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The confrontation that took place in the channel El Pino, in Cayo Falcones, municipality of Corralillo, where four Cubans residing in Florida were killed, has sparked a debate on social media about the history of armed uprisings in Cuba and the legitimacy of the actions of those seeking freedom for the Island.
According to the government, 10 men entered armed with the aim of committing terrorist acts, but for many Cubans, their action is no different from that of Fidel Castro in 1956, when he set off on the yacht Granma to Cuba to fight against Fulgencio Batista.
On , the actor and playwright Yunior García Aguilera made a sarcastic remark about the complexity of explaining events to younger generations.
"Teachers in Cuban schools are breaking their heads trying to explain to their students that those armed men who arrived by boat (the Granma) in Cuba to infiltrate, carry out sabotage, and start a war... were not terrorists... Poor History teachers," he wrote.
Activist Glenda Rancano also emphasized that Cuban history is filled with armed uprisings and that the regime's accusations lack moral authority.
"A handful of men ascended to the Sierra, resisted, and seized power. What 'laws' are we talking about now? Those that imprison those who hold different opinions, that stifle freedom of expression, that block free and fair elections, that prohibit independent press, political parties, and peaceful protests?" he questioned.
"Before it was Granma, now it's just any vessel. But the yearning is the same: a truly free Cuba," he emphasized.
In X, a user confronted Miguel Díaz-Canel, saying: "They had every right and they are called patriots, while those who do the same are called terrorists. Well, then let's agree on one thing: Fidel Castro and the criminals from the Granma yacht were and are terrorists."
Another internet user referred to the extent of the regime's infiltration even in Cuban communities in Miami. "So much infiltration that entered Cuba in the 2000s to look for people, and they never caught anyone; they were just waiting for that."
The debate underscores that the actions of these 10 Cubans are a gesture of courage and resistance against the dictatorship, similar to those of the historical martyrs of the government.
Although the regime accuses them of "armed infiltration for terrorist purposes," Cubans reject the official narrative, which is nothing more than a propagandistic reinterpretation aimed at delegitimizing the fight for freedom.
What happened in Corralillo?
The Cuban government reported that on Wednesday a speedboat registered in Florida, FL7726SH, entered Cuban waters with 10 people on board who were there for "terrorist purposes".
According to the Ministry of Interior, there was a shootout between the occupants of the boat and the Border Guard Troops, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals, while the other six were injured and detained.
Among the victims is Michel Ortega Casanova, a 54-year-old truck driver residing in Tampa, an American citizen and a member of the Republican Party of Cuba. The identities of the other deceased have not yet been revealed.
The authorities reported the arrest of Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra.
Another citizen, Duniel Hernández Santos, was arrested in Cuban territory for his involvement with the group.
After the operation, the government reported the seizure of assault rifles, handguns, homemade incendiary devices, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights, and camouflage uniforms.
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