January 1, 2010 marked the anniversary of the Cuban Revolution that ended a fascist dictatorial rule. 51 years ago, on January 8, 1959, the Cuban people’s struggle for self-determination triumphed over the dictatorial regime of Batista; the Cuban people had asserted their right to determine their own destiny.
January 1, 2010 marked the anniversary of the Cuban Revolution that ended a fascist dictatorial rule. 51 years ago, on January 8, 1959, the Cuban people’s struggle for self-determination triumphed over the dictatorial regime of Batista; the Cuban people had asserted their right to determine their own destiny.
This was a big blow to the US imperialist state that has regarded the entire region of South and Central America as its own backyard to control and plunder ever since its imperialist expansion at the beginning of the 20th century. In the case of Cuba, till Jan 1959, U.S. capital had established a stranglehold over most of Cuba’s economic activity and its mineral resources; it controlled 1.2 million hectares of land (a quarter of the productive territory) and most of the sugar industry, nickel production, oil refineries, the electricity and telephone services and the majority of bank credits. Likewise, the U.S. market controlled approximately 70% of Cuban imports and exports. The Batista regime, which was overthrown, had maintained it fascist oppressive anti-people rule with the full support of the US military. The culmination of the heroic and bloody struggles of the Cuban people against this dictatorship was its overthrow in 1959 and the establishment of a free and independent Republic.
However, the struggle of the Cuban Republic against the aggression of US imperialism has continued, even as the US has continued to make every effort to break the back of the Cuban people’s resistance through military aggression, economic and political isolation; to bring about a regime change in Cuba that would promote and safeguard the interests of US capitalists.
The United States has maintained its military presence in Latin America and the Caribbean through a complex web of military facilities and functions. In recent years, new U.S. bases and military access agreements have proliferated in Latin America. Washington has signed ten-year agreements and has funded the renovation of air facilities in several countries in the region. Further to this, the US has defied all principles of international law and sovereignty of nations to occupy Guantánamo Naval Base on Cuban territory (today converted into a horrific prison camp); this base was rented out under force to the United States in the early 20th century and the U.S. government refuses to return it.
Cuba faces a commercial, economic, and financial embargo imposed by the US on Cuba in October 1960. It was enacted after Cuba expropriated the properties of United States citizens and corporations; the initial partial embargo was strengthened to a near-total embargo in February 1962. These economic sanctions have lasted 50 years under various Presidents, and have been relaxed to one or another degree depending upon the pressure of US business lobbies that see a huge potential in trading with Cuba!
Because of the U.S. embargo, Cuba faces severe restrictions in importing medicines, medical equipment or technologies directly from the United States or from any U.S. company abroad. Cuba’s inability to import nutritional products for consumption at schools, hospitals and day care centers has caused grave hardships to its people.
Every US government over the last 50 years has defied world opinion in maintaining these economic sanctions over the Cuban economy and its people. The United Nations General Assembly has condemned the embargo as a violation of international law every year since 1992. Most recently, on October 28, 2009, the United Nations condemned the embargo for the 18th time.
Besides these pressures, the US government periodically trumps up charges of spying against Cuban citizens and residents of Cuban origin in the US who dare to challenge the US lies and slander about Cuba and its people. The most recent example is of the five Cubans arrested in 1998 in Southern Florida by agents of the FBI and held in punishing isolation cells for 17 months before being brought to trial; their detention continues till date in 2009. These men were unarmed volunteers who came into the US to investigate into activities of groups who were being funded to carry out attacks on Cuba.
US imperialism has repeatedly organized assassination bids and terrorist acts against Cuba and its leaders, to try to destabilise that country and bring about a regime change in its favour. This is part of the official hostile policy of successive US governments, which has received world wide condemnation. This, in sum, is the kind of military, economic and political pressure faced by Cuba continuously over the last half-a-century. The Cuban people have refused to give in and submit to the imperialist aggressor and have valiantly defended their right to determine their own political, economic and social system.
The experience of Cuba shows how even a small country can stand up to the dictate of US imperialism if it so decides and the people are united behind this stand. Cuba has boldly put forward its positions in the United Nations and other international forums in defence of the sovereignty and rights of all peoples and nations that are facing imperialist aggression. Cuba has been an inspiration to other countries of Latin America and has contributed to building solidarity against US imperialism amongst several countries of the region.