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The Cuban activist Yamilka Lafita, known on social media as Lara Crofs, reported this Thursday that State Security agents surrounded her home in Havana, preventing her from leaving without any legal explanation or prior notice.
According to the activist's post on her Facebook profile, she was checking the water tank in her house when a neighbor alerted her to the presence of the agents. "There was no sign of water, but the repressors did arrive early," she wrote.
One of the officers, without properly identifying himself, told him that he could not leave. When he asked for the reason, the agent simply said, “You know perfectly well why you can't leave. The day you change your behavior, you'll see what happens.”
Lafita responded firmly: “If you are referring to my behavior, being consistent with the person I am and moving forward with what I believe to achieve the freedom of my country, let me assure you that there is all the time in the world as long as the regime is in power.”
Threats and surveillance: "A patrol is waiting for the order to detain her."
The independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada warned on Wednesday about the seriousness of the situation. He stated that an agent known as Mijaín showed up at the activist's house to impose a travel ban without a court order, and threatened to carry out a repudiation act with the participation of the neighbors.
"Although you may not notice it, a patrol is waiting for the order to detain you," wrote Tan Estrada, noting that on that day the Cuban had restricted access to her social media, a measure aimed at silencing her critical voice in a context of increasing repression on the island.
Ángel Santiesteban detained during nationwide blackout
The writer and opposition figure Ángel Santiesteban-Prats was arrested in Havana on Wednesday, after attempting to leave his home during the nationwide blackout that affected the entire country.
Journalist Camila Acosta reported that State Security agents held her for more than three hours. An officer told her that she could not leave until the electricity service was restored, a completely arbitrary and illegal measure.
The energy crisis, caused by the collapse of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, has been used as a pretext to reinforce surveillance and limit the mobility of opponents to the regime.
Camila Acosta is also under constant surveillance
Over the weekend, Camila Acosta also reported that she remains under constant surveillance. Two G2 agents took position outside her home in Havana, and she managed to photograph them.
They did not prevent her from leaving, but she asserts that they were closely following her and that the police patrol was ready to act in case she attempted to engage in public activities.
Acosta linked this surveillance to the celebrations for the Day of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, a significant date for many Cubans, especially the faithful, during which pilgrimages or symbolic acts of resistance often take place.
"We are on the eve of the Day of the Virgin... Today I will light a candle for Cuba, and for those thugs who prevent me from leaving my house to one day answer for their actions," he wrote.
A pattern of coordinated repression
The cases of Yamilka Lafita, Ángel Santiesteban, and Camila Acosta are part of a systematic pattern of repression in Cuba. State Security intensifies home confinement and detentions on symbolic dates, during power outages, or in response to any possibility of protest.
Despite the energy crisis, the regime's resources continue to be used to monitor, intimidate, and neutralize journalists, artists, and activists.
The situation highlights that, even in the midst of a widespread blackout, the regime's priority is not to restore electrical service, but to silence any critical voices that denounce repression, scarcity, or the lack of freedoms on the island.
Frequently Asked Questions about Repression in Cuba
Why did State Security prevent the activist Yamilka Lafita from leaving her home?
The State Security surrounded the home of Yamilka Lafita to prevent her from leaving in an attempt to curb her activism and silence her critical voice against the Cuban regime. Without any legal notification, she was forbidden to leave, a measure that is part of a systematic pattern of repression against activists on the island.
What happened to the writer Ángel Santiesteban-Prats during the blackout in Cuba?
Ángel Santiesteban-Prats was arbitrarily detained by State Security while attempting to leave his home during a nationwide blackout in Cuba. He was held for over three hours without legal explanation, a practice used to control and suppress opponents during times of crisis.
How does repression in Cuba affect activists like Camila Acosta?
Camila Acosta, like other activists, faces constant surveillance and restrictions on her freedom of movement. The Cuban regime intensifies these measures on symbolic dates or during important events, such as the celebrations of the Day of the Virgin of Charity of Copper, to silence critical voices.
What does the police presence during the mass for Damir Ortiz in Cuba demonstrate?
The police cordon at the Colón Cemetery during the mass for Damir Ortiz highlights the regime's tight control over social life in Cuba, even during acts of grief and farewell. The police intervention prevented people from attending the event, demonstrating the regime's strategy of criminalizing civic solidarity.
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