Students on scholarship at Central University "Marta Abreu" of Las Villas (UCLV) in Santa Clara have been enduring days without electricity and potable water. Their protests against the untenable conditions have resulted in threats from State Security agents and university authorities. This alarming situation was brought to light on Tuesday by the Academic Freedom Observatory (OLA) on social media, accompanied by images of students with buckets trying to gather water and screenshots of messages from a student exposing the issue and the threats they received if they publicize the ongoing shortages.
The message shared with OLA urgently calls for online visibility to highlight the lack of water and electricity at the UCLV student dorms, which led to a weekend protest involving a cacerolazo—a type of protest involving banging pots and pans. "I ask for help to bring attention to the plight of UCLV students," wrote one student who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation. "We've been without power since 4 pm, and it's expected to last until 1 am."
The individual who sent the plea for assistance disclosed that the recent cacerolazo ended with a State Security officer forcibly kicking open a door. Compounding the issue, the university administration informed students that there was no fuel to bring water trucks, and the water reserves had been depleted.
Desperation Among Students
The students are increasingly anxious because "only a little water remains in the dining hall refrigerators," prompting them to descend with buckets to collect it for bathing. The message also noted that while the circuit where the university is located has traditionally been safeguarded, "the energy situation seems critically severe."
The student implored that their message be shared, "so that this torture of studying under a dictatorship does not go unnoticed," and requested protection of their identity for fear of expulsion. "We've been warned not to post anything," they stated.
Accountability and Silence
The Academic Freedom Observatory denounced the UCLV's rector, Luis A. Barranco Olivera, and his administration, holding them accountable for any repercussions faced by the students in the future. They also condemned the violation of university autonomy due to the intrusion and intimidation by political police against vulnerable students.
As of now, UCLV authorities have not addressed these incidents. However, in recent hours, they have shared a series of posts on their official social media channels portraying a facade of calm, suggesting that both academic and extracurricular activities are proceeding normally at the university.