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Despite the deep pain from the loss of his son, Julio César Guerrero Batista, father of José Carlos Guerrero García, one of the 13 deceased following the explosion of an ammunition storage facility in the town of Melones, in Holguín, demanded that a real investigation be conducted into the events and called for the search for the young man's body.
“I want my son's body”, Guerrero demanded emphatically in a heartbreaking message posted on social media.
Your son Julio César is one of the 13 victims of the incident on January 7, who were officially declared deceased by the high command of the Cuban Armed Forces, in a statement released the day before.
Guerrero stated that "the search never began, much less the investigations at the site of the explosion." He claimed that, according to the daily report that an officer from the FAR provided him at his home, the operations "could not start" because at the location "munitions were still detonating, and it was not possible to put rescuers, investigators, and experts at risk."
The distraught father questioned when the search and investigation took place, and revealed that to date, "the families of the victims have not been given a detailed explanation of what happened."
"Why didn’t the minister of the FAR and the provincial PCC secretary meet with the families when they were in Holguín, to at least express their condolences?" they asked.
“I tell him and demand that my son's body and the others be found. What are they going to do with the leftover military material at the site? I want my son’s body,” concluded Guerrero.
In another post on Facebook, the father warned: “Without a body, there will be no ceremony”, a decision supported by family and friends.
The MINFAR commission responsible for investigating the incident declared that, due to “the extreme complexity present in the area as a result of the explosions, the effects of accumulated gases, and the severe damage caused, as well as the real danger of collapses due to the structural impact on the site,” they were unable to reach the location where the 13 individuals -four officers and nine soldiers- who faced the incident in an effort to prevent its spread are located.
According to the official version, “in accordance with the work carried out and the analyses of the specialists,” the ministerial commission and the competent investigative bodies concluded that “the accident site is inaccessible and consequently there is no possibility of life at the site”.
The report stated that, "after several days of intense work," it was determined that the possible cause of the incident "is associated with an electrical failure caused by a short circuit inside the facility."
During the days following the explosion, the regime maintained silence regarding the investigation of the tragic event, which sparked outrage among the victims' families, who denounced negligence, a lack of interest in initiating rescue efforts, and zero information about the inquiries.
Authorities claimed that the risk of further explosions prevented specialists from entering the area of the military unit where the fire and explosions broke out, to begin the search for the missing.
Although the official information from the regime has not confirmed it, it has been reported by family members and acquaintances that the nine soldiers who were victims of the accident were young recruits in the Military Service, which is mandatory for males in Cuba starting at the age of 17.
Amid the pain and indignation caused by the tragedy in which nine young soldiers and four military personnel disappeared, the “No to Military Service” campaign gained new momentum.
Promoted by activists and independent organizations, the initiative calls for the end of Military Service, which is considered by many Cubans to be an oppressive system that poses a danger to young people.
In a report published this Thursday, activist Yamilka Laffita (known as Lara Crofs) revealed that authorities are “pressuring the mothers of the town of Melones to send their children to mandatory military service.”
"Have they still not been able to retrieve the bodies of the children inside the silos, and they are already recruiting more children to send them back to death?" he condemned.
Laffita warned that "the threats from the official Yoel Méndez, who is responsible for summoning the young people from the El Purial People's Council, to the mothers who refuse to send their children into danger, are becoming increasingly frequent."
"Presidency Cuba, Minfar Cuba, your decency and respect have come to an end, right?" the activist lashed out at the authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Explosion in Holguín and the Government's Response
What was the cause of the explosion in Holguín?
The possible cause of the accident was an electrical failure caused by a short circuit inside the facility, as reported by the Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR). This version has been questioned due to a lack of transparency and the delay in providing information to the victims' families.
Why have the bodies of the victims of the explosion not been recovered?
The authorities have claimed that the extreme conditions at the site of the explosion, such as toxic gases, structural damage, and the risk of further collapses, render the area inaccessible. However, this explanation has sparked outrage and criticism for the lack of immediate action and the government's opacity in handling the crisis.
How has the Cuban population reacted to the tragedy in Holguín?
The Cuban population has shown strong indignation and frustration at the government's lack of responses and the secrecy surrounding the investigation of the explosion. The relatives of the victims have denounced negligence and lack of interest in starting the rescue efforts. The tragedy has rekindled the debate on the mandatory Military Service in Cuba.
What has been the official stance of the Cuban government regarding the explosion and its consequences?
The Cuban government has maintained a prolonged silence and has been slow to provide details about the incident. Although President Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed his condolences, the lack of clear and timely information has generated distrust and criticism among the population. The authorities have focused their message on the impossibility of accessing the site for security reasons.
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