Lien Estrada reports that young people from the Cuban project 'El 4tico' have been detained in Holguín. She highlights the risks of critical work in Cuba and contrasts it with global efforts for freedom of expression.
Lien Estrada, in her diary entry published on Havana Times, shared that she learned through social media about the detention of young people involved in the 'El 4tico' project, also known as 'the little room.' This group, based in Holguín, Cuba, produces critical audiovisual pieces, and Estrada recently commented on one of them.
Estrada expresses deep concern that in Cuba, activities such as sharing dissenting opinions quickly lead to imprisonment. She describes a pervasive atmosphere of fear, comparing it to the early years of the 1959 Revolution, when executions and summary trials were commonplace. 'Living under the shadow of minds that act this way is repulsive, bitter, and humiliating,' she writes, referring to the passage of time in conditions of material and spiritual misery.
She contrasts this with international advances in inclusivity and education that encourage children to express ideas from an early age. In Latin America, for instance, discussions focus on fostering free expression, while in Cuba, those who differ from the Communist Party's line face prison. Estrada questions what kind of citizens the Cuban government aims to create and mentions the mass emigration of Cubans who prefer risks at sea or borders over staying in what she calls the 'Homeland of All,' but perceives as exclusive to the Castros.
The detention has sparked indignation, leading to protests on social networks and family discussions. Estrada stresses the importance of avoiding apathy and trusts in a favorable resolution, urging the government to reconsider the overuse of prisons on the island. 'There cannot be so many prisons on an island,' she states, rejecting the notion that Cuba can remain a perpetual prison.
