Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HAVANA145
2009-03-04 13:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Interests Section Havana
how-toVZCZCXRO9427 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHUB #0145 0631350 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 041350Z MAR 09 ZDK FM USINT HAVANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4193 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUCOGCA/COMNAVBASE GUANTANAMO BAY CU RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000145
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL CU EC EU
SUBJECT: MYSTERY OF MURDERED PRIEST
Classified By: COM Jonathan Farrar for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000145
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL CU EC EU
SUBJECT: MYSTERY OF MURDERED PRIEST
Classified By: COM Jonathan Farrar for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) Summary: The murder on February 14, 2009 of
Spanish Priest Eduardo de la Fuente remains an unsolved
crime. The official Cuban media has said nothing about the
incident, even though murder is a rarity in Cuba.
Nevertheless, the murder is a frequent topic of conversation
among ordinary Cubans. People have been proposing several
theories about the murder. Based on the unusual level of
violence inflicted on the victim, many people are saying that
it was a crime of passion. However, residents of the
neighborhood of Lawton, where Father Eduardo served as parish
priest, suggest that the murder occurred during a robbery.
As far as USINT knows, all of these theories are speculation
without any specific basis in fact. Lawton residents hope
that the incident will bring attention to the growing problem
of crime in the neighborhood. End Summary.
2. (U) On February 14, the body of Spanish Priest Eduardo
de la Fuente Serrano was found in a ditch near the National
Zoo in Havana. He reportedly had been stabbed, but there
were also indications that he had been beaten by fists and
that there had been an attempt at strangulation. His burned
out vehicle was found 20 kilometers away from the crime scene
in the town of Bauta. The priest had been visiting Cuba
regularly for the past 10 years. For the past three years he
served as the parish priest for the church of Santa Clara de
Asisi in the neighborhood of Lawton in Havana. On February
18, close to a thousand people attended a memorial mass for
him.
3. (C) The Cuban media, which is normally adverse to
publicizing negative stories on subjects such as crime or
accidents, has published nothing about the murder. USINT
officials have discussed the case with senior officials of
the Catholic Church. The Church officials said that they
have no more information about the crime than has been
released publicly. The Church has been informed that the
police are investigating the case, but church officials
stated that they have not been notified about any progress in
the investigation.
4. (C) Comment: USINT is watching for developments in this
case. There is no information to indicate that the victim
was targeted in his role as a priest. The Cuban public was
shocked by this case, and will be watching closely to see if
any news is leaked to the foreign press about progress in the
investigation.
FARRAR
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL CU EC EU
SUBJECT: MYSTERY OF MURDERED PRIEST
Classified By: COM Jonathan Farrar for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) Summary: The murder on February 14, 2009 of
Spanish Priest Eduardo de la Fuente remains an unsolved
crime. The official Cuban media has said nothing about the
incident, even though murder is a rarity in Cuba.
Nevertheless, the murder is a frequent topic of conversation
among ordinary Cubans. People have been proposing several
theories about the murder. Based on the unusual level of
violence inflicted on the victim, many people are saying that
it was a crime of passion. However, residents of the
neighborhood of Lawton, where Father Eduardo served as parish
priest, suggest that the murder occurred during a robbery.
As far as USINT knows, all of these theories are speculation
without any specific basis in fact. Lawton residents hope
that the incident will bring attention to the growing problem
of crime in the neighborhood. End Summary.
2. (U) On February 14, the body of Spanish Priest Eduardo
de la Fuente Serrano was found in a ditch near the National
Zoo in Havana. He reportedly had been stabbed, but there
were also indications that he had been beaten by fists and
that there had been an attempt at strangulation. His burned
out vehicle was found 20 kilometers away from the crime scene
in the town of Bauta. The priest had been visiting Cuba
regularly for the past 10 years. For the past three years he
served as the parish priest for the church of Santa Clara de
Asisi in the neighborhood of Lawton in Havana. On February
18, close to a thousand people attended a memorial mass for
him.
3. (C) The Cuban media, which is normally adverse to
publicizing negative stories on subjects such as crime or
accidents, has published nothing about the murder. USINT
officials have discussed the case with senior officials of
the Catholic Church. The Church officials said that they
have no more information about the crime than has been
released publicly. The Church has been informed that the
police are investigating the case, but church officials
stated that they have not been notified about any progress in
the investigation.
4. (C) Comment: USINT is watching for developments in this
case. There is no information to indicate that the victim
was targeted in his role as a priest. The Cuban public was
shocked by this case, and will be watching closely to see if
any news is leaked to the foreign press about progress in the
investigation.
FARRAR