Cuban Police Block Funeral Service for Young Damir Ortiz

In yet another display of the Cuban regime's tight grip over social life and even personal grief, State Security surrounded the Colón Cemetery on Wednesday, preventing people from attending the service for young Damir Ortiz, who died in Miami after years of medical neglect on the Island.

The ceremony, scheduled for 4:00 PM in the cemetery chapel, was organized by family members, activists, and citizens wishing to bid a final farewell to Damir. However, this heartfelt farewell was marred by a police operation featuring patrols positioned at multiple points outside the cemetery and the detention of citizens attempting to reach the venue.

One such individual was the activist known as Turis, who was intercepted by a police officer just before entering the cemetery. The incident was captured on video and shared by activist Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia, who reported, "Many people couldn't get in! Why? Here you go. Turis has just been detained."

The young man recounted the incident, capturing the moment of his arrest: "I'm here at the cemetery, the repression is intense. They won't let you pass; there are patrol cars at every corner, everywhere. You can't get in," he detailed in a live broadcast from the location.

Denied the Right to Mourn

Activist Lara Crofs was also among those targeted by the repressive measures. According to her social media posts, she was detained on her own block by State Security agents ensuring she didn't attend the service. "They closed off the block so I wouldn't attend. According to this new State Security officer, it's regional," she wrote, accompanying her post with images of patrol cars stationed in front of her home.

"This is not about me personally. It's about a community wanting to show respect and empathy," Lara added in a message filled with frustration and helplessness.

Despite the harassment, the service took place. Damir's grandmother, Mercedes Báez, arrived with a caregiver and received the affection of those who managed to bypass the police blockade. Father Jorge Luis led the ceremony, marked by prayers, tears, and solidarity. "Lord, have mercy," was heard among attendees, a plea that extended to all the sick children on the Island.

A Preventable Tragedy

Damir Ortiz passed away in the United States, at Miami's Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, after being transferred following a long struggle by his mother, who for years complained about the lack of medications, incorrect diagnoses, and inadequate medical care in Cuba. Social media campaigns, led by his mother and supported by activists both in Cuba and abroad, eventually secured his travel authorization to the United States.

But it was too late. Damir arrived in a septic state due to a resistant bacteria he contracted on the Island, which ultimately claimed his life. In Miami, his mother has received support from numerous compatriots who see in his case not only a personal tragedy but a glaring indictment of Cuba's deteriorated healthcare system, lacking essential resources.

Politicizing Grief

The regime's attempt to limit the reach of the service and stigmatize the citizens' solidarity with Damir's family has sparked a wave of outrage. "It wasn't a political act. It was a farewell, a prayer for a child who endured unimaginable suffering. Why stop it?" questioned a Cuban on social media.

For years, State Security's repressive apparatus has targeted any citizen expressing a critical voice, even when it involves honoring a child's life. The service for Damir Ortiz was no exception. What should have been a respectful and peaceful event became a symbol of how far a government will go to control any act, even the mourning of a loved one.