Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara Warns: "If the Regime Survives This Moment, It Will Be Tough"

The Cuban artist and activist, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, has issued a stark warning regarding Cuba's future during an interview with Tania Costa. He stated, "If the regime survives this critical juncture, it will be difficult because we will eventually tire out."

Having co-founded the San Isidro Movement and now residing in exile in Miami since July 18 after serving a five-year prison sentence in Cuba, Otero Alcántara described the current period as a historic window of opportunity that must not be squandered.

Otero Alcántara clarified that his appeal for support from former President Donald Trump should not be seen as a partisan political move but rather a similar request he makes to Europeans: "Just as I ask the Europeans, I am asking for help to support us during this crucial time."

Emphasizing the importance of internal responsibility, the activist highlighted that change in Cuba relies on the collective action of its citizens: "Right now, there are over 9 million Cubans inside, suffering, drowning, literally living in a pit, and that's not a life for any human being."

The Role of Sustained Effort

To demonstrate the tangible impact of consistent efforts, he referenced the case of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who publicly acknowledged being motivated by a group of Cuban artists. "If we had been working, making sacrifices, maybe the situation would be different now," he contemplated.

Rubio officially welcomed Otero Alcántara on July 19, described the San Isidro Movement as a "beacon of hope," and demanded the release of over 700 political prisoners in Cuba.

Possibility of International Intervention

The activist also opened up about the potential for more direct international action against the regime, suggesting the idea of a "surgical intervention" aimed at removing its leaders. However, he noted, "they are the ones who know who they need to take out."

Behind his political warning lies a personal motivation that Otero Alcántara did not hide: the fear that he and his generation might grow old without witnessing change. "We will grow old too. I don't know what the future holds," he conceded.

His hope is for transformation to happen in time: "I want it to occur within my generation so that my son can live peacefully and have the desire to live in Cuba."

Otero Alcántara stressed that he does not believe in messianic solutions or savior leaders: "I don't have faith in an all-powerful god coming down, opening the sky, and sending a thunderbolt. I believe in hard work."

Upon arriving in Miami, the activist, who declared, "I was expelled from Cuba," also warned of the risk that, after the dictatorship, Cuba could fall into the hands of "another Fidel Castro." He advocated for robust institutions that transcend individuals as a guarantee of a genuine democratic transition.