Cuban News Update: Raul Hosts Leaders From Uganda, Seychelles

Raúl holds official talks with Ugandan President

CUBAN President Raúl Castro Ruz and the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, held official talks yesterday, Monday, in the Palace of the Revolution.

Once the official welcome ceremony had concluded, the meeting between the two presidents took place in the ambiance of friendship that exists between the two countries, and which is based on respect and cooperation.

They expressed their satisfaction at the positive state of bilateral relations and agreed to increase them in different fields. They also discussed international issues and the particular tasks in which the Cuban and Ugandan people are immersed in the current complex global context. Museveni extended an invitation to Raúl to visit Uganda, which the Cuban president accepted.

A working meeting on matters of bilateral interests took place between the two delegations in parallel to the conversation between the presidents, in which Esteban Lazo Hernández, vice president of the Council of State, also participated.

Raúl receives President of Seychelles

IN the afternoon of Sunday, November 29 at the Palace of the Revolution, President Raúl Castro Ruz received His Excellency Mr. James Alix Michel, president of the Republic of Seychelles, who is on an official visit to Cuba.

Following the protocol reception ceremony, the two leaders held official talks which took place in the cordial ambience that is characteristic of the relationship between the two nations.

In a discussion on bilateral links, they expressed their satisfaction at advances made and confirmed the aim of continuing to consolidate them.

They also exchanged opinions on the principal challenges and current tasks of the two peoples, particularly with respect to climate change and its negative consequences – which is of particular concern to island nations – as well as other issues of an international nature.

Raúl expressed his gratitude for the position of solidarity on the part of Seychelles and Michel returned the gesture on behalf of his people for Cuba’s cooperation in education, healthcare and other important areas.

Also present were José Ramón Balaguer Cabrera, Cuban minister of public health; Marcelino Medina González, acting foreign minister of Cuba; Marie-Pierre Lloyd, Seychellois minister for health and social development; Jean Paul Adam, Seychellois secretary of state and head of the President’s office; as well as other Cuban and Seychellois officials.

The intellectual emptiness of Human Rights Watch

Juan Diego Nusa Peñalver

HUMAN Rights Watch (HRW) is again going too far against the Cuban Revolution in a vain attempt to sully the island’s impeccable work for the dignity and authentic human rights of more than 11 million Cubans.

This past Wednesday, November 18, in a tiresome reiteration of its anti-Cuba message, HRW accused the island of not improving its “conduct” in the context of human rights, and even afforded itself the luxury of noting — lying even more — that it has worsened in some cases.

The worst case of blindness is not wanting to see, and this is an evident attempt to rescue a diminished and discredited internal counterrevolution, elevated and funded by the anti-Cuban lobby in the U.S. government – in particular the Miami mafia – which is steadily becoming more irrelevant and dependent on U.S. taxpayer funds.

Thus, resorting to science fiction, and with its perennial front of a non-governmental organization, HWR drew up a long “report” in which it again attempts to depict the Cuban government as a systematic repressor and creator of an environment full of terror, as if our streets were occupied by military forces and our citizens, without any rights whatsoever, were being brutally lashed.

It does not even have any imagination. It is the same script that we’ve seen many times now over the last five decades, with the unwholesome purpose of justifying the failed and genocidal economic, commercial and financial U.S. blockade of our country, a policy that the UN General Assembly condemned for the 18th consecutive time this past October with 187 votes.

The HRW, with the servile José Miguel Vivanco at its head, the righter of wrongs against anything that whiffs of independence from the United States (it acts in the same way against Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Cuba) and the spokespeople of the Miami mafia, are desperate and frustrated in face of a Cuba that is increasingly more solid, despite the blockade and hurricanes, with growing international prestige, which has propitiated the advance of a tendency within U.S. society of calling for a change in policy toward Havana. This is exemplified by the initiative with bipartisan backing introduced by Richard Lugar (Indiana) to eliminate all restrictions on travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens.

The HRW’s subordination to yanki policy is such that it couldn’t care less about the fact that this past February 5, Cuba successfully presented its report to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review, where it received overwhelming recognition for its human and social project and its efforts in this sphere.

