Cuba Archive - Case 9014

Case ID: 9014

Title: N/A

First name: Miguel Angel

Last name: Ares Polo

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: Mario Ares Polo, Mario Arez Polo, Roberto Ares Polo, Mario Polo Ares

Age: 27

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: Day:22 / Month:6 / Year:1930

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:6 / Month:2 / Year:1959

Citizenship: Cuba

Last known address: Campanario #358

Last known city: Havana

Last known province-TOD: La Habana

Last known province current: Ciudad de La Habana

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: La Cabaña Fortress prison

Location of death - city: Havana

Location of death province - at TOD: La Habana

Location of death province - current: Ciudad de La Habana

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: Yes

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: Capital punishment

Arrest or detention at time of death: Yes

Date of arrest: Day:8 / Month:1 / Year:1959

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: La Cabaña Fortress prison

How long imprisoned/detained: Almost one month

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: N/A

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

Policeman only for three months when the Revolution came to power, executed just hours after his trial on false charges fabricated by several persons brought to his trial that he had never seen. During his detention at La Cabaña, he gave the family the book on the life of Christ he had in prison that was dedicated to a friend  asking God to forgive those who falsely accused him. 'To the prosecutor that asked for my death sentence and the tribunal that accepted it, may God have mercy. ...Pray for my soul, although I am going to heaven. ... Cowards die every day, the brave die only once. One of his sisters was allowed to attend the appeal, presided by Che Guevara, in the early morning hours. When his sentences was confirmed, she shook Che by the shoulders and told him: "My brother is innocent and he is not traitor. You communists, you are the traitors." Che's eyes widened and his bodyguard put his rifle over her shoulders, to make her back off. Miguel was inmediatloy led to his execution. He refused a blindfold.
_______________

Policía solo por tres meses cuando la Revolución llegó al poder, ejecutado pocas horas después de su juicio por falsas acusaciones fabricadas por varias personas llevadas a su juicio que nunca había visto. Durante su detención en La Cabaña, le dio a la familia el libro sobre la vida de Cristo que tenía en la cárcel que estaba dedicado a un amigo pidiendo a Dios que perdonara a los que lo acusaban falsamente. "Para el fiscal que pidió mi sentencia de muerte y el tribunal que la aceptó, que Dios tenga misericordia. ... Rezad por mi alma, aunque yo vaya al cielo. ... Los cobardes mueren todos los días, los valientes sólo mueren una vez. A una de sus hermanas se le permitió asistir a la apelación, presidida por el Che Guevara, en las primeras horas de la mañana. Cuando sus sentencia fue confirmada, sacudió a Che por los hombros y le dijo: mi hermano es inocente y no es traidor. "Ustedes comunistas son los traidores." Los ojos de Che se abrieron y su guardaespaldas puso su rifle sobre sus hombros, para hacerla retroceder. Miguel fue inmediatamente llevado a su ejecución. Se negó a que le vendaran los ojos.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Confirmed with primary source(s)

Cause of Death: - Execution: by firing squad

Occupations: - Protective Service Occupations

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Government official (civilian, police, State Security, etc.)

Affiliations: - Catholic

Other Victims Same Event: - Case 303: José Luis Alfaro Sierra

Case Record - Miguel Angel Ares Polo