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Missing Young Recruit in Havana Found Safe and Sound

Thursday, January 9, 2025 by Grace Ramos

Missing Young Recruit in Havana Found Safe and Sound
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Daniel Cuesta Velázquez, a young recruit who had been reported missing in Havana since Sunday, has been found. He disappeared while on his way to a military unit where he was fulfilling his compulsory military service. "Daniel has been found, his father says he's on his way home, thank God," reported an activist known online as "Asere Backagain." As is typical in these situations, no additional details were provided regarding Daniel's whereabouts during his disappearance or how he reconnected with his family.

Prior to Daniel's return, his father, Elieser Cuesta, had taken to social media in a desperate bid to alert the public about his son's disappearance. Daniel, who lives in the Las Brisas neighborhood in the Cotorro municipality, was supposed to report to a military unit located in El Cacahual, between Managua and Santiago de las Vegas. According to his father's earlier statements, Daniel never made it to the military facility.

"Today, they informed me that he didn't show up, and he was supposed to be there since Monday," Elieser Cuesta stated.

The Burden of Mandatory Military Service in Cuba

Recently, several cases of missing young recruits from the Active Military Service, compulsory for Cuban males from the age of 17, have been reported. Thankfully, most are found safe after a few days. Since June 1963, military service has been mandatory in Cuba, a requirement reinforced with the 1976 Constitution, which led to laws governing its enforcement.

The 2019 Constitution further entrenched this obligation by prohibiting claims of conscientious objection as a means to avoid military service. Individuals who, for instance, cite religious beliefs incompatible with bearing arms, face prosecution. The Military Penal Code is stringent, imposing sentences of up to five years in prison for those evading Active Military Service (AMS).

Despite a Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomat's assertion at the UN in May 2022 that recruitment is "voluntary," the compulsory nature of military service remains undeniable. It has been consistently criticized by Cubans, and the draft continued unabated even during the coronavirus pandemic, drawing significant public ire.

The nation remains on edge over the "disappearance" of nine recruits who were caught in explosions early Tuesday at an ammunition storage facility in Holguín province.

Frequently Asked Questions About Military Service in Cuba

Is military service mandatory for all Cuban males?

Yes, military service has been mandatory in Cuba since 1963 for males starting at age 17.

What happens if someone refuses to serve in the military in Cuba?

Those who refuse military service, citing reasons such as religious beliefs, face prosecution and could receive penalties of up to five years in prison according to the Military Penal Code.

How did the pandemic impact military conscription in Cuba?

Despite the pandemic, military conscription in Cuba continued uninterrupted, a decision that was met with widespread criticism from the public.

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