Havana Cuba. — I learned the name of Humberto Eladio Real Suárez in 1994. He was accused of a serious crime against State security, and his parents, who wanted him to have an independent defense attorney, not affiliated with collective law firms, contacted him. talk to me As I have done every time a compatriot facing Castroism has requested my professional services, I gave my consent.
The defendant’s parents requested the then Minister of Justice to grant the necessary authorization because, according to current Cuban legislation, so that a lawyer who does not belong to the ONBC (National Organization of Collective Law Firms) can represent a person who does not is neither a spouse nor a relative of yours, the aforementioned senior official is required to give his consent.
In the case of Humberto Eladio, the same situation was repeated that has taken place every time a compatriot has made a similar request in which my name has been used. But the aforementioned Ministry, at least, deigned to send a written response. If my memory serves me correctly, in that answer it was argued that I had been separated from the ONBC. But of course, if that were not the case, the ministerial authorization would not have been needed!
I reiterate that, despite its negative meaning, the paper that from the offices of the government manager of “Cuban Justice” was kind enough to send to the parents of the accused, satisfied me; on other occasions, they did not even deign to do that. I remember, for example, the case of the great writer and journalist Raúl Rivero, who, unfortunately, died in Miami in November 2021.
As a result of his arbitrary arrest and indictment in the “Cause of the 75”, his wife spoke to me. According to what she told me, the request to the Minister of Justice was made with all the speed that the case required (remember that, in that fierce repressive onslaught, everything was done in a hurry). The answer came by telephone: they told him that I would not be authorized to act; that she look for a lawyer in the collective law firms if she did not want her husband to be represented by the public defender.
Returning to the case in which Humberto Eladio and other defendants appeared, I must point out that their facts are out of the ordinary. The heavily armed anti-Castro group of which he was a part arrived in Cuban territory. Despite how long the coasts of the Greater Antilles are, the landing took place on one of the causeways created as a result of one of the many hobbies of the founder of the dynasty.
Of course, in these adverse conditions, the adventure could not have a favorable outcome for the expedition members. The only exit to the Island of Cuba was by the same causeway; and in this one, as is known, there is no lack of seals. In short, the attempt resulted in the arrest of Real Suárez and his brothers in arms.
In the midst of attempts to get off the causeway, the driver of one of the cars intercepted by the expedition members was killed. Everything seems to indicate that it was an accidental event. I affirm this because any shot that was fired in that remote spot could only serve to alert Castro’s agents, as in truth happened.
For six years, the terrible threat of the death penalty by firing squad hung over the head of Humberto Eladio. Luckily for him, he did not have to suffer that terrible punishment, devised, established and applied very frequently by the Castroites; who, moreover, are proud of that barbarity. Do not forget the repulsive boast of Ernesto Guevara from Rosario at the UN, as a representative of the Cuban government: “We have executed and will continue to execute.”
Instead of suffering that irreversible penalty, Real Suárez has had to spend a whopping 29 years in the terrible communist ergastula. I, who have hardly been an involuntary guest of those islands of the “DGP Archipelago” (General Directorate of Prisons) for a few years, I imagine the magnitude of their terrible ordeal, which ended last Thursday.
Happily, whoever did not become my client left behind that terrible scenario and is now among his own; among those same exemplary parents, who spoke to me so many years ago and who did not abandon him for a single minute. The statements expressed by someone who is already an ex-captive (in particular, those that he formulated exclusively for this same digital newspaper within hours of his release) speak very loudly about the integrity of his convictions.
“It hasn’t been easy,” said Humberto Eladio, using that euphemism that our people have made so fashionable to talk about the atrocities of Castroism. And then, in a more direct and international language: “It has been hard, but we Cubans are harder, we bear it patiently.” And he added: “If I was ever afraid, it was for my family, for the things that we know are happening in Cuba.”
I would not like to end this chronicle without alluding to those who publicly criticize those who, in their fight against communism, resort to violent forms of struggle, as happened in the case of Real Suárez himself. It is true that these are means that differ from those used by the writer of this and his comrades in the peaceful struggle against Castroism. But I reject the claim of some to deny them the status of political prisoners. Wasn’t that quality recognized in the “Maximum Leader” and his adventure companions? They not only made armed landings and caused the death of numerous people. Among the members of his gang there were even those who went much further, and even planted bombs in public places.
So, to finish, I would only like to express: Welcome the release of the political prisoner Humberto Eladio Real Suárez! Hopefully he can materialize his emigration plans soon! And God willing that, now in lands of freedom, he can resume (probably in other ways) his fight against the Cuban communist dictatorship!
OPINION ARTICLE
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