Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel asserted that no one in Cuba is repressed for expressing an opinion against the revolution, despite the presence of over a thousand political prisoners on the island and the recent sentences announced against peaceful protesters.
In an interview with pro-regime intellectual Ignacio Ramonet, who asked if the Cuban Constitution guarantees the right to protest, Díaz-Canel responded that the state "does not have a repressive response" to such actions, as cited by the official newspaper Granma.
According to the leader, dissent in Cuba "does not have a repressive response" but may "have a popular response" from the population who, in Díaz-Canel's view, prefer "to talk with the Government and the Party" about their grievances.
He stated that these individuals "have faced and not allowed" dissenters to "shout counter-revolutionary slogans or other such things." However, "even that opinion from someone not aligned with the Revolution is not repressed," he emphasized.
"What happens is that many times, because it is part of the same subversive platform, those who protest in this manner against the Revolution, who are the minority, commit acts of vandalism and attack state properties, social properties, disrupt public order, and that then requires a response that is not ideological but judicial, just as it would be in any other country, because they are disrupting public order, citizen tranquility, committing misdeeds or acts of vandalism," Díaz-Canel argued.
The interview with the Spanish academic and journalist, held at the Palace of the Revolution on May 11, will be broadcast tonight on national television. However, the preview published by Granma has sparked outrage among the newspaper's readers, who claim the leader's statements are "a blatant lie."
"Here we have another example of the hypocrisy of the communist regime. Where has communism ever succeeded? Everything is a blatant lie, media manipulation, lacking transparency in the information they provide. They think the world believes all their lies, please stop deluding yourselves with your filthy minds," a Cuban commented on Granma's Facebook post.
Cuba has repressed peaceful protesters, opponents, and activists through force and by creating new crimes and arbitrary trials. This includes expelling dozens of students and employees from universities and workplaces for criticizing the regime. On May 12, a group of mothers of political prisoners published an open letter calling for the release of their children and warning the regime's authorities that they will continue to denounce the injustice against their families.
In March, at least six people were arrested for protesting in the town of San Andrés, Holguín, on March 8. Recently, sentences of up to 15 years in prison were announced for young people who protested in Nuevitas in 2022 over the endless blackouts affecting that city in Camagüey.
Independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada was detained and threatened for four days at the State Security headquarters in Havana, Villa Marista, two weeks ago. Over 700 Cubans, mostly young people, were tried and convicted for the July 11, 2021 protests. According to the NGO Prisoners Defenders, there are over 1,000 political prisoners on the island.
Understanding Political Repression in Cuba
Given the complex situation in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions to better understand the political repression and the current state of affairs on the island.
How many political prisoners are currently in Cuba?
According to the NGO Prisoners Defenders, there are over 1,000 political prisoners in Cuba.
What are the common charges against political prisoners in Cuba?
Political prisoners in Cuba are often charged with crimes such as vandalism, disrupting public order, and attacking state and social properties.
How does the Cuban government justify its actions against protesters?
The Cuban government claims that their actions are judicial responses to criminal behavior, not repressive measures based on ideology.