Cuban authorities reinstate work permits of two out of five Efe journalists

International Desk, Nov 14 (EFE).- Cuban authorities on Sunday reinstated the work permits of two of the five journalists with the Agencia Efe team that got their press credentials revoked.

Gabriela Canas, the news agency’s president, said that getting back only two work permits was insufficient and demanded all credentials be restored.

The team – three reporters, a photographer and a videographer – received Saturday an urgent summons to the International Press Center, where they were informed that they were to cease work immediately.

The International Press Institute (IPI) condemned the decision in a Twitter post and called on the authorities to reverse it.

“IPI strongly condemns the decision by Cuban authorities to revoke @EFEnoticias press accreditation and urges to reinstate it immediately.

“It is vital for people in #Cuba and around the world to receive accurate news from the island at this crucial time.”

Yunior Garcia Aguilera, one of the leaders of the planned anti-government demonstrations in Cuba, said on Sunday the government was preventing him from leaving his house to go on a march from Havana.

In a Facebook live video, Garcia Aguilera said that agents deployed outside his house on the outskirts of the Cuban capital have thrown out several journalists who were trying to cover the events.

“My house woke up under siege, the entire building is surrounded by plain-clothes agents,” said the playwright turned activist.

Garcia Aguilera also denounced the agents tried to dismiss several foreign journalists who had approached the building.