A journalist and university professor is brutally beaten in Santiago de Cuba during an assault

The journalist and doctor of science Enrique Pérez Fumero, an employee of the official station CMKC and a university professor, was the victim of a violent beating in Santiago de Cuba during an assault that occurred in the early hours of Sunday.

The incident was publicly reported on social media by journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, who wrote on Facebook this Monday: “Blood in the streets of Santiago and silence from the official microphones,” while sharing details about Pérez's critical health condition.

According to the account, the attack occurred early Sunday morning at the intersection of Barnada and San Mateo, right in the historical center of Santiago de Cuba, just a few blocks from the Moncada Barracks, a symbol of the official narrative.

The victim is admitted to the Neurosurgery ward of Saturnino Lora Provincial Hospital, with a fracture at the base of the skull and multiple fractures in the face.

"She can barely breathe, she can only speak a little, yet she is still alive," Mayeta wrote.

The attackers are reported to have stolen a pair of Converse shoes, a phone, and a wallet, but the journalist's family does not rule out a homophobic motive in the assault, given the extreme violence with which it was carried out.

Mayeta also denounced the silence of the official media and cultural institutions regarding what happened, despite Pérez's years of service and commitment to the state press.

"CMKC is silent. The official press is silent. The power is silent," he criticized.

The message concluded with a demand for justice and a call for the authorities in Santiago de Cuba to investigate the case transparently, apprehend those responsible, and publicize the incident in the media.

"Today it was Enrique... tomorrow it could be anyone," warned the communicator who regularly reports on the violent events occurring in the province, many of which often go unpunished.

"Violence cannot continue to rule the streets as if it were part of the landscape. It must be stopped. And that stop has to be now," emphasized the independent communicator.

Street violence in Cuba continues to leave deep scars. An elderly woman was found beaten after being missing for hours in Havana.

The discovery took place on vacant land, where the victim was found unconscious, with evident signs of assault, reinforcing the growing sense of insecurity among citizens.

Meanwhile, the police captured an armed gang that carried out robberies wearing ski masks in Havana and Pinar del Río. The criminal group operated in several provinces and engaged in violent theft using firearms and a meticulous organization.

Authorities displayed images of those detained and the seized weapons, in an effort to demonstrate effectiveness against organized crime.

In another alarming incident, a young man was apprehended in Holguín after brutally attacking an elderly man in an attempt to rob him. The attack, recorded on video by witnesses, sparked outrage on social media due to the viciousness of the act and the vulnerability of the victim.

The swift identification and capture of the aggressor reflected the public pressure in response to the rise in violent crimes.

In addition, a court in Guantánamo imposed sentences of up to 25 years in prison to members of a violent robbery network, after their involvement in multiple armed robberies was confirmed.

During the trials, details emerged about the brutality of the acts committed and the involvement of several defendants in prior offenses.

Frequently asked questions about the rising violence in Santiago de Cuba