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Roberto Morales Ojeda, a member of the Political Bureau and secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, attributed the worsening of the electricity crisis on the Island to the "energy blockade" imposed by the United States
In a message on X published this Saturday, he stated that although public frustration over the blackouts is "understandable," "violence, vandalism, and disorder are unacceptable."
The leader established this position amid the tension generated by the protest that took place in Morón, Ciego de Ávila.
In his publication, Morales Ojeda stated that the lack of fuel, exacerbated by that "energy siege," has further complicated the operation of the National Electric System and, as a consequence, has led to an increase in power outages.
From that explanation, he acknowledged that the situation causes unrest among the population, but dismissed any legitimacy of responses that, in his words, translate into violence or disruption of order.
"In Cuba, adherence to the law, respect for institutions, and civility will prevail," he wrote.
Morales Ojeda's statement came after a night of protests and heightened tensions in Morón, where numerous videos circulated on social media showing groups of residents marching through the streets, banging pots and pans, and chanting slogans against the government.
The demonstrations were characterized by demands related to the increasing social unrest on the Island, fueled by prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and the deterioration of living conditions.
The protest also led to incidents outside the municipal headquarters of the Communist Party, where a fire was reported in the street and damage occurred to the building.
One of the most shocking moments was captured in a widely circulated video on the internet, in which a young man is seen falling injured after a gunshot was heard while he was near the party building.
In the images, the boy is assisted by several protesters, who carry him and transport him on a motorbike to a hospital.
Reports circulated on social media claiming that the young man was shot by a police officer, with some accounts even suggesting that he could be a minor.
However, official sources denied that there had been shots fired at protesters and asserted that the injury occurred due to a fall. The document does not provide independent verification of either of these two accounts.
"The complaints are legitimate."
In parallel to the message from Morales Ojeda, Miguel Díaz-Canel also spoke out this Saturday about what happened in Morón.
The leader stated in X that the claims are legitimate as long as they are expressed with "civility" and "respect for public order." He also blamed the "U.S. energy blockade" for the prolonged blackouts and issued a direct warning to those who participate in violent actions: "There will be no impunity for vandalism and violence."
The official narrative has tried to depict the events as isolated disturbances led by a small group of people manipulated from the outside. In that same vein, state media reported that five individuals were arrested.
Meanwhile, profiles linked to government institutions spread videos recorded in the early morning showing empty streets in Morón, accompanied by messages claiming that the city was "in total tranquility."
Thus, Morales Ojeda's message fits into the political response of the regime following the Morón protests: on one hand, he blames the United States and the fuel deficit for the worsening of the electrical crisis; on the other, he sets an explicit limit against any expression of protest that the power associates with violence, disorder, or vandalism.
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