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| Our Man In Havana | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 10 2006, 04:34 PM (41 Views) | |
| abuturab82 | Aug 10 2006, 04:34 PM Post #1 |
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Our Man in Havana : How a country learnt to be self-sufficient Fri, 2006-08-11 03:46 By - Leel Pathirana For the US he is a Tyrant-! Some other western nations, he is a longest serving Dictator in the world of political Arena. But if you ask from a Cuban or any other Latin American national, they will say “ Viva Comandante Fidel-!!! Fidel in leisure Fidel in leisure Recent illness of President Fidel Castro was a Big Blow among the western media last week leaving behind the War in Lebanon-Israel and the loss of the Human lives. Illness is something common and inevitable for all the human being in the world. But the way, that the western media acted or their news coverage over President Fidel Castro illness is very uncivilized. They purposely highlighted the Cheering crowds over his health (Cuban dissidents in Miami, who were financed and supported by US for Anti-Cuban activities) and the way he was falling to the ground few years ago after addressing a gathering for four hours. And the other side inviting for Live Interviews for so-called Intellectuals to express that it’s time for a change in Cuba, Will this take place? Presuming that he will not survive after the surgery. What we have to analyze is, in which extent the world expect to have a radical change in Cuban regime? Let me tell you this, it is the only country in the world that does not have foreign debts. Cuba does not owe anything to the rest of the world and it’s not a county begging before the IMF or World Bank though they have limited economic problems. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz born to a wealthy family on 13 August 1926 at Oriante’ province in Cuba. His father Angel Castro, a Land owner, Sugar cane grower and his Mother is Lina Ruz. From the very childhood he showed skills in Athlete. At the age 21 sources says he participated an unsuccessful Rebellion in the Dominican Republic against Generalissimo Rafael Trujillo on 1947. On 1950 he graduated from the University Of Havana with a Doctorate in Law and established private practice counseling free legal advice to the poor Cubans. President has temporary handed over the powers to his Brother Raul Castro Ruz and we do not know how long it will last, may be for ever. Fidel and Raul can not be separated. Though he keeps a low profile. He is the man behind the scene of President Fidel, except late Ernesto Che Guevara. Fidel & Raul rose together, fought together and jailed together after the failed attack on Moncada Barrack 26th July 953. This surprised attack became the spark of the Cuban Revolution and it was a clear message to the Government of Gen. Flugencio Batista. It was Raul who persuaded Fidel telling him that “reform in Cuba could not be accomplished by peaceful means, but by overthrowing the oppressive government”. After the failed attack, Both Raul & Fidel captured and many of their fellows were executed by Batista’s Army. Both Castro brothers were given 13 years prison sentence, but were released on general Amnesty in May 1955. After their release both Raul & Fidel went in exile to Mexico having intended to regroup and organize the movement. It was during this period in Mexico where Raul met Argentinean born Doctor Ernesto Guevara (Che). Raul reportedly befriended Ernesto Guevara in Mexico City and introduced him to Fidel also to the circle of revolutionaries where Ernesto Guevara named as CHE. Late 1956 Fidel, Raul, Che and other 80 other revolutionaries left from Mexico for dangerous voyage to Cuba by small yacht named ‘Granmma.’ The Yacht was not big enough to accommodate 80, though they sailed in the night. It was meant to be landed in pre discussed safe place whereas; it had to be landed in a wrong place due to the very bad weather and the poor navigation on 2nd December 1956. However the Batistas Army was on alert and upon arrival in the night, most of them were killed and the ammunitions were also lost. But Castro brothers and Che with very limited ammunitions, managed to escape towards the Sierra Maestra mountain along with 12-16 others. Where they camped and prepared for the historical struggle with the support of the Rural Farmers. After 03 years of fighting, the Revolution triumphed in the early morning 01st January 1959. Having been fighting for almost three years in the jungles, Bearded, long haired, fatigue revolutionary Guerillas entered to the Capitol La Habana with the glorious cheering Crowds near the roadsides. Batista fled to the US. A new nation was born. Why he is so famous? asked some of my colleague while we were having a Tea in Café down town. He is a practical Revolutionary, charismatic, outspoken, dynamic and sharp like a blade of a sword. He is the one and only head of