On Friday, the official newspaper Adelante reported on an event organized by the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC) in Camagüey, where elderly veterans reminisced about dictator Fidel Castro (1926-2026). However, the images from the gathering starkly highlighted the neglect faced by this aging generation.
The ceremony, part of the state-sponsored campaign "Fidel Among Us" to commemorate the historical leader's birthday, brought together elderly men and women, many dressed in military uniforms and adorned with medals, who recounted their memories linked to the regime. State media portrayed it as an emotional and patriotic tribute.
The Stark Reality Behind the Tribute
Yet, what the official media did not show was the contrast captured in the photographs: faces marked by hardship, aged bodies, and living conditions that starkly differ from those of the leaders they once served. Journalist José Raúl Gallego shared one such image on his Facebook profile, sparking numerous reactions.
“Look at those faces, those bodies, those conditions and compare them with those of Cubans of their age who left the country, mostly fleeing the system these people defended,” Gallego noted, offering a sharp critique of the situation.
Divided Reactions and Bitter Reflections
The comments on Gallego's post reveal a divided and bitter public opinion. One commenter, identifying as the daughter of a combatant, recounted enduring acts of repudiation by her father's comrades, concluding, "I feel sorry for them, but not too much. You know who I truly pity? The children, the sick, the political prisoners."
Another comment, laced with irony, stated, "Now they go home and have to scrub the rust off those medals without water or detergent." A third voice summarized the situation harshly: "They are reaping the rotten fruits they themselves helped to sow."
An Ongoing Struggle for Former Fighters
During the Camagüey event, provincial ACRC president Juan Carlos Valiente Zaldívar declared, “Neither coercive measures nor warlike threats will destroy the people’s loyalty to their socialist system.” The veterans, seated before him with their uniforms and decorations, offered a silent yet powerful response to his statement.
The plight of neglected ex-combatants is neither new nor isolated. In October 2023, the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights documented two Angolan war veterans surviving by collecting cans on the street to eat. One of them, from the Minas municipality in Camagüey, stated, “When I returned, they gave me nothing, not even a combatant’s pension. And I’m ill; look at my feet. I survive by selling cans and eating what I can.”
In May, a 78-year-old war-maimed colonel languished without medical care in the Havana municipality of Guanabacoa. It was not the state or the ACRC that came to his aid, but opposition activists. The local clinic responded with “there was nothing” when supplies were requested for his treatment.
In July 2025, the regime enacted Decree-Law 105/2025, enhancing benefits for members and former members of the FAR, allowing retired military personnel to receive both a salary and a pension simultaneously—a privilege reserved for those who uphold the control apparatus.
Understanding the Plight of Cuban Veterans
What was the purpose of the event in Camagüey?
The event was organized by the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution to commemorate Fidel Castro's birthday and to honor veterans who served the regime.
Why are the conditions of Cuban veterans significant?
The conditions of Cuban veterans highlight the neglect faced by those who once served the regime, contrasting sharply with the privileges of current officials, and sparking debate about the true legacy of the revolution.
What is Decree-Law 105/2025?
Decree-Law 105/2025 is a regulation that allows retired military personnel in Cuba to receive both a salary and a pension, a benefit aimed at those who maintain the regime's control.