Monthly Archives: May 2020

Cuba and China

Cuba and China: A solid bond of mutual solidarity

Cuba and China: A solid bond of mutual solidarity
The historical ties between the Communist Parties, governments and peoples of Cuba and China, celebrating the 60th anniversary diplomatic relations this year, have stood the test of time, supported by the deep friendship that sustains them

Ángel Freddy Pérez Cabreramay 28, 2020 10:05:03

Photo: Internet
The historical ties between the Communist Parties, governments and peoples of Cuba and China, celebrating the 60th anniversary diplomatic relations this year, have stood the test of time, supported by the deep friendship that sustains them.

The solidarity shared by the two nations during the current pandemic was recognized in a conversation between President Miguel Díaz-Canel and his counterpart Xi Jinping last February, when they exchanged views on the subject and discussed ways to further promote bilateral relations.

During that dialogue, Xi noted that after the initial outbreak of COVID-19, Army General Raul Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, and Diaz-Canel, immediately expressed their solidarity, while the President made a special visit to the Chinese embassy on the island to confirm Cuba’s support.

More recently, the sister nation sent donations for our public health system, while Cuba has shared our positive experiences in the COVID battle to Chinese.

A meeting this week between the Cuban ambassador in China, Carlos Miguel Pereira, and authorities of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, reaffirmed were the historic ties and mutual support maintained by the two political organizations in the fight against the new coronavirus, while the intention to work together to overcome the pandemic, through the exchange of experiences, was reiterated.

Reporters without borders

Reporters without borders do have owners

Reporters without borders do have owners
The Reporters without borders organization is an unconditional supporter of the U.S. government, and known for its obsessive opposition to the Cuban Revolution, Bolivarian Venezuela, and Sandinista Nicaragua

Raúl Antonio Capotemay 27, 2020 10:05:15

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Journalists are arrested for photographing the abuse of Mapuche children by police in Angol, Chile, something Reporters Without Borders never seem to see. Photo: TELESUR

Damián Trujillo, cameraman for the Cuban news agency Prensa Latina in Chile, was arrested April 26 by carabineers, in the country’s capital, as he was practicing his profession: covering a peaceful protest in La Dignidad Square.

In images of the arbitrary arrest, anyone can see how the police dragged him into a van, despite the protests of colleagues.

Is this not a clear violation of the free exercise of journalism and why does Reporters Without Borders (RSF) remain silent about this violation of free press rights?

A fallacious report by this organization recently ranked Cuba no.171 in terms of the existence of conditions for the exercise of press freedom, placing the island in last place in Latin America and the Caribbean.

RSF is a Paris-based organization and an unconditional supporter of the U.S. government, which has for years been characterized by its obsessive opposition to the Cuban Revolution, Bolivarian Venezuela, and Sandinista Nicaragua.

In 2005, the group participated in the campaign promoted by the George W. Bush administration to prevent tourists from traveling to Cuba. It should not be forgotten that the Bush Plan included a budget of five million dollars for NGOs to “carry out activities to dissuade tourists from travelling to Cuba.” Part of this ” booty” went into the coffers of the RSF.

For years, these “reporters” have devoted themselves to financing pseudo-journalists who work in the service of U.S. interests.

Their manifest bias in favor of Washington’s interests in Iraq, Libya, Haiti, Iran, Bolivia, Ecuador and Chile is more than clear: year after year, in their fallacious reports, they condemn countries considered “enemies” of the U.S. or simply those who do not follow the dictates of the White House to the letter.

Where do these gentlemen, supposed defenders of freedom of the press and freedom of expression, acquire the substantial funding the organization has at its disposal?

