“The word ‘blockade’ no longer suffices to describe what the United States government is doing to the Cuban people… This ruthless energy siege—something truly medieval—prevents fuel from reaching the island,” the writer and essayist stated during the “Cuba va” (“Cuba Moves Forward”) discussion, held at the Federico Garcia Lorca Forum as part of the Zocalo International Book Fair.
He affirmed that Cuba will not surrender, adding that the island’s people are currently more anti-imperialist than ever.
“People have become more radicalized; they know full well who is responsible for this daily tragedy—and they know it is not the Cuban government,” asserted the former Minister of Culture, who urged those present to “break the blockade of silence.”
“There is a sort of ‘pact of silence’ surrounding the genocide against Cuba. It is rarely discussed; the reality—what the Cuban people are actually enduring—is not being talked about. As our Foreign Minister has said, this is a form of collective punishment. They are punishing the Cuban people,” he declared.
In introducing Prieto, Paco Ignacio Taibo II, executive director of the *Fondo de Cultura Economica* (Economic Culture Fund), described the event as highly significant, noting that “Cuba is living through one of the most terrible moments in its history.” He further denounced the genocide and the process of strangulation being applied by Washington.
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