On Wednesday, State Security agents and police officers in Havana detained several Cuban dissidents as they made their way to the funeral of Yolanda Santana Ayala, a former political prisoner and member of the "Ladies in White" movement, who passed away early in the morning from respiratory failure.
Berta Soler Hernández, the leader of the Ladies in White; Marieta Martínez and María Mercedes Benítez, members of this opposition group; and Ángel Moya Acosta, an ex-political prisoner, were en route to the funeral home in La Palma, located in the Arroyo Naranjo district, to bid their final goodbyes to Santana. They were intercepted by the regime's oppressive forces around 10:30 AM.
During the arrest, Soler was on a phone call with fellow "Lady in White" María Cristina Labrada, who overheard her expressing disbelief, "How is this possible, we are going to the funeral," before the line was abruptly cut, as reported on Facebook.
After her release, Soler informed the independent media outlet Cubanet that they were detained by two police patrols and a Ministry of the Interior vehicle on Infanta Street. They were taken to different police stations: Soler to the 4th Police Unit in Cerro, and the others to the Aguilera station in 10 de Octubre.
At the latter station, Soler recounted being placed in a meeting room where a political police officer warned her against attending the funeral dressed in white, the signature color of the women's protest movement advocating for political prisoners in Cuba. "A State Security officer came in immediately and told me that wearing white was a provocation, and that I couldn't attend my sister Yolanda Santana Ayala’s funeral dressed like that," Soler denounced.
In response to the oppressive action, Soler resolved, "I never do this, but my goal is to be there, so I will change out of my white clothes and go, because being a Lady in White is something I carry inside me, not just marked by clothing."
In another Facebook post, Labrada condemned the arbitrary repression, asserting that Soler would attend in different attire without losing their ideals and principles. The main aim, she added, was to stand by Yolanda Santana's family and "see her one last time." "No matter the color we wear, we are and will always be Ladies in White, honoring our late sister. Rest in peace, Yoly, may you have eternal light, and know we will always remember you," Labrada emphasized in her post, which included a photo of herself with the late Santana and Soler.
Yolanda Santana Ayala passed away early Tuesday morning at Havana's "Julio Trigo" Hospital due to respiratory failure. Her death marks a significant loss for Cuba's dissident movement and human rights advocacy.
Santana's body is being mourned at the Arroyo funeral home (formerly Mauline), located in La Palma, Arroyo Naranjo.
Key Issues in Cuba's Human Rights Situation
What is the "Ladies in White" movement in Cuba?
The "Ladies in White" is a peaceful protest group in Cuba composed mainly of wives and relatives of jailed dissidents. They advocate for the release of political prisoners and have been recognized internationally for their activism.
Why were the activists detained on their way to the funeral?
The activists were detained as part of the Cuban government's ongoing repression against dissidents. Wearing white, the symbol of the "Ladies in White" movement, was considered a provocation by authorities, leading to their arrest.
How does the regime in Cuba typically respond to opposition movements?
The Cuban regime often responds to opposition movements with intimidation, arrests, and other forms of repression. The government views these groups as a threat to its authority and takes measures to suppress their activities.