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12 Jul, 158 tweets, 48 min read
New thread on #11JCuba
Old one 👉
Some comments:
Yesterday's protests started in a small town near Havana. We don't know the specific spark but they appear bottom up, not organised. Residents there are quoted citing privations such as the blackouts as the cause for going to the streets. translatingcuba.com/cubas-electric…
The Internet was locally cut off but not before social media had spread news and some video of the protest in San Antonio de los Baños. Video then started appearing of protest in other towns and a call went out for a Havana protest.
Protests in other places seem to have had different proximate causes - in Matanzas the local covid response appears to be the main one.
translatingcuba.com/cuban-health-w…
A few hours later Cuban TV cut to an angry President Diaz-Canal whose speech is best summed up by his phrasing that “the combat order is given." Obviously he blamed America.
Diaz-Canal's TV rant then brought more people out. Protests have been recorded now in 62 places.
There seems to have been differing levels of violence from the state with a number of videos showing this in Camaguey & at least one use of tear gas/rubber bullets.
As with the LGBT protest in 2019, which also happened in more than 1 place, the state has tried to lock down 'leaders', to decapitate This misunderstands the nature of the revolt. (Thread from 2019 )
Nobody knows what will happen next but the Cuban communists have entirely painted themselves into a corner. 'Reform' is not happening and the people's situation isnt going to improve.
Just leaving this here.
diariodecuba.com/cuba/162074715…
A general strike has been called.
tendancecoatesy.wordpress.com/2021/07/12/cal…
There is not one cause, there are many. Millions of Cubans will have seen both this 👇 and the government's truly lameass response defending 'Homeland or Death' 💀 Lots yesterday chanted 'Homeland and Life' #PatriaYVida
Worth noting at this point that responses supporting the Cuban protesters or expressing concern at the government's response came quickly from the US right, OAS + HRW, but were notably absent from others, like Spanish politicians or US Democrats.
"The signals accumulated, but the spark ignited when (and where) no one expected it. This is always the case with great social events, which produce the Arendtian miracle [el milagro arendtiano]."
razon.com.mx/opinion/column… via @noe_z
"They were not mobs asking for alms, but citizens demanding rights. The idea of ​​a people genetically incapable of claiming their rulers crumbles. Also the myth of an eternal Revolution."
Venezuelan School of the Americas graduate believes that Cuban's "morale and the collective conscience" will save the regime.
New slogan appears to be #RadicalesContraLaCovid19 🤷‍♂️
"The Cuban people are courageously asserting fundamental and universal rights," Biden said. “Those rights, including the right to peaceful protest and the right to freely determine one's own future, must be respected."
elnuevoherald.com/noticias/mundo…
Diaz-Canal back on Cuban TV calling Sunday "a historic day."
There were "unpublished and beautiful scenes throughout the country", yesterday, says @yoanisanchez, referring to all the videos we're yet to see, "as if the spark of San Antonio de los Baños had ignited in the dry grass of social anger."
noticuba.tech/opinion/protes…
"We are many more than those who crush us."
Among those detained for joining protests are Cuban marxists.
comunistascuba.org/2021/07/reclam… via @menshevik
Note on prior protests in Cuba. You don't have to go back to 1994. The 2019 LGBT protest in Havana had around 500. The regime kept those they saw as leaders in house arrest but social media brought Cubans out.
The 2019 protest also happened outside Havana, or would have if not for those house arrests. The current protests supporting the San Isidro Movement of artists have included the whole neighbourhood where they're based in Old Havana. Local CDR counter protests have failed.
'And here's the fallguy we're blaming! Trained in Miami, he was!' *points to poor sod with slumped shoulders*
🤷‍♂️
Pro-Diaz-Canal protest in London next Monday.
This 👇 gif is rapper El Inva being arrested live on Facebook last month. His toon 'Oe`policia pinga' is 'Fuk Tha Police' and based on street Cuban spanish 👉
Economy, social media connectivity, the virus. Similar reasons to those that cause ordinary people to come out and protest elsewhere in Latin America. @liomanlima
bbc.com/news/world-lat…
@liomanlima As Abraham relates here it is ordinary Cubans out there, "like the lady I saw open the door of her house, on the ground floor of a ruined building on Galiano Street, Centro Habana, and go out to face several policemen."
