scarface
12-10-2007, 12:25 AM
Visit to Cuba by four members of RSF
From September 30 to November 15, four members of Sinn Féin Poblachtach visited Cuba as part of the Ireland-Cuba Solidarity group.
Dermot Douglas (leader of the Irish delegation), Matt and Margaret Mullen and Ard Chomhairle member Josephine Hayden joined 256 International Brigidistas from 36 Countries in the Campamento Internacional Julio Antonio Mella (CIJAM) at Carrtera de Guayabal, Caimito, about an hours drive from Havana. The two-week long programme of events centred around the 40 Anniversary of the murder of Ernesto Ché Guevara.
We were greeted at the camp by the director Juan Carlos and the staff. They all welcomed us and the many other nationalities. (Later in the week Juan Carlos spoke to us and gave an outline of the camp from its inception. More on that later). Our first activity was to visit a local farm co-operative (four families operate this co-op farm where a % of the income goes to the state, it having provided the materials necessary for operations). Out of their rations they supplied us with food and home-made lemonade and provided us with what was to become a never ending stream of music and dancing! The Cubans just love to dance!
Many wreaths were laid to those who took part in the Revolution like Julio Antonio Mella and to those whose writings and beliefs inspired the Revolution like Jose Marti. At a ceremony to Jose Marti in Central Park, Havana, three men in full military uniform carried a very large wreath and laid it at the base of the monument to Jose Marti. A visit to Che’s headquarters at the San Carlos de la Cabana fortress was one of the first of many historical and cultural visits in and around Havana and Santa Clara. It was here that Che did much of his work while a minister.
The attendance of Alberto Granados at a screening of the Motorcycle Diaries in Havana was of particular interest as he was the man who accompanied Che on his journey through South America. He answered the many questions put to him about his time with Che and reminded us of our own Dan Keating, who died while we were in Cuba.
The Association of Combatants, those who were in the Sierra Maistre Mountains with Che, attended speeches, reading and music in the Theatre in Havana and from there we visited the ‘open Anti-imperialist Tribune’ whichgave us information on the American Interest Section (the US has no embassy in Cuba, so the
Section is attached to the Swiss Embassy) where the CIA operate overt and covert surveillance.
“What the US are doing here is violating all international conventions” according to the spokesperson at the Tribune. He also explained that “a forced action against this naval base means a state of war” and that “it would be a pretext to invade Cuba” (shades of the ‘immediate and terrible war’ of the British on Ireland).
The terms of Guantanamo were agreed before the Revolution when Cuba rented the base to the US. All cheques paid to Cuba for the base by America have been returned since the Revolution. The following resolution, agreed by the Brigadistas (delegates) on Wednesday, November 3 was read out: “We the Brigidastas from 32 countries participating in activities to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the death of Ernesto Che Guevara in combat, request freedom for the Cuban Five - Antonia Guerrero, Ramon Labanino, Rene Gonzalez, Fernando Gonazalez, Hernando Hernandez - held in US prisons since September 12, 1998.
“The Cuban Five’s mission in the US was to collect information on the activities of ultra-right groups based in South Florida who have planned and carried out acts of terrorism against Cuba, among others, which have resulted in the death of 3,478 people and permanent injuries to thousands more.
“That is why we demand their immediate release for fighting terrorism which organised, financed and carried out from the US soil against Cuba. One such example is the bombing of a Cuban airline in midair on October 6, 1976 which killed all 73 people on board. The two people who masterminded this act of terrorism with the knowledge of the CIA and the US government are walking free in Miami. This is an outrage and insult to humanity and all who are striving for peace and justice.
“The President of the US government has repeatedly said “those who harbour a terrorist are as guilty as the terrorist”. And with this in mind we denounce George Bush, who in the pretext of “war on terror” is invading and occupying other countries, is guilty of harbouring the worst terrorists in this hemisphere.
“Furthermore, the wives of the two of the Cuban Five, Olga Salanveva and Adriana Perez, have been denied visas to visit their husbands which is testimony of another act of inhuman behaviour by the US government which we strongly condemn. “In memory of Che, who fought for justice, we will not give up the struggle to build support around the world to achieve freedom for the Cuban Five”.
Cuba flies over 100 black flags at this Tribune in memory of those who died and the many years of Revolution. Members of the families of the Cuban Five (who are Serving sentences in various jails in the USA) and a lawyer for the men visited the Camp and spoke to the assembled brigadistas on the theme “Che Guevara and the Cuban Five: Two
histories, one same path to defend socialism and sovereignty of Peoples”.
