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Cuban authorities have shut down internet connections to deal with thousands of protests against food shortages, power outages and coronaviruses.
“There is no internet. Nothing, nowhere. People are trying to use software, “says Isabel, who lives in Havana. The London-based NetBlocks Internet Observatory reports The ban on cinema and security in Cuba continued on Tuesday.
Communist-controlled Cuba was one of the last countries in the world open online, allowing it on the phone a few years ago. Home Broadcast remains unreadable, even state-run ETECSA says 60 per cent of the population has access to the internet.
Cuba shut down the internet in November after several hundred people he objected before the Ministry of Culture, calling for greater freedom.
ETECSA has cut off opponents’ phones and internet connections since then.
Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuban president and head of the Communist Party, said on two television stations that anti-government protests Sunday was captivated by TV and U.S. people as well as Cubans seeking to overthrow the government.
“In recent weeks, the social networking site has grown exponentially,” Diaz-Canel said on Monday. “[It is] attempting to bring dissatisfaction by using ideas and opinions on social media problems that people have. ”
The government has not commented on the closure of communications, which appears to be aimed at preventing protesters from setting up other countries to monitor developments.
Ned Price, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of State, called on Cuban officials to lift the online ban, which he criticized the government for setting up protests.
“We call on Cuban leaders to exercise restraint, to promote respect for the voice of the people by opening all communication channels, online and offline,” he said.
“Closing the profession, closing the public awareness system, which will not help to meet the legitimate needs and aspirations of the Cuban people.”
Cuba’s streets have been quiet since Sunday afternoon, but two small demonstrations have taken place in remote parts of Havana.
State media reported that one person was killed during a protest rally on Monday and that several government security guards were injured. There are also unconfirmed reports of arrests.
Cubalex, a US civil rights group that works closely with journalists and human rights activists, said that as of Sunday morning, it had “received information and registered the arrest or disappearance of 148 people, of whom 12 were released”.
“Of the 136 people, it was confirmed that 46 were arrested on July 11 and 9 on July 12, most were arrested at their home or left,” the group said.
Cubalex has said it has not been able to confirm reports of deaths or serious injuries among its critics.
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