Cuba Vibrates with Mammoth May Day Rally
sent by Walter Lippmann (cubanews) [These three articles will appear in Monday's edition of TRABAJADORES, the weekly newspaper of the Confederation of Cuban Workers, the CTC.-WL] Agencia Cubana de Noticias (AIN) http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu Cuba Vibrates with Mammoth May Day Demonstration by MARIA DE LAS NIEVES GALA, FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ AND JULIO CESAR MEJIAS Havana, May 1--More than a million and a half Cubans led by President Fidel Castro overflowed Revolution Square in Havana on Sunday accompanied by political personalities, intellectuals and union and student representatives from 58 nations of all continents. Simultaneously with the massive gathering in Havana, at approximately 7:45 this morning, parades and rallies began in all municipalities and provinces across the island, to the tune of the old Cuban Liberation Army anthem. The first speaker of the day in the capital was Pedro Ross Leal, secretary-general of the Cuban Workers' Federation. The trade union leader read a declaration in the name of the Cuban labor, community and student organizations. After denouncing that one of the most notorious terrorists in history, Luis Posada Carriles, has taken refuge in the US, Ross Leal said the entire world is a witness to the Bush administration's double standard with regards to the fight against international terrorism. The media already has enough evidence and facts to assure justice be served in the case of this murderer who was trained by the CIA, protected by the US government and financed by ultra right Cuban-American groups based in Miami, said the head of the Cuban Labor Federation. "We demand that the European Union clearly state its position on the case," he added. Pedro Ross Leal also upheld Venezuela's right to request the extradition of Posada Carriles who escaped from a Caracas prison while awaiting trial for the bombing of a Cubana jetliner that killed all 73 passengers back in 1976. We demand justice for the thousands of Cubans who lost their lives and those left maimed from the horrendous terrorist acts committed against our country, said Ross Leal. We also demand freedom for the Cuban Five, held as political prisoners by the United States for the "crime" of infiltrating Miami based terrorist groups that for decades have carried out attacks against our country. On behalf of Cuban workers, farmers, combatants, students, etc., I want to reaffirm the island's determination "to defend the nation, the revolution and socialism with our teeth and nails if necessary." Serbian News Network - SNN [email protected] http://www.antic.org/
