In Memory of Julio Ruiz Pitaluga

BY: THE HILL

Yesterday, former Cuban political prisoner Julio Ruiz Pitaluga died in Havana.

Pitalgua was a "plantado" -- a group of political prisoners that refused prison work, indoctrination or uniforms. And thus, who received the harshest punishments.

Like most "plantados," Pitaluga fought against both the Batista and Castro dictatorships.

He was a Captain in Castro's 26th of July Movement upon the triumph of the Cuban Revolution.

Upon seeing that Castro's intentions were simply to become a dictator himself -- and a totalitarian one, at that -- Pitaluga entered the opposition.

For this, he spent 25 years in Castro's political prisons.