CUBA: French musician Manu Chao branded US President George W Bush the biggest terrorist on the planet during a performance in Havana

Record ID: 368699

  • Title: CUBA: French musician Manu Chao branded US President George W Bush the biggest terrorist on the planet during a performance in Havana
  • Date: 7th March 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) YOEL GARCIA, SPECTATOR, SAYING: "That they come to support us and that he comes, that U2 comes, that everyone comes that supports the left, which is what we need." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SERGIO, SPECTATOR, SAYING: "That more foreign bands come to play here with us because sincerely we don't have anything of that quality here and to us, it is necessary that they support us."
  • Embargoed: 22nd March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA5G3Z2JQOZSYNDD9PJTMRA9F24
  • Story Text: French musician Manu Chao branded US President George W Bush the biggest terrorist on the planet during a performance in Cuba's capital Havana on Wednesday (March 1).
    "This one goes out dedicated to the biggest terrorist on the planet, the most dangerous man for the future of all of our children, the disgraceful President of the United States, George Bush," said Manu Chao, a celebrity of the anti-globalisation movement.
    Chao played with his band radio Bemba Sound System at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune in Havana, otherwise known as the 'Protestodromo' (Protest Dome). His concert, part of his Tombolo 2006 Latin
    American Tour, was staged by the Cuban Government in front of the US Section of Interests.
    More than 5,000 young Cubans and students from all over Latin America and the Caribbean who study medicine in the country watched the concert and applauded Chao's anti-American chanting. Chao, 45 and former frontman of French band Mano Negra, is a celebrity of the 'alternative' world and his lyrics are battle hymns for those fighting against globalisation.
    The singer was received in Cuba by the Minister of Culture Abel Prieto and his official programme included visits to education centers and AfroCuban music concerts. On Wednesday night in front of the US Section of Interests, thousands of young people dressed in colourful clothes and many with body piercings joined in songs like 'Welcome to Tijuana' and repeated the lyrics 'Tequila, sex and marijuana'.
    The presence of international bands like Manu Chao in Havana is a cultural gift for young people there, said one fan, Yoel Garcia.
    "That they come to support us and that he comes, that U2 comes, that everyone comes that supports the left, which is what we need," he said. A fellow spectator, Havana student Sergio, added that it is important for young Cubans to feel they have support all over the world.
    "That more foreign bands come to play here with us because sincerely we don't have anything of that quality here and to us, it is necessary that they support us," he said.
    During the concert an electronic screen on the front the US Mission in Havana projected political messages against Cuba and also made jibes at the French singer's lyrics. The electronic billboard was constructed in the middle of January by the US Section of Interests. Its projecting of messages against the Communist Government of Cuba's President Fidel Castro and in favour of democracy has infuriated Cuba and in response, Castro constructed a huge wall of 20-metre high flags to hide the words.
    Manu Chao visited Cuba in 1992 during his Latin American tour on board a cargo ship with other French artists under the banner of the circus theatre, Royal de Lux. His current tour, has already seen him play in Mexico and from Havana he continues to Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.
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