Cuba Archive - Case 8694

Case ID: 8694

Title: N/A

First name: Félix Julián

Last name: García García

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: Day:11 / Month:5 / Year:1971

Civil Status: Divorced / Separated

Date of death/disappearance: Day:22 / Month:8 / Year:1999

Citizenship: Cuba

Last known address: 204 Nro. 40117 e/ 403 y 405

Last known city: Santiago de las Vegas

Last known province-TOD: Ciudad de La Habana

Last known province current: Ciudad de La Habana

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: Airport

Location of death - city: Nassau

Location of death province - at TOD: N/A

Location of death province - current: N/A

Location of death - country: Bahamas

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: N/A

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

Félix smuggled himself into the wheel compartment of a British Airways Boeing 777 in flight from Havana to London and was reported dead on arrival at Gatwick Airport in London. However, the family believes he was murdered by Cuban State Security agents in Nassau after the plane made a scheduled stop there before heading for London. A passenger had reported in Havana seeing him boarding the plane and when his body was inspected his neck had injuries unrelated to the reported hypothermia that had killed him. The behavior and Cuban consul in London who handled the case as well as the death certificate also point to this thesis.
Félix had attempted to leave Cuba on two previous occasions, had been imprisoned for one year and one-and-a-half years respectively, had been the target of an act of repudiation, and has been terminated from his job for political reasons. He had openly opposed the government, suffered  political persecution and had requested political asylum in the U.S. The US embassy in Havana was processing his case when he became impatient with threats by State agents of his impending arrest for "enemy propaganda."  He left two children, a girl age 3 and a boy age 5. His mother, siblings and their spouses and children were subsequently granted political asylum in the United States but his two children (a girl, age 3, and a boy age 5) were not allowed to leave the country.

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Se escondió en el compartimiento de la rueda de un Boeing 777 de British Airways en vuelo de La Habana a Londres y fue reportado muerto al llegar al aeropuerto de Gatwick en Londres. Sin embargo, la familia cree que fue asesinado por agentes de la Seguridad del Estado cubano en Nassau cuando el avión hizo una escala programada allí antes de dirigirse a Londres. Una pasajera había informado en La Habana antes del despuegue que lo habían visto abordar el avión y cuando su familia vio el cadaver, el cuello presentaba lesiones ajenas a la supuesta hipotermia que lo había matado. A esta tesis apuntan también la conducta del cónsul cubano en Londres que manejó el caso, así como el certificado de defunción allí otorgado.
Félix había intentado salir de Cuba en dos ocasiones anteriores, había sido encarcelado (por un año y un año y medio respectivamente), objeto de un acto de repudio, y dado de baja de su trabajo por razones políticas. Se oponía abiertamente al gobierno y había sido perseguido políticamente. Había solicitado asilo político en Estados Unidos y la embajada en La Habana tramitaba su caso cuando se impacientó ante amenazas de parte de agentes del Estado de su arresto inminente por "propaganda enemiga".  Dejó dos hijos, una niña de 3 años y un niño de 5. Posteriormente, a su madre y hermanos con sus hijos se les concedió asilo político en los Estados Unidos, pero el gobierno cubano no permitió la salida de sus niños.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Confirmed with primary source(s)

Cause of Death: - Extrajudicial killing, possible/suspected

Occupations: - Production Occupations

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Attempting exit

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: N/A

Case Record - Félix Julián García García