Criticism of government: Cuba bans planned protests

So far, the Cuban government has acted against protests with violence and imprisonment. The Archipiélago group nevertheless called for it again. The ban came promptly – but so did the answer.

“Legal and peaceful gatherings and demonstrations are allowed by the state, as it is stipulated in the law. But we first had to make the organizers aware that we do not recognize this protest as legitimate.” This is how Alexis Acosta Silva from the Havana City Council justifies the decision not to allow demonstrations by the Archipiélago group.

The organizers would be supported by Washington and subversive organizations to overthrow the government. They have the clear intention of bringing about a change in the Cuban political system, said Silva in a letter that is publicly available.

“To demonstrate is a right”

The dramaturge Yunior García Aguilera is part of the group Archipiélago, which wanted to initiate the protest in mid-November. Freedom for political prisoners, an end to violence, respect for the rights of all Cubans and the solution of differences in a democratic and peaceful way – these were the demands of the protest, he says.

Demonstrating is a right. And now they say that they will not respect this right, even though it is a human right and it is anchored in the constitution. They say our request is illegal because, as always, it is being carried by the usual suspects, people who want to move to Cuba.

The dramaturge refers to Article 56 of the new Cuban Constitution of 2019, which guarantees a right of assembly.

Protesters from all walks of life

Aguilar García is behind the Archipiélago Facebook page, on which a peaceful change on the socialist Caribbean island is discussed. More than 26,000 members have registered there in the past two months. The site was founded in early August, shortly after the July protests against which the Cuban government repressed.

It was the first time in decades that Cubans from all classes, young and old, took to the streets together. They were protests for more freedom and against the shortage economy.

With the pandemic, the situation in the country had worsened. The tourists stayed away and with them the urgently needed foreign currency, and the country is also suffering from the US embargo.

Protest on November 15th despite the ban

The recent ban on the demonstration shows that the conservative forces in the government have won, Aguilar García told Reuters.

We know that there are differences, that there are people in government who are fed up with Cuba behaving like Goliath. The country presents itself to the world like David, who defends himself against the empire and the embargo. But in your own country it behaves like a Goliath against your own people.

A little later, the Archipiélago group reacted to the ban. The regime’s response shows once again that there is no rule of law in Cuba. “It is our personal decision to take to the streets on November 15th to peacefully demonstrate for our rights,” said the group’s Facebook page. They want to protest despite the ban.