The political prisoner José Daniel Ferrer stated from Florida that in recent hours he has received numerous messages and calls from Cuba marked by uncertainty and fear of a weakening of international pressure against the regime.
"During the last few hours, I have been receiving messages and calls from Cuba, and everyone expresses the same concern," he stated, describing the atmosphere of unease he perceives among his compatriots on the island.
According to what was explained, many Cubans interpret recent events in the United States as signs of a regression in the sanctions policy against Havana.
In particular, he mentioned the decision of the Supreme Court that would have declared illegal the tariffs announced by President Donald Trump against countries supplying fuel to the Cuban government, as well as reports about the possible authorization for private traders to import fuel.
"Those news," he said, "have been received like 'a bucket of cold water in the face on a wintry morning' by those who had placed great expectations on a tightening of the measures against the regime."
Ferrer recalled that the announcement of an executive order declaring the Cuban government as an "extraordinary and unusual threat" and contemplating sanctions against those who supplied it with oil had strengthened hopes that the dictatorship would be forced to negotiate its exit.
This was compounded by the events of January 3 in Venezuela, which, as he explained, also fueled the perception that geopolitical changes could occur with a direct impact on Cuba.
"Many compatriots felt very encouraged and hopeful that something very important could happen soon in Cuba," he noted.
However, in light of the most recent information, many fear that "the measures, the sanctions, the pressures" will begin to "weaken and crumble," allowing the regime to continue "repressing and oppressing the Cuban people, imprisoning opponents, and killing activists, human rights defenders, and political prisoners."
Although he acknowledged that he personally is also starting to have doubts, Ferrer assured that he has tried to convey calm and confidence that the current U.S. administration maintains a "strong and firm commitment" to the cause of Cuba's freedom.
He asserted that there is a clear understanding in Washington regarding the nature of the Cuban regime, which he described as a "criminal tyranny" that poses a threat to democracy and security on the continent.
“I have been encouraging my fellow countrymen and telling them that they need to be patient,” he expressed.
However, the opposition leader insisted that Cuba's freedom cannot rely solely on external decisions.
In a direct call to both those remaining on the island and the diaspora, he emphasized that the leading role must fall to the Cubans themselves.
"I have also told them that they should not place their hopes in what the best ally of the Cuban people, which is the United States, can do," he stated.
And he added, “Cubans, all of us, both those inside and those in exile, must fight with renewed strength.”
Ferrer called for a stronger coordination among activists both inside and outside the country to confront “the criminal dictatorship massively in the streets of Cuba and finally bring it down.”
In their view, strengthening internal activism must accompany any international action.
Convinced that external pressure will continue, he reiterated his call to strengthen civic mobilization to expedite the arrival of political change on the island.
"I am confident that the actions of the United States will continue to strengthen and that we too will continue to enhance activism both inside and outside of Cuba," he stated.
His aspiration, he said, is for freedom to arrive "as soon as possible," and for Cuba to be a country "completely free, completely democratic, and with full respect for all human rights" by 2027.
In the midst of geopolitical uncertainty, Ferrer sends a double message: to maintain international pressure, but not to delegate the country's fate to it.
For the opposition, the key still lies in the ability of the Cubans themselves to articulate an internal response that renders the continuation of the regime unviable.
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