Cubans vindicated by US policy change, says Gerry Adams
Sinn Féin leader
praises Castro and Obama during visit and calls for end to US embargo
First published:Mon, Oct 5, 2015, 01:00
The people of Cuba have been vindicated by the recent
change in US policy towards the island, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said on a visit to
Havana.
Mr Adams met Cuban vice-president Salvador Antonio Valdés
Mesa, other ministers and National Assembly leaders during his four-day visit.
He also spoke at a memorial to the 1981 republican hunger strikes, which he
described as “an epic story of unselfishness, courage and generosity versus
self-interest, intransigence and imperialism”.
He said the same spirit was visible in Cuba, and claimed its
people had been “vindicated” by the recent rapprochement with the US, which
recently re-opened its embassy in Havana. “While that [change] will present
many challenges, such challenges are part of revolutionary struggle,” he said.
The Sinn Féin leader praised Cuban president Raul Castro and his US counterpartBarack Obama for their work in improving
relations between the two countries. He also commended Pope Francis for his work in encouraging
the two sides to talk.
Beacon of
hope
“These developments are creating a new positive dynamic in
the relationships of these neighbours and a beacon of hope and reconciliation
in difficult times,” he said.
Mr Adams called for an end to the US embargo of Cuba, which
has been in place for five decades and came at “enormous” economic, cultural
and human cost to the people of Cuba.
“The interests of Latin America and especially of Cuba and
the USA are best served by an end to the embargo and the creation of a new
relationship based on mutual respect and equality,” he said.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/cubans-vindicated-by-us-policy-change-says-gerry-adams-1.2378657
Ireland's hunger strikers remembered in
Cuba
Gerry Adams TD speaking at the Irish Martyrs Memorial in Havana
»MARK
MOLONEY
IRELAND's Hunger Strikers were remembered in a ceremony in
Havana, Cuba, on Friday at which Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams praised the
leadership shown by the Cuban and US governments in moving towards an end to
decades of hostility between the two countries.
Adams, who had officially unveiled the memorial back in 2001 to
mark the 20th anniversary of 1981 Hunger Strike, said the determination shown
by the Irish hunger strikers had became a metaphor for Ireland's long struggle
for freedom and independence.
“It was an epic story of unselfishness, courage and generosity
versus self-interest, intransigence and imperialism," he said.
“That same spirit is visible here in Cuba and everywhere
stronger powers refuse to recognise that people have the right to be who we
are."
Gerry Adams commended the leadership of Cuban President Raúl
Castro in helping to forge a peace deal in Colombia.
He also paid tribute to the Cuban President and US President
Barack Obama for their work towards ending decades of hostility between the two
nations, saying that the people of Cuba have been vindicated by the change in
policy by the USA:
"While that will present many challenges, such challenges
are part of revolutionary struggle," he said.
Friday,
October 9, 2015
The sun was shining gloriously in a
clear blue sky last Friday in Havana. It was a hot and humid Cuban morning. Our
small delegation – myself, Lucilita Bhreatnach, Eric Scanlon and Richard
McAuley – walked the short distance from our cars to the hunger strike memorial
in Parque Victor Hugo - a beautiful park in central Havana - named after the
author of Les Miserables.
I was first there just before Christmas
in 2001 to unveil the memorial which was erected to mark the 20th anniversary
of the 1981 hunger strike. The hunger strike clearly had a significant impact
on the people of Cuba. On September 15 1981, during the hunger strike, Fidel
Castro addressing the 68th conference of the Interparliamentary Union in Havana
said: “In my opinion Irish patriots are writing on the most heroic
chapters in human history. They have earned the respect and admiration of the
world and likewise they deserve its support. Ten of them have died in the most
moving gesture of sacrifice, selflessness and courage one could ever imagine.” Part
of his remarks are inscribed on the memorial.
The Sinn Féin delegation was joined
in our celebration by a small crowd of Cuban activists, some of whom were
involved in solidarity work at that time, as well as representatives of the
Cuban Communist Party.
It was a poignant moment. Friday was
October 2nd. It was almost 34 years to the day - October 3rd 1981
- when the hunger strike ended.
The Stailc Ocrais (hunger strike) has
since become a metaphor for Ireland’s long struggle for freedom and
independence. I reminded my Cuban audience that “it was an epic story
of unselfishness, courage and generosity versus self-interest, intransigence
and imperialism. Though it ended in the deaths of 10 prisoners and countless
other people outside the prison it was a triumph for human dignity and the
human spirit.
That same spirit is visible here in Cuba and everywhere stronger powers refuse to recognise that people have the right to be who we are. It is visible when stronger powers try to grind down those who have different more egalitarian values. The people of Cuba have been vindicated by the change of US policy recently and while that will present many challenges, such challenges are part of revolutionary struggle.”
