The Cuban government has launched a harsh crackdown in Baire, located in Contramaestre, following protests that erupted on Thursday night. During these demonstrations, numerous residents took to the streets, chanting "Freedom!" and "Down with the dictatorship!" According to independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, who reported via Facebook, the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) is actively seeking and interrogating individuals who participated in these peaceful protests.
Among those targeted is a young doctor named Erlis Sierra from the El Transformador neighborhood, one of the areas where the protests were most intense. Local sources revealed that when authorities could not find him at home, they threatened to detain his father, Merly, unless Sierra voluntarily presented himself to the authorities. "Since early morning, the neighborhood has been under surveillance by uniformed officers and plainclothes police," residents reported, describing an atmosphere of fear and harassment.
Mayeta also noted the arrest of Osmani Heredia, another protest participant, and highlighted that healthcare workers are being summoned and threatened for their presence in the protest. Social media posts from residents confirm these summonses, urging support for the affected neighbors. "They promised not to issue summonses, yet here they are, summoning people in El Transformador. The first thing they need is to keep their word," one resident posted in the Facebook group Revolico Baire 360.
The Baire protests are among the most significant in Santiago de Cuba since those on July 11, 2021, and March 17, 2024, driven by prolonged power outages, food shortages, and deteriorating basic services. As public discontent grows, the regime resorts to its usual tactics: repression, threats, and surveillance to silence street protesters.
Despite the ongoing detentions and threats, the regime played down the events, claiming they resulted in an "exchange" between local authorities and residents affected by the power outages, although they cut off internet access in the area. The state-run page Héroes del Moncada released a note on Facebook this Friday, attempting to present its version of the events, where residents took to the streets to express their frustration over power outages, food shortages, and lack of potable water that have plagued the eastern population for weeks.
The official response follows a familiar repressive pattern seen in recent island protests, where official accounts quickly display images of seemingly calm locations, only to later start arresting and threatening participants. In response to the September 13 protests in Gibara, sparked by extended power outages and water shortages in the El Güirito community, authorities claimed that "everything unfolded based on empathy and respect."
According to the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, at least 27 individuals were detained following the demonstration, with four still imprisoned and the rest under strict surveillance. In May, Bayamo witnessed spontaneous protests due to long power outages, food shortages, and lack of water, as dozens took to the streets demanding immediate solutions and shouting, "We don't want more talk!" referencing the empty promises from authorities.
Faced with public pressure, the regime responded with a dual approach: deploying special troops and Communist Party officials on the ground, and implementing internet blackouts along with an intense propaganda campaign on official social media. This campaign aimed to project an image of dialogue, calm, and total control over the situation.
Understanding the Recent Crackdown in Baire
What triggered the protests in Baire?
The protests in Baire were triggered by prolonged power outages, food shortages, and the deterioration of basic services, prompting residents to demand freedom and the end of the dictatorship.
How has the Cuban regime responded to these protests?
The Cuban regime has responded with increased repression, deploying police forces to interrogate and detain protesters, while also cutting off internet access and launching propaganda efforts to control the narrative.
Who is Erlis Sierra and why is he significant in this context?
Erlis Sierra is a young doctor from the El Transformador neighborhood, one of the protest's focal points. His targeting by authorities highlights the regime's efforts to suppress dissent among influential community members.