In the sacred summits of Mount Olympus of the leaders of the Cuban revolution, the image of Ramiro Valdéz Menéndez goes from eccentricity to barbarism.

Rather than his well-known loyalty as soon as Fidel Castro took office in January 1959, Valdéz Menéndez is better remembered for his responsibility in the execution by firing squad of many people.

Valdéz Menéndez, 77, born on April 28, 1932, belongs to the old generation of Cuban military officers who joined the Castro brothers in their rise to power. In view of Fidel's obsession with his revolution for export, he was among the commanders responsible for coordination, establishment and promotion of the repressive apparatus in the Caribbean island.

He had always Fidel's blessing. He was twice the Minister of the Interior and also First Vice-Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR).

During their years in Sierra Maestra, Valdéz's toughness took precedence over his comrades' compassion and he would impose his opinion, even above Raúl Castro. As a matter of fact, he was the first one to shoot during the attack on the Moncada barracks in 1953.

Prior to becoming Minister of the Interior in 1960, he framed a complex system of guard and custody, spying and counter-spying, to protect Fidel. Therefore, he did it well in domestic security.

As head of the Investigation Administration of the Rebel Army, the Cuban G-2, the main repressive body, he commanded several executions and imprisonments. As Minister of the Interior, he devised laws against dissent and ordinary people. The famous "index of social dangerousness" put behind bars those who morally or physically threatened the system.

As a result, he was dubbed "bloodthirsty" and "Ramiro the Terrible." "What you can earn with this title in Cuba is wealth, food, travels and transportation," one of his exiled children told The Miami Herald during an interview.

During his government, Fidel Castro had always available to Valdés top political positions regardless of being aware of his brother Raúl's disagreements and bitter feelings.

Raúl was against
Valdés became Vice-First Minister for the building sector; Vice-President of the State Council and Vice-President of the Ministerial Council.

Brian Latell, a former CIA agent, tells in his book "After Fidel" that Raúl always wished to keep control of the Ministry of the Interior. For that reason, in 1985 he made his brother dismiss Valdés.

The two leaders increasingly at odds reunited 25 years later in the power, without Fidel.

Valdés is also a member of the Political Bureau. Since 1996, he heads the Electronics Industrial Group; since 2006, he has been Minister of Information Technology and Communications, and since February 2009, he is the Cuban Vice-President.

Valdés' relationship with the Venezuelan government has been stronger over the past few years. As Minister of Information Technology and Communications, he has been responsible for the signing of more than 30 agreements in the context of the Cuba-Venezuela Commission, including an agreement on the laying of a fiber optic cable to provide the island with broadband connection.

To sum up, a military officer, with a talent for repression and censorship, is to advise the Venezuelan government on electricity. Let there be light.
frlopez@eluniversal.com

Translated by Conchita Delgado