Mr. Robert Ménard, one of the organization’s founders, a few years ago openly admitted having funding from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). Ménard was very clear: “We do indeed receive money from the NED. And that poses no a problem for us.” [1]

RSF has never hidden its relationship to the world’s powerful. “One day we had a financial issue. I called the industrialist Francois Pinault to help us…. He immediately responded to my request. And that’s all that matters,” because “The law of gravity exists, dear friends. And also the law of money,” Menard stated callously. [2]

Reporters Without Borders is funded by the Dassault Group, by Hewlett Packard and the Overbrook Foundation, founded by Frank Altschul, which promotes Radio Free Europe; by Lagardère Publishing, the Hachette Foundation, the Open Society Institute and by the French daily Libération, and pockets substantial resources from the world’s largest media conglomerates.

RSF benefits from the money the U.S. government allocates every year to subvert the internal order in Cuba, through NED, USAID, Freedom House, the Center for a Free Cuba, the Cuban-American National Foundation, the Czech NGO People in Need, and other organizations that among the collection of institutions that serve to screen U.S. government and CIA attacks on the Cuban Revolution.

In a report dated January 15, 2004, the group exonerated the U.S. military from any responsibility for the murder of Spanish journalist José Couso and his Ukrainian colleague Taras Protsyuk at the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad. These “reporters” offered apologies for the invasion of Iraq on August 16, 2007 during the radio program “Contre-expertise,” and Robert Ménard, then the organization’s secretary general, legitimized the use of torture.

During the attempted coup against Hugo Chavez in April of 2002, they openly supported the plotters, as well as the coups against Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Zelaya in Honduras, and Evo Morales in Bolivia.

The French daily Libération itself, the organization’s sponsor, noted that Reporters Without Borders does not say a word about the abuses of the Western media: “From now on, press freedom will either be exotic or won’t exist. Many reproach the group for its ferocity against Cuba and Venezuela, and indulgence toward the United States, which is not false.” [3]

Reporters Without Borders has an owner and has no borders when it comes to receiving money from the transnationals, the oligopolies, the rich of this world.

How can anyone be independent, as they proclaim, who subordinates their work and auctions off its morals and ethics to the dictates of the powerful? RSF is an organic part of the empire’s global apparatus, providing pretexts to justify aggression and demonize the enemies of capitalist hegemonic power.

In Context

-Between 1998 and 1999, the USAID Cuba Program devoted more than six million dollars to internal subversion in our country.

-In 2001 alone, there were more than 200 personal deliveries of funds to “activists” and “independent journalists,” estimated to be more than 100,000 dollars.

-Between fiscal years 2001 and 2006, the USAID allocated 61 million dollars to Cuba for some 142 projects.

-The Cuba Program was allocated more than 120 million USD between 2007 and 2013.

-The programs with the “Freedom of Information” label sponsored, between 2014 and 2017, some 39 projects, with an amount of more than six million dollars. NED contributed another two million.

-In 2018, NED gave Cubanet News Inc. $220,000 to promote “Freedom of Information,” $60,000 to Hypermedia Publishing Inc, $72,000 to the Institute of Communication and Development, and $65,000 to “integrate” Cuba with regional media networks (targeting young journalists).

-USAID and NED subversive programs against Cuba in the last fiscal year 2018-2019, include an estimated 70-plus projects promoted inside and outside the country, with an allocation of more than 14 million USD.

Sources: Razones de Cuba, Cubainformación, writings by Salim Lamrani & Jean-Guy Allard.

[1] Robert Ménard, Forum de discussion avec Robert Ménard, Le Nouvel Observateur, April 18, 2005

[2] Investig’ Action,25 vérités sur Reporters Sans Frontières

[3] Investig’ Action,25 vérités sur Reporters Sans Frontières

Cuba salutes the peoples of Africa

Cuba salutes the Cuba salutes the peoples of Africa

Cuba salutes the peoples of Africa
Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power sends message of congratulations to African peoples, on the occasion of Africa Day, May 25

Enrique Moreno Gimeranezmay 25, 2020 09:05:59

The legendary athlete Ana Fidelia Quirot joined Cubans across the country saluting Africa on May 25. Photo: Cubadebate
The President of the National Assembly of People’s Power, Esteban Lazo Hernández, sent a message of congratulations to African peoples, on behalf of all Cuban legislators, on the occasion of Africa Day, May 25.

