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July 28, 2009 - No. 146 56th Anniversary of Attack on Moncada Barracks Long Live the Cuban People and Their
Revolution!
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Throughout Cuba, millions of people took part in
activities to mark the 56th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada
and Manuel de Cespedes Barracks. The central rally to mark National
Rebellion Day was held July 26 in Holguín,
attended by 200,000 citizens representing all Cuban people.
In his speech, Raúl, the
second secretary of the
Party
referred to economic issues, such as the current construction of
hydraulic works, and emphasized the need to make the land productive. Left to right: Jorge Cuevas Ramos, Raúl Castro, Miguel Diaz Canel |
Minutes before Cuevas spoke to the people, Miguel Diaz
Canel, former Communist Party Leader in Holguín province and
current
Minister of Higher Education addressed the huge demonstration to say
that he shared the healthy and revolutionary pride of the
Holguín
people.
Diaz Canel stressed the goals in different social and
economic sectors, which were reached with perseverance, braveness,
optimism and unconditional commitment. You have worked step by step,
one day after the other, with unlimited commitment; you have
transformed programs and projects and you faced the adversities imposed
by nature, he said.
The Cuban government official asked the people in Holguín to dedicate their celebration to Fidel and Raul, to the Revolution, the Communist Party and the five Cuban heroes imprisoned in the United States.
(Granma International, Prensa Latina,
Cuban News Agency, Radio Cadena Agramonte)
Moncada Day Celebrations Held across Cuba
July 26 Veterans Recall Fidel Castro's Firm Certainty
in
Revolutionary Victory
On July 21, a group of combatants of the July 26, 1953
assaults on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes barracks, and Granma yacht expedition members
highlighted Fidel Castro's firm certainty in the victory of the Cuban
Revolution against the Batista dictatorship that ruled the country
before January 1, 1959.
The veterans held a meeting with workers of the Cuban
Friendship Institute (ICAP) at the Friendship House in Havana as part
of activities marking the 56th anniversary of the heroic actions
undertaken against the Batista army barracks in the cities of Santiago
de Cuba and Bayamo.
Moncada Combatant and expedition member Emilio Albertosa
Chacon pointed out that Fidel always had and promoted faith in the
future to carry out the two historic actions, as he did during their
incarceration at the then Isle of Pines (today Isle of Youth) and later
during the journey of the Granma
yacht towards Cuba and the combats waged on the Sierra Maestra Mountain
Range. The meaning of the legacy was also addressed by combatants
Arsenio Garcia Davila and Gilberto Garcia Alonso along many others.
ICAP President Kenia Serrano explained about the
institution, founded December 30, 1960 to welcome an increasing number
of friends of Cuba, who came to Cuba in those days in order to learn of
the developing revolutionary process. ICAP maintains relations with
over 2,000 Cuba-friendship associations in 149 countries, plus 347
committees actively working in 112 nations for the release of the five
Cuban anti-terrorist fighters held in U.S. prisons for over 10 years
now.
Cuban Youth and Children Recall Historic July 26 Events
In a traditional yearly homage paid to the actors in the
historic
events of July 26, 1953, children and youth visited hundreds of sites,
including monuments and museums and engaged in exchanges with veterans
that
participated in the historic assaults on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel
de Cespedes barracks, an action that sparked the revolutionary fight
against the Batista dictatorship that ruled the country in the 1950s.
The initiative, considered a trip to the roots of the Cuban Revolution
also includes visits to places linked to developments that took place
during the liberation war and even after the January 1, 1959,
revolutionary victory, said Osnay Miguel Colina, in charge of the
ideological section at the
National Bureau of the Young Communist League.
This July 26 is welcomed by very active and industrious Cuban youth,
formed in today's battle for the country's recovery, economic and
social development, said the youth leader, who mentioned several
examples of how young generations of Cubans consciously mobilize in
support of the country's major efforts. He cited the Student Work
Brigades, known as BETs, and the thousands of young people who are
currently contributing to agriculture or social projects.
As part of activities, over 200 medical students have visited patients
in their homes to corroborate the effectiveness of the Cuban
pharmaceutical to treat the diabetic foot, known as HEBERPROT, while
another 500 youths are currently supporting the country's energy-saving
effort by working as inspectors in many state entities throughout the
country, the youth leader explained.
Another way of participating in activities marking the historic date is
the participation by over 37,000 young people in short-term summer
courses on general culture that will prepare them for life, said
Colina.
Several youth interviewed by the Cuban News Agency following the main rally in Holguín, indicated that the speech by President Raúl Castro served as a guide to action. Yordanis Pupo, a social worker, said "We are able -- as Raul said -- to make our land productive and apply our knowledge to lower imports and increase local production."
