Cuba Anti-Government Protests Amid Economic Hardship Due to COVID-19

US "Concerns Over Condemnation of Violent Suppression"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] According to U.S. political media outlet Politico and others on the 11th (local time), large-scale anti-government protests are erupting in the communist country of Cuba due to the worsening COVID-19 situation.

Reports indicate that thousands of citizens across Cuba, from the capital Havana to Santiago, took to the streets criticizing vaccine shortages and economic hardships.

Angry citizens marched shouting slogans such as "Give us vaccines" and "Down with dictatorship," throwing stones at police deployed to suppress the protests. Some protesters escalated to violent acts, including destroying stores.

Foreign media have described this as the largest anti-government protest in decades.

Cuba is experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades, compounded by economic sanctions imposed during the Donald Trump administration and lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks to abundant medical personnel and strict lockdown policies, Cuba was initially regarded as a model country for COVID-19 prevention, but delayed vaccine supply has led to daily record highs in new cases.

According to Worldometer, as of this date, the cumulative number of confirmed cases is 238,491, and the vaccine coverage rate is low at 15% of the population.

Cuban President Miguel D?az-Canel, in a speech on state television that day, blamed the crisis and chaos Cuba is currently experiencing on U.S. sanctions and urged "all revolutionaries and communists to take to the streets against provocation attempts."

In fact, pro-government demonstrators also took to the streets that day, leading to counter-protests.

Meanwhile, Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor, expressed concern regarding the protests, stating that the Cuban government should not use violence to suppress them.

Advisor Sullivan tweeted that day, "The United States supports freedom of expression and the protests happening in Cuba," and "We strongly condemn any violence aimed at peaceful protesters asserting their universal rights."