The New Man vs. The Honest Man / Yoani Sánchez

The New Man vs. The Honest Man / Yoani Sánchez
Translator: Unstated, Yoani Sánchez

Villa Marista is the main operations center of the Cuban Ministry of the
Interior. Its huge structure was built to house a school run by a
religious order, but since 1963 it has been home to the most feared jail
cells in the country. At the beginning of the Revolution there was talk
about "converting barracks into schools," but at this complex just the
opposite happened. The worst nightmare of many Cubans is to be put in
one of the cells at this Island Lubyanka, and end up under the bright
light in one of the interrogation rooms.

A few, very few, have been able to resist the psychological pressure
exerted by its officials, trained in the harsh methods of the KGB and
East German Stasi. The whole design of long corridors, cold metal bunks,
and cells where you can hardly tell if it's day or night, is intended to
break even the bravest and make them talk. One might think there is only
room behind its bars for those opposed to or disaffected with the
system, but every day it is home to more people being investigated for
corruption or diversion of resources.

When several minivans accompanied by Department of Technical
Investigation (DTI) cars come to a neighborhood, the neighbors already
know what will happen. Most likely the dreaded entourage will park
outside some freshly painted house with a wall around it and glass
windows. The uniforms will enter and execute a thorough search, in order
to then take — handcuffed and in full view of the curious — the
frightened administrator of some corporation or a scared company manager.

These raids have become so frequent that it's enough to say, "Yesterday
they collared a guy…" for everyone to know what that means. Later the
detainee is taken to Villa Marista, to spend some weeks incommunicado
and without the right to an attorney. His family cannot see him, and can
barely bring him a toothbrush and the medications he relies on.

Even foreigners can't save themselves from such shocks, as demonstrated
in the case of several British executives from the Coral Capital Group
Ltd., arrested for alleged bribery while working on a golf course
project. Another alarming example was the case of the Chilean brothers
Max and Marcel Marambio, who escaped to their country after being
accused of bribery, fraud and falsifying bank documents in the
management of the food business Rio Zaza

The crusade against corruption displayed by Raul Castro keeps in
suspense those who think they are protected by the lack of control and
political will to end the illegalities. The raid touches the doors of
wealthy construction bosses, powerful directors who manage, according to
their own whims, imports of merchandise, and others who fill their
pockets from the hospitality industry.

The only ones saved from a court date are those who belong to the inner
core of the Government. Having participated in the struggles of the
Sierra Maestra, or in the first moments of the Revolutionary process, is
now the best protection for not ending up in prison. An olive-green
uniform, the ranks of general or comandante, ward off any investigation
of mismanagement.

Even the Comptroller General of the Republic, Gladys Bejarano herself,
stops dead and turns back when a thread from the skein of corruption
reaches too high. This was demonstrated in the scandal at the Civil
Aeronautics Institute, where the principal responsible — General Rogelio
Acevedo — was simply removed but did not face the courts, though several
of his employees did.

These dishonest businessmen accumulate status symbols, ranging from the
gift of a house or car for their lovers, to paying for their children to
study at universities abroad. They no longer resemble their former
selves, now they drink whiskey instead of rum and eat salmon instead of
pork.

When they started their new jobs they arrived repeating the iron
discourse of austerity and discipline, but now their bellies hang over
their belts as they smoke their cigars. Some came from the military
sphere or Party structures, and moved to the business sector after
finishing a tour of duty… in the land of the enemy. Over time they were
enriched and believed that their contacts with foreign firms, or their
commercial travel around the world, were sufficient guarantees of
impunity. A good share of them were born after 1959 and knew the rules
of the market only through books on socialist economy and scientific
communism that demonized them.

They were molded to be what Che Guevara called the "New Man," but in the
end did not manage to be the "Honest Man" free of the scourge of theft
and the temptation of embezzlement. Now they are falling, shivering with
cold and fear in some cell at Villa Marista, confessing their misdeeds
under the incandescent bulb in the interrogation room.

Outside, away from the feared headquarters of the Ministry of the
Interior, the web of corruption remakes and reweaves itself. Lurking in
wait for the most difficult moments to pass, before falling, once again
and with greater force, on the tasty Cuban cake.

6 June 2012

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