US to punish those responsible for brutal crackdown on protests in Cuba

The US government on Wednesday announced it would implement sanctions against Cuban regime officials “responsible for the brutal repression” of protesters opposed to the dictatorship, while considering steps to support the people of the island .

“We will focus on the application of severe sanctions to the regime officials responsible for the brutal repression.Julie Chung, Under Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the United States Department of State, said on Twitter. As he noted, members of the dictatorship who carried out the violence “Must be held responsible”, for which he will also call for a greater commitment from the international community in this regard. “We must collectively condemn the violence and repression against the Cuban people who demand freedom,” he said. added.

The official also announced that they were studying measures on sending remittances so that they “do not fall into the hands of the oppressors” and that instead, they reach “directly into the pockets of the Cuban people”.

In turn, US diplomacy has indicated that it is seeking to facilitate internet access, a service that was cut by the authorities after triggering protests to prevent the coordination of new centers of opposition. “We are working with the private sector and Congress to identify ways to make the Internet more accessible to the Cuban people,” Chung added.

The State Department has announced plans to increase diplomatic staff on the island. “A strong and adequately staffed embassy is essential to our efforts to support the Cuban people.“The official said, adding that requests for the export of humanitarian or medical supplies will be expedited.”We encourage our international partners to increase humanitarian aid to Cubans», He indicated.

If implemented, these measures would be the first significant political changes in Cuba under President Joe Biden, who has expressed solidarity with protesters after the protests that erupted on July 11 amid the worst economic crisis ever. Communist island has known for decades. .

The Havana Embassy, ​​which had been closed in 1961 after the revolution led by Fidel Castro and transformed into an Interest Section in 1977, reopened when relations between the two countries resumed on July 20, 2015 as part of the the rapprochement favored by former Democratic President Barack Obama, of whom Biden was vice-president. But then the legation was reduced to a minimum under President Donald Trump after mysterious “sonic attacks” against diplomats.

Trump, who has tightened the economic embargo the United States has applied to Cuba since 1962 in order to force regime change, also suspended the formal transfer of money to the island.

Biden asked during the election campaign to re-authorize the sending of funds, but last week he said he would not do so now because “it is very likely that the regime will confiscate these funds or a large chunk of them. them”.

Thousands of Cubans took to the streets of the island on Sunday 11th in unprecedented protests that left one dead and hundreds detained, including activists, political opponents and independent journalists.

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