The Cuban attorney Manuel Viera, known on social media as "Manuel Viera Porelcambio," announced this Saturday that he is selling all his belongings to leave Cuba. Viera, who has been recognized for years on Facebook for advocating for the rights of Cuban citizens, stated that he sees no future on the island for his daughter. The primary reason for his departure, he explained, is political disillusionment.
"I'm not leaving Cuba because of economic issues; I'm leaving because of political ones," Viera declared. He expressed concern for the future of his daughter and wife, believing they should not grow up in a society he described as "broken" and one that "no one wants to fix."
Viera also revealed he is selling his house in the Playa municipality, a home he spent 18 years building "stone by stone" with the limited resources he earned as a lawyer. "It's the house where I saw my three children born, designed to live and to have a business there," he lamented.
He is also parting with his car, an old Argentine Dodge inherited from his father, which has been his companion for over 30 years. "I know every nut and bolt of my 'palmiche,'" he said, affectionately referring to the vehicle that has accompanied him nearly his entire life. "I never bowed my head," he added, but "I can't stand the idea of my daughter growing up in a broken society that no one wants to fix."
Political Persecution and a Desire for Freedom
In his final message, Viera emphasized that he has no plans to return to Cuba as long as "fear lingers" and political control over society persists. "I want to live free, I want them to be free," he asserted, adding that "in Cuba, I will only leave my memory and my name in the wind."
Over the past three years, Cuba has witnessed the departure of more than 18% of its population in what is considered the worst migration crisis in the island's history. Despite this, the Cuban regime continues to urge its citizens to endure the lack of freedoms, hunger, and despair.
Since he began openly criticizing the regime on social media, Viera has faced persecution, including being summoned by the State Security to their headquarters in Villa Marista and receiving threats. These actions reflect the lack of freedoms experienced by the Cuban society.