The Cuban police summoned Antonio Delgado Hernández on Friday, one of the participants in the protests in Baracoa against power outages last Thursday. The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights reported that Delgado Hernández was verbally summoned without explanation by the head of his area's sector to appear next Monday morning before a State Security officer. Additionally, he was threatened with being charged with "disobedience to authorities" if he does not attend the interview.
Although the regime claims not to repress people who demonstrate peacefully in Cuba, it continues to summon participants in protests against power outages, hunger, and shortages. On Thursday, residents of Baracoa, in Guantánamo, staged a street protest after a day of power outages that left them without electricity for more than 14 hours. Videos shared on social media showed the people of Baracoa in the streets, expressing their outrage over the abusive lack of electricity and daily food shortages.
The regime states that the energy crisis does not have a short-term solution and anticipates more protests during the summer.
Understanding the Protests in Baracoa
Here are some frequently asked questions about the recent protests in Baracoa and the broader issues facing Cuba.
Why was Antonio Delgado Hernández summoned by the police?
Antonio Delgado Hernández was summoned by the police for participating in the protests against power outages in Baracoa. He was verbally summoned without explanation and threatened with being charged with "disobedience to authorities" if he did not attend an interview with a State Security officer.
What were the Baracoa residents protesting?
Residents of Baracoa were protesting against prolonged power outages that lasted more than 14 hours, as well as daily food shortages and other economic hardships.
What is the Cuban regime's stance on the protests?
The Cuban regime claims it does not repress peaceful demonstrators, but it continues to summon participants in protests against issues like power outages, hunger, and shortages. The regime also states that the energy crisis does not have a short-term solution and expects more protests during the summer.