Group of activists are arrested in Cuba after attempted public tribune

AFP

Cuban authorities arrested 30 dissidents, including artist Tania Bruguera, to prevent a public forum in Havana, in a repressive wave that caused this Wednesday the first frictions between Cuba and the United States after their historic reconciliation.

Bruguera, 46, and the other activists were detained or placed under house arrest on Tuesday, to prevent they defied the Communist government with an artistic “performance” of Bruguera at the Revolution Square in Havana.

“The number of detainees exceeds 30 (…), but most have been released,” told to AFP dissident Elizardo Sanchez, head of the Cuban Commission for Human Rights, which is illegal but tolerated by the government.

The General Editor of the news website 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, who was detained for several hours and was released on Tuesday night, “said he saw Tania wearing ‘a gray convict uniform'” at the police unit of Acosta in the municipality of Diez de Octubre in Havana, said the website.

Just as Bruguera, other activists remain under arrest since Tuesday, in the first repressive wave following the agreement of Cuba and the United States to restore diplomatic relations.