The economic and social situation in Cuba marks the pulse of a downhill country, and the regime, instead of opting for reforms and immediate solutions, is committed to more control and surveillance, as it has historically done. In several areas of the capital they have called for an “assembly to revitalize and strengthen the CDR (Committee for the Defense of the Revolution)”.
Given the dozens of protests that have arisen throughout the island in recent days due to the long blackouts, the government is seeking at all costs to implement control of the people it has lost in the neighborhoods. CDR officials have delivered summonses for a meeting where it is mentioned that the participation of the CDR members “is very important” but many neighbors state that they will not attend to listen to the same speech as always.
In the Havana neighborhood of Nuevo Vedado, residents have received the call with more annoyance than enthusiasm. “Only one of the elevators can work in this building between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.,” lamented a resident of a twelve-story building on Santa Ana Street on Wednesday. “The water pump cannot be use at that time and neither the electricity in the common areas”, he adds.
“The measure is causing a lot of discomfort, so I don’t imagine that many people will lend themselves to reactivating the CDRs”
“This affects several self-employed people who have leased premises on the ground floor of these buildings and who pay their electricity bill on time, but since they are in common areas they will no longer be able to provide services at that time,” explained the resident in that area to 14ymedio. “The measure is causing a lot of discomfort, so I don’t imagine that many people will lend themselves to reactivating the CDRs.”
The collapse of the National Electric System there will be no end for now and the protests will continue. “People don’t want justifications or explanations, they want electricity to be able to eat and relieve this unbearable heat,” says another resident of Nuevo Vedado.
The CDRs are constantly used by the Government as camouflage to conform Rapid Response Brigades and infiltrate State Security agents to repress the people, opponents, dissidents and the independent press. Some of its most criticized activities are the acts of repudiation that began with great force in the 70s and 80s and have now been resumed as part of the campaigns to discredit opponents and independent artists.
________________________
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.
