The Colombian journalist Juan Esteban Silva, correspondent for Caracol Radio in Washington and specializing in coverage of the White House, publicly denounced the insults directed by supporters of the Cuban regime at the United Nations headquarters in New York during the human rights meeting organized by the United States.
Silva, who witnessed the incident that took place on Monday, October 19, shared a 29-second video on his X account this Tuesday, which shows the confrontation from a frontal perspective, while various participants cross the area and supporters of the Cuban regime shout and insult them.
One of the most striking scenes shows a man in a suit raising his middle finger, a gesture considered offensive in Cuba and other countries. Several people present are also seen recording the incident with their mobile phones.
"This is unacceptable!" wrote the correspondent as he began his post, in which he recounted how the meeting called by the U.S. ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, concluded.
"Yesterday we met with Ambassador Mike Waltz in New York. His team called us to a hearing to denounce the abuses of the Cuban regime," the journalist explained.
However, what was meant to be a day dedicated to highlighting the human rights violations in Cuba ended up being marked by shouts and confrontations involving individuals aligned with the Havana government.
"Outside, regime supporters responded with slurs and insults against the ambassador and the U.S. delegation to the UN," Silva reported.
"I had the opportunity to be there and witness what happened. Intimidation will not silence the truth," he stated.
Cuban diplomats were involved in an altercation with opponents at the UN
The incident occurred during the celebration of “Cuba Libre: The oppression that Havana hides”, an event organized by the Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations to address political repression, the situation of political prisoners, medical missions, and corruption in Cuba.
Among the participants were the opponents José Daniel Ferrer, founder of the Unión Patriótica de Cuba (UNPACU), and the artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, both of whom were released from prison and are currently outside the island. Researchers, activists, and American political representatives also participated.
During the act of repudiation led by members of the Cuban delegation, attendees were met with shouts of "terrorists" and "get out of the UN."
Ferrer immediately reported what happened on his social media.
"We have just been subjected to an act of repudiation at the UN by the Cuban communists," wrote the opposition figure, who also shared images of the incident.
The Cuban delegation had questioned the meeting
The confrontation was preceded by protests from the Cuban delegation against the event organized by Washington.
Days earlier, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán had questioned the legitimacy of the event and claimed that it violated the rules of the United Nations.
The diplomat stated that the United States intended to use the international organization to promote a political campaign against Cuba.
Waltz rejected those criticisms and defended the right of Cuban opponents and political prisoners to share their experiences.
"If it bothers you that we give voice to Cubans to talk about all this, how about you stop doing those things? Then we will stop talking about them," responded the U.S. ambassador to Soberón's questions.
Tensions arise just a few days before the annual vote by the United Nations General Assembly on the resolution presented by Cuba to demand an end to the U.S. embargo, scheduled for October 27 and 28.
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