Cuba Archive - Case 3495

Case ID: 3495

Title: N/A

First name: Manuel

Last name: Acosta Larena

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: 47

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: N/A

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:24 / Month:6 / Year:2007

Citizenship: N/A

Last known address: Calle Panchito Gómez Toro, between Marco and Martí

Last known city: Aguada de Pasajeros

Last known province-TOD: Cienfuegos

Last known province current: Cienfuegos

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: Police station

Location of death - city: Aguada de Pasajeros

Location of death province - at TOD: Cienfuegos

Location of death province - current: Cienfuegos

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: No

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: N/A

Arrest or detention at time of death: Yes

Date of arrest: Day:22 / Month:6 / Year:2007

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: Police station in Aguada de Pasajeros

How long imprisoned/detained: Three days

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: N/A

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

Political prisoner detained in the police station in Aguada de Pasajeros for alleged 'pre-criminal social dangerousness.' He was found dead in his cell hanging by his own pants. He had been arrested for gathering signatures for a petition to free all political prisoners and was to go on trial for: 1. meeting with groups hostile to the government, 2. not working for the government, and 3. not having participated in Committees in Defense of the Revolution since 1980.  He had previously served a prison term of two years for contempt. Having worked to promote the Varela Project, he was in good mental health and never gave any indication that he could commit suicide. His widow lost their house for denouncing his death.
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Prisionero político detenido en la comisaría de Aguada de Pasajeros por presunta 'peligrosidad social previa a cometer un crimen.' Fue encontrado muerto en su celda colgando de sus propios pantalones. Había sido arrestado por reunir firmas para una petición de liberación de todos los presos políticos y debía ir a juicio por: 1. reunión con grupos hostiles al gobierno, 2. no trabajar para el gobierno, y 3. no haber participado en comités en Defensa de la Revolución desde 1980. Anteriormente había cumplido una pena de prisión de dos años por desacato. Habiendo trabajado para promover el Proyecto Varela, estaba en buena salud mental y nunca dio ninguna indicación de que pudiera suicidarse. Su viuda perdió su casa por denunciar su muerte.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Confirmed with primary source(s)

Cause of Death: - Suicide/Alleged Suicide

Occupations: - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Prisoner / Detainee: Political cause

Affiliations: - Movimiento Democracia - Varela Project

Other Victims Same Event: N/A

Case Record - Manuel Acosta Larena