|
Posthumous tribute to
Yasser Arafat
Cuba’s
solidarity and support to the Palestinian people
BY ARNALDO MUSA —Granma
daily staff writer—
CUBA
highlighted its unconditional support for and
solidarity with the Palestinian people, as well as
its firm decision to continue fortifying fraternal
links at a solemn posthumous tribute to Yasser
Arafat, president of the Palestinian National
Authority, a beloved friend of the Cuban Revolution
and President Fidel Castro.
 General
of the Army Raúl Castro, second secretary of the
Communist Party of Cuba and first vice president of
the Councils of State and Ministers, presided over
the emotional ceremony at the foot of the José Martí
Memorial in the capital’s Plaza de la Revolución.
The solemn
tribute was attended by leaders of the Party, state
and government; the Young Communist League and the
mass organizations; as well as a representation of
various sectors of Cuban society; Imad Jada’a,
ambassador of the State of Palestine in Cuba;
Cuban-Arab solidarity organizations, Palestinian
students on the island; and the accredited
diplomatic corps in our country.
In his
opening words, Imad Jada’a described Arafat as a
beloved brother and trench comrade, who always
rejected US and Israeli maneuvers to humiliate the
Palestinian people, thus prompting the enemy to
liquidate an enemy whom it was unable to bring to
his knees.
He exposed
how the Zionists, backed up by the United States,
managed to confine Arafat to his headquarters, but
how the leader did not allow himself to be
intimidated and responded: “You want me dead or
expelled. I reply: martyr, martyr, martyr.”
The
ambassador recalled that he was with the Palestinian
leader a few weeks ago and Arafat had a map of Cuba
on his desk and was following the path of Hurricane
Ivan, concerned at what could happen to the sister
island, “attacked like Palestine, blockaded like
Palestine.”
After
underlining the mutual admiration between Fidel and
Arafat, Ambassador Jada’a affirmed that when the
history of those who fought for freedom, the
combatants against fascism and terrorism is written,
the name of Yasser Arafat will be there in indelible
letters.
He continues
to head the battle for the sovereignty of the
Palestinian state.
“Not one man
or woman, child or elderly person will yield in the
undertaking of making the homeland free,” he
stressed.
Closing the
ceremony, Ricardo Alarcón, member of the Political
Bureau of the Communist Party and president of the
National Assembly of People’s Power, qualified
Arafat as a warrior who gave his life to the cause
of liberty and justice; how his death has caused
consternation, pain and sadness in his people and
has served to unmask the cruelty and ignobility of
the oppressors of the Palestinian homeland and those
supporting them from Washington.
He recalled
that Arafat was always a faithful friend of Cuba and
especially of our president, and a man who found
time to visit us and exchange opinions with the
Cuban leadership.
Alarcón
noted that the principal international courts have
been witness to our country’s solid condemnation of
the genocide being exercised by Israel, “which has
intensified during the mandate of Ariel Sharon, who
has been able to count on the total and systematic
support of his inseparable partner, Mr. George W.
Bush.”
At the end
of his speech, the leader expressed the Cuban
conviction that “only the unity of Palestinians will
lead them to the final victory and we are, moreover,
absolutely certain that the Palestinian people and
leadership will make real the dream for which Arafat
fought until the final day of his fertile life: the
dignity and independence of Palestine.”
-
FIDEL
SIGNS BOOKS OF CONDOLENCES FOR ARAFAT’S DEATH |
