After a night marked by protests, pan-banging, and clashes in the municipality of Morón, Ciego de Ávila, profiles linked to government institutions began to disseminate messages on social media attempting to convey an image of calm and normalcy in the area.
One of them was published on Facebook by Alejandro Cosme Quiñones, from the local Culture Department, who recorded a video from inside a car while driving along a road in the city.
During the recording, which took place in the early hours of the morning, the official stated: "We are broadcasting live, it is exactly 2:09, and as you can see, the municipality of Morón is completely calm."
The images show an empty street, with no people around.
However, the message contrasts with the numerous videos, testimonies, and reports that circulated for hours on social media, documenting civic demonstrations, slogans against the government, and various incidents occurring in different parts of the city.
This type of publication is part of a common strategy of the Cuban regime's propaganda apparatus: to show deserted streets after protests have ended in an attempt to instill the idea that nothing significant ever happened or that everything was under control.
The dissemination of those images occurs as reports of repression, gunfire, and clashes during the protests continue to circulate.
The official version: downplay what happened
As social media was flooded with videos of the protests, state media tried to portray the events as isolated disturbances or acts of vandalism carried out by a small group of individuals.
The newspaper Invasor, the official organ of the Communist Party of Cuba in the province, issued a statement describing the events as a "disorder" caused by manipulated individuals.
"Attention, Ciego de Ávila! Attention, Cuba!" begins the text circulated by the state media, which claims that in the city "a disruption occurred that has now been controlled, when a group - manipulated and guided - vandalized the headquarters of the Municipal Committee of the Party."
According to that version, the young man seen injured in videos circulated on social media was not a victim of repression but rather one of the participants in the disturbances.
"The young man that they are now trying to present as a 'victim' was, ironically, one of those who led the chaos," the outlet stated.
The newspaper even asserted that the injury was not caused by a gunshot, but rather by a fall.
"While trying to take down the party banner, he ended up falling and, with the help of his own comrades, was taken by motorcycle to the hospital," the publication stated.
The text also emphasized that the events would have been planned for propaganda purposes.
"It was not a spontaneous event. The images clearly show it: everything was orchestrated... in search of a spectacle that could later be exploited from the outside."
The official narrative also attributes the complaints circulated on the internet to an alleged international campaign against the Cuban government.
"From outside the country, the same old enemies repeat their script, falsely accusing the Cuban government," the media asserts.
In its conclusion, the newspaper assures that the situation is completely under control.
"Now in Morón, everything is calm. The town of Avilés has responded with unity, serenity, and revolutionary commitment."
Another official version: "vandalic acts"
A similar interpretation was shared by the pro-government journalist Francisnet Díaz Rondón, who described the demonstrations as disturbances caused by a small group of people.
According to his account, the mobilization began with demands related to the crisis the country is experiencing.
"At midnight this Saturday, a group of people… moved through various streets of the city of Morón… with demands primarily related to the electricity situation and access to food products."
The reporter acknowledged that the protest started peacefully.
"What initially transpired peacefully... escalated into vandalism against the headquarters of the Municipal Committee of the Party."
It was also noted that a small group attacked the building. "They threw stones at the entrance of the property and set fire to the street with the reception furniture."
According to their account, damage was reported at other establishments.
"Preliminarily, it was reported that there were also damages in other establishments, including a pharmacy and a sales point of the Tiendas Caribe chain."
Díaz Rondón also confirmed that there were arrests. "As of the closure of this report, five people were being held," he said.
Regarding the young man who appears injured in the videos circulated on the internet, the official version merely states that he suffered a fall due to being "intoxicated."
Videos show a young man injured during the protests
The images circulating on social media tell a different story.
A widely circulated video shows several protesters carrying a seemingly injured young man as they attempt to rush him to medical attention on a motorcycle.
In the recording, the screams of those trying to help him can be heard.
The activist Magdiel Castro shared the images on X and warned about the seriousness of the situation. "Images of the gunshot victim during the protests in Morón... reports indicate that he is a minor. Awaiting confirmation," he wrote.
The independent journalist José Raúl Gallego stated on Facebook that the young man would have been shot by a police officer.
According to the report, the shot hit the thigh while the boy was near a lit campfire in front of the municipal headquarters of the Party.
Gallego also reported that during the disturbances, the local headquarters of the Party was set on fire and several bicycles used by police officers were burned. He also warned that among the protesters, there were children and adolescents.
Other reports indicate that special forces had released dogs to disperse the protesters.
People can’t take it anymore
The demonstrations in Morón occurred amid a deep economic and energy crisis affecting Cuba.
In recent months, complaints about prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and the deterioration of living conditions have increased.
During the night of the protests, videos circulated showing people banging pots and shouting slogans of "Freedom!" as groups of residents walked through the streets of the municipality.
Other reports indicate that the mobilization later moved towards the city police station.
In this context, the regime's attempts to showcase empty streets or make declarations of "calm" are part of a strategy to minimize the extent of social discontent and deny the magnitude of the protests.
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