A low turnout of regime supporters marked this Tuesday’s communist march in Santiago de Cuba, organized to commemorate the Day of the Fallen in the eastern province. According to independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, “coerced workers threatened with a day’s wage deduction if they did not participate, were brought” to the political event.
On the social media platform Facebook, the activist revealed that “orders were given by Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, Secretary of the Communist Party in the province, and Manuel Falcón Hernández, Governor of the city, who, under pressure and threats, summoned all state enterprise workers in the city.”
He further noted that many of the “participants showed up, but after signing in on their work lists, they slipped away through the streets to avoid the long march from Parque Céspedes to Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, where the remains of Frank País rest.”
Amidst the nationwide crisis, the activist stated that “the vast majority of those present return home to find they have nothing to eat or drink after the long walk, due to widespread scarcity and shortages, affecting state workers while the leaders' pantries are stocked with food.”
Last Friday, the Cuban regime held an official event in the early hours of the morning, shrouded in darkness, to commemorate the 26th of July, marking the 71st anniversary of the assaults on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks.
Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa stated that "the ideas for which Fidel Castro assaulted the Moncada remain firm and unaltered among the people." Unwittingly, the politician acknowledged that six decades of dictatorship have yielded no progress, as the country remains in a situation similar, if not worse, than in 1953.
According to the official newspaper Granma, 5,000 people from Sancti Spíritus attended the event, though they did not specify where the fuel came from to facilitate such a large gathering amid Cuba's current energy crisis.
Key Questions About the Low Turnout at the Communist March in Santiago de Cuba
Here are some frequently asked questions concerning the low participation in the recent communist march in Santiago de Cuba and the broader context of the situation.
Why was the turnout at the communist march in Santiago de Cuba so low?
The turnout was low due to widespread discontent among the population and coercive tactics used by the government, which included threatening workers with wage deductions if they did not participate.
Who organized the march in Santiago de Cuba?
The march was organized by Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, Secretary of the Communist Party in the province, and Manuel Falcón Hernández, Governor of Santiago de Cuba.
What challenges are state workers in Cuba facing?
State workers in Cuba face significant challenges including food and water shortages, low wages, and coercive labor practices, which contribute to their discontent and reluctance to participate in political events.
What was the significance of the 26th of July event?
The 26th of July event commemorates the anniversary of the assaults on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks, which are significant events in Cuban revolutionary history.