Of course, that time in Geneva it became evident that, in the context of an exercise with universal participation and of an objective nature, the United States could not overcome the will of others through pressure, nor with the craven collaboration of organizations like the HRW. Cuba’s truth could not be silenced.

A group of 60 delegations, of the 104 that were registered, spoke during an interactive dialogue on that occasion, and 51 of them acknowledged the efforts and results of our country in terms of promoting and protecting human rights.

Cuba’s achievements in the area of economic, social and cultural rights merited their overwhelming backing. The universal coverage, gratuity and excellence of Cuba’s health and education systems elicited reiterated praise.

The HRW knows, despite its manifest dependence on yanki imperialist policy, that Cuba has a dignified and very extensive record in terms of cooperation with all human rights mechanisms. Our nation as a state is party to 41 of the most important treaties in this sphere and has historically cooperated with human rights mechanisms that are applied universally and without discrimination.

As a way of defending his vassalage, the Chilean José Miguel Vivanco, “director of the Americas division” of HRW, is resorting to the well-worn presentation of being the victim under attack, because the Latin American governments that comprise the ALBA do not like to be criticized.

Vivanco wants to resort to this shady subject because he knows that he has a lot of dirty laundry, as has been exposed by our colleague Jean Guy Allard, in reference to his dubious relations with the fauna of Washington’s Capitol Hill linked to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the most recalcitrant Venezuelan “petit yankis,” and the Cuban-American mafia, and of course, his close ties with Reporters Sans Frontières and other “international” organizations, whose ties with the CIA are established.

These are not attacks, but truths that sting. That is how those servile individuals are.

Cuba condemns attitude of the rich countries at the Rome Summit

ROME, November 16. — Cuba has condemned the attitude of the rich countries who were absent from the Heads of State or Government meeting at the FAO Food Security Summit taking place in this capital.

In a statement to PL, Ulises Rosales del Toro, head of the Cuban delegation in Rome and vice president of the Council of Ministers, highlighted the fact that those present must accept that food should not be used as an instrument of political pressure.

This is a battle that our country has waged for many years and which, on this occasion, has reached the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Summit, he commented.

The importance of cooperation and solidarity was also reconfirmed, as was the need to abstain from adopting unilateral measures that do not comply with international law and endanger food security, he added.

Likewise a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba and minister of agriculture, Rosales del Toro criticized the absence of the world’s most powerful nations who do not appear to have the courage to face representatives of the developing countries.

Now they cannot justify themselves, he stated, referring to unfulfilled promises of aid in order to eradicate world hunger.

With respect to the validity of the FAO Summit, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Abelardo Moreno stated that the issue is not to cancel the meeting but to highlight the attitude of the rich countries, which are not only responsible for the current situation but also for the global financial crisis. (PL)

Cuba’s increased defense capacity

Fidel Rendón Matienzo

WHILE the Bastión 2009 strategic exercise improved the military readiness of the country’s leadership and command bodies, National Defense Day, given its mass nature, raised Cuba’s defensive capacity even more.

On Sunday, four million Cuban men and women in conjunction with the armed forces took firing ranges, parks, factories, universities, mountains, and shelters “by storm” to preserve the peace and sovereignty of their Revolution by training train for any kind of imperialist aggression.

In Territorial Troop Militias, Production and Defense Brigades, and Special Formations, early in the morning men and woman participated in planned actions in their areas of defense, many of which were related to protecting the population and the economy.

Food production, the cultivation of sugar cane and other crops was not neglected, nor was work relating to hygiene and sanitation as part of the fight against vectors, where necessary. Recovery tasks continued in the provinces affected by last year’s Hurricanes Ike and Paloma.

National Defense Day included the active participation of chiefs, officers and soldiers in the Revolutionary Armed Forces, civilian workers and the Ministry of the Interior in the realization of illustrative firearms training classes throughout the country.

In a meeting to review Bastión 2009 on Saturday, President Raúl Castro congratulated all the participants in this strategic exercise and affirmed that all the planned objectives had been fulfilled.

Raúl stated that a preliminary assessment indicated that there were substantial advances in the results in comparison to 2004.

