The non-governmental organization Cubalex reported that at least 15 individuals who participated in a protest against blackouts and water shortages in Marianao, Havana, this week were detained by State Security.
The NGO informed on its social media that, following the demonstration on Wednesday, October 8, in the neighborhood of Santa Felicia, a group of residents was taken to the VIVAC detention center.
So far, the identities and situation of the detainees are unknown, specified Cubalex in a post from Friday.
He also reported that the regime's political police arbitrarily arrested the activist Liván Gómez Castillo, coordinator of the Unión por Cuba Libre Party (PUNCLI) in Havana, and attempted to link him -unsuccessfully- to the protests on Wednesday and the appearance of posters in Marianao.
He was accused without evidence of organizing a protest over the water shortage and power outages," Cubalex warned, but they ultimately had to release him on Thursday after reviewing recordings of the demonstration and confirming that Gómez was not present.
However, "he was threatened with being imprisoned and prosecuted if they manage to associate him with the posters placed in the area."
Cubalex warned about the regime's use of "repression and the criminalization of peaceful protest as mechanisms to silence citizen discontent in Cuba."
On Wednesday night, residents of the Santa Felicia neighborhood took to the streets banging pots and blocked Avenue 51, in protest against the prolonged crisis, blackouts, food shortages, and lack of freedoms.
Witnesses reported that, after several hours of tension, officers from the Revolutionary National Police arrived at the scene and arrested several individuals.
The protest in Santa Felicia occurred in a context of growing social unrest in the country, and particularly in the capital, where in recent weeks there have been demonstrations and pot-banging in the municipalities of Centro Habana, Cerro, Habana del Este (Cojímar), and La Habana Vieja, provoked by persistent power outages, lack of water, and shortages.
Citizen protests in Cuba are punished as if they were common crimes, and despite the absence of vandalism, physical violence, or property damage, the authorities present these actions as evidence of a massive attempt to disrupt public order.
The regime denies the existence of imprisoned protesters in Cuba and has dismissed reports from organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that denounce repression and hundreds of arbitrary detentions on the island.
“Not a single one,” stated the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, in response to a question from journalist Mehdi Hasan of Zeteo, regarding the protesters imprisoned in Cuba, during an interview in late September.
The deputy head of Cuban diplomacy questioned the credibility of the reports from the mentioned organizations and deemed them lacking in evidence.
Cuba closed the month of August this year with 1,185 political and conscience prisoners, the highest number recorded to date, according to data compiled by the organization Prisoners Defenders.
Frequently Asked Questions about Protests and Repression in Cuba
Why were at least 15 people arrested in Marianao?
At least 15 people were arrested for participating in a protest against the blackouts and lack of water in the Santa Felicia neighborhood, Marianao, Havana. The demonstration was a response to the deteriorating living conditions, which has led to increasing social unrest. The arrests were carried out by agents of the State Security and the Revolutionary National Police and were reported by the organization Cubalex.
Who is Liván Gómez Castillo and what was his situation following the protests?
Liván Gómez Castillo is an activist and coordinator of the Union for a Free Cuba Party (PUNCLI) in Havana. He was arbitrarily detained and later released after being accused without evidence of organizing protests in Marianao. Although he could not be directly linked to the events, he was threatened with incarceration if associated with protest signs in the area.
What is the context of the protests in Cuba and how does the regime respond?
Protests in Cuba, such as those that occurred in Marianao and other municipalities, are a reaction to the social unrest caused by blackouts, food shortages, and lack of freedoms. The regime responds with repression and arbitrary detentions, criminalizing peaceful demonstrations and denying the existence of political prisoners, despite reports from human rights organizations like Cubalex.
What role does Cubalex play in the current situation of the protests in Cuba?
Cubalex is a non-governmental organization that denounces human rights violations in Cuba, particularly in the context of protests. It has raised alarms about arbitrary detentions, violent repression, and the use of criminalizing peaceful protests by the Cuban regime to silence citizen discontent. Its work is essential to bringing these issues to the attention of the international community.
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