In the wake of peaceful demonstrations across Cuba, ignited by the severe impact of prolonged power outages, the oppressive forces of the Cuban regime have made new arrests. These blackouts stem from the complete failure of the National Electric System (SEN) and the devastating effects of recent natural disasters that have battered the nation.
The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH) has released the names of several individuals detained, particularly highlighting incidents in the provinces of Villa Clara and Ciego de Ávila. Arrests in Villa Clara are predominantly centered in the mountainous municipality of Manicaragua, an area hard-hit by rains linked to Hurricane Rafael.
From the town of La Moza in Manicaragua, reports have emerged about the police detaining Lizander Morera, Leonel Débora, Roy Galindo, Yoeny Cruz León, and Rafael Bode. Meanwhile, in Ciego de Ávila, specifically in the locality of El Eucalipto in the Ciro Redondo municipality, Adiane Hernández Calderón, Yordanka López González, and Diosbany Almaguer were taken into custody.
The Regime's Intensified Repression
These arrests occur amidst a widespread crisis on the island, which has led to heightened repression by the Cuban regime. The General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic (FGR) in Cuba recently confirmed the initiation of legal proceedings against individuals participating in protests over the relentless power failures plaguing the country.
As stated in an FGR communiqué, protesters face charges of assault, public disorder, and damage, with provisional imprisonment as a precautionary measure. Authorities claim that incidents of aggression against officials and inspectors occurred, resulting in injuries and disturbances of public order. However, recent footage circulating on social media depicts protesters in peaceful stances, merely engaging in chants and banging pots, with no signs of violence.
Widespread Dissatisfaction and Protests
In Encrucijada, also in Villa Clara, protests erupted last week. After enduring more than 48 hours without electricity, residents gathered in front of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power on November 7 to voice their frustration through a pot-banging demonstration. The following day, oppressive forces detained several protesters.
Other areas, including Guanabacoa and El Vedado in Havana, have also witnessed protests as citizens demand an urgent response from the regime to the collapsing electrical system. The Cuban populace's dissatisfaction continues to grow as the government struggles to address the dire energy crisis affecting the nation.