SUMMARY OF EVENTS |
Executions by firing squad were, from the very first days of Castros' ascention to power, a common occurrence in Cuba. They have taken place after "summary trials" that tend to last only a few hours with the actual execution being carrried out, at most, two or three days later. In the early days, mobs gathered to shout "Paredón! Paredón!" calling for executions. Original adversaries of the guerrillas, original members of the guerrillas, original supporters of Castro, former Revolutionary generals and humble civilains trying to escape have been executed. The specter of execution remains as one of the most powerful means of control of the Cuban population.
Cubans have also been killed in prison, on the countryside, on city streets and on the seas surrounding the island by prison guards, security forces, police, border guards and the military.
The numbers of those who have lost their lives this way are in the thousands. All of their names probably can never be fully documented
TESTIMONIES |