Regime unleashes repression in Baire: protesters summoned and interrogated following the demonstrations

The Cuban regime unleashed a wave of repression in the town of Baire, in Contramaestre, following the protests that took place on Thursday night, where dozens of residents took to the streets shouting “Freedom!” and “Down with the dictatorship!”.

According to a report by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, shared on his Facebook profile, agents of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) are seeking out and questioning citizens who participated in the peaceful demonstrations.

Among those identified is the young doctor Erlis Sierra, from the El Transformador neighborhood, one of the areas where the protest was strongest.

Local sources reported that, upon not finding him at home, the officers threatened to detain his father, Merly, if the doctor did not voluntarily present himself to the authorities.

"Since dawn, the neighborhood has been watched over by uniformed agents and plainclothes police," neighbors reported, describing an atmosphere of fear and harassment.

Mayeta also reported the detention of Osmani Heredia, another participant in the protest, and denounced that health sector workers are being summoned and threatened for having been present during the demonstration.

On social media, residents of the municipality confirmed the summons and requested support for the affected neighbors.

“They committed to not issue citations, and here they are citing in the Transformer. The first thing they need to have is their word,” wrote one of them in the Facebook group Revolico Baire 360.

The protests in Baire were among the most significant in the province of Santiago de Cuba since those on July 11, 2021, and March 17, 2024, driven by prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and the decline of basic services.

As popular discontent grows, the regime responds with its usual strategy: repression, threats, and surveillance to silence those who dare to protest in the streets.

Detentions and threats occur despite the fact that the regime itself downplayed the events, claiming they resulted in an "exchange" between local authorities and the population affected by the blackouts, even as they cut off internet access in the area.

In this regard, the official page Héroes del Moncada published a note on its Facebook profile this Friday, attempting to present its version of the protests that took place the night before, when residents took to the streets to express their frustration over the blackouts, food shortages, and lack of clean water that have been affecting the eastern population for weeks.

The official response follows the same repressive pattern as recent demonstrations that have taken place on the island, where official profiles immediately show images of areas "apparently calm," only to begin detaining and threatening participants in the events shortly thereafter.

Following the protests on September 13 in Gibara, triggered by prolonged blackouts and water shortages in the El Güirito community, the authorities stated that "everything occurred based on empathy and respect."

According to the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, at least 27 people were detained following the demonstration, with four still imprisoned and the rest under strict surveillance.

In May, Bayamo witnessed spontaneous protests driven by prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and lack of water, when dozens of people took to the streets demanding immediate solutions and shouting, “We don’t want any more muela!”, in a clear reference to the empty promises of the authorities.

Under public pressure, the regime's response was twofold: on the ground, with the deployment of special troops and Communist Party officials; and in the digital realm, through internet cuts and a vigorous propaganda campaign on official social media. This campaign aimed to project an image of dialogue, tranquility, and complete control of the situation.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Protests and Repression in Baire, Cuba