Cubans stage rare protests amid persisting economic crisis
On March 19, 2024, 3:55 AM
Rare protests have taken place in Cuba as the island nationâs economic crisis persists.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel called on Monday for calm and hit out at the United States after hundreds of people gathered in Santiago the previous day to demonstrate against power blackouts and food shortages.
Social media videos showed crowds in the communist-governed countryâs second-largest city chanting, âPower and foodâ.
A wave of blackouts has recently seen power supplies cut for up to 18 hours or more in a day. That has helped jeopardise food supplies and economic activity in the cash-strapped country.
Long stymied by US trade embargoes and more recently sanctions imposed during Donald Trumpâs presidency, Cuba is battling its worst economic crisis in decades, caused in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the flow of much-needed tourism dollars plunge.
Diaz-Canel called for dialogue and âpeaceâ.
âSeveral people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation of electrical service and food distribution,â he wrote on X.
âThe disposition of the authorities of the party, the state and the government are to attend to the complaints of our people, listen, dialogue, explain the numerous efforts that are being carried out to improve the situation, always in an atmosphere of tranquillity and peace,â he added.
The president blamed government âenemiesâ and âmediocre politicians and terroristsâ in the US for trying to hijack the protests.
The US embassy in Havana said in a post on X that it had also received reports of protests in Bayamo, Granma and other locations.
It urged the government âto respect the human rights of the protesters and address the legitimate needs of the Cuban peopleâ.
The protests in Santiago were peaceful as demonstrators shouted, âDown with communism. Down with Diaz-Canal.â Videos on social media showed no signs of scuffles or arrests as the protests were watched by a large number of state security forces.
However, internet services were throttled late on Sunday until early Monday, according to some reports.
Havana cracked down heavily on large protests in July 2021, the widest demonstrations seen in Cuba since Fidel Castroâs 1959 revolution. The response was criticised by the international community.
Since 1960, the US has maintained an economic embargo on Cuba, which restricts trade between the countries.
For the first time, Cuba turned to the UNâs World Food Programme in February, requesting help in supplying milk to children, the organisation said.
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