The tragic death of Cuban soldier Leandro Muñoz Zamora, who jumped from a moving military bus on Wednesday, June 12, "could have been prevented," say those close to the 20-year-old from Santa Clara. Muñoz Zamora died instantly, just moments after speaking with his girlfriend about his decision.
"I don't think he did it to kill himself, but... we're all devastated. This could have been avoided, and what's happening today at the Hilario Quemado Military Unit in Villa Clara is unacceptable. They are destroying the youth of Cuba. The young soldiers are being mistreated. It's like a prison," said a person close to the deceased, their voice breaking with emotion.
Details on the Incident
The young man boarded the bus in tears, which was scheduled to take him from Santa Clara to Matanzas for six months of construction work, earning a salary of 7,000 pesos (approximately $20 per month) as part of his mandatory military service. His mother came to the pickup point on a scooter to say goodbye, according to a witness who was also on the bus.
According to the witness, when a suitcase fell to the floor, someone made a move to pick it up. In that moment, Muñoz Zamora "gathered momentum" and dove headfirst out of the window. Given the speed of the bus, the impact on the asphalt was fatal.
The driver was the first to get off the bus and approach the victim. He found Muñoz Zamora lying on the ground, checked his pulse, and discovered he had died instantly. "We all believe it was because they sent him far from home. We were being taken against our will and were told in no uncertain terms that leave would only be granted for 15 days every six months. Before this, we were working at Tabacuba (Cuba Tobacco Business Group)," commented the witness, who emphasized that "the young man had medical papers, yet they still took him."
When the mother arrived at the scene of her son's death, it was "a nightmare." "She threw herself on the ground next to him, saying he was just sleeping. We were all in shock, and now we're waiting to see what happens next. We all have family problems," the witness added.
Military Responsibility and Oversight
Another individual close to Muñoz Zamora believes his death could have been avoided "if military service wasn't mandatory. Not just this tragedy but all the others that have occurred." The witness noted that there were 13 people on the bus, including the driver, three women, and a group of soldiers, all of whom were deeply affected by the incident. The transfer to Matanzas was suspended, and the affected soldiers are now waiting at home for further instructions.
Those close to the deceased confirm that he "had medical papers," referring to documents that indicated Muñoz Zamora was psychologically unfit for military service. Despite this, he was still conscripted. "He had panic attacks. He was always afraid of being alone. He had psychological issues and had documentation to prove it, but these were ignored. He got on the bus, and his mother said that when she said goodbye, he started crying. She thought it was just homesickness. Less than 15 minutes later, she got a call saying he had jumped from the bus, which was traveling at 100 km/h, at kilometer 254. That's where it happened."
"It was very irresponsible on the part of the military because there were no responsible officers on the bus to protect the young soldiers. There should have been three military personnel monitoring the kids being transferred to Matanzas, but there was no one. It was a total lack of oversight. It was very wrong," added another individual close to the family.
Despite traveling together during the "pre-deployment" phase, many on the bus did not remember seeing the deceased before. He was discreet and did not draw attention to himself. No one bothered him. He went unnoticed.
Questions Surrounding the Death of Leandro Muñoz Zamora
The tragic incident involving Leandro Muñoz Zamora has raised several critical questions about military oversight and the mandatory service in Cuba. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Could Leandro Muñoz Zamora's death have been prevented?
According to those close to Muñoz Zamora, his death could have been prevented if his psychological condition had been taken into account and if the military service were not mandatory.
What was Leandro Muñoz Zamora's psychological condition?
Muñoz Zamora suffered from panic attacks and was always afraid of being alone. He had medical documentation indicating his psychological unfitness for military service, which was ignored.
What measures were lacking during the bus transfer?
Witnesses reported that there were no responsible officers on the bus to monitor the young soldiers being transferred, which is considered a lack of oversight and contributed to the tragic incident.