March for change: the opposition is called to protest in Cuba this Monday, November 15

Cuban opponents intend to demonstrate on the island this Monday, November 15, against the president’s regime Miguel Diaz-Canel. The protest is organized by the playwright Yunior Garcia, who on Sunday was prevented from leaving his home in Havana by Cuban security forces.

Yunior GarciaThe 39-year-old intended to go out only on Sunday carrying a white rose. He made that decision because there is a possibility that the government will mobilize the forces of order to attack the protesters or infiltrate people in the marches on Monday to generate violence, but he could not do so.

“I am very concerned about violence, I do not want violence of any kind, I hate violence, it is something that makes me sick”Garcia told AFP on Wednesday night.

The organizers of the march, in Havana and in six other provinces of the island, they maintain their intention to demonstrate on November 15 to demand the release of political prisoners, despite the fact that in October the government declared it illegal and warned them of criminal consequences.

“Junior has all our affection, support and respect ”, said other Archipelago coordinators in a statement, as “We are a platform for citizen action and not an ideologically predetermined party organization.”

But “we believe it is necessary to reaffirm the calls by provinces and regions of Cuba that were announced for November 15”.

The government believes that this initiative seeks regime change and accuses its leaders of being financed and directed by organizations in the United States.

On Twitter, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Clément Voule, reminded the Cuban authorities “of their obligation to protect and facilitate expression through peaceful protests.”

“It is a violation of the State’s obligation to harass and intimidate the organizers to prevent peaceful protests,” added.

In a message published on its website, the Cuban Conference of Bishops stressed that “any act of violence between us, whether physical, verbal or psychological, seriously wounds the soul of the Cuban nation and contributes even more to sorrow, to suffering and the sadness of our families “

“Every Cuban should be able to express and share freely and with respect, their personal opinions, their thoughts or their convictions, even when they differ from the majority”, noted the Conference, which also considered “essential” the implementation of “necessary changes” on the island.

In a video broadcast on social networks, the opposition Thais Mailen Franco described García’s decision as “cowardice.” “For me it is cowardice, because he is playing with the pain of others, he is playing with the pain of a people.”

García made it clear that his decision “does not prevent the rest of the protesters within Cuba from exercising their rights, neither on the 15th, nor on the 16th, nor on the rest of the days.”

The call follows the historic demonstrations that erupted on July 11 shouting “Freedom” and “We are hungry”, which left one dead, dozens injured and 1,175 detainees, of which more than 612 are still in prison, according to the Human rights NGO Cubalex.

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