Emilio Rebenga (died 11 August 1980) was a Cuban communist official under Fidel Castro. Castro purged him from his position after Rebenga lost his trust, and he had him imprisoned for several years. In 1980, Castro sprung him from prison, and he arrived in the United States during the Mariel boatlift. He was murdered during the 1980 Freedomtown riots.
Biography
Emilio Rebenga was born in Cuba, and he was an early supporter of Fidel Castro and the 26th of July Movement. Rebenga became a prominent official in the communist regime, and he was responsible for torturing a few men to death, including the brother of Frank Lopez, a Cuban exile businessman in Miami. Later, Rebenga and Castro fell out, and Castro had Rebenga imprisoned.
Death
Rebenga's body
Rebenga was freed by Castro in 1980, and he arrived in the United States during the Mariel boatlift. He was sent to Freedomtown in Miami, where several Cuban immigrants were detained. At around this time, Frank Lopez decided to have Rebenga killed, and Tony Montana and Manny Ribera were recruited to perform this task. During the Freedomtown riots, Ribera, wielding a knife, approached Rebenga in a burning tent and started chanting Liberta! ("freedom") as he menacingly walked towards him. A terrified Rebenga headed to the end of the tent as the other rioters began to join in the chant, but as he opened the door, Montana surprised Rebenga and stabbed him in the stomach with a knife, saying "Rebenga! From a friend you fucked." Rebenga then stumbled out of the tent and onto the ground, where he died of his wounds.