I concluded my remarks by stating my belief that the hunger strikers would be pleased that this memorial stands in Havana. They would also be pleased by the changes that are evident in Cuba’s economy and in the quality of life of its citizens. Clearly the embargo still makes life very difficult but the Cuban people have demonstrated a remarkable resourcefulness in circumventing this obstacle. For example, major progress has been made in developing Cuba’s economy; in introducing new tax laws and a labour code, and in the creation of huge deepwater sea port, and special economic development zone at the port of Mariel, just west of Havana.
That same spirit is visible here in Cuba and everywhere stronger powers refuse to recognise that people have the right to be who we are. It is visible when stronger powers try to grind down those who have different more egalitarian values. The people of Cuba have been vindicated by the change of US policy recently and while that will present many challenges, such challenges are part of revolutionary struggle.”
I concluded my remarks by stating my belief that the hunger strikers would be pleased that this memorial stands in Havana. They would also be pleased by the changes that are evident in Cuba’s economy and in the quality of life of its citizens. Clearly the embargo still makes life very difficult but the Cuban people have demonstrated a remarkable resourcefulness in circumventing this obstacle. For example, major progress has been made in developing Cuba’s economy; in introducing new tax laws and a labour code, and in the creation of huge deepwater sea port, and special economic development zone at the port of Mariel, just west of Havana.
Tourism too has expanded
significantly since I was last here. And the relaxation in some of the
restrictions on US visitors by President Obama has seen an increase in
travellers arriving from there. Many are coming to visit families but others
have come to enjoy Cuba’s rich history; its cultural diversity; its great
weather and beaches; and the warmth of its people.
Some have also come to look at or
travel in the fleet of 1950s American cars that are a regular sight on
Havana’s roads. They come in all shapes and sizes and colours. Some, even after
60 years, are still immaculate. They look as fresh as the day they came off the
assembly line in Detroit.
Havana is famous for its streetscape
of old buildings and castles. Some dating back to the early 16th century.
Its’ museums have reminders of gold and silver plundered by Spanish adventurers
and monarchs from central and south America, as well as Cuba. The Museum
of the Revolution is in Old Havana and in what was the Presidential Palace of
all Cuban presidents. It contains many artefacts and photographs from the revolutionary
period, including in a glass building beside the museum the Granma – the 60
foot yacht that was used to transport Fidel and 80 fighters from Mexico to Cuba
in 1956 at the start of the revolution.
In one glass case is an instrument
that was used to tear off the fingernails of prisoners while in another there
is a photograph of a crowd of smiling revolutionary prisoners – not unlike
smuggled photographs from within Long Kesh and Armagh Women’s prison in our own
time. A guitar, with the names of political prisoners written across it, is
another reminder of the similarities of prison struggle between Cuba and
Ireland. The museum is currently under renovation and the guide who brought us
around proudly showed us the bullet holes in the walls that were revealed
during the restoration process.
Last week’s visit was an opportunity
to build on the close ties of solidarity that Irish republicans and many Irish
people share with the people of Cuba. It also came on the back of a very
successful visit to Cuba by Pope Francis and the major breakthrough in Cuban –
US relations. In the course of a very busy schedule I met senior political
leaders in the Cuban government, including Cuban Vice President Salvador
Antonio Valdés Mesa, as well as a the Minister for Health; the Minister for
Foreign Trade; the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and senior figures from
the People’s National Assembly and the Central Committee.
Our conversations ranged across
international affairs and the role of Cuba in the world today, including its
medical aid to other countries. The recent thaw in relations between Cuba and
the United States dominated much of our discussions.
While US President Obama has taken
steps to ease some of the more punitive aspects of the embargo most of the really
important elements of it are written into US law and need the Congress to
introduce the necessary enabling legislation to finally bring an end to the
embargo, as well as to close the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay and return it to
the Cuban people.
Sinn Féin has consistently opposed
the embargo imposed by the USA. Its economic, cultural and human cost on the
people of Cuba has been enormous. The interests of Latin America and
especially of Cuba and the USA are best served by an end to the embargo and the
creation of a new relationship based on mutual respect and equality. Key to the
progress we have witnessed thus far has been the leadership of President Raul Castro and
President Obama.
On October 27th Cuba
will introduce its annual motion to the United Nations calling for an end to
the embargo. How the US responds will be an important indicator.
Finally, I also took the opportunity
to publicly and privately commend Cuba's role in facilitating the Colombian
peace process. The recent press conference in Havana, hosted by President Raul
Castro, at which Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the
leader of the Farc rebel group Timochenko shook hands, was a remarkable
breakthrough after many years of
effort. They have now set six
months in which to achieve a final agreement.
Finally, finally I left Cuba
impressed by the candour and determination of the Cuban people and their
political leadership. All of those I spoke to made clear their willingness to
construct a new relationship with the USA but there was an equal determination
not to compromise on the principles of the revolution.
http://leargas.blogspot.com/2015/10/our-man-in-havana.html
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