Meanwhile, Darisney Avila, a young woman who also attended the rally, said that Raul gave the guidelines to further boost the country's development; she said Raul's statement revealed a general commitment to reach the victory.
Young Communist League leader in Holguín, Osmany
Viñals, underscored the responsibility of the young generations
of Cuba in contributing to a fruitful exploitation of the lands. We
will keep firmly committed to the battle that must be waged and for any
mission we are appointed
to, said the youth leader.
Camagüey
In the eastern province of
Camagüey, determination
to face with optimism the current situation of global
economic crisis was expressed by those who attended the rallies held in
the province, marking the 56th anniversary of
the assault on the
Moncada military garrison by young Fidel Castro and his comrades.
In this vein, in the days before the Moncada Day
celebration
several buildings and services for the social welfare were opened in
the municipalities of Florida, Guáimaro and Sibanicú.
Florida was awarded the honour of hosting the province's
main July 26 rally. At Ñico López Square, the main
provincial leader gave
detailed explanation of the territory's achievements over the last year
and called to work more efficiently in two main fronts: the
construction and repair of houses and food production.
In Florida, several social institutions resumed
their functions July 24 after a period of repairs, thus greeting Cuba's
Moncada Day. The Municipal Library, the Literary Center and the
Municipal Direction of Culture were the buildings repaired in the
artistic sector, while another 15 commercial premises were refurbished.
In Guáimaro and Sibanicú,
houses,
urban vegetable gardens, schools, a
residential care home for elderly people and milk processing
facilities, amongst others, were repaired and re-inaugurated. Those
buildings were severely damaged by Hurricanes Ike and
Paloma that hit this portion of Cuba last year, which makes this
deed even more praiseworthy, said Julio Cesar García
Rodríguez, First Secretary of the Communist Party (PCC) in
Camagüey.
In all cases, the contribution of workers and residents
of the affected zones has been decisive. Over 40 percent of the damaged
houses were repaired, which is encouraging people to push forward.
Guantanamo
On the eve of the 56th anniversary of the historic
assault to the Moncada Barracks, residents of the easternmost province
of Guantanamo celebrated the National Rebellion Day in different
productive activities and leisure, Radio Cadena Agramonte reports.
Foremost amongst these was work to repair and open numerous
socio-economic works in each of the ten municipalities of the
territory, including food service facilities, schools, playgrounds and
others related to the health of the people.
On this day of commemoration it is a tradition of the
Cuban people to perform these activities as a worthy tribute to those
who decided to make this courageous deed, led by the leader of the
Revolution, the Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, Radio Cadena
Agramonte pointed out.
During these days of celebration, all Cubans, and the Guantanamo people
in particular, demonstrate their full support for the Cuban Revolution
because human welfare is the fundamental basis of the revolutionary
process. The report continues:
"The Moncada taught us that nothing is impossible when
justice is in the foreground, where it is necessary to fight and risk
life for a cause that involves large masses of people who are harmed by
the unbridled exploitation of the monopoly bourgeoisie and the foreign
transnationals.
"Guantanamo and the rest of the island are all
celebrating. We await July 26 full of joy and hope because we own our
future and destiny.
"The heroic combatants of that day in 1953 entered into
the history of our Motherland by their own right and shall remain there
for the pride of those who live in the Greater of the Antilles."
Holguín
Each year in Cuba celebrations are held in a city chosen for its social and economic gains that year. This year, more than 200,000 Cubans participated in the main anniversary celebration in Holguín, chosen for its exemplary efforts to recover from last year's devastating hurricane season as well as its important contribution to the country's economy through its three nickel-processing plants and the good performance of the local tourist centre. A significant achievement by Holguín's health care centre has been to lower the infant mortality rate to only 3.5 per every 1,000 live births. Other factors that have improved the people's health in the province include the operation of 37 homes providing assistance to pregnant mothers, genetics services, intensive care units in pediatric and neonatal services, as well as the work of doctors and nurses who guarantee primary health care.
(Granma International, Prensa Latina, Cuban News Agency, Radio Cadena Agramonte)
Cuba's Revolution Day Celebrated in Canada
In Canada, festive events celebrating Cuba's Revolution
Day were held in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
 (Photo: Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba) |
In Vancouver, more than 80 people attended an evening of
politics, culture, and solidarity. Vancouver Communities in Solidarity
with Cuba, one of the event organizers, reports that "Throughout the
evening, special emphasis was
put on the case of the Cuban 5 Heroes held in U.S. jails. Free the
Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver coordinator Sarah Alwell spoke to the
crowd, drawing connections between the fight of the original July 26th
rebels, and the Cuban 5 who continue to struggle against U.S. sponsored
terrorism and for all Cubans, even from behind prison walls. It was in
this spirit of struggle and art that Vancouver once again celebrated
July 26th and the gains of the Cuban Revolution!"
