Fearful of the growing unrest within society, the Cuban regime has once again turned to its propaganda apparatus to threaten and intimidate the population with the criminal charge of "disobedience." Citizens without any employment or academic ties, who have been "warned" by social prevention authorities for their "antisocial behavior," and who continue this behavior, may become targets of a policy of "anonymous reporting" promoted by the regime's repressive authorities.
This was explained by Colonel Rogelio Luis Lazo, of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and head of the specialized investigation and processes unit of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR). In an interview with presenter Humberto López on the program Hacemos Cuba, the PNR officer detailed the mechanism through which a citizen can be subject to anonymous reports, police surveillance, and even criminal prosecution if they do not engage in work or study and continue to ignore warnings from the social prevention group overseeing their case.
Social Prevention Groups and Their Role
These social prevention groups, composed of the local PNR chief, the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) secretary of the jurisdiction, the heads of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), and other mass organizations, will serve as the preliminary step before the actions of the Prosecutor's Office, which can prosecute individuals for disobedience if they do not comply with these "authorities."
"What we need is information about the person engaging in these behaviors, individuals who disturb the order," stated Colonel Lazo to the presenter and spokesperson for the regime's coercion, threats, and manipulation messages. This information, necessary for authorities to take criminal action against those who ignore the "warnings," can come via an "anonymous report" or tip-off.
Thus far, nothing new: the Cuban regime has always promoted "informing" as a "civic" behavior aligned with the principles of the so-called "revolution." Informing is part of the totalitarian DNA introduced into a society dominated by over 60 years of single-party military dictatorship.
"What should people tell the authorities?... So-and-so is always on the corner, does not work, does not study. Will you preserve the identity of the informant?" asked López, underlining the message that anyone, anonymously, can report "antisocial" individuals. Tasked with instilling confidence in potential informants ("won't this be frowned upon by others?"), the presenter insisted on his questions so the PNR officer could clearly explain that anonymity is protected by the regime's repressive organs.
"First, we need to instill confidence in our people. As a principle, the identity of individuals who provide information to report these behaviors is preserved. This is a principle in police work," assured Lazo.
The Strategy from the Top
A recent article published in the official PCC organ guided the program, which also featured the President of the Supreme People's Court, Ileana Gómez Guerra, and the Chief Prosecutor of the Provincial Prosecutor's Office of Havana, Lisnay Mederos Torres. The official media, serving the PCC, the only legal ones in Cuba, have been eager to spread this "good news" aimed at maintaining strict control over the population: "antisocial" individuals can be detained in provisional custody until a criminal case is brought and they are tried for disobedience.
Under the old Penal Code, regime dissidents were persecuted for "pre-criminal social dangerousness." With the new norm approved in May 2022 (which supposedly discarded an odious figure denounced as a repressive mechanism by experts and international organizations), individuals without employment or academic ties who ignore the warnings of prevention and social care authorities can be convicted of disobedience.
In mid-May, the government of Santiago de Cuba announced measures to curb the growing disengagement from work and study among young people in that province, threatening to go door-to-door for a statistical survey. Manuel Falcón Hernández, the city's governor, declared that a thorough information gathering would be conducted in each home to identify the employment and educational status of its inhabitants. According to the official, a detailed report will be made at the Circumscription and Popular Council level, which will be submitted for evaluation.
"We have some people who are lazy, disconnected from study and work, do not contribute, and demand many rights but do not fulfill duties," declared the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel a month earlier during a visit to Baracoa, signaling the repressive policy being implemented in Cuba to curb protests anticipated to occur during the summer. A month after this visit with an included threat, Baracoa residents staged a street protest after a series of blackouts that left them without electricity for more than 14 hours.
The Cuban regime targets "antisocial elements" to issue threats that, in essence, are directed at the entire society, which has reached the limit of its patience amid the colossal socio-economic, energy, and migration crisis it has endured for years. However, the growing indignation, like the abyss opened at the feet of Cubans, diminishes the number of anonymous informants willing to tattle for the regime in these dire times.
Understanding the Cuban Regime's Anonymous Reporting Policy
To provide clarity on the Cuban regime’s recent policies and practices regarding anonymous reporting, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
What behaviors can lead to being reported anonymously in Cuba?
Individuals who do not engage in work or study and exhibit "antisocial behavior" as defined by social prevention authorities can be reported anonymously.
Who are involved in the social prevention groups in Cuba?
Social prevention groups consist of the local PNR chief, the PCC secretary of the jurisdiction, the heads of the CDR, the FMC, and other mass organizations.
How does the Cuban regime ensure the anonymity of informants?
The regime assures that the identity of informants is preserved as a principle in police work to instill confidence in potential informants.
What actions can be taken against those reported anonymously?
Individuals reported anonymously can face police surveillance, criminal prosecution, and even provisional detention until a case is built and they are tried for disobedience.