Miguel Galbán Gutiérrez,
Güinero Hero and Patriot

Güines, April 14, 2003 - He is 38 years old. Born in Güines, Havana Province, Cuba. His profession engineer. He was sentenced to 26 years in jail for the alleged crime of treason to the Fatherland and for being a mercenary serving a foreign country, based on Article 91 that spells out the crime of “acts against the independence or territorial integrity of the State.”

Miguel Galbán Gutiérrez, Güinero hero and patriot

The tribunal composed of attorneys Mario Ramos Sánchez, María Isabel González Pons, Carmen Miriam Coto Echevarría, Teresa Pérez Izquierdo and Tatiana Behar Pantaleón, as President, determined that Galbán was guilty, without being able to prove that the defendant had received money from a foreign country. Besides THEY ELIMINATED AS AN EXTENUATING FACTOR THE PHYSICAL HANDICAP THAT HE IS AFFLICTED WITH (observe his right hand) because, according to them, if Galbán was able to work in favor of human rights, he was also able to go to prison.

Miguel did not testify. The officials who helped him in preparing the case, declared at trial that the defendant remained in an intransigent position and that he had not cooperated at all.

When the President of the tribunal asked him if he believed that someday he would be able to rejoin society he answered: “I can rejoin society with the same ideas and the same principles.”

In a 15 minutes visit in Villa Marista, he was shown handcuffed in front of his two sisters and his old father.

Miguel was not allowed to eat any food as punishment for his intransigence. He said he was feeling spiritually very strong and stated to be aware that he was not going to complete such sentence because victory is near.

Galbán was not allowed to see a doctor, even though he requested it several days before due to a painful toothache.

I send you greetings and pray for us.