A few weeks before the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), its current national coordinator, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, called on Tuesday for a “revitalization” of the organization.
We need to show the Cubans that the CDR is a useful organization, that is present in the neighborhood," stated the former spy during the presentation of the activities program for the anniversary, which will take place on September 28.
Hernández is aware that the CDR has increasingly diminished support in Cuba. To raise the organization's visibility, they have proposed carrying out "100 tasks for the centenary of Fidel Castro," thus joining the commemorative campaign initiated by the regime to exalt the figure of the deceased dictator until August 13, 2026.
"We cannot conceive of anyone who identifies as a fidelista living on a block without a CDR and allowing it. No one who considers themselves a revolutionary can live on a street where the CDR is not operational and not take responsibility for making it work," emphasized the member of the State Council.
In his speech, Gerardo Hernández urged for the strengthening of the grassroots structures of the organization, particularly in those communities where the CDR have lost influence.
"This is a call to strengthen our structure where there are difficulties, in homage to the centenary of Fidel Castro," he emphasized.
The CDR, founded on September 28, 1960, by Fidel Castro, are one of the main mass organizations of the Cuban system and operate at the neighborhood level with the declared goal of "defending the revolution." However, in practice, they have historically functioned as a mechanism for neighborhood surveillance, promoting informants and social control.
For decades, the CDR promoted denunciation campaigns against those who displayed attitudes contrary to the government, which has earned them the rejection of a significant portion of the population. Currently, they are facing a noticeable structural wear and increasing citizen apathy.
The new campaign announced by Hernández aims to regain prominence in the neighborhoods, in a context where discredit, the aging of its members, and the political disengagement of young people have diminished its influence.
Gerardo's challenge is to demonstrate the "usefulness" of the CDR in a Cuba marked by economic crisis, citizen distrust, the pain of repression among those who think differently from the government, and the discrediting of socialist institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) in Cuba
What is the current purpose of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) in Cuba?
The declared purpose of the CDR is to defend the Cuban revolution, operating at the neighborhood level to strengthen the regime's structure. However, in practice, they have historically functioned as a mechanism for neighborhood surveillance, fostering denunciation and social control, which has generated resentment among the population.
Why is Gerardo Hernández seeking to revitalize the CDR in Cuba?
Gerardo Hernández has made a call to "revitalize" the CDR to demonstrate their usefulness in the current context of Cuba. He aims to regain the prominence of the CDR in the neighborhoods, amid a notable structural wear and increasing citizen apathy, especially among the youth who associate the CDR with social control rather than community solidarity.
What are the challenges facing the CDR in the current context of Cuba?
The CDRs face significant structural wear, a shortage of leaders, and a growing citizen disaffection. Furthermore, the organization must contend with discredit, the aging of its members, and the political disengagement of young people, which has diminished its influence in Cuban society.
How has the Cuban population reacted to attempts to revitalize the CDR?
The reaction of the Cuban population to the attempts to revitalize the CDR has been largely one of rejection and indifference. Citizens see the CDR as a mechanism of surveillance and control, and the revitalization strategies have failed to counteract the discredit that the organization carries among broad sectors of society.
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