Madrid, Spain.- Cuban activist Omar Ruiz Urquiola denounced on social networks A new episode of harassment against his mother, Isabel Urquiola, occurred on the family farm “Hell”, located in Viñales, Pinar del Río. According to his testimony, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture (Minagri) and a local peasant forced two animals – a cow called Natividad and his nacho calf – without authorization or legal justification, despite Isabel’s efforts to prevent it.
In his publication, Omara reported that his mother, 77, went personally to try to recover the animals, transferred to the farmer’s farm identified as “the Dopico child”, who acknowledged having called Carlos Fleitas, head of Livestock of the Minagri in Viñales. This would have coordinated with other officials the execution of the operation to confiscate the animals, protecting themselves in alleged environmental damage in dry land, an argument that, according to Omara, lacks foundation. “Obviously he did not accept any repair,” he wrote.
Carlos Fleites, “You no longer ask for bribes, now you are worth the Chivato Dopico to steal an old woman,” said Omara in his networks.
Ruiz Urquiola also denounced that fences and doors were violated to extract animals, and that the justification used was that they were on the grounds of the Viñales National Park. “They cannot create, they only enhance the human miseries,” he said in his message, where he also said that his mother was a victim of a coordinated action between the Minagri and the State Security.
Through comments in the same publication, dozens of users expressed their outrage at what they consider an abusive act against an old woman who keeps the family farm alone. “An old woman who can’t have her children by her side and abuse her without compassion,” wrote an Internet user. Others emphasized the impunity with which state officials operate in rural areas.
Years of state harassment against the Ruiz Urquiola family
The Ruiz Urquiola family has been the target of a systematic repression by the Cuban government for years. Last Novembera delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture in Viñales, headed by Jorge Miguel Martínez Hernández, was presented at the “Hell” farm and gave Isabel Urquiola resolution 174/24, through which the extinction of the usufruct granted to his son, the environmental and environmental activist Ariel Ruiz Urquiola is ordered.
The agency claimed that Ariel did not extend the usufruct in time, which has been absent from the country for more than six months and has breached contract clauses. However, the family has denounced that Ariel’s absence was forced, since the Ministry of Interior itself (Minint), through the Directorate of Immigration and Foreigners, has forbidden entry to Cuba since its exit from the country. The same measure has been applied to his sister Omara, who has a current notarial power that authorizes it to manage the farm and animals.
Despite the restrictions, Isabel Urquiola –Retired Biology Professor and with recognized trajectory as an educator – he has managed to keep the farm operational. The family has also denounced that the authorities have intimidated local peasants to prevent them from collaborating with the farm or taking care of the cattle, which is mostly pregnant. “They intend to take them to the slaughterhouse as a form of emotional punishment to the family,” said Omara.
Isabel refused to sign the resolution of extinction of the usufruct and assured that she will defend property and rights over animals “even with his life.”
The ecological project developed by Ariel Ruiz Urquiola In the farm it has been subject to international attention and recognition. Ariel was imprisoned in 2018 on positions questioned by human rights defenders. Subsequently, he carried out hunger strikes to denounce violations of his rights, including forced administration of prison substances.