But he insisted that “everything we do can be improved, an essential attitude in the face of a highly complex phenomenon like war which, moreover, evolves constantly and rapidly.”

Translated by Granma International

African National Congress Women’s League Issues Statement on World AIDSDay 2009

Statement on World Aids Day

1 December 2009

The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) joins the people of South Africa and the peoples of the world in marking World Aids Day (1 December) under the theme “Universal Access and Human Rights”.

The ANCWL uses the occasion of World Aids Day to reconfirm its commitment and resolve to work towards universal access to HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care, recognising these as fundamental human rights.

We use this occasion to reaffirm our commitment to join government and civil society efforts to ensure that the rights of women and children who are affected and infected by HIV and AIDS are protected and that those infected have access to the various regiments of antiviral (ARV) medication.

We acknowledge that gender based violence and abuse of women and children undermine efforts to reduce the spread of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The ANCWL would like to use the occasion of World AIDS Day to reiterate its support for the 16 days of activism against the abuse of women and children under the theme: “Don’t look away, Act against Abuse”.

World Aids Day provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the progress that our nation is making in implementing a comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS as part of an overall strategy to tackle the disease. We are concern that although South Africa has a comprehensive strategy to tackle HIV and AIDS that has been acknowledged internationally, and has the largest anti-retroviral programme in the world, our nation is not yet winning the devastating impact of this pandemic on our healthcare system, households and families across South Africa.

We want to reiterate that our hope is rekindled by the new urgency and purpose expressed by the government. In this regard, we want to welcome the firmness and unequivocal message of President Jacob Zuma’s cabinet on the government’s approach to fighting HIV and AIDS.

While we acknowledge progress in preventing the further spread of HIV among our people, particularly the youth, we are concern that young women still remain vulnerable to HIV and AIDS in our society. We call on government to expand educational and awareness-raising programmes targeting young women.

The fight against the HIV and AIDS pandemic requires a well functioning and resourced healthcare system. We want to use this occasion to call on government to move ahead with reforms to strengthen our country’s health care system. Without a well functioning and strengthened healthcare system, significant access to ARV therapy is unlikely to be achieved.

Society has a crucial role to play in the fight against HIV and AIDS, particularly in assisting those affected and infected, encouraging healthier lifestyles, and reiterating the message of abstinence, be faithful and condomise. We call on society to join hands with the government and civil society to tackle prejudice, ignorance and stigmatisation surrounding HIV and AIDS.

As the ANCWL, we will continue to mobilise our members and supporters behind this critical struggle against the spread of HIV and AIDS, and pursue through all levels of government a comprehensive programme which locates the struggle against HIV and AIDS within the broader national struggle to the emancipation of women.

Working together, we can win the battle against HIV and AIDS!

Issued by:
Nosipho Dorothy Ntwanambi
Deputy President of the ANCWL
Cell: 083 658 0097 / 071 609 2856

For enquiries contact:
Vuyi Manyandela
ANCWL Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 331 2452
E-mail: vuyim@anc.org.za

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ANC Women’s League Statement on 16 Days of Activism Against Abuse ofWomen and Children Campaign

ANCWL statement on 16 Days of Activism against abuse of women and children campaign

19 November 2009

The African National Congress Women’s League unreservedly supports the 16 days of activism against women and children between 25th November 2009 -10th December 2009 under the theme: “Don’t look away, Act against Abuse”.

The ANCWL joins the African continent and the rest of the peoples of the world in dedicating the 2009 16 Days of Activism Against Gender based Violence Campaign to honouring groups and individuals who have committed to bringing violence against women to the forefront of global attention and assisting victims of this scourge in our society. We salute them for remaining resolute and tenacious in the fight against violence and abuse of women and children.

The ANCWL reaffirms its commitment to remain in the forefront of the fight against abuse of women and children. We make a resolve that says, “If you or anyone among us is affected, we all are and we shall not look away but act against the abuse of women and children in our society”. We also make a commitment that says: “for as long as some among us suffer abuse in the hands of their partners or relatives and behind the closed doors of their homes and, in some instances, in the streets of their communities, the struggle for women emancipation and the promise for security and safety remains an unfulfilled and a distant dream”.

