Fidel’s presence in Girón, with his example and integrity, aggravated the grief of the mercenaries, who barely 72 hours later recognized their failure and massively surrendered to the Revolution
Photo: Tirso Martínez
“Get up, the invasion is here…!”
This voice, with the sum of desperation and epic that it implies, went from house to house in the towns closest to the landing site.
It must also have been heard in other places far from Girón, in the Zapata Swamp, because for days the country had been living under the threat of disembarkation and aggression.
Many Cubans declared themselves militiamen and demanded weapons and ammunition to resist and confront the mercenaries.
Many Cubans went to their first battle to face the danger of a well-organized enemy, armed, with good support, fully equipped and with an elaborate plan.
But in addition to patriotic fervor and justice, they had ideals to defend and a cause for which they were willing to give their lives.
The invaders, on the other hand, had nothing to die for, because they had no purpose, as José Ramón Fernández, the protagonist of the epic, said.
They did not fight with the courage and spirit of victory of the revolutionary forces. In short, they had no morality to appeal to, only perversity.
On the other hand, in the most critical moments of the struggle, in the most violent and hardest moments, the unity of the people, the true mass of the people defending the homeland, was decisive.
The delirious dream of conquering a piece of Cuban land to justify the real purpose, the direct military intervention of the U.S. armed forces, did not last long.
The presence of Fidel in Girón, with his example and integrity, aggravated the grief of the mercenaries, who, barely 72 hours later, recognized their failure and surrendered en masse.
Despite the bloodshed and the pain of death, Girón proclaimed the victory as a feat, a triumph that astonished the world and that, because of its symbolism and importance, preserved the Revolution and “made the peoples of the Americas a little freer.”
Five years have passed since the vile and absurd kidnapping of Assel and Landy
Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo: Cubaminrex
Five years have passed since the kidnapping in Kenya, on April 12, 2019, of Doctors Assel Herrera Correa and Landy Rodríguez Hernández, Cuban physicians who were serving in that country as part of an intergovernmental cooperation agreement in which they were voluntarily participating.
Since the news of the vile and absurd kidnapping was known, the governments of Kenya, Somalia and Cuba have made countless and enormous efforts to achieve the rescue of our two doctors and their return to their homeland.
Cuba’s government is grateful to the governments of the Republic of Kenya, the Federal Republic of Somalia and other countries for the efforts that are still being carried out for the release of our doctors.
This extraordinary and unprecedented event in the long history of Cuba’s International Medical Cooperation has been permanently followed by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz and has received the attention of the Party, the State and the Government, headed by the First Secretary and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, as well as authorities and entities inside and outside Cuba.
Last February 17, we received the hard and worrying news about the alleged death of our two compatriots, victims of an air attack on February 15, by U.S. military forces operating in Somalia.
In spite of the many efforts made by the Cuban government, it has not been possible to obtain information nor evidence to reach definitive conclusions and clarify the situation of Assel and Landy, whether they are still alive or to confirm the sad news disclosed on February 17.
The data obtained to this day are insufficient to corroborate the truth of what happened in accordance with procedures endorsed by science and national legislation.
What has been confirmed so far is that on the night of February 15, 2024, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), which operates in Somalia, carried out an air attack in the area where the Cuban doctors were located.
Given the nature of the conflict in Somalia and the impossibility of obtaining confirmation, in recent weeks the Cuban government has repeatedly requested, through direct communications and diplomatic notes to the United States government, precise information on the events that have occurred.
At our insistence, the U.S. government confirmed that an attack took place in the area where our doctors were, but without clarifying the precise location. It also stated that its authorities have launched an investigation. However, to date, the U.S. government has not responded with the seriousness or urgency required. It has not even provided data on the circumstances and characteristics of the operation carried out. It has not clarified whether the operation was justified, whether U.S. military forces acted with due respect for International Humanitarian Law and with the obligatory care to protect civilians and innocents. It has not provided information on victims nor offered any data that would allow us to determine whether during the operations carried out by the U.S. Africa Command, on the dates and in the geographical area reported, our doctors were among the victims of the attack.
The Cuban government has conveyed these requests for information to the government of the United States in a respectful manner and in the spirit of cooperation and due attention that is expected between States in such sensitive situations. It has done so, knowing that various sources affirm that it was a U.S. military operation, with U.S. troops and weapons, which allegedly took the lives of our compatriots.
The absence of data and of a prompt and adequate response from the U.S. government prevents us from having accurate elements to offer the families and our people a conclusive version of what happened.
We await an official response to the inquiries that Cuba has respectfully submitted, with elements that may be provided by the U.S. civilian and military agencies operating in Somalia and in that region of the world.
Cuba’s government reiterates its gratitude to the governments of the Republic of Kenya, the Federal Republic of Somalia and other countries for their efforts.
Our Government continues to communicate with the United States Government in search of information. Cuba will not cease in its hopes and efforts until the truth is known.
Havana, April 12, 2024
Cuba reiterates its solidarity with the brotherly people of Mexico
Latin America and the Caribbean must continue to be a Zone of Peace
Cuba condemned, in the strongest terms, the violent raid by the Ecuadorian police on the diplomatic headquarters of Mexico in Quito on April 5, considering it a flagrant violation of International Law, in particular the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the right to asylum and the sovereignty of that nation.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla’s statement was made at the Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), convened to examine the breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and in which he said that Cuba defends the force of law, not the right to force.
He also pointed out the need for Latin America and the Caribbean to continue to be a Zone of Peace, as proclaimed by the Celac, which met ten years ago in Havana, with the signature of the Heads of State and Government, for which dialogue and negotiation are the only acceptable ways to resolve differences between our nations, in accordance with the principles of International Law and in full compliance with the Charter of the United Nations.
In his speech, the Foreign Minister recalled the message sent by President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, in which he reiterated Cuba’s full solidarity and support to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Secretary Alicia Bárcena, the Government of Mexico and the dear and brotherly Mexican people, in view of the unacceptable violation and outrage of their Embassy in Quito.
Rodríguez Parrilla insisted that Mexico can and will be able to count on Cuba’s disposition and willingness to accompany them in the actions they undertake in the face of this serious transgression of International Law.
Cuba was elected member of two permanent commissions of the United Nations
It will be a member of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice until 2027 and the Commission on Social Development until 2029
Photo: Cubaminrex
Cuba was elected yesterday as a full member, by acclamation, of the Commission on Social Development and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, both of the United Nations.
This was announced on the social network X by Party Political Bureau member and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who stressed that “this election is evidence of the international recognition of our country’s work in these areas.”
The Cubaminrex website explained that, as a member of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the island will actively contribute to global efforts to combat national and transnational crime, and its membership expires in 2027.
It will be a member of the Commission on Social Development until 2029, and will participate in addressing major current global challenges, such as the elimination of poverty, the reduction of inequality and the protection of the environment.
