SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, Mexico.- The recent expansion of the list of prohibited activities for Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)non-agricultural cooperatives and self-employed workers on the island, which includes the distribution of the so-called “weekly package,” has raised concern and indignation among Cubans, who find content on this channel different from that of state television.
The “weekly package”, which contributes to cinematographic updating and disconnection from harsh reality, was banned by the Decree 107/2024which will come into force on 19 September.
This law specifies that, among the activities that will be prohibited for the private sector, is the provision to the public of cinematographic products, such as films, documentaries, series, novels or other similar works, through computer media.
“The only entertainment”
The news, broadcast on social networks, CubaNetleft thousands of comments expressing the population’s discontent with an arbitrary measure that deprives Cubans of this form of entertainment.
“They are taking away our only entertainment amidst so much stress,” said a Cuban woman. All the forum participants agreed that the censorship of the package will leave families who seek refuge from reality in foreign soap operas, series and films without options.
Strict control over film consumption is counterproductive, some shared: “That does not influence people’s minds, at least not as much as the barbarities and needs we experience every day. Not as much as seeing the regression that the country we were taught to love has had. That is more ideologically decisive than a few soap operas and a couple of scandalous news stories that could be seen,” said one Internet user.
Many have compared the Cuban situation to that of North Korea, given the increase in control and censorship: “This seems like a South Korea, because Cuban television is useless and the package of films and soap operas is the only thing we Cubans have. They should worry about giving more well-being to the people.”
“An unpopular measure”
He weekly package, lifeline for those who seek to avoid at all costs television state, is an incentive and ending it means going against the popular will.
“The only entertainment we Cubans have in the midst of so many problems. Without a doubt an unpopular measure,”“It would be the last thing that could happen to us, after so much scarcity and misery, that one could not disconnect from problems by watching TV,” were some of the opinions expressed in the comments.
With fewer and fewer options, the regime seeks to isolate Cubans and force them to watch the few television programs, loaded with ideological propaganda: “We are forced to watch NTV, Con Filo, La pupila asombrada, Desde la presidencia… all the lies we have to hear every day are not enough.”
One Cuban woman even asked herself: “How are we going to forget for a moment the number of problems we have? What are we going to watch that will motivate us, at least, to sit in front of our television, when the power allows it? Is it that there are no other things to think about?”
On occasions it has been warned that State Security closely monitors the content of the package and its distributors but this has not prevented some series or films censored in Cuba reach homes this way.
Will the package be gone forever?
Distributed through USB devices, it is the way that Cubans invented to escape from tedious programming from official television. In parallel to this phenomenon, several businesses have emerged that benefit from its existence.
Some hypotheses suggest that the weekly package will continue to circulate, as there will always be a way to evade the laws and State Security.
“It is a decentralized phenomenon, impossible for any government to prohibit. It will only move to the black market, become more attractive due to the ban and prices will rise to compensate for the risk,” said a Cuban.
Although dozens of people predicted that there would be ways to circumvent censorship, most agreed that controls would be stricter and high fines would be imposed.
“Cubans will always find a solution, this is for fun, and they really should take down the Internet because no one can go against technology,” wrote one Internet user.
