The UMAP and the Ideal of the "New Man" in Cuba
The vision of the “new man” proposed by Guevara aspired to create individuals deeply committed to socialist values, completely detached from the individualistic mentality inherent in capitalism. The UMAP (1965-1968), conceived as centers where young Cubans would actively participate in production, represented the fertile ground for the germination of this new model of citizen, shaped by the principles of solidarity and dedication to the common good. However, this “noble” aspiration was overshadowed by controversy. As they began to be implemented, strong criticisms emerged regarding the working conditions and restrictions on individual freedoms. How severe were these restrictions? Were the criticisms exaggerated? Let’s see.
Heil Hitler or Heil Castro?
The UMAP internees were transported in convoys from different provinces to Camagüey, where the camps were located. There, they were subjected to a process of “reeducation” consisting of strenuous agricultural labor, ideological indoctrination, humiliation, mistreatment, and torture. Guess who the inmates were who ended up in the UMAP? Yes, although it might surprise you, they were mostly young people considered “antisocial” or “counterrevolutionary” due to their sexual orientation, religious beliefs, political affiliation, or critical attitude towards the Cuban revolutionary process. These individuals worked 10 to 12 hours a day, from sunrise to sunset, without rest or recreation. The food was deficient and of poor quality, the water was unsanitary, and the hygienic conditions were precarious. The barracks were overcrowded, without electricity or ventilation. The latrines were open pits, and there were no showers. The internees had no access to medical care or medications and suffered from diseases such as malaria, dysentery, tuberculosis, and scabies.
The inmates were constantly monitored by armed guards, dogs, and electrified fences. They had no right to communicate with their families or receive visits. Those who attempted to escape or protest were severely punished with beatings, isolation, confinement in punishment cells, or execution. Does this sound familiar? I bet it does. Homosexuals, religious individuals, or intellectuals were subjected to mockery, insults, threats, and sexual assaults by the guards and other inmates. Some were forced to participate in degrading acts such as human cockfights, initiation rituals, or mock weddings. In short, the process of creating the new man was in full swing.
Some data
According to former intelligence director Norberto Fuentes, out of approximately 35,000 internees, 507 ended up in psychiatric wards, 72 died from torture, and 180 committed suicide. Some famous people who went through these cruelties include Jaime Ortega (Cardinal and Archbishop of Havana), Carlos L. Alas (singer and composer), Pablo Milanés (singer and composer), Félix L. Viera (writer and journalist), Héctor Santiago (playwright and choreographer), among many others, some not as well known.
Despite the Cuban government dissolving them in 1970, following international protests and the visit of French writer Jean-Paul Sartre, it never acknowledged their existence or apologized to the victims. Many of the UMAP survivors suffered psychological trauma, social marginalization, and forced exile. Their stories are a testament to human resistance and dignity in the face of barbarism.
Forgive, forget? No
The UMAP were one of the cruelest expressions of repression and human rights violations in Cuba. In their attempt to merge production with individual transformation, they became a microcosm of revolutionary complexities. The utopia of the “new man” clashed with the reality of imposed limitations, sparking an internal debate on the applicability of ideals in practice. The UMAP experience offers profound lessons on the need to balance social transformation with respect for individual autonomy, a lesson relevant not only for Cuba but for any society seeking to redefine itself through revolutionary changes.