The Board of Associations of the Ministry of Justice of Cuba (MINJUS) invalidated the expulsion of former Grand Master Mario Alberto Urquía Carreño and reinstated him at the helm of the Supreme Council and the Grand Lodge of the island.
According to Cubanet, the court ruled in favor of Urquía Carreño, who was removed from his duties by the nation's Masons themselves after the theft of $19,000 from the National Masonic Asylum at the beginning of the year.
Through a letter addressed to the Sovereign Grand Commander, José Ramón Viñas Alonso, the MINJUS indicated that the investigative process should have been in the hands of a "Superior Tribunal," therefore violating the rights of the Grand Master to have proper proceedings and the presumption of innocence.
Throughout the entire process that has taken place up to this date, we have observed violations of rights that are recognized for me as a Cuban citizen in the first place, up to those regulated by the internal rules of the mentioned Masonic bodies" , states the letter accessed by CubaNet.
In this way, the MINJUS revoked the decision of the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree for the Republic of Cuba, which unanimously decreed the expulsion of the Grand Master due to "the serious conduct analyzed" by the High Chamber.
As a result of that decision by the Supreme Council, last March the representatives of the more than 300 lodges in the country also agreed to expel Urquía, preventing him from opening and presiding over the semiannual session of the Masonic High Chamber (Legislative Power).
With the aforementioned verdict, Urquía Carreño reassumes his position before the Grand Lodge of Cuba, which not only invalidates the desires of the Masons but also renders the appointment of Juan Alberto Kessel Linares as Grand Master inadmissible.
The obvious acquittal, in addition, the accusations against Urquía for failure to report and preserve the assets of economic entities, which were made in February on behalf of the Board of the Asylum and the Director of the Masonic National Asylum.
Also, he was accused before the Cuban authorities of embezzling $2,360, something that is not mentioned in any document, while MINJUS acknowledges Urquía's involvement in the report of the theft of $19,000 and alleges that "he has not been charged, nor has he been made available to the Prosecutor's Office, and the case was concluded as unfounded."
When Urquía Carreño communicated what had happened last January, he assured that initially most of the brothers understood that the theft of the money was a despicable act and beyond their control, and he committed to replacing the money.
But that apparent support disappeared and the masonic community of the island expressed its total rejection of the reinstatement of the Grand Master, as it considers the verdict of the MINJUS to be an interference in their affairs and an imposition of its decisions.
According to CubaNet, some Masons expressed their concern about the government's actions, which aim to "dominate the Masons and get rid of all those who are uncomfortable to the dictatorship."
Similarly, historian Gustavo Pardo stated that the authorities' decision could lead to "very regrettable events for the Cuban Fraternity, including the removal from office of the current Sovereign Grand Commander and even the possible irregularity of the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree."
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