Cuban journalist and activist José Raúl Gallego has sharply criticized Spanish professor Ignacio Ramonet, accusing him of being a propagandist for the Cuban regime who benefits from government favors.
Ramonet had tweeted that he would publish his "fascinating nearly two-hour interview with Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel" on Wednesday, promising that "all topics, even the controversial ones, issues of daily life, economic matters, and international politics" would be discussed "with candor and honesty." However, Gallego responded by asserting, "You are not a journalist; you are a propagandist for the Cuban regime, a foreigner who is paraded around Cuba with privileges and sees only what he wants to see." He added, "I highly doubt you will ask about 'controversial' topics or force any meaningful answers."
The interview, published by the state-run Granma newspaper and the official website of the Presidency of Cuba, has sparked outrage among hundreds of Cubans who agree with Gallego. In each topic covered, Díaz-Canel's responses were astonishing and went unchallenged by Ramonet, who also refrained from asking any tough questions.
For instance, Díaz-Canel told Ramonet that "no one in Cuba is repressed for expressing an opinion against the revolution," despite the more than a thousand political prisoners on the island and recent sentences against peaceful protesters. He added that dissent in Cuba "does not elicit a repressive response" and that those prosecuted since July 11 are not being punished for opposing the regime but for "disturbing public order, citizen tranquility, committing misdemeanors, or acts of vandalism."
Ramonet, a professor and journalist from Spain, did not challenge any of Díaz-Canel's answers during the interview, which took place at the Palace of the Revolution on May 11 and will be broadcast on national television tonight. "Here we have another example of the hypocrisy of the communist regime. Where has communism succeeded? It's all 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 garbage minds," commented a Cuban on Granma's Facebook post.
Cuba has used force and newly created crimes and arbitrary trials to repress peaceful protesters, dissidents, and activists—facts well known to Ramonet, who is close to the regime and even paraded in Havana with his partner, an editor from Pinar del Río, on May 1.
In March, at least six people were arrested for protesting in the town of San Andrés in Holguín on March 8. Recently, sentences of up to 15 years in prison were handed down to youths who protested in Nuevitas in 2022 over the endless blackouts affecting that city in Camagüey.
Two weeks ago, independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada was detained and threatened for four days at the headquarters of State Security in Havana, Villa Marista. More than 700 Cubans, most of them young, were tried and sentenced for the July 11, 2021 protests.
Despite these irrefutable facts, Ramonet once stated that the Cuban regime acted with "clarity" and "transparency" regarding the 11J protests.
Controversial Interview with Miguel Díaz-Canel: Key Questions Answered
In light of the controversial interview between Ignacio Ramonet and Miguel Díaz-Canel, many questions have arisen regarding the nature of the interview and the broader implications for Cuba. Here are some key questions and answers that help clarify the situation.
Why did José Raúl Gallego criticize Ignacio Ramonet?
José Raúl Gallego criticized Ignacio Ramonet for being a propagandist for the Cuban regime, accusing him of benefiting from government favors and not asking challenging questions during his interview with Miguel Díaz-Canel.
What were some of the controversial statements made by Miguel Díaz-Canel in the interview?
Miguel Díaz-Canel claimed that no one in Cuba is repressed for expressing opinions against the revolution and that dissent does not elicit a repressive response. These statements are controversial given the documented political prisoners and sentences against peaceful protesters.
How did Ramonet respond to Díaz-Canel's statements during the interview?
Ramonet did not challenge Díaz-Canel's statements or ask any tough questions, which has led to widespread criticism and accusations that he acted as a propagandist for the regime.
What has been the public reaction to the interview?
The interview has sparked outrage among many Cubans who agree with Gallego's criticism of Ramonet. They believe that the interview failed to address the harsh realities of life in Cuba and merely served as propaganda for the regime.