Cuba: Tactics of repression must not be repeated | Amnesty International

Following a new wave of island-wide protests in Cuba over the past several days, there are worrying indicators that the authorities are repeating the repressive tactics they used for decades and also during the crackdown on protesters on 11 July last year, said Amnesty International today.

“In the latest wave of protests that have lasted several days, Cubans are exercising their simple but historically repressed rights to freedom of expression and assembly. Alarmingly, it seems the authorities are repeating the tactics of repression they used last year to detain and silence protesters, hundreds of whom remain in prison,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International.

“The international community must condemn the cycles of repression we are seeing in Cuba in the strongest possible terms. It is unacceptable for authorities to keep intimidating, threatening, detaining, stigmatizing, and attempting to silence anyone who demands necessities like electricity, food, and freedom.”

Since the start of protests in late September, Amnesty International has received reports of on-going internet interference, deployment of police and military, including cadets, to repress the protests, and arbitrary detentions.

Starting on the evening of 29 September, the Cuban authorities appear to have intentionally shut down internet access throughout the country. The internet outage lasted for at least two consecutive nights.

Cuban authorities control the country’s only telecommunication network and have often restricted internet access during politically sensitive times or moments of protests.

Alarmingly, it seems the authorities are repeating the tactics of repression they used last year to detain and silence protesters, hundreds of whom remain in prison.

Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International

Amnesty International has heard that the latest internet outages have made it hard for families to communicate following the passage of hurricane Ian, at a time when many people have had their homes damaged. They have also impacted the ability of independent human rights observers, including Amnesty International, and independent journalists to document the human rights situation in the country. Journalist Luz Escobar told Amnesty International that her internet was cut three nights in a row, impacting her ability to work, and that as of 4 October, several other journalists working at her independent online newspaper, 14 y medio, were without internet.

Amnesty International’s Crisis Evidence Lab has also analysed several videos that did not appear online before these protests. One video which Amnesty International analysed was filmed on Street 41, at the corner of 66 in Havana, Cuba, and appears to show the deployment of plain-clothed military cadets, armed with baseball bats, chanting pro-government slogans, including “I am Fidel.”

Another video, which also first appeared online in the context of the protests, and which is consistent with other videos Amnesty International has verified from the protests, appears to also show cadets with baseball bats chasing and then detaining protesters.

The Cuban authorities have developed a sophisticated machinery for controlling any form of dissent and protest, as previously documented by Amnesty International. While state security officials often carry out surveillance and arbitrary detentions of critics, the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution (local members of the Communist Party who collaborate with state officials and law enforcement agencies) also provide the state with information about, what is considered,  “counter-revolutionary activity.” “Acts of repudiation” – demonstrations led by government supporters with the alleged participation of state security officials – are also commonplace and aimed at harassing and intimidating government critics.

While communication with Cuba remains stunted due to internet interference, Justicia J11, a group established following the crackdown on protesters in July 2021 – has reported 26 detentions since 30 September, mostly of young people and artists, 19 of whom they reported remained in detention as of 4 October 2022.

Cuban authorities criminalized nearly all those who participated in the protests in July 2021, including some children, but flatly denied any human rights violations, and placed the blame for the economic situation almost exclusively on the US economic embargo. Similarly, on 2 October 2022, President Díaz-Canel downplayed the widespread nature of the latest protests and suggested that a minority of “counter-revolutionaries” with connections outside Cuba, had carried out “acts of vandalism such as blocking roads or throwing rocks” and would be dealt with with the “force of the law.”

Background

Following the passage of hurricane Ian, the electricity has been cut in multiple parts of the island, adding to the frequent electricity outages in recent months. NASA night-time light data showed a significant decrease in lights between 23 September, before the passing of Ian, and after, on 30 September.

Electricity outages have exacerbated violations of economic and social rights in the country, as in recent months Cubans have had to line up for many hours to buy food and other necessities, in the context of widespread food shortages.

The recent protests have occurred just 14 months after the similar widespread protests on 11 July 2021, which were followed by a crackdown on dissent. Hundreds remain imprisoned for the 11 July protests, including three prisoners of conscience: artists Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Castillo Pérez, as well as leader of the non-official opposition, José Daniel Ferrer García. Other prisoners of conscience named by Amnesty International at the time were released on the condition of going into exile.

The post Cuba: Tactics of repression must not be repeated appeared first on Amnesty International.

