HAVANA (AP) Cuban officials rallied tens of thousands of supporters in the streets on Saturday nearly a week after they were stunned by the most widespread protests in decades. President Miguel Díaz-Canel accompanied by 90-year-old former President Raul Castro appeared on the seafront Malecon boulevard that had seen some of the largest protests against shortages and the political system the previous weekend.
“The enemy has returned to throw all it has at destroying the sacred unity and tranquility of the citizens,” he said.
He ended without the traditional cry of “Homeland or Death!” a slogan mocked last week by protesters shouting, “Homeland and life!”
Havana has been returning to normal in recent days, even if mobile internet data service – which authorities cut on Sunday – remained limited.
“There is political and social erosion . There is a lot of disgust, we must talk more, do more things and things that were done wrong should be rectified,” said Abel Alba, a 50-year-old civil engineer, speaking Friday. “The president has tried to smooth things over a bit” but he waited “too long” to listen to the demands of the people in the streets.
“The enemy has returned to throw all it has at destroying the sacred unity and tranquility of the citizens,” he said.
He ended without the traditional cry of “Homeland or Death!” a slogan mocked last week by protesters shouting, “Homeland and life!”
Havana has been returning to normal in recent days, even if mobile internet data service – which authorities cut on Sunday – remained limited.
“There is political and social erosion . There is a lot of disgust, we must talk more, do more things and things that were done wrong should be rectified,” said Abel Alba, a 50-year-old civil engineer, speaking Friday. “The president has tried to smooth things over a bit” but he waited “too long” to listen to the demands of the people in the streets.
“The enemy has returned to throw all it has at destroying the sacred unity and tranquility of the citizens,” he said.
He ended without the traditional cry of “Homeland or Death!” a slogan mocked last week by protesters shouting, “Homeland and life!”
Havana has been returning to normal in recent days, even if mobile internet data service – which authorities cut on Sunday – remained limited.
“There is political and social erosion . There is a lot of disgust, we must talk more, do more things and things that were done wrong should be rectified,” said Abel Alba, a 50-year-old civil engineer, speaking Friday. “The president has tried to smooth things over a bit” but he waited “too long” to listen to the demands of the people in the streets.
HAVANA (AP) â Cuban officials rallied tens of thousands of supporters in the streets on Saturday â nearly a week after they were stunned by the most widespread protests in decades.
President Miguel DÃaz-Canelâ accompanied by 90-year-old former President Raul Castro â appeared on the seafront Malecon boulevard that had seen some of the largest protests against shortages and the political system the previous weekend.
He made an impassioned speech blaming unrest on the U.S. and its economic embargo, âthe blockade, aggression and terror,â as a crowd waved Cuban flags and those of the July 26 Movement that Fidel Castro led during Cuba s revolution.