state in the world who could save his life after 100 assassination attempts planned and laid out by the CIA. They tried to poison his cigars, added highly toxic agents to his shoes, sprayed cyanide his toilet seat cover, but the CIA miserably failed. In fact these assassinations plots were found by the people of Cuba, because they love this Man. On 1961, US and its allies imposed economic embargo to Cuba and the same year US trained exiled mercenaries tried to invaded Cuba, The Bay Of Pigs (Pinar Del Rio) It was Raul who led the Red Army and crushed them by surprised. Some were killed and others taken as prisoner. The US illegally maintains a navel base in Cuba against the will of its people and this base located at Guantanamo Bay. On 1969 Raul completed an advance course in Military Studies taught by the Soviet Experts. After the revolution all the private owned industries belonged to the US took over by the State. Country’s social system changed and well planned based on it’s own socialist system. Geography & Population Size of the country is 110, 860 Square km, and the population is 11,180 500 out of which 76.6% live in the Urban Areas. Territorial Structure The country is divided in to 14 provinces and 168 municipalities and one Special Municipality. Political and the Administrative structure Socialist State, but their model was not imported. It’s neither the copy of the Soviet nor the Chinese. Political system of Cuba was born and it’s consistent with the historical evolution of the socio- political process of the Cuban nation. National Assembly is the Parliament which holds the constituent and legislative powers in the Republic of Cuba. Parliament members and the delegates are not professionals, but they are people’s servants. Therefore they do not earn wages for their work. Parliament members are chosen for a 5 years term. Educational System Education is free at all levels as well as teaching materials. Illiteracy has been wiped-out. There are 250,000 teachers and Professors accounting 1 Teacher for every 42 inhabitants. There are 58 universities and every 7 out of 100 workers holds a University Degree. Health System Cuba’s health system covers the entire country. Medical services are free for all the Cubans and there is no private practice by the doctors. Infant mortality is the lowest in the world being 7.2 / 1000 live births.01 doctor for every 172 inhabitants. There are 718 Hospitals and Clinics across the country and 39% of the country’s total budget goes for the Education and the heath services. When the west is spending billions of dollars for manufacturing arms Cuban scientists are carrying out experiments for permanent cure for cancer. Economy & Industry Cuban economy largely based on state ownership with about 75% of the labor force employed by the state. Cuba is still recovering from the loss of the Soviet subsidies. Cuba’s industry sector mainly represented by Sugar, Petroleum, Tobacco processing, construction, Agricultural machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Tourism. I could meet with the former Ambassador of Cuba Mrs. Ivonne Suarez Roche at her Embassy residence in Colombo 2001 and she emphasized that “we are not an indebted nation! We do not have foreign debts. After the economic embargo imposed by US and it’s allies, we stood in our own feet. Our scientist produced medicine; our universities produced the best doctors in the world. Sixties and seventies we provided lot of scholarships to our allies. Our market economy is well maintained by the state. For instance, if we want to import a food item, first we look whether it can be afforded by our people. If they can afford, we will import it, otherwise not. Let’s see here in Sir Lanka you have an ‘Open Economy’ and there are luxurious food items available in super markets. But how many of you can afford them? Very few, majority of the people can not afford them at all. We have sort of co-operative shops all around the island and the state provide the basic commodities for very low rate, vegetables, wheat flour, cooking oil, meat, breads etc…she said. After I graduated from the university in Vietnam, I volunteered to educate the people. I went barefoot to remote villages to educate our people. This is how we built our nation, she added. On 1990, Cuba open it’s doors to Tourism and now the country’s main income is Tourism. La Habana (Havana) one of the oldest city in the world and still keeps it’s traditional Architectures. There are lot of employments generated in Tourism related business. Cuba has one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. So the west can not expect radical changes in Cuba under Raul Castro whereas they will consider on to have limited reforms in their Market Economy. Leel Pathirana is an ex-jailed Activist of the JVP Insurgency in Sri Lanka 1988/89. - Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/1495 |
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9:25 AM Jul 11