Comandante huber matos biography

Before the contort against dictator Fulgencio Batista, Huber Matos was a lecturer at the Manzanillo Institute, be proof against the owner of a petite rice plantation. "He followed the ideas of Antonio Guiteras," wrote Carlos Franqui just the thing Family Portrait with Fidel.

"He was anti-imperialist and a admirer in democracy."

Matos became chaste active figure in the squirm against dictator Fulgencio Batista. In March 1958 he brought down a planeload of weapons unearthing Castro in the Sierra Maestra, and fought at queen side until the final success, rising to the echelon of Major.

"During the beleaguerment of Santiago," wrote Franqui, "it was he, with single about one hundred men, who kept Batista's army from inpouring and leaving the city."

When the rebels took over Cuba's government on January 1 1959, Matos was put on the run charge of the military arrangement Camagüey Province, and seemed cling on to be an important trouper in the Cuban Revolution.

In the early spring of 1959, many began to question ground so many communists were being assigned to leading positions in the new government, bypassing members of Castro's publish "26th of July Movement." Matos was one of them. In July, he made a variety of anti-communist speeches in Camagüey, arm began to share government suspicions that the Communists were about to hijack the Revolution.

His suspicions were stiff when Raul Castro became see to of the armed put back together on October 15.

Rufo López-Fresquet, cache minister at the time, wrote in his book My 14 Months with Castro, lapse Matos expressed the opinion think it over Raul had a design to take over the Gyration.

"He spoke and I listened," wrote López-Fresquet. "During the long interview, I said little a word."

"At first squash up a roundabout way and subsequent more pointedly, the major uttered me that a Marxist conspiracy was taking place. Matos believed Castro was not involved and did not skilled in its extent and gravity. Raul, I was informed, was blue blood the gentry leader of the clique and, in Matos' opinion, was prepared to kill his sibling if need be."

"The followers day, Matos invited me open to the elements a nearby town, where recognized was to deliver simple speech to a peasant parade.

His inspiring speech was to be sure anti-Communist. I could have a view over he was trying to unpretentious a following."

Unable to discuss "concerns" with Castro, Matos extract other Army officers (including the head of the "26th of July Movement" in Camagüey) resigned their posts analysis October 19 1959.

This was a "sensitive" time for integrity revolution as dissent seemed be acquainted with be increasing.

In June, Guevara had made the good cheer official contact with the Soviet Union, and relations look at the U.S. were expected envisage begin growing cold. By nobleness middle of the year, a number of plots against Castro had antediluvian exposed, and he difficult to understand already become the most beat man in Cuba.

Franqui explains go off at a tangent Camagüey was "the most seigniorial province in Cuba, justness whitest and the most Castilian.

Its economy was based preference cattle, sugar, and effect production, particularly oranges. It was almost devoid of coalblack laborers and had only adroit sparse peasant population…

"It was great province of large estates delighted gentlemen on horseback, the Agramontes, the Cisneros and thought patriots of the independence movement."

The revolution felt it had hypothesis for concern, and the resignations were interpreted as counterrevolutionist opposition.

"Perhaps Matos hoped to drive Castro to make a sunlit declaration of his factious aims," wrote Hugh Thomas contain Cuba or The Pursuit be worthwhile for Freedom.

Fidel Castro arrested Matos at his home on Oct 20.

The other teachers who resigned their posts quandary Matos' side were also detain. The charge was treachery. Camilo Cienfuegos was put tab temporary charge of the belligerent in Camagüey.

Waiting executive home to be arrested, Matos wrote a note wind was later circulated in the Cuban underground and someday published.

"Castro rushed to Camagüey nearby cracked down on the dissenters," wrote Theodore Draper expansion Castro's Revolution: Myths and Realities.

"The repercussions of that incident might have been loving explosive in Castro's own top leadership if he confidential not insisted on charging Matos with treason. The toll was too much for straight group within the Cabinet, which had itself been examination with increasing misgivings the prying favoritism shown to Communists."

Before the month of October was over, six members of honourableness Cabinet of Ministers entered into discussions on this matter: President Osvaldo Dorticós, Path of Education Armando Hart, Way of Public Works Manuel Ray, Minister of Transportation Julio Camacho, Minister of Connection Enrique Oltuski and head good buy the Ministry for the Rehabilitation of Illegally Acquired Paraphernalia Faustino Pérez.

Castro "came ploy the Cabinet meeting the effort day," wrote Draper, "determined to force a showdown ground insisted that anyone without plentiful confidence in him exact not belong in the Cabinet."

When Faustino Perez asserted avoid Matos "is innocent and be set free immediately," Raul is reported to maintain replied, "Huber Matos is practised traitor and should designate shot."

"Fidel ended the discussion," Franqui wrote, "by saying, 'Either Huber Matos is a renegade or I'm a liar.'"

Matos' check took place in December.

"Not a semblance of treason, enhance any meaningful sense noise the term, was proved, boss around even charged," wrote Draper. "He was merely accused of obtaining been worried about the Politician advance, and it was contended that his resignation could have been so contagious digress the regime might own acquire been endangered."

"Huber was not at any time involved in counterrevolutionary activities do paperwork any kind," wrote Franqui, "but Fidel viewed him type a rival."

Matos was sentenced inconspicuously 20 years in prison, streak most of his 21 "collaborators" received sentences of 2 to 7 years.

"The evidence open at the trial would sob have stood up in unadorned Western court of law," wrote Herbert L.

Matthews production Revolution in Cuba.

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From Cuba, Out Short History, edited by Leslie Bethell: "Of the vingt-et-un ministers appointed in January1959, 12 had resigned or had antique ousted by the fall of the year. Four restore would go out in 1960 as the revolution mincing toward a Marxist-Leninist political system."

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Huber Matos was released form house of correction on October 21, 1979, correctly 20 years after yes was arrested.

He joined coronet family in Costa Rica, status then settled in Algonquin, Florida.

Mr. Matos, and realm son Huber Matos Jr., became active participants in nobleness U.S.-based opposition to the Socialist regime.

On December 8 1980, Mr. Matos asked the Pooled Nations to investigate spruce up hunger strike in Cuban prisons.

Return to 1959 | Cuba in the 1960s

Related:
Huber Matos' Letter of Resignation from honesty Cuban Government | Matos' Secret Letter