"Cubans have gone from domestic discontent, from complaining at home and assenting in public, to action, and that has just opened a crack in the arteries of the heart of the regime."
"A young man wounded by a bullet in Cárdenas. The police expel the family from the hospital." If, as happens in Nic, the Cuban regime *is refusing healthcare* to protesters they're shooting themselves in the foot, propaganda wise. A Nobel's not happening.
They say that young Cubans are being threatened with being denied access to education if they don't join the government's parades.
"To non-Cuban friends who ask me how to find out about what is happening in Cuba: the state press is lying, come to Twitter to read the people."
'Relatives of those arrested yesterday in the protests in Havana demand information this Monday from a police station. Most of them are women.'
"There are some places where there is no internet. It is too early for us to know precisely which places are affected but we do know that Havana and places where the protests were more significant yesterday were most affected.” @BWazir1
codastory.com/authoritarian-…
"People in the streets do not stop commenting on how little they have been able to see on the networks."
The permeation of social networks has meant that info about corruption such as this - especially the video of their behaviour - is widely known. All that happened after was Sandro said he wanted to "sincerely apologise to everyone who misinterpreted this."
This'll work!
Got this wrong.
Luyano, Havana, waking up this morning. Young men in the streets calling for #PatriaYVida
facebook.com/permalink.php?…
"The police against the people. Right now."
Cuban workers getting reminded this morning by the party to shut up and get on with it.
The blackout is not just the Internet. Diaspora Cubans report that they cannot call or text family to find out how they are and this appears to be getting worse.
Most of the commentary going on about #11JCuba seems to not be about what happened yesterday but about something else. And there seem to be some arguing against having any opinion whatsoever of #11JCuba on some grounds or another.
Graphic @MiguelMonkc
Young Cuban conscripts are alledgedly being sen this threatening message that they must join in repression or face consequences.
“In my 53 years I have never seen anything like it in Santiago, this is the beginning of the end of the tyranny in Cuba. I listened to the call of my compatriots and I quickly joined the crowd that was organized on Martí y Calvario Avenue.”
translatingcuba.com/in-my-53-years…
“We're tired of lies, hunger, slavery, manipulation. This is #PatriaYVida Homeland because we want a new homeland for all, not for a group of vivebién* who now dominate as they please. Life because they are killing us little by little, we need new life. ”
translatingcuba.com/in-my-53-years…
*Vive bien translates as ‘live well.’ El Vive Bien is the title of a song by Alberto Zayas. The lyrics are in the voice of a man talking about how he will marry a woman who will work and give him all her money, and “we will live happily, but I without doing anything.”
La Güinera, Havana, right now
facebook.com/odett.hernamde…
Avenida 26 e Ignacio Agramonte, Camagüey, today
facebook.com/10000954297300…
It is kinda miraculous that any video is getting out of Cuba today.
This just happened. Norges is doing a fantastic job of clipping for Twitter.
Nine protests were recorded yesterday. This is with a Internet blackout making uploading videos extremely difficult. The regime says there were none.
Miami diaspora itching to come back with guns. Not helping.
'Let's see the Spanish anti-imperialist left in solidarity with the Cuban government, tell me who paid 150 Cubans to demonstrate in Valencia in support of those who are taking to the streets in Cuba. Do not manipulate more!'
I really do think this is not listening to the actual protesters. You can't just ignore that in countless videos they're chanting 'Libertad' or 'Patria y Vida'. And it is Cuba's actions that have made Biden less inclined to deal.
This is last night in a Havana suburb. This is what "the order of combat" issued by Diaz-Canal looks like on the streets.
Video from Sunday of an injured protester arriving at a hospital in Cardenes.
A Castro returns to save the revolution from the people.
"They neither carried out structural reforms that could have freed the population from so many tribulations nor did they allow them to improve their living conditions by their own means."
14ymedio.com/opinion/Miguel…
"Congress after congress of that ruling party demanded an opening towards a more democratic/participatory socialism. As that meant having to renounce absolute power they've enjoyed up to now to the detriment of a population in the worst conditions, they did not want to listen."
"This government has even rejected offers of humanitarian aid on several occasions , especially in recent months, with the worsening of the epidemic, and has refused to open a humanitarian corridor to help the most affected regions."
"Did you think that the population was going to continue indefinitely with folded arms, bowed head, enduring so much neglect & injustice? His response is brutal repression: "The order to fight has been given , the revolutionaries take to the streets"; "We are ready for anything."
