Weltnachrichten – CA – Cubans stake the Ministry of Culture in unusual contradiction

HAVANA (Reuters) – More than 150 people staked out the Cuban Ministry of Culture on Friday to show solidarity with dissident artists who are facing state action. in an unusually large public disagreement on the communist-ruled island.

The protesters called for a dialogue on the limits of freedom of expression and so-called state repression after the authorities took action against the San Isidro movement of dissident artists and activists.

The Dutch and Czech governments, as well as Amnesty International and other rights groups, voiced concerns about human rights in Cuba on Friday.

The movement has protested the detention of a rapper for contempt and has put the spotlight on the one-party state’s treatment of human rights. Eight members and allies started a hunger strike 10 days ago.

Authorities called off the strike on Thursday and evicted everyone from the movement’s headquarters, citing a breach of COVID-19 health protocols. The dissidents said this was an excuse to end their protest.

Fourteen dissidents, including five who are still on hunger strike, were briefly arrested. They said their phones had been confiscated and reset, and deleted pictures of the movement against them.

« The way they already treated her made us constantly restless, even as if our own freedom was threatened, » said Yunior Garcia, an actor and one of the organizers of the stakeout. « But what happened yesterday was the straw that broke the camel’s back. ”

The San Isidro Movement, named after the shabby neighborhood in Old Havana where the group is headquartered, was founded in 2018 to oppose a decree that increased censorship in the cultural sector.

The artists, who often use disrespectful performances to criticize the government, have faced frequent temporary arrests and other forms of pressure. The government is calling on dissidents, including the occupation of San Isidro, to join mercenaries who have been directed by the United States to destabilize them.

Some Cubans reported that social media platforms were temporarily closed in the country where the state has a telecommunications monopoly to prevent news of the robbery from being spread online. Access to several news sites focusing on Cuba such as the Miami Herald has also been blocked in recent weeks.

« They violently entered and broke the door, » said independent journalist Iliana Hernandez in a video streamed live on Facebook. “Many soldiers dressed like doctors and wore clothes. ”

The stakeout, starting with two dozen people in the morning, rose to over 100 during the day, including internationally renowned Cuban artists like Tania Bruguera and filmmakers like Fernando Perez.

Late that evening, protesters said they would refuse to leave until they met with a senior official.

Opposition groups are having trouble gaining a foothold in Cuba, where the government has a monopoly on mass media and is quick to suppress public disagreements.

However, with increasing access to the Internet, groups like the San Isidro movement have been able to reach a wider audience.

All offers were delayed by at least 15 minutes. A full list of exchanges and delays can be found here.

Cuba, protest, hunger strike