They showed the film Mission Against Terror outlined the history of the men, who were living in Miami and tried to infiltrate what they termed ‘terror groups’, backed by the CIA and the American Government, intent on destabilising Cuba. The men are being illegally held but the families and the lawyers have come up against the ‘brick wall’ of the judicial system in the USA. The men have been moved to various jails and are not held together.
Josephine Hayden spoke at the meeting as an ex-POW and outlined the work and publicity undertaken for the Cuban Five in Ireland. She pointed out that we too still had political prisoners in Ireland under British and Free State administrations. Dermot Douglas presented the families with POW T-Shirts depicting Bobby Sands’ drawing of the Lark and the Wire. After lunch representatives of the Cuban Women’s Federation, the Students Federation and officials from the trade unions held an open meeting. A very interesting few hours followed with Q&A at the end. All of the groups explained their reasons for existing, their work and their future as they see it. As one would expect the Revolution and ‘society’ play a big part in their thinking and their planning for the future. And as in Ireland the Women’s Federation want to see more women represented in political life — however like the rest of the world women in Cuba still do the bulk of childminding/rearing and housework.
Women make up between 40-60% of the workforce but with working in the home put in 70 hours per week as opposed to men’s 44. Sixty-three per cent of women are university graduates with 64% taking medicine and 74% taking public health. The Federation would like to see more women in more responsible positions, only 37% of what they called ‘leaders’ are women, ie in government there are no ministers but there are 33 vice-ministers. Maternity/Paternity leave is paid for one year for one parent. Another year is guaranteed but unpaid.
It was pointed out by a member of the trade union delegation that in Cuba “we are the owners and not just the workers. We own the means of production. We are different from most other countries. We truly are working for the country”. They spoke about the advances made in spite of the blockade and how hard it had been after the Revolution but out of the Revolution came the workers rights.
Full retirement pension is paid at age 55 for women and 60 for men provided they have 25 years service. They have a complicated system whereby a pension is based on the rates of tax a person paid and the duration of work. However a pension is guaranteed and retirement is not compulsory.
This is from the November issue of SAOIRSE, in the world news page. It included a photograph of Irish delegation leader and RSF member Dermot Douglas presenting Republican PoW T-shirts to family members of the Maimi Five. Part two of the report will be carried in this months SAOIRSE.
From September 30 to November 15, four members of Sinn Féin Poblachtach visited Cuba as part of the Ireland-Cuba Solidarity group.
Dermot Douglas (leader of the Irish delegation), Matt and Margaret Mullen and Ard Chomhairle member Josephine Hayden joined 256 International Brigidistas from 36 Countries in the Campamento Internacional Julio Antonio Mella (CIJAM) at Carrtera de Guayabal, Caimito, about an hours drive from Havana. The two-week long programme of events centred around the 40 Anniversary of the murder of Ernesto Ché Guevara.
We were greeted at the camp by the director Juan Carlos and the staff. They all welcomed us and the many other nationalities. (Later in the week Juan Carlos spoke to us and gave an outline of the camp from its inception. More on that later). Our first activity was to visit a local farm co-operative (four families operate this co-op farm where a % of the income goes to the state, it having provided the materials necessary for operations). Out of their rations they supplied us with food and home-made lemonade and provided us with what was to become a never ending stream of music and dancing! The Cubans just love to dance!
Many wreaths were laid to those who took part in the Revolution like Julio Antonio Mella and to those whose writings and beliefs inspired the Revolution like Jose Marti. At a ceremony to Jose Marti in Central Park, Havana, three men in full military uniform carried a very large wreath and laid it at the base of the monument to Jose Marti. A visit to Che’s headquarters at the San Carlos de la Cabana fortress was one of the first of many historical and cultural visits in and around Havana and Santa Clara. It was here that Che did much of his work while a minister.
The attendance of Alberto Granados at a screening of the Motorcycle Diaries in Havana was of particular interest as he was the man who accompanied Che on his journey through South America. He answered the many questions put to him about his time with Che and reminded us of our own Dan Keating, who died while we were in Cuba.
The Association of Combatants, those who were in the Sierra Maistre Mountains with Che, attended speeches, reading and music in the Theatre in Havana and from there we visited the ‘open Anti-imperialist Tribune’ whichgave us information on the American Interest Section (the US has no embassy in Cuba, so the
Section is attached to the Swiss Embassy) where the CIA operate overt and covert surveillance.
