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Image source, Facebook / Junior Garcia
Garcia was in front of the Havana Ministry of Culture on November 27, 2020, and in the July 11 protest.
Cuban opposition artist Jr. Garcia arrived in Spain this Wednesday after authorities prevented him from leaving his home on Sunday, carrying out protests to avoid the march he had announced alone.
In a message posted on Facebook, the playwright, along with his wife, Dayana Brito, confirmed that they had “come to Spain alive, healthy and with their ideas,” but did not elaborate.
Spanish government sources had earlier told various news agencies about Garcia’s visit to Madrid with “tourist visas”, which caught the attention of some as governments generally do not report on private travel.
Later, official journalists released pictures of the playwright with a suitcase at the Havana airport.
“Junior finally marches … as a tourist in Madrid” is the official Cubpat website.
Under the circumstances of the trip, it is not clear how the playwright and his partner obtained a tourist visa or how they got to the airport despite police surveillance outside his home to prevent him from leaving.
The Cuban government confirmed on Wednesday that there was no agreement between Havana and Madrid to facilitate the departure of Cuban dissidents.
Cuban officials told the Efe news agency a representative of the island’s government “They have nothing to do with this” Garcia’s departure and the artist pointed out that the tourist visa was implemented “on his own”.
The Spanish embassy recently posted it on its social networks I do not process tourist visas Essential travel restrictions will be maintained for the Cuban people until November 30 and from third countries, including Cuba.
It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.
Since Tuesday, members of the Archipiélago site, which had gathered for the frustrated march created by Garcia on November 15, have declared Garcia “missing” after losing contact with him.
In the days leading up to the protest, the BBC checked that the Mundo artist’s phone sometimes had only a signal.
“I think they are trying not to contact me,” Garcia said in an interview with BBC Mundo, which he achieved after 44 call attempts in a single day last Friday.
The phone was completely disconnected from Sunday.
The 39-year-old actor has recently become the most outspoken face of a new mainstream opposition led by young artists in Cuba.
On November 27, 2020, Garcia took part in an unprecedented demonstration in solidarity with members of the San Isitro Movement (MSI), another group of artists who were on a hunger strike, and was forcibly evicted by police.
Then, on July 11, in the wake of the massive protests in the country, Garcia went with another group of artists to the headquarters of a radio and television company in Cuba, where they were thrown in a garbage can. Was imprisoned.
That’s when he created it Archipelago, The group called for an extraordinary protest that was not approved by the authorities, leading to an extensive police mobilization and numerous protests on Sunday and Monday.
Image source, Getty Images
Cuban authorities have beefed up security ahead of a call for a November 15 protest march.
In recent times, many opposition artists have denounced the Cuban government as having no choice but to go to prison or be deported.
This is the case of artist Hamlet Lavastida, who was imprisoned for almost three months after his return to the island, and, according to him, “deported” to Poland with his partner as a condition of his release.
Leaders of the imprisoned MSI (Luis Manuel Otero and Michael Osorbo) have denounced the authorities’ proposal that they leave the island permanently instead of the prison.
The Cuban government has not commented on the allegations.
In an interview with BBC Mundo last Friday, Garcia did not rule out the possibility of deportation after the government said he would be sent to prison.
“As far as the possibility of leaving is concerned, I do not prioritize what is best for my comfort, how I satisfy my ego or my personal aspirations, but it is clear to me from where I can be most useful to my country. I can better serve the future of Cuba,” he said. Said.
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