The independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada unveiled new and shocking details about the death of Eldis Leyva Nieves, a 19-year-old who died during a shooting practice in Guantánamo while fulfilling his Mandatory Military Service.
According to the reporter's publication, the accident occurred during a rocket exercise at the firing range of Maqueisito in the province of Guantánamo. The detonation of one of the devices caused fatal injuries to the young man, who suffered "spinal cord rupture, severe damage to the aorta, and three heart attacks during the surgery," according to the information released.
Eldis was transferred to the hospital Agostinho Neto, where he passed away at 6:38 p.m. on Friday, December 18. He was expected to turn 20 years old on the upcoming January 21, the journalist noted.
The young man's body was transported early in the morning from Guantánamo to his hometown, Ocujal del Turquino, in the Santiago municipality of Guamá. His wake, as described by Mayeta Labrada, was characterized by a long wait and strict institutional oversight. It initially lasted two hours and resumed for another two after the arrival of his father from Venezuela.
"The burial took place at the Ocujal del Turquino Cemetery, where a military tribute was held with honors and the 'Last Post' as a military salute," stated the journalist, who published images and videos of the funeral. Members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) and family members participated in the ceremony.
According to their report, people close to the family believed that the tribute "seemed more like an attempt to close the case and absolve responsibilities than a true act of transparency or justice." It also noted that, unofficially, "a lifetime check will be granted to the mother, officially presented as compensation, but which effectively operates as a 'silence pension'."
During the incident, Captain Eduardo Maturel García from the Artillery Regiment also sustained injuries. According to available information, he is under medical observation with minor wounds.
So far, military authorities have not issued any statement regarding the incident nor provided technical details about the causes of the explosion. Mayeta Labrada pointed out that "no official Cuban press outlet has reported the death of Eldis Leyva Nieves, keeping the case completely secret and under wraps, despite the fact that it involves a death that occurred during a mandatory state service."
The journalist concluded his publication with a sentence that summarized the family's and the community's demand: "Silence does not erase the facts. Honors do not replace accountability. A life lost demands truth."
The young Eldis Leyva Nieves, native of Ocujal del Turquino, was part of the Military Unit 2431 of the Frontier Brigade in Guantánamo. According to earlier reports about the incident, the rocket he was handling detonated in mid-air during a military exercise, causing serious injuries to several of those present. This initial information indicated that another military personnel, identified as Captain Eduardo Maturel García, was injured and remained hospitalized in stable condition.
Eldis had recently completed his studies in Nursing and was a twin. His family and neighbors describe him as a calm and hardworking young man, with life projects interrupted by the accident.
The case adds to other deaths of Cuban recruits in recent years while fulfilling Mandatory Military Service, under circumstances ranging from accidents to untreated illnesses or alleged abuses in military units.
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