Skip The Scoop | Seek Understanding

Election Fraud Prosecution at an ‘All-Time High’: Texas Attorney General’s Office

Show Me

We Were Told That Election 2020 Reports Of Late Night Ballot Drops In White Vans In Multiple States During After The Deadline Was A “Conspiracy Theory” | The Only Problem Was More Video Was Discovered Showing Late Night/Early Morning Ballot Drops 8 Hours After The Deadline | Video: 7 Minutes 21 Seconds

Show Me

Exclusive: Suspicious Vehicle Seen Escorting Late Night Election 2020 Biden Ballot Van at TCF Center

Show Me

They Banned Discussion Of Possible Election Fraud Via Computer Systems While “533 Million Facebook Users Had Private Information Leaked Today, Zuckerberg Knew In January And Did Nothing” | Wonder Why. . .

Show Me

One Of The Biggest Media Loudmouths Opposing Even The Thought That Computer Systems Can Be Hacked In An Election, Gets Hacked | “Statement From Atlantic Media on Unauthorized Access of Its Servers”

Show Me

Mainstream Media Debunked Again | “Pennsylvania Forced to Remove 21,000 Dead People Off Its Voter Rolls: Settlement”

Show Me

Giuliani Denies Defaming Dominion Voting With Election Claims

Show Me

Dan Crenshaw Debunks Liberal ‘Racist’ ID Claims with Joe Rogan

Show Me

If You Think Matt Gaetz Is Targeted Because He’s Heterosexual, Think Again | Gaetz Is Targeted Because He’s Feared By The Left | It’s Interesting To Look Back & Hear Rep. Gaetz and Bernie Kerik Discuss Election Fraud & Impeachment Issues and It’s Importance Moving Forward | Video: 8 Minutes 51 Seconds

Show Me

NJ City Councilman Accused of Mail-In Voting Fraud Pleads Not Guilty

Show Me

Paterson councilman Alex Mendez pleads not guilty to voter fraud charges

Show Me

California Mayor Resigns After Pleading Guilty to Election Fraud

Show Me

Biden-Voting County Sees 5 Charged for Election Fraud.

Show Me

24 More Charged in Voter-Fraud Probe, Prosecutors Say

Show Me

Monsanto Case Reveals That Power Conspiracies On A Massive Scale Do Happen | Think Election 2020 Fraud

Show Me

Disparate treatment in two fund-raising fraud cases renews debate over dual Justice system

Show Me

Notary Was Arrested, Charged With Voter Fraud In Connection With Aberdeen Alderman Election

Show Me

Mayor Pro Tem of California City Resigns After Pleading Guilty to Election Fraud

Show Me

Finding of Absentee Ballot Fraud in local Mississippi race requires a new election

Show Me

‘We’re Living in a Gigantic Lie’ – Dennis Prager Talks Free Speech | American Thought Leaders | Video: 47 Minutes 32 Seconds

Show Me

American Center For Law & Justice | Fmr CDC Dir. Confirms Conservative “Conspiracy Theory” is Highly Likely | Video: 4 Minutes 6 Seconds

Show Me

Ex-CDC Director Says He Believes Coronavirus Escaped from a Chinese Lab

Show Me

Scientists Issue Open Letter Detailing Incorrect and Contradictory Claims in WHO Origins Report Used to Downplay Lab Leak Theory

Show Me

WHO buries dismissal of lab leak theory in last pages of 123-page origins report, draft copy shows

Show Me

Washington Examiner: John Durham Interviewing Witnesses And Subpoenas

Show Me

Epidemiologist: We Could Have Reached Natural Herd Immunity in 6 Weeks | Video: 1 Hour 12 Minutes 27 Seconds

Show Me

The Most Melancholy Comet We’ve Ever Seen

Show Me

Dozens of Plaintiffs Demand Day in Court Against Monsanto as Bayer Tries to Reassure Investors

Show Me

Brazil’s COVID-19 death toll to surpass that of worst U.S. wave

Show Me

Manchin Vows to Uphold Filibuster, Complicating Biden’s Agenda

Show Me

Steven Crowder’s Latest Video Has The Internet Going Absolutely Ballistic

Show Me

COVID vaccination site closes early after adverse reactions to Johnson & Johnson shot

Show Me

In Michigan, 246 fully vaccinated people tested positive for COVID-19, three died

Show Me

Biden Commerce Secretary Says Trump’s Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Saved American Jobs

Show Me

April 7, 2021 | Nightly News Rebroadcast | Video: 46 Minutes

Show Me

Shh. These Are The Constant Mass Shootings We’re Not Supposed To Talk About | “2-Year-Old Boy, 7 Adults Wounded in Latest Chicago Shootings”

Show Me

Democrat Run States & Cities Continue To Struggle With Covid-19 | “Minnesota hospitalizations climb as virus cases trend upward”

Show Me

Official: EU agency to confirm AstraZeneca blood clot link

Show Me

NASA gets first weather report from the Jerezo Crater Mars using a system strapped to Perseverance

Show Me

What to Know About the Facebook Data Leak

Show Me