The message emphasized that the date is “as significant for that continent as it is for Cuba, because of the deep ties that unite us” and reaffirms that “African heritage is a fundamental part of our culture, our beliefs and our customs.”

Esteban Lazo highlighted the historical events that have cemented the friendship Cuba shares with Africa, noting that we are “proud and at the same time honored to have had the opportunity to contribute to struggles against colonialism and racism in Africa. More than 300,000 Cuban internationalist fighters fought injustice and domination on the continent, and more than 2,000 lost their lives. On African soil, Cuban and African blood was joined, a bond that unites us forever.”

In his message, the Lazo recalled the internationalist example given by the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, when he announced the first medical mission to the continent to help the sister people of Algeria – collaboration that expanded over the years. “Today there are some 6,000 Cuban collaborators working in 32 countries in the region, the vast majority of whom are health professionals, a sector that is now being strengthened in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the text states, also noting that bilateral cooperation has opened the way for young Africans to study in Cuba, with more than 30,000 students in various specialties having graduated to date.

Lazo also expressed our gratitude for Africa’s many expressions of solidarity with Cuba, including the continent’s unanimous vote at the United Nations and resolutions adopted every year by the African Union demanding an end to the U.S. blockade of Cuba.

Venezuelan civilian-military union

The Venezuelan civilian-military union

Reaction and revolution in Latin America: the Venezuelan civilian-military union
The consolidation of the Venezuelan civilian-military union has been key to defeating U.S. led coup attempts. The revolution is holding its ground, not only in Venezuela but throughout the region

Arnold Augustmay 22, 2020 10:05:22

The Venezuelan people are prepared to defend their country. Photo: Sputnik
In October 2019, when a wave of protest swept over Chile, President Sebastián Piñera called out the army, invoking the “state of emergency” clause of the Constitution. The image of soldiers in the streets and the enforcement of curfew immediately evoked a dark history. Since then, the majority of the bloody repression has been carried out by the national police, which has been reporting to the military commanders in Santiago, Valparaíso and other cities under the state of emergency.

These situations are oppressive not only for Latin America but also for countries like Canada, where Pinochet remains part of the collective memory handed down by a progressive generation that opposed his horror to its descendants. The experience also remains vivid in the minds of the many Canadians and Quebecers of Chilean origin who had to flee the Pinochet dictatorship.

Simultaneously, in Colombia as in Chile, uprisings and strikes have had to confront the armed forces, either directly or indirectly.

In Brazil, the peoples’ resistance to the right-wing Bolsonaro government has been ubiquitous since he won the 2018 elections, following the imprisonment of his main opponent, Lula da Silva.

In Bolivia, the scenario was different: the United States and its allies, backed by the army, fomented a coup d’état based on the lie that Evo Morales’s election had been fraudulent. It is known that the chief army officials involved in the coup were trained at the School of the Americas in the United States.

The experiences of Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia all stand in stark contrast to that of Venezuela. Indeed, they are poles apart: reaction on the one hand, revolution on the other. It is not that the United States has not attempted to subvert the Venezuelan Armed Forces; indeed, much effort has been expended to try and turn them into a replica of their counterparts in those countries where reaction has dominated. The effort has not succeeded.

What is the explanation? Let us compare these different cases. In an online interview, Claude Morin, a professor retired from the Department of History at the Université de Montréal and possibly the most important Latin Americanist in Quebec, stated that the Colombian army is composed of soldiers trained to fight an insurgency, to kill guerrillas and commit massacres against any communities that may be inclined to support them. The recruits have been conditioned to perform these tasks; that is, to see people and civilians as a threat. The officers have been trained with manuals from the US School of the Americas. Continue reading The Venezuelan civilian-military union →