?
The Cuban government, through State Security, has responded with repression and threats of expulsion and imprisonment against students participating in the protests. Additionally, they have sought to discredit student complaints as "fake news" and external manipulation.
What measures have students taken to make their demands visible?
Students have organized academic strikes, issued public statements, and used social media to demand fairer fees and equitable connectivity. They have also sought international support to raise awareness of their cause.
What impact do the new ETECSA rates have on the university community?
The new ETECSA rates limit internet access, affecting the academic performance of students. Moreover, they increase inequality, as many students cannot afford the additional connectivity costs, impacting their ability to access educational resources and communicate with tutors and peers.
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