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The journalist Enrique Pérez Fumero, a worker at the official station CMKC and a university professor in Santiago de Cuba, remains hospitalized in serious condition after being violently assaulted during a mugging that occurred early Sunday morning in the historic center of that eastern city.
On the night of this Monday, Víctor Hugo Leyva Sojo, provincial president of the Union of Journalists of Cuba (UPEC) in Santiago de Cuba, stated that the communicator is "clinically stable but in serious condition."
"Dear friends, I have just returned from the 'Saturnino Lora' Provincial Hospital. I met with Dr. C. Ricardo Hodelin Tablada, Head of the Neurosurgery Department, and with the doctors from the Intermediate Care Unit to inquire about the condition of our friend and colleague Enrique Pérez Fumero. At this moment, he is clinically stable despite the seriousness of his condition," explained Leyva Sojo.
The official source emphasized that the injured "has better conditions for his care in that unit", and that "he remains under strict observation."
He added that "for greater effectiveness of the treatment and monitoring, there are no visits in that room," and that any changes in the patient's progress will be communicated.
Late institutional reaction
The official reaction came after Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, a journalist from Santiago but based in Washington, reported the incident and the prolonged silence of state media, which refrained from reporting on the events for more than 24 hours.
It was Mayeta who initially reported the assault and who has provided updates on the case, including a couple of posts made on the morning of this Tuesday, which differ from the statement given by the president of UPEC in Santiago, and which again highlight the collapse of the Cuban public health system.
“Enrique Fumero is being urgently transferred to the province of Las Tunas, because in Santiago de Cuba -the second largest city in the country- THERE IS NO FUNCTIONING SOMATOM OR CT SCAN. Just that clear,” wrote Mayeta.
“And what does that mean? That if you don't make noise on social media, you are worth nothing. Enrique is not the only seriously ill person in Santiago, but he is one of the few lucky enough to go viral, because if it weren't for public pressure, he would still be lying in a bed, waiting for a team that doesn't exist,” he added.
Mayeta also reported that the lack of essential medical equipment for making an accurate diagnosis puts thousands of Cubans at risk who, like Enrique, rely on a deteriorating system that lacks the capacity to respond.
“How dare they speak of 'medical power' when they can’t even make a timely diagnosis? Thousands of Cubans die without knowing what killed them. Not because of the illness, but because of neglect,” questioned the communicator, who also called for a “Chain of Indignation” and public denunciation regarding the ordeal experienced by Pérez Fumero.
In another post, Mayeta Labrada described the official coverage of the case as "cynical."
"Enrique is not alive because of the system. He is alive in spite of the system. And you, instead of practicing journalism, are doing public relations in the service of power, whitewashing the health disaster in Santiago de Cuba," he pointed out.
"Where were you when Enrique was being transferred from hospital to hospital without even having a basic study done because THERE ARE NO X-RAYS OR CT SCANS IN SANTIAGO? Where were you when family members pleaded for help and you looked the other way, as you always do with cases that the Party Committee does not approve?" Mayeta questioned, who described the official sources as "hypocrites."
"You do not report, you disguise tragedies. You do not investigate, you obey. You do not denounce, you applaud while people die without care," he emphasized.
Yosmany Mayeta stated that Enrique Pérez Fumero is not receiving attention from CMKC, the MINSAP, or the regime, but is actually receiving better care now "because thousands of Cubans raised their voices, because the case ignited on social media, and because you could not hide it."
A brutal attack in the heart of Santiago
According to details previously published by Mayeta Labrada, the attack occurred at the intersection of Barnada and San Mateo streets, in the historic heart of Santiago de Cuba and just a few blocks from the iconic Moncada Barracks.
Pérez Fumero was brutally beaten until he was unconscious and remains hospitalized with a fracture at the base of his skull and multiple facial fractures.
"She can barely breathe, can only speak a few words, but she is still alive," Mayeta wrote, who also shared that, in addition to the theft of her belongings—some Converse shoes, a mobile phone, and a wallet—family members do not rule out that the violence of the attack may have had a homophobic component.
The initial institutional silence was one of the most criticized aspects by Mayeta and other colleagues from Santiago, who have expressed their indignation at the lack of statement from state media and cultural organizations, despite the years of service of the injured journalist within the official system.
“CMKC is silent. The official press is silent. The power is silent,” stated Mayeta in a message where he demanded justice and a transparent investigation into what happened.
“Today it was Enrique... tomorrow it could be anyone. Violence cannot continue to rule the streets as if it were part of the landscape. We must put a stop to it. And that stop has to be now,” the communicator warned.
While some figures from the journalism community and personal friends of the communicator have publicly expressed their concern and hopes for recovery, the case continues to generate a wave of reactions on social media, where users have shown their support using hashtags like #FuerzaEnrique.
Frequently Asked Questions about the attack on journalist Enrique Pérez Fumero in Santiago de Cuba
What is the current health status of journalist Enrique Pérez Fumero?
Enrique Pérez Fumero is clinically stable, albeit in serious condition, after being subjected to a violent beating in Santiago de Cuba. Although he has shown signs of recovery, his condition remains critical, and doctors are considering the possibility of surgery due to a brain injury.
Why has the official reaction to the attack on the Cuban journalist been criticized?
The main criticism of the official response focuses on the prolonged silence of the official Cuban media, which took more than 24 hours to report the incident. It was journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada who initially reported the attack and highlighted the collapse of the Cuban public health system, exposing the lack of essential medical equipment in Santiago de Cuba.
What complaints have been made about the healthcare system in Santiago de Cuba?
The journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada has reported that, due to the lack of medical equipment such as CT scans in Santiago de Cuba, serious patients are being transferred to other provinces to receive proper care. This situation jeopardizes thousands of Cubans who rely on a deteriorated healthcare system that lacks the ability to respond.
What implications does the attack on journalist Enrique Pérez Fumero have?
The attack on journalist Enrique Pérez Fumero has rekindled the debate on public safety in Santiago de Cuba. Additionally, it has sparked a wave of outrage on social media, where calls for justice and a transparent investigation into the events are being made. The violence of the attack and the initial institutional silence have been strongly criticized.
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