“'They will not silence us': The message from the director of El Toque about his commitment to Cuba”

The Cuban journalist José Jasán Nieves Cárdenas, director of the independent media El Toque, published a powerful message this Sunday on Facebook in which he once again denounces the escalating harassment by the regime and publicly reaffirms his political commitment to democracy in Cuba.

The statement comes amid an unprecedented media offensive, which includes accusations of "financial terrorism," attempts to fabricate criminal charges, and acts of repudiation outside the island.

"I want the end of the dictatorship in Cuba. I am working to change the existing political regime and bring democracy, justice, and prosperity to my home country," wrote Nieves in a text where he claims that the government is trying to silence him through defamation campaigns and pressure on his team.

Nieves' statement comes days after the official spokesperson Humberto López accused him on national television of leading a scheme of "financial terrorism", supposedly responsible for "depressing the standard of living of Cubans." The presenter even suggested initiating criminal proceedings against members of the media and including them on the "national terrorist list."

The accusations are based, according to the regime, on the work of El Toque monitoring the informal currency rate in Cuba, an economic reference that millions of Cubans consult daily due to the collapse of the official exchange system.

The government is attempting to hold the platform responsible for the inflation and devaluation, despite the fact that the current crisis stems from the failure of the economic model applied for decades.

Nieves responded by pointing out that the regime has been trying to fabricate a criminal case against her team for over a year, even resorting to interrogation sessions at Villa Marista and manipulating testimonies to present them as “evidence” on television.

"I do not accept orders": the personal response to harassment

In his message, the director of El Toque claims that he does not hide his political positions or his objectives, but denies that this entails resorting to lies or manipulation.

"I have a problem with authority, always have. I do not accept orders nor comply with militant discipline," he stated, while defending the professional and verified work of his team.

The journalist added that he accepts "all the attacks" and gathers "all the support," emphasizing that his greatest privilege is the talented people he works with. "They will not silence us," he concluded.

Exported acts of repudiation: aggression in Mexico

The hostility against Nieves is not limited to Cuba. A few days ago, , organized by supporters of Castroism linked to the so-called Mexican Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.

There he was insulted, accused of "financing terrorism" and "sabotaging the Cuban economy," and claimed to have received "more than 500 thousand dollars" to bring about the economic collapse of the island.

The gesture, recorded on video and published by the journalist himself, sparked outrage among activists and colleagues, who condemned the exportation of the intimidation tactics that the regime employs within Cuba.

For Nieves, the offensive against El Toque is not coincidental, but rather occurs amidst the greatest economic decline the country has experienced in decades.

According to the journalist, the regime is trying to blame independent journalism for a crisis that it itself created.

"It is the only way the Cuban government has to respond to citizens' demands due to its inability to manage the crisis," he wrote.

Meanwhile, the media outlet it leads continues to face the threat of being accused of non-existent crimes under Cuban law, such as the so-called "economic terrorism."