CUBA NEWS
January 15, 2003

FROM CUBA
State security's penetration of Cuban society all-pervasive, says ex-agent

HAVANA, January 13 (www.cubanet.org) - A former agent of the Department of
State Security who asked not to be identified says every segment of Cuban society is under surveillance by infiltrated security personnel.

The former agent said Masonic lodges, the Catholic church, and Protestant denominations all have undercover agents among their members who gather information about possible poles of resistance to the government, as well as about the attitudes and opinions of the membership.

Groups practicing religions of African origin are given priority, said the ex-agent, adding that these groups are infiltrated to a greater extent than even dissident groups, because typically dissidents operate openly, whereas African religious groups tend to operate as secret societies.

This is a practice that goes back to colonial times, when African cults were banned by the authorities and secret societies were organized by their practitioners to evade persecution.

Another important duty for security agents is to recruit new agents and informants among the population, the ex-agent said, preferring people with criminal and violent backgrounds. He added that some form of blackmail is the most usual tool employed by the department to control and manipulate new recruits.

Government offices are not exempt from the department's vigilance, the former agent said, adding that every block in every neighborhood has at least one agent or informant watching over the neighbors.


Versión original en español

 

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