HAVANA.- During the month of May the regime of Cuba committed 98 systematic violations of press freedom, according to data provided by the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press (ICLEP) in its most recent report.
The figures represent a growth of 19.51% compared to April 2024 in the measurement of repression committed.
Part of this increase was due to national repressive operations around International Workers’ Day (May 1) and the founding date of the Republic (May 20), where selective internet cuts and house arrests were frequent. to journalists.
In total, 41 attacks, threats and psychological attacks were recorded, 29 restrictions in the digital space, 16 arbitrary arrests, eight abusive uses of power, two physical attacks, a sentence of deprivation of liberty against a person and a precautionary measure of preventive detention. against a journalist, the report details.
At the same time, the Institute disseminated the figures on social networks indicating that, paradoxically, during the month in which freedom of the press is celebrated worldwide. The Cuban dictatorship attacked the independent media again.
The violations, which represent an under-reporting of what happens in the country, were recorded in eight provinces, with Havana (60), Villa Clara (10) and Pinar del Río (9) where the highest number of incidents were reported. A total of 56 people (19 women and 37 men) were victims of some form of harassment during the month. The most harassed group were independent journalists (26), followed by activists (12), opponents (6), political prisoners (5), citizens (4) and artists (3). The violations were fundamentally committed by State Security officers, the telecommunications monopoly ETECSA in charge of carrying out internet cuts, and the National Revolutionary Police, the document states.
The ICLEP also denounced the repression that its journalists experienced during the month: Four community media directors and a reporter were victims of house arrest and dangerous threats that alluded to long prison sentences and the death penalty, since, according to State Security, the exercise of independent journalism can be considered a crime of sedition.
In addition to the ICLEP reporters, journalists Yeris Curbelo Aguilera (to prevent him from covering the trial of the Caimanera protesters), Agustín López Canino (for calling for a peaceful demonstration on the Malecón on May 20), Vladimir Turro Páez (when leaving the national headquarters of the Ladies in White) and Carlos Michael Morales Rodríguez, who after attending a police summons, was arrested and later the prosecutor’s office imposed a precautionary measure of provisional detention on him.
Source: Drafting
