Cuba: Follow-up to CUB41335.E of 24 April 2003 on the Military Order No. 1 (Orden Militar No. 1) that rules all the activities of military officers, including whether it applies equally to both active and retired officers, and if so, for how many years; whether it has regulations that restrict officers from associating with dissidents and from having contact with foreigners other than in the course of official business, and if so, the numbers of these regulations; and a copy of the complete order, including the regulations
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 29 June 2004 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CUB42823.E |
| Reference | 7 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Cuba: Follow-up to CUB41335.E of 24 April 2003 on the Military Order No. 1 (Orden Militar No. 1) that rules all the activities of military officers, including whether it applies equally to both active and retired officers, and if so, for how many years; whether it has regulations that restrict officers from associating with dissidents and from having contact with foreigners other than in the course of official business, and if so, the numbers of these regulations; and a copy of the complete order, including the regulations, 29 June 2004, CUB42823.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/41501c02e.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In 25 June 2004 correspondence, an immigration official at the Canadian Embassy in Havana provided the following information:
Info on Military Order No.1: It is a very old order (from the 1960's) and merely details that all adult men should perform mandatory military service (similar to many other countries). Until 1975, this was 3 yrs, post-1975 it is 2 yrs. Now I see people performing as little as 1 yr. The duties can range from many activities, including actual military training and service (no opportunities for combat have been observed by this embassy), to police work (with the Ministry of the Interior - mostly traffic police), to construction and farming projects. The requirement to perform military service expires at 27 yrs old. The rank achieved is usually private (soldado), occasionally corporal (cabo) and very rarely 2nd Sgt. We do not know if the order restricts officers from associating with dissidents and foreigners. Needless to say, officers are not part of mandatory military service - these are people selected, trained and educated because of higher capacities and levels of trust.
A copy of the complete order is not available to the embassy unless you wish us to query the Cuban government directly, which would require explaining why we need it.
Persons who evade military service: typically 3-6 months detention, sometimes 12 months. The embassy has no information on penalties for desertion. I would have thought this is a combat offense and as stated previously, Cuban military service does not present opportunities for combat.
If jail sentences [are] imposed, this would certainly appear on subject's police record as having failed to give military service.
Having said that, the consistency of treatment of all cases is not known, and decisions may depend on circumstance and context.
Please consult CUB40952.E of 24 April 2003 for additional information on military service in Cuba.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection.
Reference
Canadian Embassy, Havana. 25 June 2004. Correspondence sent by an immigration official.
