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In a new case of prison violence in Cuba, a 73-year-old prisoner died this weekend after being beaten by a guard at Kilo 8 prison in Camagüey province, according to a report by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH).
The inmate Ulises Rodríguez Machado passed away after being attacked by the internal order officer Daniel Primeyes, revealed a statement from the OCDH.
According to sources from the prison to the organization, the prisoner was transferred to receive medical attention when his condition was already critical, although it has not been clarified whether he was taken to the prison hospital or to the Inmate Ward of the Amalia Simoni Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital, “where the most severe cases are usually treated”.
The prison director, Juan Miguel Sánchez Duarte, "would have attempted to conceal the incident and the circumstances surrounding the death," the statement warned.
OCDH stated that “this case adds to a list of reports concerning abuses and violence within the Cuban penitentiary system, especially in the prison of Kilo 8, known for its inhumane conditions and mistreatment of inmates.”
The report recalled that the officer accused of the aggression that led to Rodríguez's death has previously been reported for his involvement in incidents of extreme violence.
The note detailed the case of "the beating of inmate Roberto Esquivel González, with metal rods and batons, in which he nearly died and in which Daniel Primeyes and a group of internal security guards from the prison (Kilo 7) actively participated."
"The actions of officials like Daniel Primeyes reflect not only personal acts of abuse but also a pattern of impunity and institutional complicity that allows these atrocities to occur behind the walls of Cuban prisons. The victims and their families cry out for justice while the international community is urged to take action in the face of this landscape of violence and repression," emphasized the OCDH.
"There is no kind of mercy towards prisoners, even if they are elderly. Last November, the OCDH reported to the Inter-American Commission the situation of older adults in the Cuban prison system," the text emphasized.
The case of Rodríguez Machado adds to the recent deaths of other inmates in Cuban prisons, under alarming circumstances.
In December, news emerged about the alleged murder in prison of Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas, a member of the Unión Patriótica de Cuba (UNPACU), promoter of Cuba Decide, and demonstrator from the 11J protests, who was serving a sentence in the Combinado del Este in Havana.
Also, deaths of inmates due to negligence or lack of medical care, physical deterioration, or malnutrition have been reported, according to complaints from human rights organizations.
Frequent deaths have generated a wave of criticism towards the Cuban regime for the inhumane conditions in prisons and the denial or delay in medical attention as repressive mechanisms.
Frequently Asked Questions about Prison Violence and Human Rights Violations in Cuba
What happened to Ulises Rodríguez Machado in Kilo 8 prison?
Ulises Rodríguez Machado, a 73-year-old prisoner, died after being beaten by an internal security officer named Daniel Primeyes at the Kilo 8 prison in Camagüey. The incident was reported by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH), which also uncovered attempts at cover-up by the prison authorities.
What is Daniel Primeyes' history of violence in Cuban prisons?
Daniel Primeyes has been previously reported for his involvement in acts of extreme violence within Cuban prisons. He is accused of having beaten another inmate, Roberto Esquivel González, with metal bars and clubs in an incident at Kilo 7 prison. According to the OCDH, this reflects a pattern of impunity and institutional complicity.
How has the Cuban government responded to allegations of violence in prisons?
The Cuban government has remained silent in the face of increasing reports regarding inhumane conditions and violence in prisons. Authorities have not implemented significant improvements nor conducted independent investigations, despite international criticism and calls for justice from human rights organizations.
What impact do prison conditions have on human rights in Cuba?
The prison conditions in Cuba are extremely precarious and violate basic human rights. Inmates face violence, medical negligence, and poor nutrition, resulting in numerous deaths. Human rights organizations have denounced these conditions as a tool of repression used by the Cuban regime against dissenters and political prisoners.
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