People's Democracy

US: Hands Off Cuba

Cuba Rebellion Day Celebrated In Delhi

“CUBA is not just another country. It is a symbol – a symbol for socialism, for freedom, for defiance, for peace, and for revolution. It is a beacon for the oppressed people of the world. We shall stand in unity to defend Cuba from the subversive attempts being made by the US imperialism.”

This was the resounding message of the meeting held in New Delhi on July 26 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Rebellion Day. It was on this day in 1953 that Fidel Castro, leading a band of young guerrillas, attacked the US puppet Batista’s Moncada garrison, which ultimately paved way for the triumph of Cuban revolution six years later.

The meeting was organised by the National Committee for Solidarity with Cuba and attended by activists, artists, intellectuals and by the capital’s diplomatic corps. The meeting was addressed among other, by the former external affairs minister and senior Congress leader K Natwar Singh, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan, CPI(M) Polit Buro member, S Ramachandran Pillai and the charge d’ affairs of the Cuban embassy Abelardo Cueto Sosa.

The meeting resolved that there is an urgent need to expand this solidarity campaign throughout the country in view of the intensified attacks of US imperialism against Cuba. The recent activities of the US pro-consul in Cuba to foment dissidence and anarchy are a pointer to further steps imminent against Cuba. That’s why the “US: Hands off Cuba” message has to be carried widely across our country in line with our tradition of international solidarity with struggling peoples, emphasised the speakers.

Natwar Singh recalled his brief encounters with the legendary Fidel Castro during the NAM summit meetings and said, “those meetings will always remain for me unforgettable experiences.” He revealed that it was Fidel Castro who saw to it that India got to host the 7th NAM summit in New Delhi.

Abelardo Cueta Sos, the Cuban charge d’ affairs, in his speech explained the transformation for the Cuban people after the revolution, particularly in the fields of health, education, agriculture, land reforms, etc. He questioned the right of the US to brand a country as “a terrorist state” while its own territory is a haven for countless terrorist organisations and when it itself engineered countless terrorist attacks to eliminate Fidel Castro. “Cuba is not afraid of the US military might. We are willing to discuss any issue amicably. But we are also ready to defend our ideas, our socialist system and our achievements. We are ready to die for these,” said the Cuban diplomat amidst thunderous applause.

In his speech, bardhan, pointed out how Cuba has not indulged in a single provocative action against the US while thousands of such actions, breaching all international law and human rights, were originating from the US against Cuba. He referred to the inhuman treatment meted out to the ‘brave Cuban five’ who tried to protect their country from terrorist activities of US-based Cuban mercenaries cum drug peddlarso. Referring to the clampdown by the Cuban government on subversive elements within the country, Bardhan warned that people should not be taken in by the US propaganda to blow up these actions.

S Ramachandran Pillai urged upon the people to realise that American imperialism is the ‘enemy number one’ for the entire world. He said the effort of US imperialism to gain hegemony is not limited to just military domain but also to the economic and political fields. He paid glowing tributes to the exceptional achievement of Cuba in standing up bravely to the most powerful bully of the world --- the US. Situated just 90 miles away from the US, Cuba has withstood all attempts at counter-revolution. It stood erect and never bent or surrendered. 

The meeting was presided by the CPI national leader, D Raja. The convenor of the ‘National Committee for over Solidarity with Cuba’, A Vijayaraghavan, invited the gathering and briefly uniformed about the programmes being conducted by the committee.

The meeting began with the rendering of two inspiring songs from our national movement by the Delhi-based ‘Act-One’ theatre group. Also setting the tone for the meeting was the impromptu drawing of a caricature of Fidel Castro by eminent cartoonist Unny of Indian Express.  (INN)