Chapter 40 history will acquit me

Mr. Judges: Never has a defense attorney worked under such difficult conditions; and never has a defendant been subjected to so many serious illegalities.In this case, the defense attorney and the accused are the same person.As a defense lawyer, it is impossible for me to even read the indictment. As a defendant, I have been locked up in a single cell completely isolated from the outside world for 76 days, which violates all humanitarian and legal regulations.The speaker absolutely abhors childish conceit, is in no mood, and is not naturally good at bombast and sensationalism.I was compelled to act as my own advocate in this court for two reasons: first, because my right to be defended was virtually completely deprived; Only those who have suffered catastrophes and justice trampled upon by those who have worked hard on such occasions can speak words that condense the truth.Not without generous friends willing to defend me.The Havana Bar has appointed me a lawyer of ability and courage—Dr. Jorge Paglieri, president of the Bar of the city.But he couldn't carry out his mission.Every time he wanted to visit me, he was turned away from the prison.

Only after a month and a half, due to the intervention of the court, was he allowed to see me for ten minutes in the presence of a sergeant from Military Intelligence.It is common sense that a lawyer should speak privately with his client, a right that is respected everywhere in the world, except here, where a Cuban prisoner of war fell into the hands of a hard-hearted authoritarian regime , They don't talk about legal principles and human relationships.Neither Dr. Paglieri nor I will tolerate such sordid probing into the defense strategies we intend to use when we appear in court.Do they want to know in advance how we will smash the unfounded lies they have thoughtfully fabricated about the incident at the Moncada barracks, and how we will reveal the terrible truths they have tried so hard to conceal?

So, we decided at that time that I would use my lawyer qualifications to defend myself.The Sergeant of Military Intelligence heard this decision and reported it to his superiors, which aroused unnatural horror, as if some mischievous monster had played tricks on them and made them feel that all their plans were going to fail.You, gentlemen, know best how much pressure they have exerted to deprive me of the accused's sacred right of self-defense, which has a long tradition in Cuba.The court cannot give in to such an attempt, which leaves the defendant in a position of insecurity.The defendant now exercises this right without reservation for any reason whatsoever.I deem it necessary in the first place to say what was the reason for the savage seclusion imposed on me, what was the purpose of keeping me from speaking; why, as the courts knew, there was a conspiracy to kill me; What is the mystery of all the strange things that happened in this case.That's all I'm prepared to articulate.

... I will close my plea, but I do not demand liberty for the accused, as lawyers usually do; and I cannot demand liberty when my companions are already in heinous confinement at Matsushima.You let me share fate with them!In a republic elected by criminals and robbers, it is understandable that righteous people are killed and imprisoned. I sincerely thank you gentlemen for allowing me to speak freely without meanly interrupting me.I don't hold any grudges against you. I admit that you are humane in some respects. I also know that the president of this court, who has been innocent all his life, may be forced to make unfair judgments due to the status quo. The disgust cannot be concealed.The court had a more serious problem to deal with, and that was the murder of 70 people—the largest mass murder we know of.The murderer is still at large with weapons in hand, which is a constant threat to the lives of citizens.If, because of cowardice, because of obstruction, they are not brought to justice, and if the judges do not resign en masse, I am sorry for your honor, and I am sorry for the unprecedented stain upon the judiciary.

As for myself, I know that I will be tortured as much as anyone in prison, that life in prison is full of cowardly threats and brutal torture, but I am not afraid, just as I am not afraid of taking the lives of 70 of my brothers as the wrath of the despicable tyrant. Judge me?It doesn't matter if you choose.History will acquit me.