Cuban Regime Seeks to Charge Journalist with Sedition
Jose Gabriel Barrenechea resorts to a hunger strike to demand his release from arbitrary arrest related to the blackouts.
By Jerónimo Giogi (latinoamérica21)
The Cuban regime is seeking to accuse independent journalist José Gabriel Barrenechea Chávez of the crime of sedition for allegedly leading the protest that took place on November 7 in Encrucijada, his hometown. Barrenechea is currently on a hunger strike, according to the legal advisory group Cubalex, to protest his detention, while authorities have requested 90 days of provisional imprisonment as his trial is being prepared.
Barrenechea was arbitrarily arrested on November 8, and his whereabouts remained unknown until November 11, when Pastor Mario Félix Lleonart confirmed he was detained at the State Security headquarters in Santa Clara. Lleonart also noted that authorities accused him of leading the protest, though the November 7 demonstration was just one of at least 14 manifestations sparked by a nationwide blackout.
The power outage began on November 6, caused by a collapse of the national electrical system following the passage of Hurricane Rafael. Exhausted residents of Encrucijada, after more than 24 hours without electricity, took to the streets demanding the restoration of service. The protests were part of broader discontent, with grievances arising in multiple areas across the country.
Born in 1971 in Encrucijada, Villa Clara, Barrenechea is a distinguished Cuban educator, writer, and researcher. He is one of 19 individuals arbitrarily detained for alleged involvement in these events, a pattern reminiscent of the sedition charges brought against numerous Cubans following the July 2021 protests, where sentences of up to 30 years in prison were sought.
We demand the immediate release of José Gabriel Barrenechea and all arbitrarily detained journalists. Freedom of the press and expression are fundamental rights that must be protected, not criminalized. At Latinoamérica21, we will always stand for press and expression freedoms, defending everyone’s right to inform and be informed without fear of reprisal.
I am never surprised by the reality of oppression in Cuba. Jailing journalists is so glaring an example of how desperate the dictatorship is for its survival. I am also not surprised how commenters here at HT, who regularly defend the Castros, go silent when these stories are posted. Seriously, what could they say? The US sanctions against Cuba include a free press as one of the requirements for their automatic removal. Outside of Cuba, freedom of the press seems like an easy concession. Inside of Cuba, not so much.