White House denounces Cuban government maneuvers to "silence" protesters

The White House denounced Monday, November 15 the maneuvers of the Cuban government to

peaceful demonstrators, including arrests of opponents who were to meet in Havana and six provinces.

, Lamented the White House adviser for national security Jake Sullivan in a statement.

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"The United States is committed to supporting the actions of Cubans who seek to promote democratic change within a social and inclusive movement

," he continued, calling on the Cuban government not to make use of the violence against dissidents.

The police presence, the arrest and the immobilization of several leaders of Cuban dissidence prevented them from carrying out their demonstration on Monday, banned by the authorities who mocked a

of the United States.

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The call to protest came four months after the spontaneous and historic demonstrations of July 11, which left one dead and dozens injured.

Of the 1,270 people arrested this summer, 658 remain in prison, according to the NGO Cubalex, Cuban independent media citing the required sentences of up to 30 years in prison.

The country is experiencing its worst economic crisis in almost 30 years, with severe shortages of food and medicine.

Social discontent is growing and confrontation is at its height between defenders and critics of the government.