In supporting the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender based Violence Campaign, the ANCWL will take part in the launch the campaign and the Lighting of the Torch of Peace at the Union Buildings in the City of Tshwane on 24 November 2009 and the Stakeholders Summit organised by government at the Birchwood Hotel in Gauteng on 25 November 2009. We will also arrange various provincial rallies and forums to share information with women on support systems and processes to deal with gender based violence.

As we celebrate the 10th year since the launch of this campaign, the ANCWL notes the growth in public awareness of the campaign and its messages. We commend the government, civil society organisations, religious organisation, churches and community activists for ensuring that this campaign is extended to rural and farm areas.

This year as we observe the 16 days of activism, our nation celebrates the establishment of a the Ministry of Women and Children and the various pieces of legislation and institutions that our country has put in place to protect and assist women and children to break the circle of violence in our society and openly and publicly talking about their experiences of violation. We will continue to ensure that this important Ministry plays a crucial role in South Africa and that it remains the custodian of the plight of women and children who day in and day are subjected violence and abuse.

The ANCWL recognises that the rights of women and children are fundamental human rights entrenched in and protected by our Constitution. Therefore, gender-based violence in all its different guises is incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person, and must be eliminated in our households and society at large.

The ANCWL is, however, concerned that despite a wide range of legalisation to protect women from violence and gender discrimination, women and children in South Africa, particularly girls still remain victims of gender based violence. In some parts of our country women and girls still suffer from cultural marginilisation and discrimination, sexual violence, forced marriages and prostitution.

We are saddened that our nation launches this important campaign in the midst of new information showing that women still remain the largest victims of HIV and AIDS in South Africa. We make a renewed call to all South Africans to ensure that on the 1 December they test to know their status and those affected to get treatment. We also make a passionate plea to all South Africans, particularly the youth and young women to heed to the “ABC -abstain, be faithful and condomise” campaign and make it a principle of their life.

We note the various media reports of women and children who have been killed and abused by their husbands, partners and relatives. We also note the sleighing of eight-year-old Moegamat Yunis Desai in Mitchells Plain in the Western Cape and the 24-year-old woman who was forced out of her vehicle and pushed over the Umkomaas River Bridge on the N2 south in Chatsworth in KwaZulu-Natal.

We would like to extend our condolences to the Desai family and the many victims of gender based violence in our country and wish a speedy recovery to the 24-year-old woman. We call on the police to ensure that the perpetrators of these hyena crimes are brought to justice and that they are completely removed from our society.

During this month we reaffirm our commitment to the eight principle objectives of the campaign. That is:

-To continue to generate an increased level of awareness amongst South Africans pertaining to the incidence of violence perpetuated against women and children, how it manifests itself within South African society and the negative impact on these vulnerable groups;
-To challenge perpetrators of these offences to change their behaviour;
-To enhance and increase partnerships between government, the private sector, civil society, organised labour, sectoral groups, the faith based organisations, the media (electronic and print) and the diplomatic community in an effort to spread the message;
-To align events in the national programme with that of the international theme for this year, which focuses on matters relating to Women’s Health;
-To working with NGOs that work within the sector, providing invaluable support to the victims and survivors of violence;
-To communicate through the most effective and appropriate channels aiming to reach the maximum number of people across the country, particularly women and children residing in rural areas;
-To engage actively with men and boys in the discourse about combating violence in our homes, our communities and in the workplace; and
-To highlight the stories of survivors of gender-based violence and the impact that the campaign has had on their lives.

The ANCWL calls on all South Africans to support the campaign by utilising the white ribbon symbol in innovative and inventive ways to reflect solidarity and commitment to stamp out the abuse of women and children in our society. We also call on all employers, particularly those in the public service to encourage their employees to wear the white ribbon for the duration of the 16-day period, as a visual commitment of solidarity that says “Don’t look away, Act against Act against Abuse”.

Amandla! Wathint’ Abafazi Wathint’ imbokodo! (Now that you have touched the women, you have struck a rock!)!

Issued by:
President of the ANCWL
Mrs Angelina Matsie “Angie” Motshekga

For enquiries contact:
Vuyi Manyandela
Cell: 082 331 2452
E-mail: vuyim@anc.org.za

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