Cubans are chanting "Díaz-Canel loose power" and folks still think this is just all because 'austerity'.
14ymedio.com/cuba/jovenes-s…
"At times - never with us, on the street - some people shouted slogans like 'Long live Fidel', 'Long live the revolution', 'Look at the worm', and the group responded: 'Go hungry, we are doing this for you too'".
Communist standing for Chile's Presidency: "We are supporters of the right to peaceful demonstration in all parts of the world, including Cuba." He also affirmed HR violations in Cuba. cnnespanol.cnn.com/2021/07/12/cub…
"Three paths: to pressure the Government to make the proper humanitarian decisions by declaring a state of emergency and formally requesting aid; to overthrow the government; or to believe in miracles."
translatingcuba.com/humanitarian-d…
There are dead, wounded & missing but we don't know how many. "While the children of the henchmen that you defend are in other countries safe, yours are in Cuba and they will pay."
noticuba.tech/cuba/represion…
Havana priest: "the Government has removed the internet, precisely so that the truth is not known."
Facebook page listing the disappeared.
facebook.com/groups/2430167…
Diaz-Canal yesterday: "They have already come up with the fact that in Cuba we repress, we assassinate. Where are the Cuban murders? Where is the Cuban repression? Where are the disappeared in Cuba?"
"To believe that this social outbreak can be eliminated through the repression of the state security apparatus. Big mistake. The protesters have clearly shouted "we are not afraid" and this message is essential to understand what is taking place in Cuba."
cuba-economia.blogspot.com/2021/07/los-ca…
"The incorporation of Raúl Castro to the communist conclave confirms that there is no future, but that one lives in the past, a remote past that was thought to be surpassed, and that returns to the fore from the worst places in memory."
"Recognizing that Cuba has started a march towards freedom, political pluralism, democracy and respect for human rights, without the communists, is something more than evident. Trying to stop that process, crazy."
There are multiple reports of protesters being beaten to death yesterday that are extremely difficult to verify. And of thousands injured. The regime thinks they can hide what they're doing.
Reports of Wagner Russian mercenaries in Cuba makes me think of that old stand by about teaching folks how to suck eggs.
Video reportedly from yesterday.
The disappeared.
"It is obvious that the regime, in its delusion of grandeur, had no vision of the future, nor did it count on the material reality of a country that only needed a health catastrophe to completely sink into begging."
cubanet.org/destacados/la-…
"Without any modesty they assure that everything is under control, despite the fact that citizen complaints and the images circulating on social networks show a disturbing panorama." @invntario, who are now mapping protests, was set up as a Cuban gov covid info watch.
"Only a heartless, stupid government would reject COVAX under the pretext of creating its own vaccine candidates, at the expense of leaving 11million citizens without medicines, and knowing that it would be impossible to avoid the daily crowds of people to buy basic necessities."
"Cuba is in no condition to save anyone because they have never allowed it to be Cuba again. For sixty years, Cuba has been Castroism, and the position of Castroism remains the same: salvation comes from them, or there is no salvation."
OFFS.
'toon @bonilcaricatura
As noted up thread the covid response is *one factor in the protests that is particularly important in the regions, in specific towns, where the health system has been breaking down the longest.
translatingcuba.com/in-guantanamo-…
This is one video from yesterday that appears to show a Cuban beaten to death by the state.
Because we've seen no Western reporting from the town 25k from Havan where this all started in Sunday I'm just going to go ahead and assume that the regime is stopping Western reporters from going there.
So Diaz Canal accused a huge Lebanese celebrity former porn star of being paid by the yanquis to dish him. via @axbIumenthal
👇 Insights from a former Cuban official 👇
Folks protesting don't like the 'blockade' either. This doesnt seem to have sunk in with so so many folks commentating.
What @turylevy is talking about here is everything which media in Cuba like @14ymedio cover every day about Cuban realities and about how Cubans feel about government policies. This is the voice of Cuba to listen to.
If the Americans removed every last sanction tomorrow the regime would have no excuses left. As if. There would be new excuses. This is not a defence of sanctions but an annoyance with sloganeering.
"It is not pleasant to be five, six days or a week knowing that you cannot go out on the street and without even having gone through a judicial process. It is all illegal." @menosveinte
infobae.com/sociedad/2021/…
"The pandemic was a great catalyst. And the repression was extended to the entire society. In July of last year, more than 2000 people had been tried [+ given 4yrs in prison] for a crime that only occurs here, which is that of being “coleros” [paid line place holders]."
