Last weekend, Yankiel Gutiérrez Faife, a reporter for 14ymedio in Villa Clara, he was attacked and later arrested while doing his job: photographing the poor state of playgrounds in his province. At the police station he was threatened with imprisonment or forced exile if he continued to engage in “counterrevolutionary” activities. Far from intimidating him, the authorities have managed to get him to make the decision to sign all his works with his real name. This is his testimony of what happened in the hours before and during the referendum on the Family Code.
This is his testimony of what happened in the hours before and during the referendum on the Family Code
On Saturday, September 24, I was physically and verbally assaulted. That day and the day before were dedicated to doing volunteer work to organize the referendum on the Family Code. Rosalía’s town had been full of garbage all week, but it was decorated for the occasion. The warehouse, the school and the social circle were decorated with guano leaves, a custom of the peasants.
This area is terrible for internet connection since they built the coverage tower in Taguayabón, which absorbs all the signal. Now you have to go to a winery, which is on top of a hill, to be able to access the internet well. At night it is usually quiet, with two or three people, but that day I was alone when, at around 11:30 p.m., the husband of the store clerk appeared and told me: “Be careful about uploading a video of the ones you upload”. “What video?” I replied. “Of those you upload, the counterrevolutionaries,” he blurted out.
I ignored him to avoid trouble, but then he started offending me, calling me cheeky, disrespectful and worthless. I told him that he should respect me and that the only shameless one was him, for living off communism for convenience. I demanded that, before accusing me, he show me that I had recorded images where he appeared.
Then he pushed me out of the cellar doorway, although I went back inside. She attacked me a second time and I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t hit him, but I yelled at him: “Snitch communist, snitch.” The subject withdrew after this and, during that night, nothing else happened.
On the afternoon of Sunday, September 25, I went to Taguayabón. I had to run some errands for my mom, who is with my uncle in the hospital. My plan was to ride my bike fast to get back on time to make dinner for my dad.
He also told me to give him the phone and I refused. Without a duly legalized and authorized record, he was not going to deliver it. Then he violently snatched my mobile
I wanted to take advantage of the trip to take some photos for a report, because I couldn’t do it on Saturday. I also hadn’t had time that morning because of the mess with the referendum, so, from the same road, I stopped and took the images to illustrate the deterioration of the playgrounds in the area.
At about six in the afternoon, before returning, I stopped in an area with Wi-Fi to download content and send some photos to the newsroom of 14ymedio when, suddenly, the head of the Taguayabón sector, Vladimir Moré Torres, arrived and told me that they would take me to the Camajuaní police station for taking photos of the elementary school and the bar. I told him that I hadn’t taken pictures of either, but he insisted and took me with him.
He also told me to give him the phone and I refused. Without a duly legalized and authorized record, he was not going to deliver it. Then he violently snatched my mobile, grabbing me by the neck and putting handcuffs on me. He called the Camajuaní Police station to send a patrol to pick me up.
As soon as they arrived in Camajuaní, they put the phone in a drawer and closed it with a padlock. I think they never checked it because they didn’t take it out until I left and they didn’t ask for my PIN either.
The station chief, Francisco Darias González, told me that I had three options: shut up, go to jail, or leave the country. It was not the first time they threatened me, but this time they told me that they are getting tired of pass me your hand, that I’m being used for subversion… same old. They asked me if I was willing to tell anything and I refused, because I was afraid that I would be arrested or charged for mercenarism. Later, the patrol left me back in Taguayabón, already at 9:30 p.m., and I had to return by bicycle to my house, in Rosalía.
Likewise, I am going to continue denouncing everything that should be denounced and I am going to use my real name.
The harassment against me is growing more and more, surely because of my work in 14ymedio. Although since I was put under surveillance on May 1 I had not had problems, I am realizing that I have many safe with an eye on me. But the only thing that worries me is my family and the pressure they put on me when something happens, because even though they know I’m doing things right, they don’t agree with what I’m doing because they know how this system works and they’re afraid that something happen to me
Likewise, I am going to continue denouncing everything that should be denounced and I am going to use my real name. Lately I had problems with the Police because of my claims on social networks, but, although I am an inexperienced boy who must continue to improve, I thank this medium, which opened the doors for me and now allows me to report my situation. I can reach more people and I don’t care about anything. As long as possible I will continue to do so. I’m not going to hide.
________________________
Collaborate with our work:
The team of 14ymedio is committed to doing serious journalism that reflects the reality of deep Cuba. Thank you for joining us on this long road. We invite you to continue supporting us, but this time becoming a member of our newspaper. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.
