Alleged Informants for Cuban State Security Accused of Betraying Protesters in Gibara

The Cuban Repressors Project, run by the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FDHC), has added two individuals from Holguín to its list of collaborators with the Political Police. These citizens have been accused of recording and betraying protesters who took to the streets in Gibara on the night of September 13. The accused are Adrián Pupo Cuesta, also known as "El Mocho," and Wilder César Tejeda Ruiz. According to reports, they used their cell phones to capture footage of their neighbors during a peaceful protest against power outages and later handed this material over to the State Security Department (DSE).

Arrests Following the Protest

As a direct result of these betrayals, at least seven residents of Gibara were detained in the early hours of September 14. Among those taken into custody were Dairan Bermúdez Batista ("Chelli"), Reymundo Galbán Claro ("El Chino"), and Pedro José ("Porrón"). Families have reported that other young individuals remain incommunicado. The events unfolded after dozens of residents from the neighborhood of Güirito in Gibara took to the streets with pots, flashlights, and chants, demanding electricity, food, and freedom after enduring more than 24 hours without power.

Official Narrative Contradicted

The protest was documented in widely circulated videos on social media, showing men and women banging pots and shouting “We want power and water!” However, official media outlets such as Realidades desde Holguín and Gibaravisión downplayed the protest's significance, claiming it was conducted in a "spirit of empathy and respect," with local authorities engaging in dialogue with the population. Despite these claims, images of police patrols and National Revolutionary Police (PNR) officers arresting citizens soon emerged, contradicting the government's narrative. Activists described the operation as a "hunt" targeting protesters.

Role of the Alleged Informants

The Cuban Repressors Project, which investigates and exposes those responsible for repression on the island, identified Pupo Cuesta and Tejeda Ruiz as part of the surveillance and betrayal mechanism employed by the Cuban regime to suppress legitimate citizen expressions. The FDHC stated, "These low-profile collaborators jeopardize the safety of their own neighbors and act as contemptible accomplices of a system that denies basic rights to the population." The organization warned that it would continue to document similar cases and cautioned informants that they could face international repercussions, such as visa denials or remittance restrictions.

National Context of Discontent

The protest in Gibara happened just three days after another collapse of the National Electric System due to the shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, marking the fifth nationwide blackout in under a year. The energy crisis has heightened social unrest across Cuba. The lack of electricity affects water supply and hospital operations, while the population struggles with shortages of food and medicine. The September protests in Gibara add to a series of discontent expressions recorded in recent months across various provinces. Although the government insists these are isolated incidents, the rise in protests indicates growing public frustration.

A Warning to Collaborators

The FDHC concluded their report by urging DSE collaborators to cease their surveillance activities, reminding them, "Your victims and their families know you well, and your actions carry enduring criminal responsibility." Meanwhile, the residents of Gibara continue to demand the release of the detained individuals and an end to the repression against those who, in their desperation, were simply asking for the basics: light, food, and freedom.