“What the US are doing here is violating all international conventions” according to the spokesperson at the Tribune. He also explained that “a forced action against this naval base means a state of war” and that “it would be a pretext to invade Cuba” (shades of the ‘immediate and terrible war’ of the British on Ireland).
The terms of Guantanamo were agreed before the Revolution when Cuba rented the base to the US. All cheques paid to Cuba for the base by America have been returned since the Revolution. The following resolution, agreed by the Brigadistas (delegates) on Wednesday, November 3 was read out: “We the Brigidastas from 32 countries participating in activities to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the death of Ernesto Che Guevara in combat, request freedom for the Cuban Five - Antonia Guerrero, Ramon Labanino, Rene Gonzalez, Fernando Gonazalez, Hernando Hernandez - held in US prisons since September 12, 1998.
“The Cuban Five’s mission in the US was to collect information on the activities of ultra-right groups based in South Florida who have planned and carried out acts of terrorism against Cuba, among others, which have resulted in the death of 3,478 people and permanent injuries to thousands more.
“That is why we demand their immediate release for fighting terrorism which organised, financed and carried out from the US soil against Cuba. One such example is the bombing of a Cuban airline in midair on October 6, 1976 which killed all 73 people on board. The two people who masterminded this act of terrorism with the knowledge of the CIA and the US government are walking free in Miami. This is an outrage and insult to humanity and all who are striving for peace and justice.
“The President of the US government has repeatedly said “those who harbour a terrorist are as guilty as the terrorist”. And with this in mind we denounce George Bush, who in the pretext of “war on terror” is invading and occupying other countries, is guilty of harbouring the worst terrorists in this hemisphere.
“Furthermore, the wives of the two of the Cuban Five, Olga Salanveva and Adriana Perez, have been denied visas to visit their husbands which is testimony of another act of inhuman behaviour by the US government which we strongly condemn. “In memory of Che, who fought for justice, we will not give up the struggle to build support around the world to achieve freedom for the Cuban Five”.
Cuba flies over 100 black flags at this Tribune in memory of those who died and the many years of Revolution. Members of the families of the Cuban Five (who are Serving sentences in various jails in the USA) and a lawyer for the men visited the Camp and spoke to the assembled brigadistas on the theme “Che Guevara and the Cuban Five: Two
histories, one same path to defend socialism and sovereignty of Peoples”.
They showed the film Mission Against Terror outlined the history of the men, who were living in Miami and tried to infiltrate what they termed ‘terror groups’, backed by the CIA and the American Government, intent on destabilising Cuba. The men are being illegally held but the families and the lawyers have come up against the ‘brick wall’ of the judicial system in the USA. The men have been moved to various jails and are not held together.
Josephine Hayden spoke at the meeting as an ex-POW and outlined the work and publicity undertaken for the Cuban Five in Ireland. She pointed out that we too still had political prisoners in Ireland under British and Free State administrations. Dermot Douglas presented the families with POW T-Shirts depicting Bobby Sands’ drawing of the Lark and the Wire. After lunch representatives of the Cuban Women’s Federation, the Students Federation and officials from the trade unions held an open meeting. A very interesting few hours followed with Q&A at the end. All of the groups explained their reasons for existing, their work and their future as they see it. As one would expect the Revolution and ‘society’ play a big part in their thinking and their planning for the future. And as in Ireland the Women’s Federation want to see more women represented in political life — however like the rest of the world women in Cuba still do the bulk of childminding/rearing and housework.
Women make up between 40-60% of the workforce but with working in the home put in 70 hours per week as opposed to men’s 44. Sixty-three per cent of women are university graduates with 64% taking medicine and 74% taking public health. The Federation would like to see more women in more responsible positions, only 37% of what they called ‘leaders’ are women, ie in government there are no ministers but there are 33 vice-ministers. Maternity/Paternity leave is paid for one year for one parent. Another year is guaranteed but unpaid.
It was pointed out by a member of the trade union delegation that in Cuba “we are the owners and not just the workers. We own the means of production. We are different from most other countries. We truly are working for the country”. They spoke about the advances made in spite of the blockade and how hard it had been after the Revolution but out of the Revolution came the workers rights.
Full retirement pension is paid at age 55 for women and 60 for men provided they have 25 years service. They have a complicated system whereby a pension is based on the rates of tax a person paid and the duration of work. However a pension is guaranteed and retirement is not compulsory.
This is from the November issue of SAOIRSE, in the world news page. It included a photograph of Irish delegation leader and RSF member Dermot Douglas presenting Republican PoW T-shirts to family members of the Maimi Five. Part two of the report will be carried in this months SAOIRSE.