New protest messages against the Cuban government have appeared in the last few hours in the city of Santiago de Cuba, in a clandestine action that once again highlights the growing social discontent in the face of the economic crisis, power outages, and the lack of freedoms on the Island.
The complaint was made by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada through his Facebook page, where he reported that the posters were painted on a billboard located near the University of Oriente.
"Just a few minutes ago, anti-government posters were painted on a public fence located near the University of Oriente, in the city of Santiago de Cuba," Mayeta wrote while announcing the incident, which occurred early this Monday morning.
According to the photos sent to the reporter, the banner displays slogans such as "Out with communism" and "Down with the dictatorship," messages that covered a large part of the advertising poster.
The action is believed to have been carried out during a power outage that affected several areas of the city.
Power outages have become a daily reality for millions of Cubans and, in many cases, also the backdrop for expressions of discontent.
During the power outages, numerous neighborhoods are filled with pot banging and spontaneous protests. In other cases, the darkness allows dissatisfied citizens to leave critical messages in public spaces.
Expressions continue to emerge, driven by the exhaustion of a population battered by scarcity, inflation, prolonged blackouts, and repression against any form of dissent.
"According to testimonies from neighbors and individuals who were present at the scene, similar actions have been observed in various locations across Santiago de Cuba in recent days," Mayeta noted.
So far, the authorities have not commented on the appearance of these messages near the university.
Another protest action attributed to UNPACU activists
In another post, Mayeta also reported on another protest action that took place on Saturday in Santiago de Cuba by activists linked to the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU).
According to the explanation, members of the movement placed protest posters in the Antonio Maceo neighborhood, an area of the city where opposition figures continue to carry out acts of protest despite the constant surveillance by the authorities.
"The action was carried out clandestinely by activists who continue to operate within the Island despite the heavy surveillance and repression they face," he/she specified.
The posters included slogans such as "Long live Trump," "Long live UNPACU," and "Freedom for political prisoners."
The opposition organization has repeatedly expressed its support for political prisoners and has denounced the conditions in which many of them remain confined in the regime's dungeons.
"These actions are part of the symbolic protest initiatives carried out by various opposition groups within Cuba, often clandestinely, to highlight their rejection of the political system and demand changes on the island," concluded Mayeta.
Posters against the regime in various provinces
The graffiti that has appeared in Santiago de Cuba is part of a series of recent episodes in which citizens have used posters and written messages to express their rejection of the political system.
A recent case occurred in the municipality of Colón, Matanzas, where on Sunday slogans against the government appeared in the market square. On the wall of the building the phrases "Down with communism", "Down with the dictatorship" and "Homeland and Life" were painted in black ink.
These events add to others that have occurred in recent weeks in Havana, demonstrating that this type of protest has spread throughout the country.
At the end of February, posters challenging the regime appeared in the neighborhoods of Boyeros and Jaimanitas. The messages were signed with the initials of the opposition organization Camino a la Democracia Pacífica de Cuba (CDPC).
Among the slogans that appeared on the walls were messages against communism and tyranny, as well as expressions of support for American political figures. The poster read: "We Trust Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and Mike Hammer."
Journalist Mario J. Pentón also confirmed the appearance of posters in Jaimanitas with slogans such as "Down with the tyranny" in the westernmost part of Havana.
Days before, in the center of Santiago de Cuba, another message was painted on the wall of a building with the phrase "Long live Mike Hammer", referring to the head of the U.S. mission on the Island.
Another episode that drew attention occurred at the beginning of the month when 10 Panamanian citizens were detained after entering Cuba, allegedly with the aim of creating and placing critical posters against the regime.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the individuals involved have reportedly acknowledged their participation in the events that occurred in the capital. They are accused of engaging in "subversive activities that oppose the constitutional order," offenses that could carry sentences of up to 10 years in prison.
The repetition of these actions in different parts of the country reflects the growing discontent among many Cubans.
These actions, although symbolic, carry a considerable risk. In Cuba, painting or placing slogans against the government can be considered by the authorities as enemy propaganda or subversive activity, crimes that can lead to many years in prison.
In a country where public demonstrations are often repressed and dissent is harshly punished, painting a banner or leaving a message on a wall has become for some citizens a way to express their discontent and demand change.
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