Ruminations of an Expatriate

July 26th is a holiday in Cuba commemorating the 1953 attack on the Moncada military barracks in Santiago de Cuba by Fidel and a small band of rebels. The attack failed, resulting in the deaths of a number of the rebels, the subsequent execution of others, and the imprisonment of Fidel and others.

The then dictator, Fulencio Batista, released Castro after, I think, three years of imprisonment, presumably due to Castro family’s aristocratic influence. Fidel had graduated from the university degree with a degree in law.

The day here has historically been marked by Fidel addressing huge assemblages of the faithful, speaking for hours without notes, an ability which, I think, stands Castro apart from other world leaders and politicians.

This July 26th, Fidel apparently remaining somewhat infirm, it was Raul Castro’s turn, as interim president, to address the faithful. The address, in Camaguay, was carried on Cuban TV and I watched along with my friend Katiuska, who was entirely derisive of the remarks. Though I understood little of what he had to say, Raul clearly lacks the charisma of his more famous brother and hardly looked up from his notes as he spoke.

Katiuska tells me that there are many Cubans who harbor antipathy toward Raul as, reportedly, in the early days of the revolution he oversaw the executions of many Batista henchmen, while it was Fidel who ordered “no mas sangre”, or no more blood.

Today, Saturday the 28th, I had a lengthy conversation with Juan Daniel, in whose home I stayed during my last trip and who is very well informed, both as to Cuban and USA politics. He told me that during his speech on the 26th Raul had indicated his eagerness to enter into discussions with the USA government that were based upon mutual respect and that on the dais with Raul was a whole different group of officials than those who usually accompany Fidel.

Juan Daniel indicated his belief that the elections coming in October will be very important for the future of change in Cuba and that he thinks Raul will be elected as president by the National Assembly. He also indicated that Raul will likely oversee great changes here during the next four or five years when another, younger president will likely be elected.

Elections here are entirely non-partisan; campaigning consists only of presentation of a biography in a voter pamphlet and, I suppose, jawboning the neighbors; and are conducted in two stages. The first stage, as I understand, is for municipal assemblies (there are for example 19 municipios in Havana Province.) There are then are elections for the National Assembly composed of one representative from each municipio. The members of the National Assembly elect the president.

Folks here are automatically registered to vote at the age of 16 and may stand for election to municipal assemblies at the age of 18.

Contrary to what the USA propagandists proffer there are real elections here.