"[Those] that are not moved by the Cuban reality, those people are not worth having as an ally in any way."
"The live Facebook of San Antonio de los Baños. The cries of "Freedom!", "We are not afraid!" and “Down with the dictatorship!” were as shocking as they were implausible. It took me some time to convince myself that this was all real." @GeisyGuiaDelis
periodismodebarrio.org/2021/07/desde-…
Cuban techies think that the regime has refined it down to blocking individuals. "This may explain why the same VPN, for example, works for some users and not others, even if they are people who live in the same house."
periodismodebarrio.org/2021/07/desde-…
'Let's be having you,' say Spain's FM. 'Speed that reform up.' Whatever than means.
There is something deeply ironic about seeing street barriers going up in Florida.
Here's the @14ymedio reporting on the deaths, injuries and disappearances translated by @TranslatingCuba
translatingcuba.com/the-eyes-of-th…
'When the "alternative" to a blockade is to invent another blockade. It is a folly to sell inputs in foreign currency (tools, fertilizers, etc.) to private producers in Cuba who supply most of the agricultural food that is sold in national currency.'
From the outskirts of Havana, now, where riot troops and "revolutionaries" with clubs in their hands have taken to the streets to prevent people from leaving their houses.
Regime says that the reason it's removing Internet/mobile access is because of "hate speech". “It is good that the relatives [of Americans] living there [in Cuba] think carefully about what they are posting. Invitations to invade Cuba”.
radiorebelde.cu/noticia/chapea… via @GeisyGuiaDelis
Cracking up at these folks trying to use the tools created to monitor propaganda networks to claim that all the online interest in Cuba is fake.
"The order to fight has been given."
Two protests so far recorded* today, San Miguel del Padrón and Holguín, 11 for yesterday.
*Able to be uploaded.
*shocked face*
"Everything, that is, except a boat."
miamiherald.com/news/nation-wo…
We have seen no video from where the protests started as all Internet was cut off. After that Diaz-Canal visiting and issued his call. This clip apparently shows local Cubans in San Antonio de Los Baños confronting Diaz-Canal that day, Sunday.
The mazin folks mapping the Cuban protests 👇👇
"It's long been acknowledged even inside the gov that the state-run model does not work. Castro said as much himself…One of Díaz-Canel’s slogans since has been “we are continuity,” an uninspiring + frustrating message for young Cubans," @J_Bloodworth
foreignpolicy.com/2021/07/13/cub…
"It is too early to characterize this weekend as Cuba’s 1989 moment. But Cuba’s communist rulers are rapidly approaching a similar juncture to the one leaders of their Eastern European sister parties faced three decades ago."
"This demonstration is born from a tired people, it is not a mercenary outbreak or something orchestrated from the US, we know that those who love a gringo Cuba take advantage of these needs and form their propaganda." @Residente
"But it was not the well-to-do from Miramar and El Verado who only went out onto the street, it was the townspeople who woke up, people were watching from Old Havana, from downtown Havana, from the hill.”
“A friend tells me that it was the police, the parastatal groups that started attacks. There are many videos where they present brutality on the part of the Government, something that did not exist in the days of my parents, cameras on cell phones."
Cuban government reports a demonstrator death. In Arroyo Naranjo, Havana, during a "confrontation" in which several citizens were detained and others were injured.
More than 5000 Cubans have been detained, according to evidence collected by @14ymedio
noticuba.tech/cuba/miles-det…
@14ymedio Seven journalists are being held.
@14ymedio "Mother Courage, Mother Country"
Iván Daria, the face of the July 11 protests in Cuba.
hypermediamagazine.com/sociedad/madre…
@14ymedio Puerto Rican @Residente is a enormous pop star and very left wing, so that's why this is significant and has been noticed.
@14ymedio @Residente Great stuff from the Biden admin. Sounds just like Priti Patel.
@14ymedio @Residente Another enormously popular Puerto Rican popstar. He's calling the regime names here.
"36-year-old citizen Diubis Laurencio Tejeda, resident in the municipality itself and with a record of contempt, theft and disorderly conduct, was killed. The Ministry of the Interior regrets the death of this person, in the midst of a complex scenario."
