Cuban opposition group calls for more protests, denounces arrests | Protest News

A Cuban opposition group has called on its supporters to continue show Among those who complain that it is the government for 10 more days arrest of opposition figures and preventing others from leaving home.

The archipelago group said on Tuesday it had organized a protest on Monday, but security forces flooded the streets, arrested opposition leaders and thwarted them after preventing people from gathering.

The archipelago, an online discussion forum with 35,000 members in Cuba and abroad, said more than 100 activists had been arrested in “extreme street militarization,” according to an AFP report, citing a note.

The archipelago added that it is calling on protesters to continue fighting, dressed in white, wearing white roses, creating personal videos and playing pots and pans at night until November 27th.

The move came as a result of earlier calls for protest calls on Monday, as some organizers complained that government supporters surrounded their homes, prevented them from leaving, while others warned Cuban police that they would be arrested if they went there. streets.

On Tuesday, the U.S. said it “praises the courage and willingness of the Cuban people who stood up to government repression to make their voices heard,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

“The Cuban regime once again blocked the voices of the Cuban people instead of listening to them, leaving aside opportunities for dialogue and positive change for Cuba’s future,” the statement said.

On Sunday, the US Secretary of State Anthony Blink He accused the Cuban government of “harassing tactics” against the protesters, adding that the US would “continue to take measures to help the Cuban people and promote responsibility for the repression of the Cuban regime.”

The Cuban government says the demonstrations have been part of a US-led campaign for months The destabilization of Cuba.

Government critics hoped to repeat a show four months ago when the island had its largest demonstrations against the communist administration in recent history.

Organizers of the protest also wanted to hold a demonstration on the same day that Cuba reopened to international visitors after a 20-month ban on coronavirus, but some pandemic restrictions remain for outdoor activities.

No one showed up at the point set for the Havana rally on Monday and the streets of the city appeared quiet. Meanwhile, Cuban Americans held their rallies in Miami to support the expected protests in Cuba.

The Cuban government denied permission to march in Havana and other cities.

“Demonstration is a civil right. In the situation we are in and with the tools we have, everyone has that right, ”filmmaker Raul Prado told the Associated Press on the phone.

Prado said many people were “suffering the consequences of publicly expressing a willingness to protest.” He said authorities had cut off internet service, placed police in uniforms or civilians in homes and shouted revolutionary slogans from some pro-government activists.

They called for a march on Monday to demand the release of the prisoners, especially those arrested at the time July protests, as well as to demand the dissemination of human rights and national dialogue.

Although the streets were quiet, many young people took to social media to post photos dressed in white.

The Cuban government says the demonstrations are part of a campaign by the US to destabilize Cuba. [Pablo Sanhueza/Reuters]

Entrepreneur Saily Gonzalez, the moderator of the Archipelago forum, aired the live show while wearing white clothes while supporters of the red-clad government shouted and insulted the revolutionary slogan.

In an Internet broadcast, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez ridiculed Washington protesters and opposition supporters, saying they were disguised but nowhere.

“They created other hopes that didn’t happen artificially outside of Bairen’s Cuba. They were dressed for the party. Our party, the Cuban party, is wonderful and will continue in the coming days until the end of the year and until next year. Well, it looks like some of my colleagues in Washington were disguised at a party that didn’t happen, ”he said.

Meanwhile, he has vowed that the Archipelago will continue to fight for the “release of all political prisoners” and will defend freedom of expression and the right to assembly.

More than 650 people remain in jail, Cuban rights group Cubalex reported.