'Anti-Government Protests' in Cuba: Over 80 Detained "Concerns Over Ruthless Repression"

As anti-government protests intensified, Cuban authorities blocked the road leading to the National Assembly building. (Photo by WSJ)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Amid escalating large-scale anti-government protests in Cuba, which has been struggling with the economic hardships caused by COVID-19, indiscriminate crackdowns and arrests of protestors continue, raising concerns about potential bloodshed.

On the 12th (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that protests took place in more than 12 cities across Cuba, including the capital Havana, Santiago, and Palmasoriano, with over 80 people detained amid police crackdowns.

Among those arrested by Cuban authorities were well-known dissidents and civic activists, including visual artist Luis Manuel Otero, leader of the San Isidro Movement, an anti-establishment artist group, and Jos? Daniel Ferrer, chairman of the Patriotic Union of Cuba.

Thousands of angry citizens took to the streets chanting slogans such as "Give us vaccines," "Down with dictatorship," and "Give us food." They demanded freedom and an end to the communist regime. A man participating in the protest said, "We do not want to leave Cuba. We demand the resignation of Cuban President Miguel D?az-Canel."

Cuban police forcibly detained a man who was participating in an anti-government protest in the capital, Havana. (Photo by WSJ)

Experts say that such anti-government protests are rare in Cuba, where the Communist Party’s one-party system enforces strict control and surveillance over dissidents, with some analyzing this as the largest protest in 30 years. There are also speculations that the Cuban regime may severely restrict or cut off internet access to prevent the true scale of the protests from reaching the outside world.

WSJ cited sources reporting that Cuban authorities have deployed plainclothes police, counterintelligence agents, and special forces vehicles, indicating moves toward violent suppression. Brian Latell, a former CIA analyst specializing in Cuba, expressed concern that "this protest will lead to ruthless repression by the regime."

Cuba is experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades, compounded by the severe economic sanctions imposed during the Donald Trump administration and the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the COVID-19 situation has rapidly worsened, with new daily cases reaching record highs.

According to Worldometer, as of this date, the cumulative number of confirmed cases stands at 238,491, with a low vaccination rate of 15% of the population.

This situation unfolded as the revolutionary rule of the Castro brothers in Cuba came to an end after 62 years. Ra?l Castro, General Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party Central Committee, announced his retirement in April, stepping down from his position, with his successor being Miguel D?az-Canel, the nominal head of state and president.

In a speech on state television that day, President D?az-Canel blamed the current crisis and turmoil in Cuba on U.S. sanctions and urged "all revolutionaries and communists to take to the streets against provocations."

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden called on the Cuban regime to listen to the public sentiment expressed through the anti-government protests.

In a statement, President Biden said, "We stand with the Cuban people," and "We support their clear message that they want freedom from decades of oppression under Cuba’s authoritarian regime, economic hardship, and the tragic grip of the pandemic."

He emphasized, "The Cuban people are bravely asserting their basic and universal rights," and "Peaceful protests and the right to freely determine their future must be respected." He added, "The United States urges the Cuban regime to meet the needs of its people and listen to them at this critical moment instead of enriching themselves."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.