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The statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) of Cuba, which describes Rosa María Payá Acevedo as "mercenary" following her election as a commissioner of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), triggered a wave of reactions on social media.
The publication of the document on the Facebook account of the Cuban regime's foreign ministry was responded to by over 250 users in less than 24 hours, highlighting the opinion of civil society, which was mostly in support of the Cuban activist.
In total, over 250 comments made by users on the MINREX publication were analyzed. Of these, approximately 60% expressed direct support for the appointment of Payá Acevedo or rejection of the regime's discourse, 29% aligned with the official position of the Cuban government, and the remaining 11% were considered neutral or ambiguous.
This proportion confirms a majority trend of support for the activist among those who interacted with the official content published on social media, which was also reflected in other accounts affiliated with the official profile on X and Instagram.
Despite the efforts of the Cuban regime to delegitimize Payá and to question the process that led her to her new position, most comments on the official post expressed rejection of the regime's discourse and recognition of the opposition's work as a defender of human rights in Cuba.
Critical comments against the MINREX, ironic regarding the content of the statement, and strong in defense of Payá Acevedo flooded the thread, making clear the sentiment of a significant portion of the exile community and Cubans both inside and outside the island.
“Congratulations to Rosa María Payá”, wrote several users, some of them adding descriptors such as “worthy,” “brave,” and “Cuban pride.” Others joked about the government's reaction: “If it bothers them so much, it's because she is doing things right”.
One of the most shared comments summarized the general sentiment: “They criticize Rosa María Payá but they have no electricity, no food, no freedom. Who is the real problem here?” Another added: “A mercenary is one who gets paid to stay silent while the people suffer. Payá raises her voice for millions”.
Indignation was also expressed in the form of direct questions to MINREX: "Why do you care if Cuba is not a member of the OAS?", or "Why does it hurt you so much if, according to you, it represents nothing?". These interventions reflect not only a rejection of the official narrative but also a growing critical awareness among Internet users.
Even those who did not openly identify as supporters of the activist acknowledged the hypocrisy in the government statement: “They talk about human rights but do not allow their own people to express themselves freely. Their discourse falls apart on its own,” noted another user.
In response to the government's accusation that Payá Acevedo lacks sufficient knowledge in human rights, several users retaliated: “And what does the regime know about human rights? Does imprisoning and beating protesters count as experience?”
Irony and sarcasm were prevalent in the comments, many of which mocked the tone of the statement and referred to it as an "official tantrum."
There were also those who contextualized Rosa María Payá's appointment as a symbolic victory against authoritarianism. “Today Cuba has a voice in the CIDH, even if it hurts the regime. Her appointment is a slap in the face to those who have tried to silence her her entire life”, expressed a user.
Another wrote: “Oswaldo Payá's daughter today raises the banner of human rights from a place where she can be heard. And that bothers some.”
Some comments expressed frustration, but also hope: “66 years of dictatorship and they still have the nerve to talk about human rights. Rosa being there is a hope for us”. And there were those who saw the regime's reaction as a sign of weakness: “The louder they cry, the more they fear”.
While the MINREX insists on its confrontational narrative, the popular reaction demonstrates that, far from delegitimizing the appointment, the attacks have had the opposite effect: amplifying citizen support for Rosa María Payá Acevedo and strengthening her legitimacy as a representative of the struggle for human rights in Cuba.
In the midst of censorship, repression, and the precariousness faced by millions of Cubans, the appointment of Payá Acevedo has sparked a new space for international representation for critical voices of the regime. And, as can be gathered from the comments, many celebrate this victory as their own.
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