CUBA-USA/REVOLUTIONARY GENERATION Former Cuban revolutionary fighters say U.S. rapprochement does not signal end of socialism on island

Record ID: 144116

  • Title: CUBA-USA/REVOLUTIONARY GENERATION Former Cuban revolutionary fighters say U.S. rapprochement does not signal end of socialism on island
  • Date: 12th August 2015
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REVOLUTIONARY COMBATANT AND RETIRED COLONEL FROM INTERIOR MINISTRY, ROBERTO MARQUEZ, SAYING: "Because it is so, and while he's alive, he is the commander in chief and the day he dies, because he has to die someday, he will remain for us an inspiration until we cease to exist. That's how it is, for us Fidel, for me, is the greatest thing I know from the political point of view and I think that he is one of the most important men of the twentieth and twenty-first century, not only for Cuba but for Latin America and even the world."
  • Embargoed: 27th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA90S2DXPGNHZW4KA5XYNKRAV95
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    Former Cuban fighters, a historical generation led by Fidel Castro who participated in the struggles of the Sierra Maestra, Bay of Pigs and international guerrilla movements, claim that normalization with the U.S. will be a "long" and "complex" process which does mean signal the end of socialism in Cuba.
    Although the best known image of those who supported and participated in Castro's revolution is one of bearded guerrillas, many other men and women contributed as part of clandestine groups, that attacked police in the cities and obtained weapons and money for the guerrillas.
    The survivors of that generation are now almost 80 years or older. Some are still passionate Fidel supporters and they support Fidel's warning which he wrote last January, that they don't trust the U.S. because history has taught them not to.
    Seventy-five-year-old Roberto Marquez, a retired colonel, told Reuters Television that after more than 50 years of dispute, the rapprochement between Cuba and the United States will be difficult and Cubans should be on alert.
    "This normalization process will be a long and complex one. There are very complex issues such as the issue of the embargo. As long as the embargo exists, we can't talk about the normalization of relations. As long as Radio Marti and TV Marti exist, well neither. While there are U.S. leaders that suggest that that tactic failed but yet have not surrendered to their strategy, that's worrying for us," Marquez said.
    When the revolution triumphed in 1959, Marquez was 18 years old and had already completed missions with the so-called July 26 Movement, the political and military organization created in 1955 by a group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro.
    Eladio Aguiar, another member of this Movement, said he fled Cuba to the U.S. after he was threatened by police of dictator Fulgencio Batista, whose government Castro eventually overthrew.
    Aguiar returned to Cuba after Castro had toppled Batista and participated in the Bay of Pigs.
    He treasures more than a dozen medals awarded to him during the revolution and especially a diploma that Fidel Castro signed for him.
    The 78-year-old says the new era of relations with Washington will not represent the end of Cuban socialism.
    "Perhaps some dreamers or others, who are superficial, think this will be the end of socialism, no sir, and think that with the demise of the historic generation, socialism in Cuba will is over but it's not like that. They also thought that when Fidel set himself aside from leading the country it was going to fall apart. They packed their bags for that purpose. Fidel set himself aside from leading the country and Raul (Castro) has led for a few years now. In addition, the revolution has been preparing youngsters for this relay in history," said Aguiar.
    The hoisting of the Stars and Stripes flag over the U.S. embassy in Havana on Friday (August 14) with a visit by Secretary of State John Kerry is a strong symbol of a new path between the two Cold War enemies who cut ties in 1961.
    Retired Colonel Jose Buasajan praised the re-opening but is suspicious of what he believes is a U.S. plan to undermine the revolution from within the country.
    "We think (rapprochement with U.S.) is success of Cuban politics. They have been unable to destroy us. Now they will use "Track 2," as they say. It's fine. They will come here, precisely using the economic problems we have, they'll use them, evidently they will try to capture people, but we can also teach them many things," said 77-year-old Buajasan.
    Aguiar, meanwhile, noted that for decades Cuba was prepared for a war with the U.S. and today is prepared for the ideological war that might come.
    "We are prepared for that, for a long fight and to finally overcome all these difficulties. Of course we do not expect the U.S. to become a socialist country in the long run, nor do we claim that either but they should at least learn to live civilly with us who have never caused any harm to the U.S.," Aguiar said.
    As a fighter in the July 26 Movement, Buajasan co-authored several books related to the Cuba-US relations.
    "When I was young, people here used to say: 'You can't fight the Americans, you can't fight against the army. However Fidel demonstrated with the Moncada attack, that it is possible to fight against the Americans and against the army, that it can be done and we did," Buajasan said.
    At his home in Havana, Roberto Marquez has pictures with the image of Che Guevara, a briefcase with more than 20 awards received for his services to the revolution and two photos of him with Fidel that he shows off with pride.
    "Because it is so, and while he's alive, he is the commander in chief and the day he dies, because he has to die someday, he will remain for us an inspiration until we cease to exist. That's how it is, for us Fidel, for me, is the greatest thing I know from the political point of view and I think that he is one of the most important men of the twentieth and twenty-first century, not only for Cuba but for Latin America and even the world," Marquez said.
    In 2006, after 49 years of leading Cuba, Fidel Castro stepped down from power due to illness and delegated his post to his younger brother who was the leader of the army and former Defence Minister, Raul Castro. Since then, the country has undergone a series of economic reforms to allow some private investments.
    Fidel stays away from public life and sporadically writes texts in the state media.
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