HAVANA: The street protests that began over the weekend in Cuba were the largest since at least a quarter century ago, when then-President Fidel Castro personally took to the streets to pacify the thousands of people who decimated the island. Was caught. The collapse of the Soviet Union, which had long supported its socialist ally.
What are the protesters asking for?
Many expressed displeasure over the long lines and lack of food and medicines, as well as frequent power outages. Some demanded a faster pace of vaccination against Covid-19. But there was also a call for political change in the country ruled by communist party for some six decades. Some protesters chanted “Liberty!” Slogans. “Down with the dictatorship!” and “ Fatherland and life!” – a twist on the revolutionary slogan, “Fatherland or death!”
“It’s time to change things. The situation is serious,” said christian vellizzo, a 22-year-old construction worker.
What did you oppose?
Cuba’s government has blamed difficulties over US sanctions that it calculated last year cost $5.5 billion, although this figure is strongly disputed by its critics. It focuses on the US government and its enemies in America with social media tools such as . also claims to use Twitter To send messages to those organizing street protests.
Critics blamed the government’s failure to shake up a forever dismal state-run economy. While the government has created a series of wide openings for small-scale private businesses, they are tightly controlled and limited. Cuba has also relied in recent years on tourism – income that has been devastated by the global pandemic – and on aid from ally Venezuela, which, along with Venezuela’s own economy, has declined.
This year’s move to merge the country’s two types of currency into one also caused sharp inflation.
What was the role of social media?
Several protesters learned about the demonstrations on social media platforms that have recently become widespread in Cuba. He also used his phone to take images that were broadcast at home and abroad. The government responded by shutting down mobile data services by the government-run phone monopoly, effectively cutting off social media. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said officials have traced the use of so-called ‘bots’ based in the US to bombard Cuban phones with messages. Social media services started becoming widespread only in 2018.
How did the government respond?
When protests broke out on Sunday in the city of San Antonio de los Baos, near Havana, President Miguel Diaz-Canel immediately went to speak with residents. He also broadcast a call for ‘revolutionaries’ to take to the streets in support of the government. Police went ahead and arrested dozens of protesters, sometimes violently. Heavy police presence continues in areas such as the seaside Malecón Boulevard, the capital building and the massive Plaza of Revolution in Havana. There were also smaller protests on Monday, and officials reported at least one death.
In the days following the protests, government officials appeared on television to analyze the situation, although they have yet to announce any new policies to address economic or other problems. Secretary of State Rodriguez has called on the US to accept its role in spreading the unrest.
How has America reacted?
President Joe Biden issued a statement of support for the protesters, saying, “We stand by the Cuban people and their calls for deliverance and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from decades of repression and economic suffering.” . Under Cuba’s authoritarian rule. “ But the protests pose a challenge to him, with political ramifications in Florida, a major electoral battleground that is home to many of the Cuban-Americans who left the island because of the Communist government there, as with as well as others who fled leftist rule in Latin America. Republican lawmakers in particular are pushing the administration to increase support for the protesters. So far, Biden has responded with caution, while officials continue to review US Cuba Policy. So far he has not acknowledged the political and economic opening up to Cuba by the Obama administration – which was largely withdrawn by former President Donald Trump.
What are the protesters asking for?
Many expressed displeasure over the long lines and lack of food and medicines, as well as frequent power outages. Some demanded a faster pace of vaccination against Covid-19. But there was also a call for political change in the country ruled by communist party for some six decades. Some protesters chanted “Liberty!” Slogans. “Down with the dictatorship!” and “ Fatherland and life!” – a twist on the revolutionary slogan, “Fatherland or death!”
“It’s time to change things. The situation is serious,” said christian vellizzo, a 22-year-old construction worker.
What did you oppose?
Cuba’s government has blamed difficulties over US sanctions that it calculated last year cost $5.5 billion, although this figure is strongly disputed by its critics. It focuses on the US government and its enemies in America with social media tools such as . also claims to use Twitter To send messages to those organizing street protests.
Critics blamed the government’s failure to shake up a forever dismal state-run economy. While the government has created a series of wide openings for small-scale private businesses, they are tightly controlled and limited. Cuba has also relied in recent years on tourism – income that has been devastated by the global pandemic – and on aid from ally Venezuela, which, along with Venezuela’s own economy, has declined.
This year’s move to merge the country’s two types of currency into one also caused sharp inflation.
What was the role of social media?
Several protesters learned about the demonstrations on social media platforms that have recently become widespread in Cuba. He also used his phone to take images that were broadcast at home and abroad. The government responded by shutting down mobile data services by the government-run phone monopoly, effectively cutting off social media. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said officials have traced the use of so-called ‘bots’ based in the US to bombard Cuban phones with messages. Social media services started becoming widespread only in 2018.
How did the government respond?
When protests broke out on Sunday in the city of San Antonio de los Baos, near Havana, President Miguel Diaz-Canel immediately went to speak with residents. He also broadcast a call for ‘revolutionaries’ to take to the streets in support of the government. Police went ahead and arrested dozens of protesters, sometimes violently. Heavy police presence continues in areas such as the seaside Malecón Boulevard, the capital building and the massive Plaza of Revolution in Havana. There were also smaller protests on Monday, and officials reported at least one death.
In the days following the protests, government officials appeared on television to analyze the situation, although they have yet to announce any new policies to address economic or other problems. Secretary of State Rodriguez has called on the US to accept its role in spreading the unrest.
How has America reacted?
President Joe Biden issued a statement of support for the protesters, saying, “We stand by the Cuban people and their calls for deliverance and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from decades of repression and economic suffering.” . Under Cuba’s authoritarian rule. “ But the protests pose a challenge to him, with political ramifications in Florida, a major electoral battleground that is home to many of the Cuban-Americans who left the island because of the Communist government there, as with as well as others who fled leftist rule in Latin America. Republican lawmakers in particular are pushing the administration to increase support for the protesters. So far, Biden has responded with caution, while officials continue to review US Cuba Policy. So far he has not acknowledged the political and economic opening up to Cuba by the Obama administration – which was largely withdrawn by former President Donald Trump.
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