Cuban Foreign Minister says that "he has seen more violent images in Europe", in response to @lorenacantoEFE on demonstrations of violence in Cuba.
@lorenacantoEFE One confirmed death, Diubis Laurencio Tejeda, but I have a sinking feeling the reality is a lot more now and a lot more to come. Political violence is being both meted out and encouraged by the regime.
This is just so incredibly helpful. I can't think of a more perfect thing for an American politician to say. Sheer genius. Such originality.
'Let's not forget that the first act of resistance and disobedience against the Cuban dictatorship in decades was that of May 11, 2019, led by the LGBTIQ + community. The demonstration was suppressed. Since then we have seen Cuba wake up more and more.'
Whilst something is happening in Camaguey - with 1998 speed Internet locally we dont know lots of things - I think "fallen" may be somewhat overblown.
There are a lot of videos now out, probably well over 100, and the verification is best done by Cuban journos. But Cuban journos are being repressed and not enough people know that. The story behind the videos must come first from them.
Among those repressed is @TremendanotaC, a mag for the marginalised (black, LGBT, women), with those producing it detained. So there's is no report from them about the last 3 days. That's just one example. If you want to know and understand more about Cuba support Cuban journos.
Gringos stole our Internets.
Well at least she caught it. There is that.
Chess Grandmaster Arian González was arrested during a protest in Villa Clara
“This is a Chess Grandmaster who has taken the step to defend his people ... We need the support of the chess community! Freedom for Arian! ”, Demanded Bruzón.
cibercuba.com/noticias/2021-…

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Paul Canning Profile picture
12 Jul
When you've got FA to say just say this.
Which 'Cuban people' do you think they mean?
Stunning intellectual commentry here from Prasad on 'events' in Cuba. Vijay really gets what's going on. You can see why he's so admired by the 'true socialists'.
Read 20 tweets
Paul Canning Profile picture
11 Jul
There seems to be a mass protest going on in a town 25k from Havana that's being described as the biggest since the 1990s 'special period'. Internet connection has been cut so there's little video of what's happening.
It's being described as involving thousands of people, which is unheard of. And reports of a similar protest in a town at the other end of the island and now another town. Via @MGVivero
Via @yoanisanchez This is San Antonio de los Baños, 25k from Havana.
Read 69 tweets
Paul Canning Profile picture
9 Jun
When @PiruloAr was hauled before a Nicaraguan Prosecutor yesterday they made a point of saying that they did not like the reporting of his 👇 outlet, Divergentes. They said Wilfredo was lying. They really, really don't like this 👇 reporting.
Important to note that the attacks on these reporters in english coming from the Ortega supporting Western left underpin +aid the repression in very practical ways. They are worse than Durante in that they bulk up/distribute the fake 'evidence' used to condemn Ortega's opponents.
This is the 'reporting' which underpins Nicaragua's global propaganda support for its repression of journalists and political opponents.
Read 9 tweets
Paul Canning Profile picture
8 Jun
Y'know when folks do events organised by 🇷🇺at the 🇺🇳 that support Russian geopolitical priorities like trashing the White Helmets and still claim to be 'independent'? This is the same👇
Rodriguez is 🇻🇪VP and Arreaza is 🇻🇪 Foreign Sec. Rosales is the regime Ambassador to the OAS.
Ivan Timofeev is from the Valdai Club and provides the 'facts' to support Russia's occupation of Crimea. He's also intimately connected to 'Russiagate'.
nytimes.com/2017/11/10/us/…
This Russian is involved because the campaign against sanctions is global and has been going on for months and Russia has a lot invested in it.
Read 4 tweets
Paul Canning Profile picture
8 Jun
Peruvian election officials are countering false claims, wherever they come from, with speed. This is good.
Folks who've been observing Peruvian elections for decades say there's zero, zip, nada evidence of fraud. Keiko's specific claims have *already been picked up by the system* as isolated, not systemic, cases.
elcomercio.pe/elecciones-202… v @michaelcdeibert
Whoever lost, the integrity of the election would be under attack.
Read 5 tweets
Paul Canning Profile picture
7 Jun
Round about now would be a good time for bad actors to shut up.
😬 Image
Folks protesting supposed electoral fraud who say they don't belong to any political group. 🤷‍♂️
larepublica.pe/elecciones/202…
Read 4 tweets

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