The non-governmental organization Justicia 11J announced on Monday that they have verified at least 48 protests occurring in Cuba from October 18 to October 24, 2024. These demonstrations are a direct response to the widespread collapse of the National Electric System (SEN). While most protests took place in Havana, incidents were also reported in provinces such as Artemisa, Camagüey, Granma, Holguín, Mayabeque, Sancti Spíritus, Santiago de Cuba, and Villa Clara, as stated by the organization on social media platform X.
In a detailed statement shared online, Justicia 11J explained that the majority of these protests involved banging pots and pans, with a total of 34 such instances recorded. Other forms of protest included the display of signs, road blockades, marches, and demonstrations in front of state institutions.
Arrests and Concerns for Detainees
Amid the ongoing crisis due to the SEN collapse, the NGO confirmed the detention of Raymond Márquez, Narbiel Torres, and Osvaldo Agüero in Manicaragua, Villa Clara, as well as Luis Adrián Pupo in Songo La Maya, Santiago de Cuba. They also expressed concern about the situation of Javier Zaldívar, who was arrested in Nuevitas, Camagüey, and whose current condition is unknown.
Justicia 11J is actively investigating reports of other arrests across various areas in Havana and noted that a group of detainees might have been transferred to the Combinado del Este prison. The organization urged the families of the arrested individuals and the general public to assist in identifying those detained and to monitor their status closely. They also assured the protection of sources who wish to remain anonymous.
Historical Context of Protests in Cuba
Since the large-scale protests on July 11, 2021, deemed the most significant anti-government demonstrations in Cuba in decades, Justicia 11J has documented a total of 479 protests and 1,979 related arrests, with at least 716 individuals still imprisoned, according to the EFE news agency.
Frequent power outages have been seen as a major trigger for recent anti-government protests, including the notable events of July 11, 2021, those in Havana and Nuevitas in August 2022, and the protests on March 17 in Santiago de Cuba and other regions.