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The Council of the University Student Federation (FEU) from the faculties of Philosophy, History and Sociology, Mathematics and Computing, Psychology, Biology, and the Higher Institute of Design, requested the removal of the president and vice president of the FEU for abuse of authority.
In an unprecedented decision, this Friday the representatives of the five faculties approved sending a letter to the National Secretariat of the FEU requesting the removal of the president (Hugo Fuentes Surduy) and the vice president of the FEU of the University of Havana (Daniel Alejandro Corrales Ponce) for "abuse of the authority conferred upon them."
In the message shared on their social media, they state that both acted "deliberately" and violated "the agreements made in meetings of the FEU UH Council on two occasions."
The statement denounces that the officials concealed information from the university students regarding agreements that emerged during meetings with the Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) in the context of the price hike implemented by the communications monopoly in Cuba.
They also pointed out that the representatives of the organization did not issue a statement regarding the position of UH on ETECSA's measures nor were the agreements from the meeting with ETECSA that took place on Tuesday, June 3, read.
Last week, amidst the growing discontent over the increase in internet rates in Cuba, the University Student Federation presented a report with more than 40 proposals directed at ETECSA, following meetings between both parties.
The meeting was presided over by representatives of the Communist Party, the Government, the UJC, and the FEU itself, in what was clearly structured as a strategy of appeasement following the wave of criticisms regarding the new pricing scheme for mobile data packages, implemented by ETECSA.
Although proposals were presented that included everything from technical adjustments to changes in the company's communication strategy, the overall tone of the meeting was more akin to a covert defense of the state-owned enterprise than to a genuine representation of youth discontent.
The mentioned initiatives include: reviewing pricing policies and data packages; social and economic impact projects; diagnosis of technical failures (batteries, nodes, infrastructure); creating a manual for times of crisis, and proposals for "effective communication" to engage with the public.
Beyond the results, reality highlights the disconnection between the FEU leaders and the majority of the student body, who demanded a firm and straightforward stance against the so-called "tarifazo."
Luis Yoel González, Vice President of the FEU at the University of Pedagogical Sciences, expressed gratitude for the discussions, acknowledged ETECSA's efforts, and called for understanding the measure "based on the information received," thus softening the initial rejection, according to what was published by the official site Cubadebate.
In the same vein, José Alberto Almeida from the FEU of Havana emphasized the technical expertise of ETECSA specialists and suggested that university students should be part of national solutions, in a speech aligned with the official narrative.
Below, we reproduce the statement in full:
MatCom-FEU
This Friday, the Council of the FEU from the faculties of FHS, MatCom, Psychology, ISDI, and FBio approved sending a letter to the National Secretariat of the FEU requesting the removal from office (with the possibility of being re-elected after a term of one year) of the president (Hugo Fuentes Surduy) and the vice president of the FEU at the University of Havana (Daniel Alejandro Corrales Ponce) for abuse of the authority conferred to them, acting willfully, failing to comply with agreements made in two meetings of the FEU UH Council, and concealing from the university students (through existing channels for this) the information related to these agreements.
Siguiendo los artículos 225 y 239 del Capítulo VIII del ABC de la organización losunfulfilled agreements fueron:
- Issue a statement with the position of the UH con respecto a las medidas de ETECSA que se pidió desde el viernes 30 de mayo y se ratificó en una reunión del Consejo UH el martes 3 de junio.
- The reading and pronouncement of these agreementsen el encuentro con ETECSA el martes 3.
Frequently Asked Questions about the FEU Crisis and ETECSA's Tariff Hike
Why was the removal of the president of the FEU at the University of Havana requested?
The removal of the president and vice president of the FEU was requested due to abuse of authority, for failing to comply with agreements made in meetings and for concealing information from students regarding the measures taken by ETECSA.
What is the main criticism from students regarding ETECSA?
The main criticism from students is that the new ETECSA rates restrict internet access and deepen inequality, as many Cubans cannot afford the dollar-priced data packages.
How has the University Student Federation (FEU) reacted to the protests?
The FEU has presented more than 40 proposals to ETECSA, but its reaction has been perceived as a covert defense of the state-owned company rather than a genuine representation of youth discontent.
What impact have ETECSA's new rates had on the university community?
The new ETECSA rates have limited access to the internet and essential digital tools, affecting academic development and students' access to information.
What measures have the faculties of the University of Havana taken in response to ETECSA's rate hike?
Several faculties have issued statements calling for a review of the rates and some have organized academic strikes in protest against ETECSA's measures.
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