A Cuban medical student made waves on social media this Thursday with a powerful speech challenging both the Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) and the Cuban regime amidst the internet tariff crisis. His remarks took place during a meeting between the Federation of University Students (FEU) and the administrations of Cuban universities, aimed at "explaining" ETECSA's new tariffs and addressing the growing discontent among young people.
The student's identity and academic affiliation remain unknown, but his pointed comments toward officials echoed the very language the regime uses to justify its unpopular measures. His speech, laden with critical irony and realism, highlighted a generational frustration with the system.
Challenging the Monopolistic Hold
"They're limiting our internet because they're a monopoly and the only company we have in Cuba. I want them to explain how I can have balance if I'm not recharged from abroad. I might have 10,000 pesos and buy all the 360 peso packages I want, but... how do I get that balance?" he questioned.
"How can I have balance without international recharges? It's a lie that Pepe or Armando will transfer via Transfermóvil because they also need balance to do it. So, if I can't get balance without foreign recharges, this isn't socialism, comrades," he stated firmly.
He reminded ETECSA and the Cuban government of their duty as a state-owned company to serve the interests of Cuban citizens and provide accessible services. "ETECSA is a socialist-owned company, it's the Cuban people's, and this (students demanding change) is the Cuban people," the student emphasized.
Government's Stubborn Stance Amidst Academic Strikes
The academic strike in Cuba, which began on June 4, has spread across universities nationwide, with the University of Havana at its center. Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has made his stance clear: the tariff increase will remain.
In his weekly podcast "From the Presidency," joined by ETECSA's Director General Tania Velázquez, Díaz-Canel stated that reversing the measures would mean "giving up revenue to maintain the service." The communist leader argued that the telecommunications system is in a "technologically complex situation" and that without unpopular decisions now, "the country would be close to collapse."
Despite acknowledging that connectivity is becoming slower and more expensive, he insisted that sacrifices are essential for "progress" and warned of a potential communications blackout. "When a technological collapse occurs, demands will be made of us then too," he said.
The regime's supposed collapse scenario, as Velázquez explained, would mean "we won't be able to make phone calls, send messages, or reach our schools or workplaces."
Students Remain Resilient in Their Demands
The student movement rocking Cuban universities is not only calling for fairer tariffs and equitable connectivity but also for the resignation of FEU's national president, Ricardo Rodríguez González, whom they accuse of serving government interests over those of students.
Facing increasing public rejection, the regime's response has been predictable: denying the academic strike's existence and accusing students of being pawns in an alleged "media war" orchestrated from abroad.
The medical student's words cut through the official rhetoric like a fissure: "Because ETECSA is a state-owned socialist company" acting against the people. His sentiments encapsulate those of a generation of Cubans weary of a system that consistently shuts doors to their future.
FAQs on Cuba's Internet Tariff Crisis
Why are Cuban students protesting against ETECSA?
Cuban students are protesting against ETECSA due to increased internet tariffs and the lack of affordable connectivity. They argue that the government's monopolistic practices are not aligned with socialist principles.
What is the Cuban government's response to the student protests?
The Cuban government, led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, has refused to roll back the tariff increases, citing the need to maintain service revenue and avoid technological collapse. They have also denied the existence of academic strikes.
How does the Cuban government justify the tariff hikes?
The government claims that the tariff hikes are necessary to address the complex technological situation of the telecommunications system and to prevent the country from nearing a collapse.