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Student Speaks Out Against ETECSA Price Hike and Faces Government Intimidation: "No More DTI Agents at My House"

Monday, June 16, 2025 by Zoe Salinas

A student from the University of Medical Sciences in Las Tunas has publicly revealed the intimidation tactics employed by agents from the Ministry of the Interior's Technical Investigations Department (DTI) following her involvement in protests against the recent price increases imposed by the state-run telecommunications company, ETECSA. "I don't want any more DTI agents at my house," she asserted during a university meeting, a statement that has since gone viral on social media and independent news outlets.

The young woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, shared that DTI officials appeared at her home unexpectedly and without justification, creating an atmosphere of fear for her family. "Who's going to compensate my mother if anything happens to her because of this?" she questioned, highlighting the emotional and physical toll these visits could inflict on her family. Her testimony was echoed by another student who claimed this is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of repression affecting multiple students.

Suppressing Dissent Through Intimidation

In the midst of growing student dissatisfaction over ETECSA's new pricing policies—which restrict users to one recharge per month in Cuban pesos while favoring offers in U.S. dollars—the government's response has been to silence dissent through surveillance and intimidation. Most Cubans lack regular access to foreign currency, making the increased cost of mobile data a catalyst for widespread discontent across universities nationwide.

Rather than addressing student grievances, the regime has chosen to target those who dare to speak out. The Las Tunas student has been labeled a "counter-revolutionary" and "ringleader," with threats of losing her medical specialty after six years of study. "High-ranking officials call it prophylaxis. But for me, as a university medical student, real prophylaxis should come from my university's leadership and my representation in the FEU, not from DTI personnel," she emphasized.

ETECSA: A Symbol of Broader Issues

The video, acquired and shared by Martí Noticias, highlights the courage of youth confronting the regime's oppressive actions. "Any reprisals against me will become national news," warned the medical student. Despite rare exceptions, university authorities have largely failed to protect their students, often taking a complicit or ambiguous stance in this intimidation campaign, which underscores the lack of autonomy in educational institutions and the direct interference of the state's repressive apparatus in academic spaces.

The outrage against ETECSA extends beyond university walls. On social media, the state telecom company has faced harsh criticism over the consistently declining quality of service, the imposition of foreign currency tariffs, a lack of transparency, and the digital exclusion it perpetuates. The crackdown on students reflects a system increasingly unable to conceal its fear of losing control.

The student's phrase, "No more DTI agents at my house," has gone viral as a protest slogan, potentially marking a new chapter in Cuba's civic awakening, driven by a generation determined to speak out despite the risk of facing state repression.

Understanding the Repression and Student Protests in Cuba

Why are Cuban students protesting against ETECSA?

Cuban students are protesting against ETECSA due to the new pricing policies that limit mobile data recharges to once a month in Cuban pesos and prioritize offers in U.S. dollars, making it difficult for the majority who lack access to foreign currency.

What actions has the Cuban government taken against protesting students?

The Cuban government has responded to student protests with intimidation and surveillance, sending DTI agents to visit students' homes and labeling protesters as "counter-revolutionaries," threatening their academic futures.

How have Cuban universities reacted to the repression of students?

Cuban universities, with few exceptions, have often taken an ambiguous or complicit stance, failing to protect students and allowing state interference in academic spaces.

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