250,000 Cubans protest in the streets against the indictment of Raúl Castro

Thousands of Cubans mobilized this Friday (22) in front of the United States Embassy and the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune, in Havana, to protest against the indictment of former president Raúl Castro by the North American courts.

In Brazil, trade unions released a note of solidarity with Cuba and classified the measure as a new offensive by US imperialism against the island.

Around 250,000 people participated in the event called by student organizations, unions and social movements to condemn the accusation announced by the United States Department of Justice against revolutionary leader Raúl Castro and four other Cuban soldiers.

The mobilization was attended by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero and other leaders of the government and the Communist Party of Cuba.

Posters, Cuban flags and slogans against the economic blockade and threats from the United States marked the event held in the capital.

During the demonstration, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo — hero of the Republic of Cuba and national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution — read a message sent by Raúl Castro.

According to Hernández, the former president stated that he is “sincerely grateful for the solidarity of our people and our friends around the world” and declared that he will continue “marching at the front of our people, defending the Revolution.”

Hernández accused Washington of manipulating the events that occurred in 1996 and stated that Cuba exercised its “legitimate right to defense” in the face of repeated air raids by the Hermanos al Rescate organization.

“Cuba’s response to the repeated aggression against its airspace constituted an act of self-defense. It is an inalienable right of any nation and an obligation to ensure the safety of its citizens”, declared the Cuban leader.

Hernández also stated that the United States “does not have the moral authority to judge anyone”, recalling the history of aggressions and operations against Cuba over recent decades.

According to him, the North American government ignored successive warnings made by Havana about aerial violations that occurred between 1994 and 1996.

Another prominent speech was that of the young jurist Rolando López Meriño, who classified the indictment against Raúl Castro as “absolutely fraudulent and illegitimate”.

According to him, Washington tries to “pervert and manipulate widely documented historical facts.”

The jurist also stated that the United States does not have jurisdiction over an episode that occurred outside its territory and involved Cuban citizens.

“The accusation against our Army General Raúl Castro Ruz lacks any legitimacy and goes against international law,” he declared.

During the event, there were also speeches by family members of victims of attacks attributed to anti-Castro groups supported by the United States.

Betina Palenzuela Corcho, daughter of a Cuban official killed in an attack on the island’s diplomatic representation in Lisbon in 1976, accused Washington of maintaining a historic policy of aggression against Cuba.

“Raúl is a family man who dedicated his entire life to defending the sovereignty of Cuba, the dignity of its people and peace between nations,” he said.

The Cuban press also highlighted that similar mobilizations took place in other provinces of the country as a demonstration of support for the Cuban Revolution and Raúl Castro.

Brazilian centers denounce US offensive against Cuba

In Brazil, CTB, CUT, Força Sindical, UGT, CSB and Nova Central released a joint statement in solidarity with Cuba. The entities claim that the island “is facing yet another infamous offensive by US imperialism”, based on “false accusations against General Raúl Castro”.

The centers reinforced that the 1996 episode occurred in a context of repeated violations of Cuban airspace by aircraft operated by Hermanos al Rescate, an organization based in Miami.

According to the note, there were more than 25 serious violations between 1994 and 1996.

The entities also claim that the United States seeks to criminalize an action of self-defense supported by International Law, the Charter of the United Nations and the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

The text also highlights that Cuba is already facing difficulties resulting from the economic blockade and a severe energy crisis. For the centers, a new escalation of tension would worsen the humanitarian crisis experienced by the island, particularly penalizing workers and the poorest population.

“In the face of this injustice, Brazilian trade unions express their solidarity with the Cuban government and the hero of the Socialist Revolution, Raúl Castro, while at the same time repudiating the provocations, aggressions and threats promoted by the Trumpist extreme right”, says the note.