Cuban actor Luis Alberto García Novoa took to Facebook this Thursday to voice his disapproval of a security operation experienced by his girlfriend and two daughters as they arrived at his home near the roundabout at 146 and 9th in Havana's Playa municipality.
García harshly criticized the heavily armed presence deployed by the regime to protect its leaders. According to the actor, the three women had obeyed a stop sign when an officer approached them "holding a signal baton in one hand and a gun in the other, completely hysterical."
Other vehicles in the area were occupied by agents visibly brandishing "LONG GUNS protruding from the windows." García claimed this was all due to the passage of a high-ranking government official.
Living just a short distance from this location, García is no stranger to this type of scene, as the area has long been a corridor for official convoys since the days of Fidel Castro, a practice continued by Raúl Castro and now Miguel Díaz-Canel.
The actor expressed his outrage directly to the State Security, urging them to "dial down the HYSTERIA, PARANOIA, DISTRUST, and PREJUDICES, and stop being influenced by those terrible action movies your operatives and leaders watch in their barracks on Saturdays."
His sharpest criticism was triggered by an interview Díaz-Canel gave to Brazilian journalist Mônica Bergamo from Folha de S.Paulo, in which the Cuban leader claimed that "the vast majority" of the Cuban people support him.
García turned this assertion into a biting rhetorical question: "If the man in the interview, with his gelled hair, assures the Brazilian journalist that the vast majority is with him and his actions, what's the fear all about?"
He also highlighted the outdated nature of such armed security measures, warning, "We are no longer in the past century. Nowadays, a missile could be aimed directly at your room, kitchen, office, or garage. Stop playing soldiers."
García warned of the potential for a deadly accident, recalling past incidents of gunfire during these operations: "Be careful not to let a shot or two escape in broad daylight, killing someone who was never meant to be targeted. No 'in the line of duty' medals can cover up an error of that magnitude."
In a forceful conclusion, García stated, "If any of mine or anyone from this people you claim to respect gets hurt or killed due to a 'faithful blunder,' it's going to be a real mess."
This isn't García's first public confrontation with the regime. Earlier in August, he condemned the repression of peaceful protesters, labeling it "unconstitutional" and "undemocratic."
In July, he demanded "actions, not promises" following another interview with the leader, and in February, he called on State Security to cease its actions after the detention of academic Alina Bárbara López Hernández.
The interview with Díaz-Canel, where he acknowledged prolonged blackouts and medicine shortages but denied that Cuba is on the brink of collapse, stirred such controversy that the official media had to publicly defend him.
García concluded his post with two phrases capturing the mood of those enduring the Cuban reality daily: "The oven isn't ready for pastries" and "Tula's room might just get too hot."
Understanding the Security Tensions in Cuba
Why did Luis Alberto García criticize the Cuban regime's security measures?
Luis Alberto García criticized the regime's security measures due to an aggressive and heavily armed operation that his family experienced, which he deemed excessive and hysterical.
What triggered García's strongest criticism?
His sharpest criticism was provoked by an interview with Díaz-Canel, where the leader claimed the majority support of the Cuban population, which García questioned sarcastically in light of the intense security measures.
Has García previously spoken out against the Cuban government?
Yes, García has openly criticized the regime on several occasions, including denouncing the repression of peaceful protests and demanding accountability from the government.