Amidst growing public unrest in Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel has urged citizens to maintain social discipline and uphold internal order. As the government tightens its grip on dissent, Díaz-Canel emphasized the importance of ensuring "citizen tranquility, respect for internal order, stability in the country, social discipline, and participation in tasks." His remarks came at the start of the fourth National Exercise focused on crime prevention and response, launched this week nationwide.
Díaz-Canel equated this national initiative to "strengthen citizen tranquility" with combating issues such as corruption, drug trafficking, illegal activities, and social indiscipline. The government aims to build on previous experiences and enhance state control mechanisms in neighborhoods, workplaces, and public entities. He highlighted the need to align institutions with the population to ensure "stability" and "participation in the nation's main tasks."
Mounting Social Unrest and Government Crackdown
His speech comes amid growing social discontent in Cuba, exacerbated by power outages, water shortages, food scarcity, collapsing basic services, and a surge in diseases like dengue. This has sparked a wave of protests across various cities, with the regime responding by imprisoning demonstrators. In Gibara alone, the number of detainees has reached 27.
Criminalizing Peaceful Protest
On Friday, 15 individuals were sentenced in Bayamo for peacefully protesting on March 17, 2024, during a day when chants of "Liberty," "Homeland and Life," and "Down with the dictatorship" echoed through the streets. Sentences ranged from three to nine years in prison, charged with typical offenses in political trials: public disorder, contempt, resistance, disobedience, and incitement to commit crimes. The court claimed the defendants threatened "citizen stability and security," echoing Díaz-Canel's rhetoric justifying increased social control.
While authorities assert that procedural guarantees were upheld, human rights organizations have criticized the lack of transparency, inconsistent evidence, and a systematic pattern of repression. The trial, conducted over a year after the events, was marked by arbitrary arrests, prolonged pretrial detention, and unfounded accusations, such as alleged illegal possession of weapons.
Focus on Control Over Addressing Demands
Rather than addressing popular demands, the regime's approach remains centered on control. Díaz-Canel has ordered continual updates to institutional security plans and called for firm action against crimes like theft of electrical cables and transformers—structural issues worsened by the ongoing economic crisis. While mentioning priority issues like gender violence, tax evasion, and administrative corruption, these problems coexist with an opaque state structure lacking a free press and accountability mechanisms.
The recent wave of repression has included nighttime arrests, threats of summary trials, and intensified surveillance in so-called "hot" neighborhoods. "The fight against crime must be a daily task," Díaz-Canel declared, making it clear that social discipline will be enforced through exemplary punishment rather than justice. His call for "citizen tranquility" contrasts starkly with the images of repression, beatings, and arrests accompanying each protest outburst in recent years.
In Cuba, the right to protest remains criminalized, and those who dare to exercise it face years in prison. The regime's call for "stability" serves as a warning that repression will persist.
Understanding Cuba's Current Social and Political Climate
What is Díaz-Canel’s response to the growing protests in Cuba?
Díaz-Canel has called for social discipline and maintaining internal order, emphasizing citizen tranquility and stability.
How has the Cuban government reacted to the protests?
The government has responded by imprisoning demonstrators, with 27 people detained in Gibara alone, and issuing severe sentences to protesters.
What issues are contributing to the social unrest in Cuba?
Social discontent is fueled by power outages, water shortages, food scarcity, failing basic services, and a rise in diseases like dengue.
What are the charges against those arrested for protesting?
Protesters face charges including public disorder, contempt, resistance, disobedience, and incitement to commit crimes.