Key remarks by Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Republic of Cuba, to
the people of Cuba, to the noble American people and to the world
public opinion, at the onset of the heroic Cuban people's march on
the U.S. Interests Section in Havana on January 24, 2006
Dear compatriots:
At the onset of this march on the perfidious and provocative
representatives of imperialism, I wish to reiterate what I said on
Sunday in my closing remarks to the heroic people of our beloved
homeland, to the noble American people and to the world public opinion.
"The United States government is deliberately in pursuit of the
following objectives:
"First, the release of terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, who was
trained by US authorities -Bush Sr. included- and used to
perpetrate monstrous crimes against the Cuban people. Recruited in
1961, this repulsive character was trained to carry out special
operations during the Bay of Pigs invasion. He and Orlando Bosch,
officially pardoned by Bush Sr., subsequently received rigorous
training to execute despicable acts of terrorism against Cuba.
Likewise, he was given instruction to take part in Operation Condor, an
international terrorist organization responsible for odious crimes
against Latin American personalities. He is the mind behind the midair
bombing of a Cubana de Aviaci=F3n airliner, which claimed the lives of
73 people, off the coasts of Barbados, on October 6, 1976. Taken out of
a Venezuelan prison by the CIA on August 18, 1985, he immediately
became involved in the dirty war against Nicaragua, supplying weapons
to the 'contras' in El Salvador and introducing drugs in the United
States in the same planes that brought them weapons. For over four
decades, Luis Posada Carriles maintained close ties with US
intelligence agencies, received financing from various administrations
and was used by the Cuban American National Foundation in attempts to
assassinate the Cuban head of state. Efforts by the current US
President, and a pardon signed by Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso,
finally secured his release from prison on August 26, 2004. Then, taken
to a Central American country under protection from the US government,
he was authorized to secretly enter the United States. Between March 18
and 20, 2005, he entered the country on the Santrina, a yacht captained
by the notorious terrorist Santiago =C1lvarez, a man who, strangely
enough, is also being held for weapons trafficking and gross violations
of US national security laws. These are irrefutable facts.
"Second, the current US administration has utterly failed in its
efforts to isolate and stifle Cuba economically. But it does not accept
this failure, and grows dangerously desperate.
"Third, the government of the United States has done everything in
its power to please the Cuban American terrorist mafia, which resorted
to fraud, in Florida, to put President George W. Bush in office.
"Fourth, President Bush and his administration have committed
themselves to implementing a macabre transition plan in Cuba, an act of
flagrant interference in the internal affairs of our country, which
would return it to a state of backwardness.
"Fifth, the government of the United States has implemented every
imaginable measure to deprive Cuba of completely legitimate sources of
income. It has made it more difficult for people to send remittances to
Cuba and even, callously, forbidden, or made it next to impossible, for
Cuban-born US residents to visit their relatives on the island.
"Sixth, under pressure from the Cuban-American mob, and as one their
next step, the government of the United States is intent on openly
violating the US - Cuba Migratory Accords.
"Seventh: The government of the United States is looking for any
pretext to prevent, at all costs, the sales of agricultural products to
Cuba, which have been growing, while our country has paid every cent on
time during five years, something that government did not expect from a
blockaded nation facing constant aggression.
"Eighth, the government of the United States, unhappy about President
Carter's decision of May 30, 1977, is intent on breaking the minimal
diplomatic links which exist between Cuba and the United States today.
The gross acts of provocation of the US Interests Section in Havana do
not and could not have a different objective.
"The Bush administration is well aware that no government on earth
can tolerate such an affront to its dignity and sovereignty.
"Cuba's attitude, and its response to the empire's provocations,
will be entirely peaceful, but we shall counter the insult with all the
strength of our moral fortitude and we shall persist in our
determination to fight to the death, against whatever act of
belligerence of the restless and brutal empire that threatens us. Let
no one for a minute forget the oath of Maceo, our Bronze Titan, when he
said that 'whosoever attempts to take possession of Cuba shall
conquer but the blood-soaked ground beneath his feet, if he does not
first perish in battle'.
I will be witnessing this march together with our spirited children and
students who, from the Anti-imperialist Square, will encourage our
brave and combative people that will be marching today on this
perfidious and provocative representation, the same as they will march
on to battle against any aggressor.
Homeland or death!
We shall overcome!
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