On Monday, fresh insights emerged regarding the tragic death of 19-year-old Nesky Gabriel Escalona Ortiz, who was discovered hanged at a Cuban military unit while serving his mandatory military service. These revelations were brought to light by Martí Noticias, which obtained information from a family source who requested anonymity.
The source recounted that Escalona Ortiz had expressed his dissatisfaction to his older brother's wife, with whom he shared a close relationship. The young man had conveyed his unease about conditions at the Tank Unit in La Sierra, located in Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque province. He hinted at something unusual occurring but chose not to elaborate over the phone, preferring an in-person conversation. The source suggested that Escalona Ortiz might have been experiencing some form of mistreatment within the military institution.
Yudenia Ortiz, the young man's mother, was one of the first to raise concerns about her son's well-being to the unit's superiors. "In recent weeks, he was clearly depressed, no longer wanting to stay at the unit and repeatedly pleading with his mother to remove him, even suggesting he might have to take drastic measures if he remained," the source revealed. However, these warnings were met with indifference by the officers, who dismissed them as unimportant. "The mother showed these messages to the officers, but they reacted without giving them proper attention," the source added.
Physical changes in Escalona Ortiz also raised alarm, as he developed swelling in the front of his neck, attributed to stress. His mother reported this condition as well, but the young man did not receive the necessary medical care.
Funeral Confrontation Highlights Family's Grief
During the funeral, Escalona Ortiz's mother confronted the military officers. A video shared on Facebook captured the scene, showing the military personnel standing at a distance under the shade of trees, away from the grieving family. "Get lost, all of you! I gave you my son alive, and look at him now, all for defending the revolution," the anguished mother exclaimed.
"My son was sick, and you didn't take him to any hospital. I told you, and you didn't take him," she cried out, visibly distressed, after the coffin was placed.
His father, Franklin Escalona, also voiced his frustration, criticizing the conditions faced by conscripts in the military service. "They mistreat them, keeping them on 24-hour guard duty without food or rest, carrying an AKM without being able to sit or crouch, without purpose. What is the green uniform for? To defend the country, not to abuse the youth. This country is a disgrace, damn communists," he lamented through tears.
Growing Calls to End Mandatory Military Service
The young man was found six days after being reported missing, hanging near his unit in an advanced state of decomposition. Despite growing demands for the abolition of mandatory military service in Cuba, the regime recently intensified penalties for those who fail to comply, imposing hefty fines that also impact family members.
The Cuban government's official gazette published Decree 103/2024 on Wednesday, October 9, detailing the sanctions and administrative penalties for failing to fulfill military duties on the island.