The official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba (MINREX), Johana Tablada, once again lashed out at the U.S. diplomat Mike Hammer, this time for his recent visit to San Antonio de los Baños, a locality that became a symbol of the protests on July 11, 2021 (11J).
Hammer, chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, visited the Artemisa municipality this week in what he described as a direct approach and listening to the Cuban people. His presence sparked multiple reactions on social media, where many users expressed their gratitude for the gesture.
However, this initiative was not well received by the official apparatus. Tablada, the Deputy Director General for U.S. Affairs at MINREX, responded with a statement laden with official rhetoric and a confrontational tone, accusing the U.S. Embassy and the State Department of masking a policy of "hostility" toward Cuba with "friendly visits."
“Doing is the best way to speak, and right in that phrase lies the total farce of the embassy and the State Department, which intensifies the economic war to suffocate the people of Cuba while going out for affectionate strolls to mask the true nature of their sad role,” he wrote on social media.
The official also recommended that the U.S. chargé d'affaires read José Martí's works "more comprehensively," and suggested that he should study the history of relations between the United States and Cuba from the perspective of historians of the regime.
“The chargé d'affaires would do well to read José Martí a bit more comprehensively (...) He should also read American historians who have discussed the history of abuses by his own country against ours, abuses that have multiplied since January 20 with the enthusiastic assistance of the embassy,” he added.
Tablada did not miss the opportunity to recall Hammer's recent visit to Miami, where, according to him, the diplomat promised a "hardline" approach towards the island. To conclude, he made a critique of the American social context:
“Just when they are beating students and expelling immigrants, including our fellow citizens, there won't be much of an audience for democracy classes, a subject on which the United States has no moral authority.”
Finally, he stated that many Cubans became "anti-imperialists" precisely in San Antonio de los Baños, in an evident reference to the symbolism of the place, which paradoxically was the epicenter of the most significant social outbreak against the Cuban government in decades.
However, the official's response did not garner the expected support. Hundreds of Cubans reacted critically to her post, questioning the double standards of the official rhetoric and reminding her that it was precisely in San Antonio de los Baños where the protests erupted on July 11, when people took to the streets with pots in hand to demand freedom, food, and rights.
Hammer's visit to San Antonio de los Baños
“I had the opportunity to meet people who recognized me through social media and had previously contacted us via Facebook. These were friendly and valuable encounters that reaffirm the importance I place on connecting directly with people,” said Hammer in a video that the Embassy usually makes to document these trips.
In the footage, the diplomat was seen interacting with Cubans on the streets of these towns and during a meeting with young people at a Catholic church. "During the visit, I had a very good exchange with young people full of energy and commitment who undoubtedly represent the future of Cuba," he said.
“The country is very beautiful, but what I truly enjoy is sharing, and I would like to hear from you anything you want to share, including critiques, please, as I come from a democracy. It's not perfect, we have our issues, but opinions and different thoughts are respected,” said Hammer during his meeting with the youth.
As he usually does during his trips across the Island, Hammer visited a plaza dedicated to José Martí and concluded the video with a quote from the Apostle: “To do is the best way to say.”
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