Appeals for dialogue following street protests and assault on priest

The Cuban bishops’ conference has called on the island’s government and protesters to “listen to each other” as the country reels from demonstrations sparked by food shortages, power outages and ­worsening economic conditions, write Martha Pskowski and Ellen Teague.

“Not only do we see that situations get worse, but we are also moving towards a rigidity and hardening of positions that could generate negative responses, with unpredictable consequences that would harm us all,” said the ­bishops following protests that broke out on 11 and 12 July.  

The Cuban conference of Religious commented that “those who took to the streets are not criminals, they are ordinary ­people who have found a way to express their discontent”. 

A priest was beaten and detained when he tried to protect a group of protesters. Fr Alberto Reyes Pías of the Archdiocese of Camagüey said: “Liberty is ­written into our genes. Years can go by, even generations, but a moment comes when the soul rebels and says ‘Enough!’”

The protesters, mostly young people, spoke out against the Communist regime and the shortages of food and medical supplies affecting the island.  

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the US economic embargo on the island is to blame for the shortages. US President Joe Biden said: “We stand with the Cuban people and their ­clarion call for freedom.”