Two independent organizations registered 3,921 acts against demonstrators and around 1,000 political prisoners
14ymedio, Havana, 7 January 2024 — The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) reported this Tuesday that during 2024, the Government’s persecution of those who expressed discontent with the serious crisis that the Island is going through increased. According to its count, at least 10 repressive actions per day were recorded in the country during the last year.
The total number of repressive acts was 3,921, they report. Among these, 949 were home detentions, 818 were arbitrary arrests and 786 involved abuses against political prisoners; the remainder were ‘other’.
“The Cuban regime continues to exhibit the worst record of repression in the Western Hemisphere. There is permanent abuse against independent activists and journalists, and also against any citizen who criticizes the current situation of impoverishment and lack of freedom,” reflects the OCDH.
The provinces with the most cases of repression were Havana, Matanzas, Camagüey and Villa Clara
The report details that the provinces with the most cases of repression were Havana, Matanzas, Camagüey and Villa Clara. It was in that last province where, last November, the residents of the municipality of Encrucijada protested in the streets, beating on pots and pans, against the long blackouts, which in some places exceeded 60 hours (two and a half days).
Also in Villa Clara more arrests were reported for demonstrations in the last two months (18 of 34), according to a report by Prisoners Defenders (PD) published last December, which also documented a “scandalous repressive escalation this quarter against peaceful demonstrators.”
The OCDH report also addressed the situation of political prisoners in the country. According to its count, 2024 closed with 952 prisoners of conscience, of which “most do not belong to opposition organizations.” The figure falls short compared to the PD count, which was 1,153.
“We take this opportunity to warn once again that the situation of many political prisoners is serious. It has been a terrible year for them,” added the OCDH, which registered three deceased prisoners in state custody.
The situation of many political prisoners is serious. It has been a terrible year for them
The most recent one was Manuel de Jesús Guillén, 29 years old: “The family reported that (the death) had been the result of a beating by the prison staff. The situation is critical from a humanitarian point of view, as there are a considerable number of prisoners with impaired health, including women with gynecological problems and several young people who have tried to commit suicide.”
The OCDH clarified that these data “are provisional” and are underreported, “because in Cuba there are many abuses for political reasons that are off the radar for our observers and other organizations.”
Regarding the violations of freedom of expression and press freedom in the country, the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press (Iclep) registered 67 cases last December.
In a report published on Monday, Iclep counted 39 violations of freedom of the press and 28 violations of freedom of expression. Of these, 28 were attacks, threats and psychological aggressions; 19 were arbitrary detentions; nine were digital restrictions, six were cases of abuse of state power, and five were detentions.
The organization counted 39 violations of freedom of the press and 28 violations of freedom of expression
Among the victims were 18 journalists, 11 activists, four citizens, two people identified as “opponents,” as well as political prisoners and artists. In 12 provinces of the Island, assaults were documented. Most were in Havana, with 20, followed by Villa Clara (10), Sancti Spíritus (nine), Las Tunas (seven) and Camagüey (five).
“Among the most worrying repressive patterns of the Cuban regime is the criminalization of the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression through fabricated accusations and imprisonments to silence dissent and maintain social control,” they said.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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