In Cuba, where the government mandates that young men serve in the military, many families are faced with dire situations due to this enforced policy. Sandra Jiménez Cruz, a single mother from Moa, Holguín, shared her family's struggles on the Facebook group "revolico holguín," highlighting how this obligation exacerbates her already fragile circumstances.
Jiménez explained that her eldest son has already completed his military service. However, her younger son, who is 19, is being pressured to enlist. "I don't agree with him doing it because I live alone with him and my mother, who is ill and can't be left alone," she stated. During the day, while Sandra works, her younger son takes care of his grandmother since the older sibling lives independently.
The mother shared that military authorities have threatened her with a 5,000 pesos fine if her son does not attend the medical check-up necessary for military service. "If they fine me and I don't pay, they'll arrest me," she added, emphasizing the financial and emotional strain this situation imposes on a family already enduring significant hardships.
Jiménez also described the challenging living conditions they face. In Moa, where water supply issues are frequent, she is forced to fetch water from a well, despite her own health challenges. "I am a single mother with a complicated situation regarding my mom. I hope they stop threatening to take my son to jail," she concluded.
This case illustrates the devastating impact mandatory military service can have on vulnerable families, exposing a system that, rather than safeguarding its citizens, subjects them to decisions that further destabilize their daily lives. Moreover, on social media, families frequently report abuses and mistreatment suffered by young men during their military service, including alarming incidents of suicides and deaths under such conditions.
The mother of Nesky Gabriel Escalona Ortíz, a Cuban youth who was reported missing while fulfilling his military duty and was found dead six days later, confronted officers during his funeral. A video shared on Facebook by the user La Tijera shows the military personnel standing under the shade of trees, away from the grieving family during the burial.
"Get lost, all of you. I gave him to you alive, and look how you return my son, for defending the Revolution," the distressed mother exclaimed. "My son was sick, and they didn't take him to any hospital, none of them. (...) I told them, and none took him to a hospital," she cried out after the coffin was placed.
Impacts of Mandatory Military Service in Cuba
What are the consequences of mandatory military service for families in Cuba?
Mandatory military service in Cuba can place a significant burden on families, especially those already facing economic and social challenges. It can lead to financial penalties, emotional stress, and disrupt family dynamics, as seen in the case of Sandra Jiménez Cruz from Holguín.
How has social media been used to highlight issues with military service in Cuba?
Social media platforms like Facebook have become outlets for families to share their experiences and denounce the abuses and mistreatment faced by young men during mandatory military service. This includes sharing stories of inadequate medical care and reports of suicides and deaths.