The Cuban regime began this Sunday the first arrests of protesters who participated in the peaceful protest that took place in Gibara, Holguín, in the early hours of September 14, after more than 24 hours without electricity.
Videos posted on social media show police patrols巡ning the streets of the locality and detaining residents who participated in the pot-banging protest.
In the images, shared by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, police cars from the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) can be seen in residential areas, with officers interacting with residents during an operation described by activists as a "government hunt."
The repression arrives hours after the secretary of the Communist Party in Gibara, Nayla Marieta Leyva Rodríguez, stated in a Facebook message that the protest had taken place in “an atmosphere of respect and dialogue”.
The official then asked to “trust in the tremendous Revolution we have” and in the authorities who, she stated, are working to overcome the energy crisis.
The facts also contrast with the version from the official channel Gibaravisión, which stated that the residents "returned to their homes in peace" following an exchange with local authorities.
On its part, the official page 'Realidades desde Holguín' attempted this Sunday to convey a message of normalcy, assuring that “the White Villa wakes up as usual, with the scent of the sea and simple, humble people,” and that local authorities remain in the municipality with “open ears and hearts” to listen to the population.
However, internet users' comments revealed the real tension: while some supported the speech with phrases like "We will overcome" or "Our Gibara is beautiful," the majority harshly questioned the official narrative.
“Without sleep, there is no peace; without water, there is no peace; without food, there is no peace,” wrote a user, while others reported that they have already “started to hunt the people” and that electricity returned just after the protest.
Amid messages of outrage, irony, and accusations of manipulation, many recalled that the discontent is not isolated and that "more protests will come" if the government continues to fail to offer real solutions to the energy crisis.
However, the images contradict that atmosphere of harmony between authorities and protesters. The deployment of patrols and the arrests documented in videos confirm that the protest did not go without consequences for those who participated.
The demonstration in Gibara took place in a context of widespread discontent due to the prolonged blackouts affecting the entire country. On September 10, the unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant caused the fifth nationwide blackout in less than a year, leaving millions of Cubans in the dark.
So far, the exact number of detainees is unknown, nor whether they will be subjected to legal proceedings. What is certain is that the official response breaks the initial narrative of "empathy and respect" and reaffirms the repressive pattern of the regime in the face of expressions of social discontent.
The arrests in Gibara add to the growing tension between the authorities and the citizens, who are demanding urgent solutions to the energy crisis and better living conditions on an island marked by hardship and uncertainty.
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