The NGO Justicia 11J has denounced this Friday that 162 people have been arbitrarily detained in Cuba, between June and October, in mobilizations in defense of Human Rights.
Specifically, of the total number of people – including five minors – at least 78 of them are still detained or imprisoned, according to the report published this Friday.
In the text, disseminated on social networks, they point out that according to their records the number of detentions could reach 188 and denounce that several of the protests were «violently put down by the repressive forces» and have documented military or paramilitary violence in the detention of these citizens.
Justice 11J has reported that most of the protests were concentrated in the days following the passage of hurricane «Ian» through the country.
The organization concludes that despite the lack of official information, they have been able to confirm that «numerous human and other resources have been available for the repression and prevention of protests» such as vehicles, fuel, food for the repressive forces and communications.
They also denounce that the repeated Internet cuts during the last days of September respond to the fact that «certain repressive patterns have worsened and acquired a greater level of sophistication», with respect to the large demonstrations of July 2021.
In addition, they have observed that the protests have been consolidated as a tool of political pressure and «act of solidarity», given that they transcend the reestablishment of the electric service. As well as the incorporation of «methods of civil disobedience and peaceful resistance».
The NGO has also pointed out that «the lack of tolerance towards any type of critical or questioning practice of the Government’s management is becoming more and more visible» and mentions three successive arrests in a short period of time for listening to protest music.
They have also denounced that the arrests of minors continue to be a practice sustained over time despite the warnings of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which reminds us that minors have the right to free association and peaceful assembly.