The Table de
concertation de solidarité Québéc-Cuba
celebrated the occasion in Montreal with two events. The first was an
outdoor gathering near Marché Maisonneuve. Group secretary Sean
O'Donohue spoke to the significance of the date for the Cuban people to
affirm their sovereignty. Genevieve Royer, on behalf of the organizing
committee for the Montreal Day of Friendship with Cuba, announced that
the 5th such day would be held on September 12, coinciding with the
11th anniversary of the arrest of the Cuban Five. Later in the day, the
Table hosted an
event at Café Balima where Montreal Consul for
the Republic of Cuba Maria Estela Escobar spoke. She pointed out that
Moncada was the spark which lead to the overthrow of the Batista
dictatorship and created the possibility for a nation-building project
consistent with the people's aspirations. During a lively question and
answer period, the consul answered questions about the role of women
and youth in the Cuban Revolution, the situation of the Cuban Five and
the Latin American people's continued resistance to U.S. imperialist
dictate.
In Toronto on July 25, a group of more than 100 people celebrated Moncada Day with a political and cultural evening organized by the Toronto Forum on Cuba. Speaking on behalf of the organizers, Sabrina Johnson spoke about the significance of the anniversary within the context of the advances of the Cuban people today in defending and further developing their sovereign country. She summed up by saying, "the Cuban people have reaffirmed that they are not daunted by the caprices of Nature or the presence of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on the island by a decadent empire involved in wars, crises and insurmountable contradictions. They'll continue to carry on, without giving up an inch of their independence, or any of their dreams of social justice for all." She expressed support and solidarity with the Cuban Revolution and all that the Revolution stands for in the world and also used the occasion to express support for the struggle of the Honduran people against the imperialist attacks they are facing. She then introduced the evening’s speakers, performing artists and special guests, which included Mr. Nam Nguyen, Minister Consul of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Martha Valdés de Sa, Consul of the Republic of Cuba in Toronto, thanked the Canadian people for their solidarity and expressed gratitude for all the assistance provided by Canadians to help Cuba recover from the economic devastation caused by the hurricanes that struck the island last year. She declared that, on this 56th anniversary of Moncada Day, the Cuban people continue in the spirit of rebellion and, in this regard, they stand with the present-day struggle of the Honduran people to restore the legitimate elected government of Manuel Zelaya. She vowed that the Cuban people are firm in their resolve to build their country in the face of the economic blockade imposed on Cuba for almost 50 years by the U.S.
 Professor Keith Ellis recites the poetry of Cuba's National Poet Nicolás Guillén. |
Her remarks were followed by poetry readings honouring Cuba and its cultural heritage by Professor Keith Ellis who read a selection by the National Poet of Cuba, Nicolás Guillén, as well as two works of his own. Carlos Angulo also recited two poems he wrote to honour Cuba.
José Martínez, who has been organizing in Toronto to help provide supplies to resistance forces who are in action in Honduras, gave an update on the situation there. He reported that President Zelaya is currently at Nicaragua's border with Honduras and that people have come there from all over the country to support his return. He stated that six cities have been taken over by the people and the roads to those cities are blockaded. In addition, thousands of people are protecting the Venezuelan embassy, the Cuban doctors and the independent radio stations in the country. He said that half a million people are in "permanent resistance" to the military coup and that they will keep fighting until they re-establish the constitutional government.
The meeting also announced an action in September to
mark eleven years
since the arrest and imprisonment of the Cuban Five. The gathering also
enjoyed performances by Azteca Tonatzen and Skigh Johnson.
For Your Information
Moncada Day, Cuba's National Day of Rebellion
For centuries, the Cuban people fought for their
liberation from first Spanish then U.S. colonialism. This struggle was
waged by a population predominantly made up of the descendants of
African slaves brought into Cuba after the indigenous population was
wiped out, as well as mulattos of
mixed African and European descent. This national liberation struggle
brought forth many outstanding fighters and leaders still venerated in
Cuba and around the world today such as Jose Martí. As the 1800s
came to a close, a republic had been established through the efforts of
revolutionary Cuban
forces lead by Martí, moving the people closer to achieving the
dream of liberation and dignity. Yet the rising U.S. Empire would not
stand for this. Ostensibly independent, U.S. intervention in Cuba,
including
direct occupation, was the norm from the early 20th century onwards.
