Sunday Havana Protests.
"We are fed up with the queues, the shortages. That’s why I'm here, one middle-aged protester told The Associated Press. He declined to identify himself for fear of being arrested later.
Written by Kalyani and Sukeerthi
Image Source: AP Photo/Ismael Francisco
What is Happening?
Thousands of Cubans marched on Havana’s Malecon promenade and elsewhere on the island Sunday to protest food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis, in one of the biggest anti-government demonstrations in memory.
Protesters shouted "freedom" and "down with the dictatorship" in demonstrations across Cuba, including the capital Havana. The demonstration grew to a few thousand in the vicinity of Galeano Avenue and the marchers pressed on despite a few charges by police officers and tear gas barrages. Special forces jeeps, with machine guns mounted on the back were seen throughout the capital and the police presence was heavy even long after most protesters had gone home by the 9 p.m. curfew in place due to the pandemic.
People standing on many balconies along the central artery in the Centro Habana neighborhood applauded the protesters passing by. Others joined in the march. Dozens of anti-government protesters were arrested by security forces who were assisted by plain clothes officers, Reuters news agency reports. Images on social media showed what appeared to be security forces detaining, beating and pepper-spraying some of the protesters. There were reports of internet blackouts across the island and a photographer with Associated Press was injured after a confrontation with security forces.
Why is it Happening?
Cuba is in the midst of an economic crisis. Cubans have been angered by the collapse of the economy, food and medicine shortages, price hikes, and the government's handling of the pandemic.
Breakdown of the economic crisis: Much of the economy depends on tourism and due to the travel restrictions of the pandemic, the sector has been devastated. Sugar, which is mostly exported, is another key earner for Cuba. But this year's harvest has been much worse than expected. As a result, the government's reserves of foreign currency are depleted, meaning it cannot buy imported goods to supplement shortages, as it would normally do.
Effect of the crisis on the people: Since last year, the government has opened shops where Cubans can buy food and necessities in foreign currencies, which there is a shortage of on the island. But the shops have angered the majority of locals, who are paid in Cuban pesos, the national currency.
Long lines of Cubans queuing up to buy goods such as oil, soaps or chicken have become commonplace during the pandemic. Basic medicines have become scarce in both pharmacies and hospitals and many provinces have begun to sell pumpkin-based bread due to the lack of wheat flour. Cubans interviewed by the BBC said some medical centers do not have any aspirin, while the island has seen outbreaks of scabies and other infectious diseases.
The result of the anger: Being angered by the growing adversities and as the protesters believe, the government's mismanagement of the situation, they have taken to the streets. While the crowds of protesters do not look particularly large, the significance of thousands of Cubans taking to the streets across the country can hardly be overstated. These protests may seem tame but for a tightly controlled Communist country, these stands can risk your life.
Government's Response:
In response to the rare unrest, President Miguel Díaz-Canel addressed the nation in a TV broadcast and blamed the US for the turmoil. He called its tight sanctions on Cuba a "policy of economic suffocation". These sanctions have been in place since 1962. Mr. Díaz-Canel said the protesters were mercenaries hired by the US to destabilize the country and called for his supporters to go out and defend the revolution - referring to the 1959 uprising which ushered in Communist rule. These calls to combat are deeply concerning.
The US - which has a decades-old history of hostilities with Cuba - has said it stands with Cubans and called on those in government to refrain from violence and listen to its people. President Joe Biden described Cuba as ‘a failed state’ and communism as ‘a failed system'.
Conclusion:
A senior US official said on Thursday that the Biden administration had been reviewing Cuba policy but that the harsher crackdowns implemented by Havana since the start of the year had affected its thinking. Vulnerable to Republican attacks over a surge in migration, the last thing the Biden administration wants is a repeat of the 1990s, when Fidel Castro allowed more than 35,000 rafters to leave on makeshift boats for the US. Cuba has been experiencing a worsening economic crisis for two years, which the government blames mainly on U.S. sanctions and the pandemic, while its detractors cite incompetence and a Soviet-style one-party system. A combination of sanctions, inefficiencies and the pandemic has shut down tourism and slowed other foreign revenue flows in a country dependent on them to import the bulk of its food, fuel and inputs for agriculture and manufacturing. The economy contracted 10.9% last year, and 2% through June of 2021. The resulting cash crunch has spawned shortages that have forced Cubans to queue for hours for basic goods throughout the pandemic.
The people of Cuba are angry at the administration and their situation. In such a time, the survival of the system will depend on whether the protests die down or return with greater force as the conditions prevail.
References:
“Cuba Protests: Thousands Rally against Government as Economy Struggles.” BBC News, BBC, 12 July 2021, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-57799852.
Frank, Marc. “'There Is No Food, Money or Work': How Shortages Fuelled Cuba Protests.” Subscribe to Read | Financial Times, Financial Times, 16 July 2021, www.ft.com/content/970911b6-c4bf-4fd0-a5da-ea3c7b22ab70.
Lima, Lioman. “Cuba Protests: Three Key Issues That Explain the Rare Unrest.” BBC News, BBC, 12 July 2021, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-57802170.
Rodriguez, Andrea. “Demonstrators in Havana Protest Shortages, Rising Prices.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 12 July 2021, apnews.com/article/business-health-caribbean-coronavirus-pandemic-havana-477ff35a2e0a2809ee67c89070a56e41.
Shepardson, David. “U.S. Reviewing Whether It Can Help Restore Internet Access in Cuba -Biden.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 15 July 2021, www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-reviewing-whether-it-can-help-restore-internet-access-cuba-2021-07-15/.