Armando Labrador, a Cuban businessman based in Miami and leader of the opposition movement Cuba Primero, has responded firmly to his inclusion in the new list of alleged terrorists published this week by the Cuban regime and submitted to the UN.
“If fighting for Cuba's freedom is terrorism, then put me on the list”, he said in an interview with journalist Mario J. Pentón from Martí Noticias.
The government of Havana updated its National List of Persons and Entities Linked to Terrorism, including 62 individuals and 20 organizations, among them Cuba Primero, accused of promoting acts against state security.
Labrador, visibly indignant yet calm, firmly rejected the accusation: “I am not a terrorist. What we do is issue proclamations, meet, raise our voices. We do not plant bombs or kill anyone. We only ask for freedom for our people.”
During the interview, Labrador revealed that he has received direct threats, even against his loved ones. "They have called me, they write to me, they say they know where my children, my brothers are... I had never made it public, but I take it seriously,” he confessed. Despite this, he asserts that he does not intend to give in or stop his activism. "I'm here. Let them do whatever they want,” he declared.
The Cuba Primero movement, established to organize civic resistance both within and outside the island, has faced intense repression. Labrador denounced that several of its members are imprisoned for peaceful activities. “They are being sentenced to up to eight years for gathering in a house or for protesting. There are young women, just 22 years old, serving sentences of more than a decade. Who are the real terrorists?”, he questioned.
Labrador did not come to this struggle by chance. He carries a family history that has shaped his commitment. "My grandfather was executed, my father is a political prisoner. Since I was a child, I grew up with those stories. My family has often wanted me to detach myself from that history and forget about Cuba, but I can't,” he said.
"I wish that all Cubans would raise their voices. I believe that all Cubans should do so for moral reasons, for ethics, because it is not easy to see your Cuba in the situation it is in, which we all see. Everyone who travels to Cuba returns from Cuba astonished by the situation they are living in. But without a reaction, they stay there watching and do not join this cause that we should all unite for, both those inside and those outside," he commented.
For him, July 11, 2021, marked a turning point. "Seeing that people in the streets moved me. I felt I had to do more, to raise my voice even more. And since then, I haven't stopped."
The inclusion on this list, officially published by the Ministry of the Interior in the Official Gazette and submitted to international organizations, has been interpreted by many as a strategy of intimidation on the eve of the fourth anniversary of 11J, which was observed this Friday.
“They want to silence us with lists, threats, and imprisonment. But we will continue,” said Labrador, highlighting the courage of political prisoners who continue to resist from the regime's jails.
“We have brave men and women. Some have yielded under torture, and that is understandable. But I stand with those who remain strong, who tell me from prison: 'Long live Cuba First.' The admiration is for them, not for me,” he stated.
Labrador criticized the regime's double standards, recalling that it came to power through violence and has imposed fear for over six decades. "Fidel Castro raided barracks, planted bombs. He served three years of a sentence under privileged conditions. And today, we are accused of terrorism for issuing a proclamation or holding a meeting at home."
The businessman, owner of the famous aesthetic clinic My Cosmetic Surgery, asserted that repression will intensify, but that the struggle continues. “This does not stop. Cuba deserves to be a prosperous country again, as it was before '59. A country without hate, where one can live in peace.”
Frequently asked questions about Armando Labrador's inclusion on the Cuban regime's list of terrorists
Why was Armando Labrador included on the Cuban regime's list of terrorists?
Armando Labrador has been included in the list of terrorists by the Cuban regime due to his leadership in the opposition movement Cuba Primero and his political activism in favor of freedom and democracy in Cuba. The regime accuses him of promoting acts against state security; however, Labrador denies these accusations and defends his peaceful struggle for the rights of the Cuban people.
What does it mean to be on the Cuban regime's terrorist list?
Being on the list of terrorists by the Cuban regime means being labeled as responsible for acts against the State, but it has no legal repercussions outside of Cuba. Many of those included can continue to travel freely through Europe and Latin America, as other countries do not recognize this list as valid for legal actions.
What is the objective of the Cuban regime in publishing this list of terrorists?
The Cuban regime uses the terrorist list as a tool to intimidate and silence political dissent, both on the island and abroad. The inclusion in the list aims to discredit opponents and exiles, attempting to curb their activism and isolate them internationally. These actions are part of a broader strategy of political repression.
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