On Thursday, the remains of Ramiro Valdés Menéndez were laid to rest at the Ernesto Che Guevara Sculptural Complex in Santa Clara. The ceremony, characterized by military honors, was led by Miguel Díaz-Canel and attended by the upper echelon of the Cuban regime.
The ashes of the Ministry of the Interior's founding member were placed in the first niche to the right of the eternal flame at the Mausoleum of the Las Villas Front. Valdés himself had inaugurated this mausoleum on October 8, 2009, when he personally lit the eternal flame.
Díaz-Canel delivered a farewell speech in front of an audience that included Political Bureau members: Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of the National Assembly; Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Gladys Martínez Verdecia, First Secretary of the Party in Artemisa; and Commander José Ramón Machado Ventura.
The event was also attended by members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, along with around two thousand people representing the local community of Villa Clara.
The Mausoleum of the Las Villas Front is the resting place of 140 fighters from Column 8 Ciro Redondo—where Valdés served as second-in-command under Che Guevara—along with members of the July 26 Movement, the March 13 Revolutionary Directorate, and the Popular Socialist Party, all united by the historic Pedrero Pact.
Valdés chose this site to rest alongside his comrades and near Che Guevara, with whom he fought during the Battle of Santa Clara in December 1958.
Mobilization Amid Economic Hardship
In preparation for the burial, the regime mobilized Villa Clara's businesses and organizations to swiftly refurbish the Sculptural Complex. This included cleaning marble and granite, improving landscaping and lighting, painting, waterproofing the museum, and replacing woodwork, all amidst one of the most severe economic crises the island faces, with hospitals lacking medicine and enduring prolonged blackouts.
Valdés passed away on June 21 at the age of 94. Born in Artemisa in 1932, he took part in the Moncada Barracks assault, the Granma expedition, and the guerrilla campaign to Santa Clara. He founded the Ministry of the Interior in 1961, shaping the repressive apparatus of the Cuban state, including the forced labor camps known as UMAP, where homosexuals, religious individuals, and dissidents were interned. His critics dubbed him "the Butcher of Artemisa."
On June 22, the regime declared an official period of mourning through Presidential Decree 1247. Raúl Castro, now 95, made a rare appearance on Monday at the Ministry of the Armed Forces in Havana to lead the first honor guard alongside Díaz-Canel.
With Valdés's passing, the so-called historical generation of the Revolution is now represented by only two figures: Raúl Castro and Guillermo García Frías.
As the regime bid farewell to a key figure in its control apparatus, Cuban-American congress members María Elvira Salazar and Carlos A. Giménez lamented that Valdés died without facing justice for crimes against humanity, encapsulating their sentiment with the phrase: "He dies without being able to pay on earth."
Frequently Asked Questions about Ramiro Valdés's Legacy
Who was Ramiro Valdés?
Ramiro Valdés was a founding member of Cuba's Ministry of the Interior and played a significant role in the Cuban Revolution. He was known for his involvement in creating the state's repressive apparatus, including forced labor camps.
What was the significance of the Mausoleum of the Las Villas Front?
The Mausoleum of the Las Villas Front is a significant resting place for fighters of the Cuban Revolution, including members of Column 8 Ciro Redondo and other revolutionary groups. Valdés chose to be laid to rest here alongside his comrades.
How did the Cuban regime prepare for Valdés's burial?
The regime mobilized local businesses and organizations to refurbish the Ernesto Che Guevara Sculptural Complex, despite the country's severe economic crisis, ensuring the site was in pristine condition for the burial.