Families Speak Out Following Disappearance of Young Recruits After Holguín Military Warehouse Explosions

Relatives of two out of the nine young recruits who vanished following the early Tuesday morning explosions at a military weapons and ammunition warehouse in the Melones community of Rafael Freyre, Holguín, have shared their harrowing experiences with CubaNet. "We are deeply saddened and desperate. They tell us to wait for a call when there's new information. It's so hard," expressed a family member of José Carlos Guerrero García, one of the missing recruits.

Originally from Banes, José Carlos Guerrero García is merely 19 years old. "We are told that search efforts are ongoing, and we hold onto hope for a miracle. However, all we know for certain is that many have perished due to the magnitude of the explosions, and it seems they were inside the facility," explained a cousin of Rayme Rojas Rojas, who chose to remain anonymous.

Rayme Rojas Rojas, aged 20, was just six months away from completing his military service and returning home. "He was counting down the days since he was nearing the end of the two years he had to serve," the source added.

Military Confirms Multiple Disappearances

The Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) confirmed on Tuesday that 13 individuals are missing as a result of the disaster: two hold the rank of major, two are second lieutenants, and the remaining nine were identified as "soldiers." The missing "soldiers" are Leinier Jorge Sánchez Franco, Frank Antonio Hidalgo Almaguer, Liander José García Oliva, Yunior Hernández Rojas, Rayme Rojas Rojas, Carlos Alejandro Acosta Silva, Brian Lázaro Rojas Long, José Carlos Guerrero García, and Héctor Adrián Batista Zayas.

This incident draws parallels to the tragedy in August 2022 when a massive fire at the Matanzas Supertanker Base claimed the lives of 17 firefighters, four of whom were young men aged 19 to 21. They were fulfilling their obligatory military service and lacked the experience needed to handle such a perilous situation.

Authorities Urge Families to Keep Hope Alive

On Wednesday, local officials in Rafael Freyre issued a message of solidarity urging the victims' families and the community to keep "hope alive" amid the distress and uncertainty, despite the typical lack of transparency in official communications. "We understand the immense burden of not knowing the whereabouts of loved ones, and we want you to know our thoughts and hopes are with you," the statement read.

The communication emphasized the importance of mutual support and collective strength during these challenging times, although it refrained from providing specific details about the missing individuals or progress in accessing the explosion site. In their message, local authorities reiterated their commitment to offering emotional and practical support to the affected families. "We urge you to lean on each other and find solace in the love of those around you. Together, we can face this adversity and maintain faith," concluded the statement.

The Inescapable Military Service in Cuba

Military service has been mandatory in Cuba since June 1963, a requirement reaffirmed with the approval of the 1976 Constitution, which established the laws governing it. This obligation was further cemented by the 2019 Constitution, which prohibits any claims of conscientious objection as a means to avoid enlistment. Those who, for instance, argue that bearing arms is incompatible with their religion face prosecution.

The Military Penal Code is strict, imposing penalties of up to five years in prison for those who evade mandatory military service. Although a diplomat from Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) stated at the UN in May 2022 that the recruitment was "voluntary," the compulsion of military service remains indisputable.

According to the National Defense Law's Section Three (Article 77), male citizens must register with the military during the year they turn sixteen. Once registered, they are obligated to participate in training activities for military service and maintain updated records. Only those deemed unfit by authorized medical commissions, formed by the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), are exempt from recruitment.

The National Defense Law mandates that male citizens fulfill their military service for two years. For those who secure a university spot, the period is halved, yet it remains obligatory. In recent years, medical students have been exceptionally exempted.

For women, military service is known as Voluntary Female Military Service—truly voluntary—and some women choose this path to pursue a university career. The FAR's Order 18 allows them to attend university if they have completed high school.

In 2019, Cuban military courts implemented penalties for military service recruits who self-harm to obtain a discharge, a common practice in recent decades resulting in numerous unfortunate incidents. The mandatory nature of military service has been consistently criticized by Cubans; however, recruitment continued unabated even during the coronavirus pandemic, a decision that drew significant public disapproval.