Cuban actor and comedian Ulises Toirac has warned about the potential for the regime to employ "measured violence" to quell the rising university movement opposing the price hike imposed by ETECSA. In a candid and insightful analysis shared on his personal Facebook page this Monday, Toirac sarcastically referenced the existence of internal manuals designed to suppress dissent, a result of over sixty years of political control in Cuba.
"There must be a manual thicker than War and Peace for contingency procedures aimed at stifling these kinds of situations," Toirac wrote, pointing directly at the Cuban state's machinery of manipulation, deterrence, and repression. According to the comedian, the official response has already started to take shape with the classic label of "Imperial strategy" applied to any form of protest.
However, he emphasized that the students did not act under any foreign influence but rather responded to a moral dilemma: either silently accept the injustices or assertively state that "this cake stinks." "They are not fools (they are university students), they recognized the inconsistencies and absurdities, which led them to their decision," Toirac stated, defending the autonomy and insight of Cuba's youth.
Toirac also highlighted reports of personalized intimidation, students retreating in fear, and institutional phrases like “if you don't like it, emigrate,” clearly pointing to the state's response to the discontent. In his view, all signs lead to a radicalization of the conflict: "I fear that this week everything will intensify, and the tension will escalate," he warned.
In the face of impending repression, the comedian champions the power of reason and facts. "Reason cannot be coercive. It's reason and nothing more. If it uses force, it ceases to be reason," he wrote, in one of the most cited excerpts from his text. Toirac concluded with a clear and forceful statement: “Try to include them. Any other arithmetic fails.” This was an invitation to listen to the youth rather than suppress them.
Toirac's support for the Cuban student movement has been unwavering in recent days. In one of his initial public reactions, he fiercely criticized the ETECSA price hike and defended the youth's right to protest, asserting that remaining silent in the face of injustice equates to siding with the oppressor.
Subsequently, State Security summoned him for questioning in an attempt to curb his statements. The comedian later recounted that he was not assaulted but was warned that his words carried political weight, a message he interpreted as an indirect pressure to silence him. Far from retracting, Toirac reaffirmed his support for the students, emphasizing that what is at stake is not an ideology but the moral conscience of a generation. He insisted that the Cuban youth deserve to be heard, not repressed, and that their struggle is both legitimate and necessary.
Understanding the Cuban University Protests
What sparked the university protests in Cuba?
The protests were triggered by a significant price hike imposed by ETECSA, which affected many students and prompted them to voice their discontent.
How has Ulises Toirac supported the student movement?
Ulises Toirac has been vocal in his support for the student movement, criticizing the price hikes and defending the right of the youth to protest against the injustices they face.
What has been the state's response to the protests?
The state has reportedly responded with intimidation tactics and attempts to label the protests as influenced by foreign entities, while also warning individuals like Toirac about the political weight of their statements.