At least eleven Cuban protesters who participated in demonstrations on May 28 in Juraguá, Cienfuegos, were detained by the regime's repressive forces. Authorities imposed a bail of 200,000 Cuban pesos and charged them with alleged crimes of ‘public disorder,’ ‘contempt,’ or ‘assault,’ according to the non-governmental organization Justicia 11J.
“During the protest, at least 10 people were detained at the Provincial Unit of Criminal Investigation and Operations (UPICO), the State Security Investigation Unit, and the First Station of the Revolutionary National Police (PNR),” stated the organization.
Based on information received from neighbors, friends, and family members of the detainees, Justicia 11J compiled a list identifying the eleven detainees and the alleged crimes they are accused of.
The identified detainees are:
- Linet Columbié Ramírez (accused of public disorder).
- Maikel Ojeda Rodríguez (accused of contempt).
- Adrián Morales Ojeda (accused of contempt).
- Osmani Paz Hernández (accused of public disorder).
- Damián Velázquez Hernández (accused of assault due to an altercation with a police officer).
- Jorge Luis Najarro Hernández and Yasniel Najarro Hernández (brothers, accused of public disorder).
- Erich González Lima (journalist who worked in radio in Cienfuegos).
- Alberto Donald Serpa (alias Albertico, accused of public disorder).
- Norge Cuba (accused of public disorder).
- Maykel García (accused of public disorder, released after paying bail).
Additionally, the NGO reported the cases of Emilio Vladimir Cobas Pérez and Anoidis Vázquez Montes de Oca, who “were identified after the day of the events, were summoned for interrogation, and had to sign a warning act each.”
“Independent media report the persecution of residents to prevent the disclosure of what happened. We urge the regime to stop the censorship and criminalization of protests,” added the organization, which was created by Cuban activists in response to the repression following the historic and massive protests of July 11, 2021 (11J).
Known for its meticulous documentation and archiving of those persecuted by the Cuban regime following the demonstrations on July 11 and 12, 2021, Justicia 11J has been compiling databases of Cubans detained, prosecuted, and imprisoned for exercising their right to protest. Similarly, it has focused on making the victims and their families visible, an effort many experts have described as facing “state terrorism,” marked by the submission of all powers and institutions in the country to the regime's dictates.
On Tuesday, Justicia 11J also denounced that “the regime's institutions and media have not reported on what happened in the community near the ruins of the Nuclear Power Plant in Cienfuegos,” for which they requested “help from families, friends, and the general public to obtain details and images of the protest events and the victims of repression in Cienfuegos and similar events in Cuba.”
What Happened on May 28 in Cienfuegos?
In the middle of the night that Tuesday, following weeks of intense blackouts in Cienfuegos, dozens of residents took to the streets, banging pots and chanting for “freedom.” Videos shared on social media showed a crowd of cienfuegueros protesting against the government and demanding the restoration of electricity service.
Chants of “freedom” and “turn on the power” were heard during the protest, while others improvised a conga with the sounds of pots and chants of “oe, police pin...”.
The initial peaceful protests were reported in Juraguá, a community near the ruins of the Nuclear Power Plant (CEN) in Cienfuegos. Although this area is far from the city center, the government quickly deployed numerous black beret agents to quell the protest.
Additionally, that same night, pot-banging protests occurred in other neighborhoods in the urban center of Cienfuegos, such as Tulipán and Reina.
Days earlier, Justicia 11J documented protests in the province of Las Tunas on May 10. That night, a crowd of residents protested with pots, fed up with blackouts that lasted up to 18 hours in some areas of the country.
From the Facebook page “Justicia 11J,” they reported the protest, including a video showing people banging pots. “At Justicia 11J, we have learned of a protest last night in Las Tunas. Our sources reported seeing patrols intimidating the protesters,” they alerted from their Facebook profile.
At the same time, the organization urged international bodies to focus on Cuba, given the possibility of a new wave of protests.
Key Details About the Protests in Cienfuegos
Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers regarding the recent protests and detentions in Cienfuegos.
What triggered the protests in Cienfuegos on May 28?
The protests were triggered by weeks of intense blackouts in Cienfuegos, prompting residents to take to the streets, bang pots, and chant for freedom and the restoration of electricity service.
Who were the detainees and what were they charged with?
The detainees, identified by Justicia 11J, were charged with crimes such as public disorder, contempt, or assault. They include Linet Columbié Ramírez, Maikel Ojeda Rodríguez, and others, with bail set at 200,000 Cuban pesos.
What is Justicia 11J's role in these events?
Justicia 11J is a non-governmental organization that meticulously documents and archives cases of those persecuted by the Cuban regime. They have been actively compiling databases of detained, prosecuted, and imprisoned Cubans since the July 2021 protests.
How has the Cuban government responded to the protests?
The Cuban government has responded with repression, deploying numerous agents to quell the protests and detaining several protesters. Independent media have reported persecution of residents to prevent the spread of information about the events.