Chronicle on Cuba - December 2009

Security

December 7: Cuban President Raul Castro presided over a ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of Operation Tribute. At El Cacahual Mausoleum in Havana, the Cuban leader laid a floral wreath before the tomb of independence hero Major General Antonio Maceo, also on the occasion of the 113th anniversary of his death in combat.  Operation Tribute was a posthumous homage paid twenty years ago to the more than 2,000 Cubans who died in internationalist missions. According to official figures, during more than 13 years of Cuba’s contribution in countries such as Angola, Ethiopia and Nicaragua, a total of 2,085 Cuban internationalists died in combat while another 204 died in civil missions (ACN, 7/12/09).

Diciembre 19: El gobierno continúa construyendo túneles para "proteger a la población en tiempo de guerra", en medio de la severa crisis económica que vive el país y pese a la insistencia de Estados Unidos de que no utilizará la fuerza militar para propiciar un cambio de régimen en la isla. "Se está cumpliendo todo lo referente a esos túneles" del Teatro de Operaciones Militares (TOM) que "han sido construidos y se construyen por los gobiernos de todos los niveles —zonas, municipios y provincias—, como una tarea de primer orden", afirmó el general de división Samuel Rodiles, citado por el diario oficial Juventud Rebelde. Desde 1959, el régimen construye túneles "para proteger a la población en tiempo de guerra" y las obras siguen "por buenos caminos", dijo el general de división Samuel Rodiles ante la comisión de defensa de la Asamblea Nacional, escribió la prensa oficial. Dentro de la "tan importante misión para tiempo de guerra" destacó la construcción de los túneles de Bahía Honda (Pinar del Río, oeste del país), Cumanayagua (Cienfuegos, centro) y Guantánamo (este). La comisión de defensa tuvo lugar antes del cuarto período de sesiones de la Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular (ANSA, 19/12/09).

December 22: The Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) celebrated the 65th anniversary of the foundation of the Vietnamese People’s Army under the orders of the top leader of this Asian nation, Ho Chi Minh. FAR’s Deputy Minister and Army Corps General Joaquin Quintas Solá presided over the political-cultural gala at the headquarters of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces that was attended by Huynh Ngoc Son, Vice President of the Vietnamese National Assembly, representatives of the military diplomatic corps in Havana and other guests. “Relations between both nations are characterized by friendship and brotherhood and they are further strengthening and developing,” said during the ceremony the military attaché of the Vietnamese Embassy in the Cuban capital, Ta Van Phang. “Be confident that, under any circumstances no matter how difficult they might be, the Vietnamese people will always be by your side,” stressed the diplomat, who also thanked Cuba for its constant and unconditional support (ACN, 23/12/09).

December 30: The Defense Commission of Cuba’s National Assembly confirmed that it will continue to focus its efforts on strengthening the country’s military invulnerability in 2010. Lieutenant Colonel Genesis Izquierdo Montes, secretary of the permanent working group, told the local press that the essential goal is to control the building of underground tunnels that serve as shelters in case of a military aggression and for evacuees in times of hurricanes. The commission will also supervise prevention actions against dengue fever,  and against the H1N1A Influenza virus, both affecting the country. Izquierdo added that group leaders will coordinate visits to agricultural and cattle raising enterprises run by the ministries of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and of Interior and by the Youth Work Army to check on their food production plans. Likewise in 2010, the commission will lead public hearings to discuss accident rates and preventive actions in the community.   Deputies in the Defense Commission will also provide public consultation and hearings about a new bill on the highway administration and traffic code that is expected to be approved by the Parliament in 2010 (ACN, 30/12/09).