People's Democracy

CPI(M) Greets Cuban Revolution, 53rd Anniversary 

THE Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) sends warm fraternal greetings to the Communist Party and people of Cuba on the 53rd anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban revolution.

Unable to reconcile to the fact that a socialist revolution had triumphed just 90 miles off its coast, US imperialism unleashed a relentless wave of acts of aggression over these decades against the Cuban people, that continue till date. The US is continuing with the inhuman economic blockade despite the repeated resolutions passed in the UN condemning the blockade. Nothing more illustrates the fact that the US is isolated on the issue of Cuba than the recent vote in the UN condemning the blockade in which only two countries voted against the resolution, i.e., apart from the US only one country stood by its side. The Cuban people have also been braving the Helms-Burton and Torricelli Acts which intensify the dastardly economic war against Cuba.

Apart from the mercenary invasion of Bay of Pigs and the missile crisis, various terrorist acts were carried out in Cuban territory against factories, schools, commercial centres, recreational facilities, sugarcane plantations etc.

The intensity with which the US launched its attack on the nascent socialist state can be gauged by the fact that under "Operation Mongoose," during a period of 14 months from November 1961 to January 1963, a total of 5,780 terrorist acts, including 716 major acts of sabotage against economic targets, were carried out against Cuba. Dozens of plots to assassinate the Cuban head of state have been organised, planned and financed by the CIA.

The US courts have sentenced five Cuban patriots to life imprisonment based on trumped up charges. However, the US fails to bring to justice those responsible for terrorist acts against Cuba that have claimed the lives of 3,478 people and disabled another 2,099. Millions of people across the world, including several Nobel laureates, have expressed their solidarity with the incarcerated Cuban Five, as they are now famously known. The biased nature of the US judicial system against the Cuban Five can be understood from the fact that the Miami court in a recent verdict refused to permit Rene Gonzalez, who was released on parole, to visit Cuba. He is forced to live in Miami, with his life in perpetual danger due to the active anti-Cuban mafia that is still extremely active with its activities of subterfuge.

Despite the awful blockade and the horrendous scheming of the USA, socialism in Cuba has marched forward. Cuba offers one of the best healthcare facilities to its citizens. Every Cuban child receives prenatal care, is born in a hospital and provided intensive postnatal care and free medical services throughout his life. Health services, education, physical and sports training accorded to Cuban children rank among the best in the world, and are provided free of charge. The highest share of Cuba's net revenues and national budget are allocated to children’s programmes. Cuba is the only country in Latin America which offers 100 per cent health care and education to its population.

Cuba not only stood as a model in providing healthcare to its citizens, but whenever and wherever there was a natural disaster and call of distress, it had responded by sending its medical teams to attend to the needy. While the imperialist US sends soldiers across the world, Cuba sent its medical personnel across the world – from its neighbouring Haiti to our neighbour Pakistan. Cuba also played an enormous role in Venezuela, Bolivia and other Latin American countries by sending its doctors to treat the people of those countries free of cost.

The role played by Cuba in building the non-aligned movement, developing South-South cooperation and forming many regional blocs with the progressive governments in Latin America had helped strengthen the multipolarity in the world and challenge the US imperialist hegemony. Cuba stands tall with its communist internationalism, in spite of its own hardships and thus is a source of inspiration to all the progressive and peace loving people.

The Cuban economy is set to grow by 2.9 per cent this year, up from 2.1 per cent in 2010, a remarkable feature in the world gripped by grave recession. The sixth congress of the Cuban Communist Party had taken some historic decisions which aim to modernise the country's socialist system. The entire process followed by the ruling Communist Party and the government before proceeding to change their economic policy is an eye-opening experience in the pursuit of socialist democracy. They postponed their party congress and put the draft proposal before the entire people of the country seeking their opinions. From December 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011 close to nine million people participated in more than 163,000 meetings in which over three million contributed with their opinions and suggestions. These opinions were not only just ‘heard’ but were acknowledged, recognised and many were even considered in the final text. All this vindicates that socialism is a superior social system than capitalism.

The Cuban people, led by the Communist Party of Cuba, have withstood six decades of terrorist attacks and economic blockade imposed by the US. The sagacity and courage displayed by the Cuban people in the midst of such severe US-sponsored attacks is inspiring and encouraging for the people struggling against imperialism. Cuba has demonstrated the superiority of socialism and the socialist system over capitalism.

On the occasion of the 53^rd anniversary of the Cuban revolution, we salute the brave Cuban people and express warm solidarity with them. We wish them greater success in the days ahead.