Cuba withdraws accreditation of journalists from the Spanish news agency EFE

The Cuban government withdrew the press credentials of five journalists from the Spanish agency of news EFE, but later they were restored to two of them, according to the media, before a protest march organized by opposition groups scheduled for Monday and prohibited by the authorities.

a editor and a photographer they were informed by the Cuban government that their accreditations would be returned, EFE said on Sunday.

Hours earlier, Cuban authorities summoned three editors, a photographer and a television cameraman to inform them of the decision to withdraw their press credentials, EFE said in a statement. He noted that the action took place on the eve of the march called for Monday.

The International Press Center The Cuban government did not respond to a request for comment.

Gabriela Canas, president of EFE, described as “insufficient” the decision of the Cuban government to restore the accreditation of two journalists, and asked the government to also restore the credentials of the other three.

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs will call the current head of the Embassy of Cuba in Madrid to ask for explanations about the withdrawal of the accreditations, said a spokesman for the ministry.

Cuba currently does not have an ambassador in Madrid.

“The Spanish embassy in Havana is working with the Cuban authorities so that they return the credentials to EFE journalists and they can carry out their work,” the spokesman added.

An EFE spokesperson said the Cuban government had not given a reason for withdrawing the accreditations.

The Cuban Embassy in Madrid did not respond to calls to comment when contacted by Reuters, although the embassy was closed on Sunday.

The accreditation of another EFE journalist was withdrawn a month ago, so the agency does not currently have any accredited journalists on the island, EFE said.

Opposition groups called Monday’s march to demand greater political freedoms and the release of jailed activists.

The call for the rally comes after the July protests across the country, amid outrage over the economic crisis and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the island.

The government of the president Miguel Diaz-Canel banned Monday’s march, claiming it is part of a US-led destabilization campaign.



Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx

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