Castro "no show" for Cuba Mayday
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Tuesday May 01, 2007 15:32
by I didn't start this rumour ok! nor ping propaganda
Rumours have been rife these last few days that Fidel Castro would make his first appearance since his autistic younger brother Raul took over the reins of power temporarily last 31 july. However, as the Cuban Mayday began to move a few hours ago - neither of the Castro brothers were to be seen.
Instead Salvador Valdés, secretary general of the Central Workers' union of Cuba led the march which Fidel has now missed twice. Raul Castro has never appeared in his official capacity nor been named as such in any broadcast by Havana.
Hugo Chavez and Gabriel Garcia Marquez are the two highest profile individuals who have enjoyed conversations with Castro (their friend) and relayed information of the ailing dictator and left wing icon to the general public.
Mayday is an anarchist celebration which globally brings millions to the street in the days leading up to after the 1st of May.
Cuba has in the last weeks signed important deals with its Allies Venezuela, China and former colonial power the EU Spain. The latter expressed confidence in a "transition process" which would see the many hundreds of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience finally released by the regime. The abuse of human rights on the island has long tarnished the reputation of the regime & unfortuanately detracted from the achievements of the revolution.
However, the abuses of the Cuban regime do not cry out for as much attention as those committed by the USA at its Cuban naval base Guantanamo.
Accordingly as Cuba stepped up demands on the USA for release of 5 of its citizens accused of espionage, some political prisoners (each serving less than 5 years) were released in the last weeks.
http://www.unionradio.com.ve/Noticias/Noticia.aspx?noti...01823
http://www.infobae.com/contenidos/314236-100884-0-Fidel...abana
http://www.milenio.com/index.php/2007/05/01/64373/
Comments (2 of 2)
Jump To Comment: 1 2http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6610369.stm
"let's not eff this transition up"................... Fidel is an icon. A quick look at the gallery today will show you the sort of people who not only wanted to see him appear today - but really needed him to appear. Anarchists and genuine leftists can not argue for "regime change" in states like Ireland if they are so reliant on the presence of an octogenarian at the helm of Cuba. Yes- much (but not all) of the problems of the Cuban people have been caused by the USA blockade which until recent years and the diplomatic efforts of the Spanish socialist presidency also included a EU embargo on commerce and aid. Yes - unique amongst the northern hemisphere the young of Cuba may look forward to a university education complete with idealogical training and their grandparents count on 4eu a month disposable income topped up with a daily allowance of protein (mostly beans - rarely dried fish) and carbohydrate.
Yes - the ancient cars still work. No - there is no freedom of movement, association, speech or in any sense a democratic participation.
But that ought be seen for what it is - 20th century anachronism.
South America and Latin America are changing quickly, quicker perhaps than African or Oriental states. the Peoples' republic of China in the last 7 years has switched from shoring up the Albanian regime in Europe to becoming one the main sponsors of development in Africa (most notably involving herself in hydrocarbon resource exploitation in sub-saharan africa, liberia and Ethiopia) as well as South America. But we want China to free her own lumpen proletariat too......
We must always be mindful of the "rules of play" our support for individuals see come into general or accepted use. If we had as a political generation on the left unwaveringly supported Richard Mugabe from his early 80's revolutionary arrival to the last years - we would have been hypocrites. Yet Mugabe said and still does say "much of the right things". Likewise now many of us must realise that if we are not critical with Cuba and with Venezuela - then not only do we run the risk of Garcia in Peru adopting a rightist "decree presidency" we also allow by our own "neglect to criticise" a terrifying new breed of "enabling acts" and "non-democratic yet populist regimes" in Africa as in Asia.
I for one - have never thought the struggle for workers' rights, Mayday, Liberty meant a global economy not undreamt of by Nixon emerge reliant on Chinese or other proletarian workers sweat and toil.
Let us send the customary good wishes to our friends! VENCEREMOS!
but let us also be honest with them. Gracias Fidel "for staying at home". It's over now. We're not going to let Gloria Estafan convert Cuba into a US liberal economy and leave those grandparents without their daily allowance of beans and rare treat of salt-fish. But we're not turning blind eyes to the Cuban prisons filled with those who merely mouthed words "we do over here".
Liberty is not negotiable. We have established Liberty is not a US or right wing thing. But we have not ensured its meaning is _really felt_ from Havana to La Paz to Caracas to Moscow to Beijing.
your enemy's enemy is only your friend and ally if they listen to you.
Tá 80 blian d'aois aige. Lig dó.
El pueblo, unido, jamás será vincidó!
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