Cuba Archive - Case 3286

Case ID: 3286

Title: N/A

First name: Flavio

Last name: Alonso Piedra

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: 21

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: N/A

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:7 / Month:8 / Year:2024

Citizenship: Cuba

Last known address: N/A

Last known city: N/A

Last known province-TOD: Camagüey

Last known province current: Camagüey

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: Paso de Cuba Prison

Location of death - city: Baracoa

Location of death province - at TOD: Guantánamo

Location of death province - current: Guantánamo

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: No

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: N/A

Arrest or detention at time of death: No

Date of arrest: N/A

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: N/A

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: Military authorities

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

Flavio was assigned for his mandatory military service at a prison in Baracoa. He hanged himself with the strap of his rifle while guarding his post. He had told a fellow recruit that he could no longer stand the abuse and humiliation and was going to take his life, but tte young man took it as a joke. Flavio had been at a military academy for a year, but had asked to be discharged for suffering from depression. He was automatically called up for Active Military Service and military authorities denied his parents' request to reduce service to a year in account of his one year at the military academy. 
Cuba is one of only 25 countries that require military service; males between 17 to 28 must serve for two years. For decades the military service has been synonymous with mistreatment, malnutrition, hunger, forced labor, coerced blood extraction, accidents and even death by negligence, an ordeal that leads many young men to self-harm or suicide. The Cuban government does not provide information on deaths in military service.

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Cumplía su Servicio Militar en la Prisión Paso de Cuba, Baracoa, donde fungía como escolta. Antes de irse para la posta que le tocaba cuidar, le habia dicho a un compañero que no soportaba más que lo estuvieran ultrajando y humillando y que se iba a quitar la vida. El joven pensó que era broma, pero al hacerse el relevo de la guardia, apareció muerto, ahorcado con la correa del fusil. 
Había estado un año en una academia militar de cadetes, pero pidió la baja por padecer de depresión. Automáticamente, lo llamaron para el Servicio Militar Activo (SMA). Las autoridades militares negaron la solicitud de sus padres de que, dada su condición, se le tuviera en cuenta el año en la escuela de cadetes. Se le asignaron los dos años de cumplimiento obligatorio y fue destacado a la prisión.
Cuba es uno de solo 25 países que obligan al servicio militar por dos años a los varones entre 17 y 28 años. Por décadas ha sido sinónimo de maltratos, malnutrición, hambre, trabajo forzado, extracción de sangre bajo coerción, accidentes hasta de muerte por negligencia y un calvario de pesares que lleva a muchos jóvenes a la autoagresión para evadirlo y a un creciente número al suicidio. El gobierno cubano no brinda información sobre los fallecimientos en el servicio militar.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Reported: Highly likely / Highly reliable source(s)

Cause of Death: - Suicide/Alleged Suicide

Occupations: - Military Specific Occupations

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Armed Forces: mandatory military service

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: N/A

Case Record - Flavio Alonso Piedra