Military objectors urge Cuban forces to refuse orders to fire on civilians, analysts say on Radio Martí

A statement circulated by military objectors and identified on Radio Martí called on members of Cuba’s security forces to refuse orders to fire on civilians and to side with ‘‘the people’’ rather than the regime.

On the Jan. 20 episode of Cuba al día, host Mario Pentón read the communiqué and introduced Juan Antonio Blanco, president of the group Cuba Siglo Veintiuno, who analyzed the message. Pentón said the appeal was ‘‘deeply moving.’’

Blanco framed the issue as one of legal and moral duty. He said military oaths bind troops to ‘‘la lealtad hacia la patria’’ and argued that ‘‘los que cumplan esa orden son traidores a la patria’’ — language he used to press soldiers to reject criminal orders. Blanco invoked the Nuremberg precedent, warning that ‘‘no importaba si tú eras un mariscal de campo... no importaba si tú habías sido un jefe...; todos fueron juzgados’’ when crimes against humanity were ordered and carried out.

‘‘Si usted se pone del lado del pueblo, póngase del lado del humilde al que usted juró defender,’’ the program summarized from the objectors’ text, and Blanco repeated the call for conscience-driven refusal to obey murderous orders.

Pentón and Blanco emphasized that the objectors’ message frames obedience as a choice between serving fellow citizens or supporting an oligarchic power they called ‘‘Gaeza.’’ The guests argued that international human-rights norms and historical tribunals place responsibility on both those who give criminal orders and those who carry them out.

The program did not record any direct response from Cuban government officials or named members of the Cuban armed forces during the broadcast. The statement's signatory was identified on-air as General Rafael del Pino.

The segment ended with Pentón thanking Blanco and noting the program would continue with a field interview in New Jersey.