Worried Cubans Passing Out Guns at Farms and Factories

HAVANA — Cuba’s Communist authorities, worried about rising crime and the threat of sabotage by “counterrevolutionaries,” are handing out thousands of guns to civilian workers to protect farms and factories.

Gen. Sixto Batista Santana, who is helping to coordinate new nationwide security measures, told Cuban television Tuesday night that the measures are aimed at protecting strategic economic installations against Cuba’s enemies both internal and external.

He said the new security system introduced across the island involves increased public participation and had recently helped to thwart a sabotage raid by three Cuban exiles from the United States.

One of the three armed raiders captured Dec. 29, Eduardo Diaz Betancourt, was executed by firing squad Monday after being found guilty of planning terrorist and sabotage attacks.