[Marxistindia] Fidel Castro's Tribute to Almeida, Vice President of Cuba

news from the cpi(m) marxistindia at cpim.org
Tue Sep 15 11:16:34 IST 2009


                      Reflections by comrade Fidel


                   ALMEIDA LIVES TODAY MORE THAN EVER


I have been watching for hours now on television the tribute that the
entire country is paying to Commander of the Revolution Juan Almeida
Bosque. I think that facing death was for him just another duty as so
many others he discharged throughout his life. He did not know neither
did we how much sadness the news of his physical absence would bring to
us.

I was privileged to know that young black militant worker who would
successively be the leader of a revolutionary group, a combatant at the
Moncada, a comrade in prison, a platoon captain at the time of the
Granma landing, an officer with the Rebel Army --held back by a shot on
his chest during the violent combat at Uvero— the Commander of a column
marching on to create the Third Eastern Front, and the comrade sharing
the leadership of our forces in the last successful battles to overthrow
the tyranny. 

I was an exceptional witness to his exemplary conduct for over half a
century of heroic and victorious resistance in the struggle against the
bandits, during the Giron counteroffensive, the Missile Crisis, the
internationalist missions and the resistance to the imperialist
blockade.

It was a pleasure to listen to some of his songs, especially the one
particularly emotional where he bade farewell to human dreams in
response to the homeland’s call to “win or die”. I was not aware that he
had composed over 300 songs in addition to his literary work, a source
of historical narratives and enjoyable readings. He defended principles
of justice that will be defended at any time and age while human beings
breathe on Earth.

Let’s not say that Almeida is dead! Almeida lives today more than ever!


Fidel Castro Ruz

September 13, 2009

3:12 P.M.








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