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As hours go by, outrage among Cubans grows over the "disappearance" of nine military recruits in the explosions that took place early Tuesday morning in an arms and ammunition storage facility in the municipality of Rafael Freyre, in Holguín.
Although the Informative Note from the Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) did not specify, numerous internet users on social media agree that the nine soldiers reported as "missing" are young individuals who were fulfilling their Military Service.
That same Military Service that a diplomat from MINREX stated in May 2022 at a United Nations event that was not "mandatory."
If it is confirmed that the nine missing "soldiers" are recruits, it would mean a repeat of the loss of innocent young people, similar to what happened during the fire at the Supertanker Base in Matanzas in August 2022, when several young individuals who were serving as firefighters lost their lives while fulfilling their mandatory military service.
The missing individuals are Leinier Jorge Sánchez Franco; Frank Antonio Hidalgo Almaguer; Liander José García Oliva; Yunior Hernández Rojas; Rayme Rojas Rojas; Carlos Alejandro Acosta Silva; Brian Lázaro Rojas Long; José Carlos Guerrero García, and Héctor Adrián Batista Zayas.
“What should we do? Stay silent as always? Admit it was just a human error, another one? I have a son who could have been there, and so do you. Children who are forced to comply with a task that neither you, nor I, nor they accept; otherwise, if they refuse, they would go to prison. They are recruits, they hold the same status as prisoners, and they are children...", questioned the internet user identified on social media as "Eduardo Chibás".
Also outraged was the art historian Miryorly García, who expressed the feelings of many Cubans:
“What indignation! I cannot remain silent about the lack of shame and humanity of this government and the Cuban press. […] It is something psychopathic, so cold, so apathetic, that it is frightening. No one is safe, poor mothers who were ‘informed,’ how painful it is to know once again that our lives and those of our children do not matter to them,” she wrote on Facebook.
García also denounced the treatment by the official press, which limited information about the incident in Holguín, mentioning only names and vague figures of the missing, while dedicating an extensive report to Díaz-Canel's recent excursion to the Sierra Maestra, where he was even recorded dancing, "as if there were something to celebrate."
“And immediately after, the brief news, shrouded in secrecy [...] It is something psychopathic, so cold, so indifferent, that it terrifies. No one is safe, poor mothers who were "informed," how painful it is to know, once again, that our lives and those of our children do not matter to them because it is simply and coldly psychopathic individuals who govern this country. A sad and complicit role for the Cuban press,” concluded Miriorly.
"Why aren't all the journalists from Holguín in Rafael Freyre covering the news of the explosions? Why did a broadcaster read a poorly written note on television as the latest news in the newscast? If the explosion was the most important, shocking, and tragic event that happened yesterday," questioned the activist known as "Edmundo Dantés Junior," who also criticized Díaz-Canel's silence in the initial hours following the tragedy.
Also outraged is lawyer Manuel Viera.
"I am stepping back for today. The frustration I feel is overwhelming. Children continue to die because of stubbornness and absurdity. Children the same age as my son!
The old weapons from the Cold War meant for an enemy that never came... for the boogeyman... for the historical enemy... now they are killing our children.
I wish Cuba would change forever... I wish to live in a country without an army," Viera wrote on Facebook.
The activist Yamilka Laffita (Lara Crofs), for her part, lashed out at the post of a Cuban who tried to romanticize the tragedy.
"The desperation to minimize and exalt unfounded values is nauseating. The homeland is not the futile and unnecessary death of our youth. To romanticize yesterday's tragic event is implausible. 'Homeland is humanity; it is that part of humanity that we see most closely and in which we were born; and one must not allow the sacred name to be used to defend useless monarchies,'" Laffita pointed out.
“Moments of terror experienced by residents near the military unit that exploded in Holguín. Cuban mother, do not send your son to mandatory military service,” said journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, who clearly urged Cuban mothers not to send their sons to military service.
The Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) of Cuba has declared 13 people "missing" as a result of the explosions that occurred early Tuesday morning in an arms and ammunition warehouse in the Melones community, in the Rafael Freyre municipality, Holguín.
Among the missing, the MINFAR identified two military personnel with the rank of "Major," two "Second Non-Commissioned Officers," and nine "Soldiers."
In addition to the mentioned soldiers, the following are "missing": Major Leonar Palma Matos; Major Carlos Carreño del Río; Second Sergeant Orlebanis Tamé Torres; and Second Sergeant Yoennis Pérez Durán.
Many hours after the tragic event, Miguel Díaz-Canel and Manuel Marrero have spoken out on their social media regarding the incident that occurred in Holguín; on the contrary, both have posted on X separate expressions of condolences to China for the victims of the earthquake in Tibet.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Explosion at the Military Warehouse in Holguín
How many people are missing after the explosion in Holguín?
A total of 13 people are missing following the explosions at the military warehouse in Holguín, including nine soldiers fulfilling their Military Service, two military personnel holding the rank of "Major," and two "Second Sergeants."
What caused the explosions at the military warehouse in Holguín?
The explosions at the military warehouse in Holguín were caused by a fire while aging munitions were being sorted. This type of material requires extremely strict handling conditions to prevent incidents.
What has been the reaction of the Cuban government to the incident?
The Cuban government, led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, has faced criticism for prioritizing messages of condolences to China before publicly addressing the incident in Holguín, leaving many Cuban families with a sense of abandonment and insensitivity in the face of the tragedy.
How has this incident affected the perception of Military Service in Cuba?
The incident has intensified criticism of Mandatory Military Service in Cuba, with voices both on the island and abroad calling for its abolishment due to the unnecessary risks posed to the young people involved. The tragedy has rekindled the debate over the relevance and safety of the Cuban military system.
What is the status of Military Service in Cuba and its mandatory nature?
The Military Service in Cuba is mandatory for males upon turning 16, lasting two years, except for those who gain admission to a university, who serve for one year. According to MINFAR, this obligation is seen as an "honorable duty," but it has been criticized due to the increasing severity of penalties and the conditions reported in military units, such as food shortages and hazardous assignments, including the deadly fire in Matanzas. Social resistance is growing, with campaigns like #NoToMandatoryMilitaryService and acts of opposition, such as publicly refusing to register children for service, as reflected in testimonies collected by CiberCuba.
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