Cuban Youth Arrested for Criticizing Telecom Prices

Cuban Authorities Arrest Young Men for Criticizing State-Run Telecom Company HAVANA, CUBA – In a recent incident highlighting the ongoing suppression of dissent in Cuba, two young men, Ernesto de Jesús González Fleitas (20) and Carlos Alejandro Campos Cruz (17), were arrested for singing a song that criticized the high prices charged by ETECSA, the state-run telecommunications company. The arrests have sparked outrage among human rights activists and underscore the challenges faced by those who dare to express dissent in the country. The incident came to light through a video circulating on social media, showing two other young men walking down a street, singing a song about the arrests. The video's text overlays detail the story, and the singers express their anger and frustration at the government's actions. "Indignant! The Cuban regime once again demonstrates its fear of the truth," the text overlay reads. "They arrested Ernesto and Jesús for singing a song that denounced the outrageous abuse in ETECSA’s prices." The arrests of Fleitas and Campos Cruz are not isolated incidents. Numerous reports document the Cuban government's crackdown on freedom of expression, with artists, journalists, and activists routinely facing harassment, intimidation, and imprisonment for their views. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for human rights in Cuba. While the Cuban government has not yet issued an official statement on the arrests, the video's widespread circulation underscores the growing public concern over the issue. The arrests of Fleitas and Campos Cruz highlight the urgent need for greater international attention to human rights violations in Cuba.