arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

For 17 years, Cuba has been fighting at the annually United Nations Commission of Human Rights against the attempts by the US government to condemn the island.
This year Cuba is once again being charged for so-called violations of the human rights. In particularly, it’s about the conviction of 75 so-called dissidents in 2003.

On the occasion of this case, the Swiss-Cuban Friendship Association organised a manifestation on Friday the 19th of March. This event took place at the Place des Nations in front of the UN building where the 60th Commission of Human Rights was seated.

At 2 pm, all participants were arriving. They came from all directions of Europe. There were people from Switserland, a large delegation of 18 persons from Italy, representatives from the Belgian and German Free-the-Five committee, representatives from the UK, France, Uruguay, Spain and even Scandinavia!
Everything was being set for our actions. Flags of Che Guevara and the five Cuban prisoners were hung up, a few even brought some portraits of Cuban’s national hero José Martí.

At about 4 pm, the representatives from the different countries started with their speeches. Samuel Wanitz from the Swiss-Cuban Friendship Association gave a short summary of all the participants whom were attending the manifestation. It became clear that the solidarity with Cuba is spread all over Europe.

Katrien Demuynck, president of the Belgian Free-the-Five committee, was the first to give a small speech. She emphasized the fact that is can’t be possible that 5 Cuban prisoners are convicted simply because they were fighting terrorism that is being organised from Miami.
The next speech was given by the Swedish-Cuban association. They asked themselves why there has been so much commotion about the so-called 75 dissidents in Cuba. These persons are collaborators with the enemy from the north, the USA. In Sweden there are equal penalties on the sort of crimes the ‘dissidents’ committed!
Meanwhile, messages of solidarity were read from countries, like the Czech Republic and Austria, that couldn’t be in Geneva. Even a political refugee from Bolivia wanted to say something. She wanted to express her solidarity with Cuba.
The final speech was a message that was signed by different personalities like Rigoberta Menchu, Hernando Calvo Ospina en William Blum.

The messages of solidarity showed that Cuba is an example on the level of human rights, that there exists a great solidarity with the 5 Cuban prisoners in the US and that Cuba proves that another world is possible!

In the evening, a conference took place. The theme was ‘The Cuban Revolution in the context of the present Latin-America’. The panel was composed of 4 participants: Juan Antonio Fernandez Palacio (head of the Cuban UN-delegation), Katrien Demuynck (coordinator from Iniciativa Cuba Socialista), Rémy Herrera (researcher from Paris) and Rubén Darío Molina (responsible international relations from the Bolivarion Revolution). Raymond Muller from the Swiss-Cuban Friendship Association led the debate.

Different kinds of subjects were discussed during this interesting conference. Katrien Demuynck talked about the magnificent results Cuba accomplished on the field of education and health care. These results are being realised on the basis of a socialistic social project. Thus, it isn’t a surprise that Cuba forms a ‘dangerous’ example for whole Latin-America.
After 20 years of neoliberal ‘development’, the Latin-American countries are even poorer then before, and they also lost their sovereignty. Rémy Herrera joined these statements. He emphasized that loyalty to one’s principles is the key to the success of a revolution.
Rubén Molina talked about the relation between Cuba and Venezuela. At this moment, a large amount of doctors are present in Venezuela, they give first aid to the population. He declared that Cuba and Venezuela are brothers in the struggle against imperialism.
The last person to speak was Juan Palacio. Latin-America is in a period of changes. At this moment, there are more than 200 million people that live in poverty in Latin-America.
Also in other parts of the world, there is extreme poverty and a large number of children live on the streets. All this is the result of neoliberalism. Juan Palacio underlined the courage and the rebellion of the Cuban people who have been resisting, more than 45 years, the most powerful state of them all, despite the blockade and the undermining actions from mercenaries and so-called dissidents.
He concluded by saying thanks to the people of Europe for their support and solidarity with Cuba, which was followed by an applause from all 130 attendants. Among these attendants, there were different nationalities who wanted to express their solidarity with Cuba. The UN representative from Zimbabwe insisted on saying thanks to Cuba for the doctors who are working on the side of the people.

When the conference was finished, a small party took place with Cuban music and one could strenghten the contacts between the participants.

When we look at the number of participants from the different countries, we can conclude that the manifestation was a success. It is clear that there is a great solidarity with the Cuban Revolution across Europe. We will continue our struggle!

¡Hasta la victoria siempre!

Maarten Vanschoubroek
Iniciativa Cuba Socialista, Belgium