Through aggressive policies
and coups d'état, the Fulgencio Batista puppet regime was
brought to power in 1952, characterized by an unprecedented servility
to the U.S. and its interests, thus undermining the republic and its
constitution. In this context emerged the "Centenary Generation," led
by Fidel Castro,
which would bring 50 years of struggle against Cuban governments
servile to the U.S. to a conclusion which favoured the people.
The Moncada Barracks shortly after the July 26, 1953 attack. The barracks have been converted into a school
and Museum of the Revolution where the bullet holes shown here can be seen to this day.
At that time, the youth were at the forefront of the
struggle, and the University of Havana, where Fidel was at the time a
law student, became one of the centres of opposition to the
government. On July 26, 1953, the Cuban revolutionary forces in the
form of a clandestine organization
under the leadership of Fidel and Abel Santamaria launched two attacks
against the Batista Regime, one against the Moncada Barracks in
Santiago de Cuba and the other against the Carlos Manuel de Cespedes
Barracks in the city of Bayamo. The Moncada Barracks was the military
centre of the
Batista regime in the south and its second largest and most powerful
garrison.
The clandestine revolutionary organization, as
yet
unnamed, was made up of young workers, students, unemployed persons,
artisans and campesinos from different parts of the island. It had
around 1,500 members and the organization affiliated itself with
previous revolutionary Cuban
figures such as Eduardo Chibás and José Martí.
About 120
youths were part of these attacks, approximately 70 of whom were killed
during or in the immediate aftermath of the event. Others, including
Fidel, were subsequently arrested, tortured, tried and/or executed.
In response to the attacks, Batista's regime escalated its repression of the progressive forces as never before, launching mass arrests of any deemed suspicious, imposing extensive censorship and suspending constitutional rights. In other words, the reaction of the Batista regime was to immediately and viciously criminalize the youth for their aspirations for a better world. They were attacked as violent, troublemakers and slandered, just as the youth today fighting for another world are attacked. Batista's regime knew very well that though the forces were defeated, it would inspire the Cuban youth and revolutionaries, all those who wanted a new Cuba, to see the possibility of it, to think bravely and defiantly.
In May 1955, many, including Fidel, were released after an amnesty which was the result of the mass mobilization of Cubans in support of the imprisoned rebels. For example, starting in 1955, mothers of some prisoners and other Cuban women organized a campaign to free the imprisoned rebels. Civil society, including editors, intellectuals and even political leaders, issued a public appeal demanding "liberty for the political prisoners." That year, the Cuban Congress passed a bill granting general amnesty to political prisoners. After being signed by Batista, the imprisoned rebels were freed.
 Flag of the July 26th Movement.
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Though the battle was lost on July 26, 1953, the great significance of that day is that a bold stand was taken. The Cuban people planted their flag and said to all those willing, here is the battle, here is where to follow. It lead to the conditions which made it possible for the war to be won, to liberate Cuba from U.S. dictate and establish a people's government. The date on which the attack took place, July 26, 1953, is commemorated in the name of the revolutionary July 26th Movement which eventually took power in 1959. Thus, the July 26 attacks were a continuation of a long history of struggle in Cuba, and were a link in a long chain that led to the 1959 Revolution. Since the 1959 triumph of the revolution in Cuba, this day has been commemorated with the participation of millions of Cubans, and celebrations are held in a city chosen for its social and economic gains that year.
When Fidel was arrested after the attacks, he defended
himself in the court. His four-hour defence was recorded by the court
and became the platform for the July 26th Movement, today known world
wide by the title "History Will Absolve Me," excerpted below:
"... Fundamental matters of principle are being debated
here, the right of men to be free is on trial, the very foundations of
our existence as a civilized and democratic nation are in the balance.
[...]
"Why were we sure of the people's support? When we speak of the people we are not talking about those who live in comfort, the conservative elements of the nation, who welcome any repressive regime, any dictatorship, any despotism, prostrating themselves before the masters of the moment until they grind their foreheads into the ground. When we speak of struggle and we mention the people we mean the vast unredeemed masses, those to whom everyone makes promises and who are deceived by all; we mean the people who yearn for a better, more dignified and more just nation; who are moved
 Raúl (left) and Fidel Castro leading Cuban revolutionaries in the Sierra Maestra, circa 1959. |
"But I do not fear prison, as I do not fear the fury of
the miserable tyrant who took the lives of 70 of my comrades. Condemn
me. It does not matter. History will absolve me."
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