Fara Armenteros, UPECI
HAVANA, January (www.cubanet.org) - Even some months after his death,
residents of the small town of Hatuey, in Cuba’s Camagüey province,
still mope about the death of "Mito," which is what they called Sergio
Díaz Guerra.
Mito fought in Africa, between 1984 and 1987. He was an artilleryman in the
war in Ethiopia. When he returned to Cuba, he was honored as an "internationalist
fighter," a hero who had gone abroad to help oppressed peoples combat
imperialism.
Back in Hatuey and in civilian life, he returned to his job with the
municipal agricultural co-op. In the early 90s, the facility where he worked was
shut down and he was not reassigned immediately because he was not a member of
the Party. He looked and he tried, but jobs were few.
In 1996, Mito became sick. His wife appealed to the Popular Power [local
government], to Social Welfare, to the Association of Fighters of the
Revolution, to every government organization they could think of. None was in a
position to help.
His wife’s place of employment was able to send them a check for 71
pesos [less than 3 dollars] a month until she could go back to work.
Mito kept getting worse. He lost his sense of smell, then taste, speech,
hearing. He lost 60 pounds; he lost his strength. Eventually he died.
At the funeral, an officer of the Department of State Security, flanked by
two members of the Association of Fighters of the Revolution, came bearing
flowers, condolences and a flag to cover the coffin.
The family, reminding them they hadn’t helped Mito, his wife, and
children, when he was sick, sent them away.
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