Abel Prieto shared a cartoon on Facebook depicting the activist Anna Bensi as a mercenary linked to the American diplomat Mike Hammer, but numerous responses redirected the criticism toward the former Minister of Culture.
“Can’t you sink any lower?”, “What a disappointment Abel, I didn’t think you would stoop so low” and “And you were the Minister of Culture” were some of the critical comments received on the publication by the deputy of the National Assembly of People's Power.
"From our Paquito," Prieto wrote while sharing the image. The post, which had over 1,300 comments at the time of writing this note, received messages of solidarity with Bensi, questions regarding the behavior of its promoters, and teasing remarks about the supposed charm of the drawing.
"I trust that girl's words more than those of any Cuban leader", expressed a user. Another summarized a recurring idea in the responses: "It's incredible that a young girl with a phone has them so worked up".
"Respond to the criticism, not to the messenger."
Several comments interpreted the attention from the official apparatus as a sign of the impact of Bensi's allegations. "Incredible, a young woman and her mother have them sleepless, just imagine when the tide wakes up," noted one. "Incredible that a girl frightens them so much," wrote another.
There were also criticisms regarding Prieto's role as a figure of official culture: «It's a shame, a former minister of culture. Culture or Unculture?». Another comment contrasted his literary career with the publication: «The laughter from the joke is like the literary value of his books, they are downloaded separately».
"No it wasn't funny," "And is laughter extra with Uber or what?" and "It's a joke from Temu" were other responses. A user posed a challenge to his promoter: "Now make one for the president and prime minister," suggesting that the freedom to caricature does not operate the same way when the target is in power.
Others returned to the regime the references to hunger and lack of freedom. «So it's true, there is hunger and there is no freedom», one commented. Another demanded: «Abel Prieto, drawing people in fear doesn't fill their plates. Respond to the criticism, not to the messenger».
Messages also appeared against Bensi, accusing her of seeking money or a visa, along with questions about her behavior as a Christian. Among the collected responses, however, there are numerous defenses of the young woman and criticisms of Prieto.
The provocation that mockery leaves behind
The comments referred to the act of repudiation during Hammer's visit to the home of Bensi and his mother, Caridad Silvente, in Alamar on October 6. While the diplomat was greeting them, a small group shouted slogans against him. Bensi responded to one of the participants: "Your iron fell" and "Starving to death."
A commentator defended his right to receive guests and questioned why several people were stationed in front of his house to verbally assault them. "His response was triggered by the provocations of those yelling at him," he noted. Another asked, "Who is starving us? I don’t think it’s the unfortunate Paquito, maybe it’s Paquito's boss."
Prieto's post came after Francisco Rodríguez Cruz, «Paquito de Cuba», vice president of the UPEC took a photograph wearing a wig that mimicked the activist's hair and joked about recording those who visited his home because the CIA threatened to take away his virginity.
Bensi and Silvente were sentenced on October 1 to two years of restricted freedom each for recording and publishing the visit of a MININT agent. The case mobilized religious leaders, artists, and activists; some individuals trying to accompany them to court were detained.
That background fueled another reproach to the post: «These are the ones who say we must respect privacy». A comment questioned what criteria are applied when Cuban television displays faces, names, and videos of dissidents to discredit them: «Is the law applied in the same way when the publisher is a state media?».
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