Baritone and cultural promoter Ulises Aquino Guerra shared a powerful reflection titled "Open Wounds, Deeply Rooted Damages" on Facebook, where he dismantles the Cuban regime's official narrative about "defending" the territory. He argues that the true threat to the Cuban people is internal.
On the eve of July 26, marking the anniversary of the Moncada Barracks assault, the artist posed a critical question that underpins his entire argument: "What would we defend if the United States were to attack Cuba?"
Aquino acknowledges that U.S. pressure, including sanctions on GAESA, tourism, public health, and officials, exacerbates Cuba's shortages. However, he asserts that the island's issues predate any of Trump's policies.
"Our people suffer not only from the U.S. measures imposed on Cuba but also from the consequences of grave errors, historical burdens, and debts in the whimsical and blinded management of its economy," the artist expressed.
Economic Failures and Civic Repression
He lists a series of economic policy failures: shelved guidelines, agricultural measures, restructuring, banking reforms, and Decree 349, among others. Aquino concludes that none of these initiatives have addressed the historical demands of those who dare to question the government.
In one of the most direct sections of his text, Aquino accuses the regime of "turning dissent or civic protest into a crime, brutally repressing and imposing long sentences on those who exercise their rights."
A Call for Change
The artist warns that this "institutional deafness and blindness could lead to a state of extreme violence that will be impossible to reverse." He demands that the government consult the people to determine if they wish to continue with the current system or prefer "a different, dignified, free life, without political discrimination or exclusion for thinking differently."
"Maintaining this state of affairs is a temporary delusion, which will eventually be deeply questioned and judged, proving impossible to justify the sacrifices, shattered lives, and inflicted miseries and calamities," he emphasizes.
Persistent Confrontation
This isn't the first time Aquino has publicly challenged the regime recently. On July 12, he published a letter to his deceased revolutionary parents, telling them, "everything you believed and made us believe was wrong."
On June 19, following the Communist Party's Extraordinary Plenum that adopted 176 economic measures, Aquino called for the government's resignation, labeling the reforms insufficient and overdue: "The most honorable, dignified, and logical thing is for them to resign."
In his latest reflection, the artist closes with a statement directly addressing the historical responsibility of Cuba's leaders: "It is time to decide how history will remember you."
Understanding the Challenges in Cuba
What are the internal threats to the Cuban people mentioned by Aquino?
According to Aquino, the internal threats include the Cuban regime's economic mismanagement and the repression of civic protests and dissent.
How does Aquino view the U.S. sanctions on Cuba?
Aquino acknowledges that U.S. sanctions worsen Cuba's shortages but insists that the island's issues existed long before these sanctions were imposed.
What does Aquino propose as a solution?
Aquino suggests that the Cuban government should consult the people to decide if they wish to continue with the current system or opt for a change towards a more dignified and free life.