Arrest, execution of imprisonment of Batista’s supporters / former regime members
● Show trials
○ of real or imagined enemies started to be broadcast live on television, with Castro
often playing the role of both prosecutor and judge
○ Big US companies were confiscated
● Padilla affair
○ controversial poet who came to international attention for a political scandal in
revolutionary Cuba
○ his book of poems Fuera del juego(“Out of the Game”) was awarded the yearly
poetry prize offered by the Writers’ Union, but the book appeared with an
afterword denouncing it as counterrevolutionary
○ Under attack by the authorities, Padilla was imprisoned on vague charges in
1971, which brought about vigorous protests by individuals, organizations, and
governments
○ Padilla was made to read a public confession accusing himself and others of
vaguely defined attitudes and activities contrary to Fidel Castro’s regime
Committee for the Defence of the Revolution
● Reported on counter revolutionary activity
● By 1963 0.3333% of the population were members
● Shut down in 1965 due to much international attention
Military units to aid production (UMAP)
● 25,000 people sent to labour camps between 1965 and 1968
● Purpose: To eliminate and punish those deemed unfit for his revolution whilst using them
for free labour
● 1st called “plan Fidel”, but Castro cleverly wanted to keep his name out of it
● Castro ordered that his agents go from house to house to apprehend at gunpoint all the
males that fit the profile “the sum of society”: for example gays, Catholics, Jehovah’s
witnesses, hippies and other protestant religions (they were sent to labour camps)
Toleration of opponents leaving cuba
● Opponents encouraged to go into exile (25,000 in the first years of Castro’s government)
● Peruvian embassy siege 1980-10,000 sought asylum - Castro responded “the them all
leave”
● 125,000 Cubans flee to US
● Many middle class and upper class Cubans along with Cubans who were criminals
● By letting opponents leave, it removes other influences within the country
Dealing with the opposition to the revolution
● The escambray rebels (war against bandits, 1960-1965)
● Show trials
○ of real or imagined enemies started to be broadcast live on television, with Castro
often playing the role of both prosecutor and judge
○ Big US companies were confiscated
● Padilla affair
○ controversial poet who came to international attention for a political scandal in
revolutionary Cuba
○ his book of poems Fuera del juego(“Out of the Game”) was awarded the yearly
poetry prize offered by the Writers’ Union, but the book appeared with an
afterword denouncing it as counterrevolutionary
○ Under attack by the authorities, Padilla was imprisoned on vague charges in
1971, which brought about vigorous protests by individuals, organizations, and
governments
○ Padilla was made to read a public confession accusing himself and others of
vaguely defined attitudes and activities contrary to Fidel Castro’s regime
Committee for the Defence of the Revolution
● Reported on counter revolutionary activity
● By 1963 0.3333% of the population were members
● Shut down in 1965 due to much international attention
Military units to aid production (UMAP)
● 25,000 people sent to labour camps between 1965 and 1968
● Purpose: To eliminate and punish those deemed unfit for his revolution whilst using them
for free labour
● 1st called “plan Fidel”, but Castro cleverly wanted to keep his name out of it
● Castro ordered that his agents go from house to house to apprehend at gunpoint all the
males that fit the profile “the sum of society”: for example gays, Catholics, Jehovah’s
witnesses, hippies and other protestant religions (they were sent to labour camps)
Toleration of opponents leaving cuba
● Opponents encouraged to go into exile (25,000 in the first years of Castro’s government)
● Peruvian embassy siege 1980-10,000 sought asylum - Castro responded “the them all
leave”
● 125,000 Cubans flee to US
● Many middle class and upper class Cubans along with Cubans who were criminals
● By letting opponents leave, it removes other influences within the country
Dealing with the opposition to the revolution
● The escambray rebels (war against bandits, 1960-1965)
