José Antonio Pompa López, a political prisoner and member of the opposition group Cuba Primero, remains confined in "La Polaca," the high-security wing of Agüica Prison in Matanzas. This detention persists even though prison authorities themselves have acknowledged that such confinement is unjustified for him.
This section of the Matanzas prison is typically reserved for inmates serving life sentences, with family visits permitted only once every four months.
His wife, Suarmi Hernández, reported to Martí Noticias that she visited the Directorate of Penitentiary Establishments of the Ministry of the Interior in El Vedado, Havana, and was informed that her husband's situation is indeed irregular. "He shouldn't be there; it's a violation," Hernández stated following her inquiry.
Struggles with Visiting Restrictions
Hernández recounted that for a month, she was warned that visits would be reduced to every four months, in line with the rules for those serving life sentences, who are housed in the same section as Pompa.
"I was granted a visit; I thought I wouldn't get it. Last month, I was told that monthly visits were no longer possible because, as he was in the section with the lifers—called La Polaca in that prison—the regime allows visits only every four months," she explained.
Poor Living Conditions in "La Polaca"
Beyond the restricted visitation, Hernández described the deplorable conditions inside "La Polaca": "They feed him spoiled rice mixed with raw corn."
She also requested that Pompa be transferred to a prison in Havana, where the family resides. However, this request was denied, forcing her to travel nearly 200 kilometers for each visit, a daunting task given Cuba's current situation.
"I arrived almost at one in the morning, all by myself. It's dangerous, considering the country's condition. There are many assaults, much violence, due to the system we're living under," she lamented.
Background of José Antonio Pompa's Conviction
Pompa López was sentenced in October 2025 to eight years in prison for the alleged crime of "propaganda against the constitutional order," following a trial held at the Municipal Court of Guanajay, Artemisa, alongside fellow Cuba Primero members Daniel Alfaro Frías and Lázaro Mendoza García.
In November of that year, he was transferred from Combinado del Este Prison in Havana to Agüica, distancing him from his family by nearly 195 kilometers.
This case is part of a broader pattern of repression against Cuba Primero, an opposition movement that the regime labeled as linked to terrorism in July 2025. This same month, a court in Las Tunas sentenced eight more members of the movement to prison terms ranging from seven to eight years on similar charges.
The overall context is one of increasing repression: according to Prisoners Defenders, Cuba reached a historic record of 1,339 political prisoners by September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions about Political Repression in Cuba
Why is José Antonio Pompa López being held in a high-security section?
José Antonio Pompa López is held in "La Polaca," a high-security section typically for life-term inmates. However, authorities have admitted this confinement is not justified for him.
What are the conditions like in "La Polaca"?
Conditions in "La Polaca" are reportedly poor, with inmates receiving spoiled rice and raw corn as food, and family visits limited to once every four months.
How has the regime affected the Cuba Primero movement?
The Cuban regime has systematically repressed Cuba Primero, labeling it as linked to terrorism and sentencing several members to long prison terms.