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Relatives of Michel Ortega Casanova, one of the Cubans killed in a presumed confrontation with border guard forces off the coast of Corralillo, Villa Clara, are demanding the repatriation of his body to give him a dignified burial.
Michel's daughter, wife, and brother gathered in Tampa with other Cuban exiles, where they shared their grief and highlighted the life and values of the deceased while denouncing the official narrative put forth by the Castro regime.
Her daughter Daily Ortega González, eight and a half months pregnant, tearfully expressed to Telemundo 51: "All I want is to have him back. To hold a vigil and give him the farewell he deserves. My dad was an upstanding man. He lived for his daughter, his family, his home."
The young woman added that what pains her the most is that her father is being labeled a terrorist: "All he wanted was for his grandchildren, of whom he has four, to live a better life in Cuba… But he did not want to hurt anyone, I am sure, because my dad was an upright man."
Ivelisse Alisea, Michel's wife, thanked everyone for their support during the tribute: "Thank you to all the people who, in one way or another, have supported this situation; for me, the demonstrations of love for my husband have also been very significant."
According to the report from Telemundo 51, the family reached out to the United States embassy in Havana for assistance with the procedures to repatriate the body, but they have not yet received a response. For them, recovering the remains would provide some comfort amidst their great sorrow and would allow them to say goodbye with dignity.
Misael Ortega Casanova, brother of Michel, described the account from Havana as confusing and contradictory, and called for an independent investigation to be conducted.
"Let it be investigated, let the steps be taken. As someone said, lies can run for a long time, but the truth will catch up one day. And since the truth is on our side, it will speak louder on its own than the many words the Cuban government wishes to convey, wishes to instill," he noted.
He reiterated that the family has not received information from federal or state authorities, but they trust that the facts will be clarified.
The gathering, held at Casa Cuba, was marked by the pain and indignation of the family members and friends of the deceased Cubans.
Participants claimed that the victims were "massacred" and questioned the official narrative regarding the confrontation, while insisting on the need for justice and transparency.
A patriot, not a terrorist
Michel Ortega Casanova, a 54-year-old truck driver, had been in the United States for over 20 years and was a U.S. citizen.
He owned his home, was married, and had two children: one in Spain and the other in Lakeland. "A normal boy," he emphasized.
The Casa Cuba organization of Tampa described him as "a patriot" and declared three days of mourning with flags at half-mast.
On its part, the Republican Party of Cuba, which Michel was a member of, issued a statement disassociating itself from the action taken by the 10 Cubans who departed in the boat from the United States.
The organization stated that its work is strictly political and that it does not direct armed actions or exercise control over the individual decisions of its members. It confirmed that Michel Ortega Casanova belonged to the party but emphasized that it was unaware of his intentions or involvement in the incident.
The alleged confrontation between the boat and the Cuban Border Guard troops occurred on Wednesday, February 25, in Cayo Falcones, in the municipality of Corralillo, Villa Clara, in the northeast area of the El Pino channel.
The Ministry of the Interior reported that most of the occupants had a history in Cuba of "criminal and violent activities." A U.S. official indicated that some of them had criminal records.
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