The Cuban regime condemned 15 citizens on Friday who participated in the peaceful protest of March 17, 2024, in Bayamo, imposing sentences ranging from three to nine years in prison.
The ruling, issued by the People's Municipal Tribunal of that eastern city, became a new episode in the criminalization of the right to protest on the Island.
According to the official statement from the Provincial People's Court of Granma, eight of the accused received sentences ranging from six to nine years in prison, while five others were sentenced to terms of three to five years. Additionally, two defendants were penalized with corrective work without confinement.
The ruling cited offenses of "public disorder, assault, resistance, contempt, disobedience, and incitement to commit a crime," charges commonly found in the regime's political trials.
The court insisted that the accused had acted against "stability and public safety."
He also affirmed that during the process "the procedural guarantees and the right to defense were fulfilled," a statement that contrasts with the reports from human rights organizations that describe these trials as judicial farces intended to instill fear.
A trial marked by repression
The trial began last Tuesday, September 16, and lasted four days.
It took place more than a year after hundreds of people from Bayamo took to the streets shouting for Freedom, Homeland and Life, and Down with the dictatorship, frustrated by power outages, food shortages, and the collapse of basic services.
That day ended with beatings and mass arrests at the hands of the political police and special troops, as recorded in numerous videos shared on social media.
Of the 16 citizens initially accused, 13 remained in provisional detention for months and three under restrictive measures. The trial ultimately involved 15 defendants.
The Prosecutor's Office even charged him with illegal possession and carrying of weapons, although no clear evidence was ever presented in this regard.
A repetitive repressive pattern
The newspaper Granma reported on the trial, labeling the peaceful protests as "disturbances."
Independent journalist José Raúl Gallego noted that the publication aims solely to intimidate: "They know that the situation is provoking new outbursts, like the one in Gibara on September 13. It is a sign of how the official press is part of the mechanisms of repression."
Gallego warned that it is necessary to identify judges, prosecutors, and witnesses involved in these processes to document them as responsible for human rights violations.
"Jailing a human being for exercising their right to protest is a violation for which they will have to answer at some point," he stated.
The protests in Bayamo in March 2024 have not been an isolated incident.
In May of this year, the city took to the streets again after prolonged blackouts, and just over a week ago, residents of Gibara staged demonstrations after more than 24 hours without electricity.
The regime's response has always been the same: nighttime arrests, and the threat of summary trials and lengthy prison sentences.
As social unrest grows, repression intensifies. The Bayamo ruling confirms that in Cuba, peacefully protesting continues to be treated as a crime.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Sentences for Protesters in Bayamo
Why were the protesters from Bayamo sentenced?
The protesters in Bayamo were sentenced for participating in a peaceful demonstration on March 17, 2024, where they demanded better living conditions, freedom, and an end to the dictatorship. The Cuban regime accused them of crimes such as public disorder, resistance, and contempt, although human rights organizations describe these trials as judicial farces designed to instill fear.
What penalties were imposed on the protesters in the Bayamo trial?
The Popular Municipal Court of Bayamo sentenced 15 of the protesters involved in the demonstration to prison terms ranging from three to nine years. Eight of the accused received sentences of between six and nine years, while five were sentenced to between three and five years. Additionally, two defendants were punished with corrective labor without internment.
How has the international community reacted to these sentences?
Human rights organizations have denounced these sentences as violations of the right to peaceful protest. They emphasize that the trials lack procedural guarantees and have been used by the Cuban regime to repress and silence social discontent. The repressive pattern of the government has been criticized for its systematic use of arbitrary detentions and harsh sentences to intimidate the population.
What is the social context that led to the protests in Bayamo?
The protests in Bayamo arose in a context of economic and social crisis in Cuba, characterized by prolonged power outages, food shortages, and the collapse of basic services. The citizens' frustration over the government's unfulfilled promises and ongoing repression led to demonstrations such as those on March 17, 2024, where slogans like "Freedom" and "Down with the dictatorship" were heard.
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