Solidarity with Cubans?

Reading the headline of the article sent to the Observer and The Gleaner by Her Excellency Brenda LaGrange Johnson, US ambassador to Jamaica, caused me great surprise. Of course, afterwards I realised and clearly understood what her solidarity with the Cubans meant.

It was the solidarity of the republic mediated by the newly formed empire, when, overnight, we found ourselves without the independence for which Marti and Maceo had so bravely fought. The solidarity of my homeland's land appropriation by the Yankee companies, which for half a century would take control and strip these Cubans, with whom she now wants to show herself sympathetic with, of the best lands. The solidarity of the robbery of our natural resources to the benefit of the United States. The solidarity of the US blockade against our country, which have been imposed for almost 50 years. The solidarity of the constant attacks and acts of aggression in all fields: political, economic, and social, which prevent us from having access to soft loans from the international bank with the purpose of causing by hunger and despair. The overthrow of the only government Cuba has had, a government which has dedicated each and every one of its resources to educate its people, to maintain its people's human right to education, its people's human right to health, its people's human right to full employment, its people's human right to life, not the human right to bear a gun to kill other persons, as it happens in her country.

Batista supporter

The US ambassador overlooks many things. Who, if not the government she represents, supported governments such as that of Batista's, which murdered 20,000 Cubans in a seven-year bloodthirsty dictatorship before the triumph of the Revolution, or the support given to the Machado government, the donkey with paws which oppressed Cuba in the '30s or the corrupt governments which would hand over the national heritage during the 50 years of alleged democracy that prevailed in my country before the triumph of the Revolution led by Fidel Castro?

She should be aware of the fact that the solidarity the people of Cuba needs, is that the US government lifts its blockade against our people, a blockade it names embargo to sweeten its criminal and genocidal nature.

She writes about 'political prisoners': shouldn't she be writing about mercenaries to the US government service, who have been unmasked, once again, on our modest mass media and, incidentally, nothing is published in any of the controlled and silenced media of their 'free' press ('free' to express and defend the interests of the most selfish, of those who have enough money to silence the peoples' voices)?

It is very obvious that Her Excellency, US ambassador, is following the same policies outlined by the US State Department. There is no room for doubt that she carries out her duties pretty well, but the Jamaican people know very well the kind of solidarity Cuba needs in its struggle against the Goliath the ambassador represents.

Peoples cannot be misled

Do not make a fool of yourself, ambassador; peoples cannot be misled. This late on in this 21st century, solidarity with Cuba is of a different type, it is the solidarity shown by the peoples of Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, and needless to say, the people of your own country, which becomes increasingly aware of how absurd, criminal and dishonest is the blockade imposed by your country against Cuba.

Respect the human rights of Cuba; every day, every minute, you violate the human rights of our children, our elderly and sick people. Respect the human rights of thousands of immigrants from all across the world whom you so mercilessly exploit in the US. Stop discriminating against the African-Americans, Latin-Americans, Asians and other ethnic groups making up your nation, respect the right of the mothers and wives of our five anti-terrorist heroes unjustly imprisoned in the dungeons of your country for more than 10 years, respect mankind and stop slaying the population in the Middle East on the pretext of building up a democracy and a lifestyle that crushes the world's economy. Be friendly and respect the work of Cuba which is admired by millions of people around the globe and which you have not been able and will never be able to defeat, even with the unworthy military and economic power.

IGOR HEVIA DIEZ

Chargé d'Affaires, Cuban Embassy

It is very obvious that Her Excellency, US ambassador, is following the same policies outlined by the US State Department.