Álvaro López Miera Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba (Ministerio de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias). (Credit: Granma)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
The Biden administration slapped sanctions on a top Cuban military official and a government special forces unit after the suppression of peaceful protests that broke out on the island last week. Biden also sanctioned the Cuban Ministry of the Interior’s Special National Brigade or “Boinas Negras” (Black Berets), which has been accused of human rights abuses associated with the protests. The Treasury Department singled out Cuban Defense Minister Álvaro López Miera, for having “played an integral role in the repression of ongoing protests in Cuba.” President Biden appears to be taking a hard line against the Cuban government amid the protests.
“Today, the United States is imposing sanctions on Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba Álvaro López Miera and the Cuban Ministry of the Interior’s Special National Brigade or “Boinas Negras” (Black Berets). López Miera and the Special National Brigade have been involved in suppressing the protests, including through physical violence and intimidation. We take this action pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. We stand with every Cuban seeking a government that respects the human rights and dignity of the Cuban people.”
-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken
The protests began July 11, when tens of thousands of Cubans in dozens of cities and towns throughout the country took to the streets “to peacefully demand respect for their fundamental freedoms and a better future. In response, the Cuban regime violently repressed the protests, arresting hundreds of demonstrators simply for exercising their human rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly”, Blinken said. “The actions of Cuban security forces and violent mobs mobilized by Cuban Communist Party First Secretary Miguel Diaz-Canel lay bare the regime’s fear of its own people and unwillingness to meet their basic needs and aspirations.”
In addition to the sanctions imposed today under the Global Magnitsky program, U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) continues to enforce the Cuba sanctions program, “which is the most comprehensive sanctions program administered by OFAC”, said Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen.
“With exceptions to ensure that certain categories of economic activity are allowed that directly benefit the Cuban people, OFAC administers an economic embargo on Cuba that prohibits U.S. persons (and entities owned or controlled by U.S. persons) from engaging in transactions and providing services that may sustain the Cuban regime. In addition, all Cuban nationals are blocked — regardless of whether they appear on Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). The Treasury Department will continue to enforce these prohibitions consistent with applicable statutes and regulations.”
-U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen
(Credit: Gary Raynaldo ©Diplomatic Times) Cuban Ministry of Defense, Havana, Cuba. The MINFAR directs, controls, and executes the policy of the Communist Party of Cuba and the government regarding the activities of the readiness of the nation to defend itself. It is responsible for the budget of the military, as well as for making arms deals with other countries
Cuba’s Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR), which is led by, LOPEZ MIERA, has played an integral role in the repression of ongoing protests in Cuba, in which Cuban citizens are calling for an end to the 62-year old regime and deteriorating living conditions across the island, as well as demanding access to basic goods and services and medical attention, Treasury Secretary Yellen said.
Álvaro López Miera – Ministerio de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias. (Credit: ecured.cu)
López Miera is 77-years-old. After the Cuban revolution in 1959, he served in the first Artillery units. In the 70s, he served in the Angolan Civil War, in People’s Republic of Angola participating in combative actions in Catofe, Morros del Tongo, Santa Comba, Altohama, Tchipipa, Nova Lisboa, Catata, Caconda, Sa da Bandeira and Cahama. Upon his return, he was appointed Chief of Operations of the High Command’s Reserve Artillery Brigade. In 1977 he completed his second mission in the Derg of Ethiopia, Horn of Africa From 1982 to 1984, he studied at the General Staff Academy, at the end of which he began to work as Chief of General Troops. In 1987, he returned to the Republic of Angola, to fulfill his third internationalist mission, this time as Chief of General Troops. Upon returning to Cuba, he was appointed Substitute Chief of Staff for the Chief of the Eastern Army until 1993, when he was promoted to Deputy Chief of the General Staff. In 1997, he replaced General Ulises Rosales del Toro as Chief of the General Staff. In 2001 he was promoted to the rank of Corps General. On April 15, 2021, López Miera became the Minister of the FAR, replacing Leopoldo Cintra Frias.
“MINFAR and the Cuban government’s security services have attacked protesters and arrested or disappeared over 100 protesters in an attempt to suppress these protests. LOPEZ MIERA is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13818 for being a foreign person who is the leader or official of MINFAR, an entity that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse, relating to his tenure. MINFAR is blocked pursuant to OFAC’s Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 515 (CACR).” – Treasury Secretary Yellen.
The SNB, also known as the Boinas Negras or Black Berets, is a special forces unit under the Cuban Ministry of the Interior (MININT), which was previously designated by OFAC under E.O. 13818 on January 15, 2021. During the July 2021 protests, the Cuban government deployed the SNB to suppress and attack protesters, Treasury Secretary Yellen said. SNB is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13818 for being owned or controlled by, or for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, MININT, which, as noted above, was previously designated by OFAC pursuant to the Global Magnitsky program for being a foreign person who is responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse, Yellen said.
All property and interests in property of these persons that are blocked pursuant to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 515 (CACR), continue to be blocked. The CACR prohibits persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction from dealing in property in which Cuba or a Cuban national has an interest, unless authorized or exempt. Additionally, pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 583, all property and interests in property of the persons above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked, and all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or otherwise exempt, according to Yellen.
