Cuba and the African freedom struggles - film
ray davis | 13.07.2009 17:08 | History | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements
South London Cuba Solidarity are showing this documentary film about Revolutionary Cuba's assistance to the African freedom struggles - in particular in the Congo and Guinea Bissau. all are welcome. No charge.
July 26th Cuba film show leaflet
In 1959, Patrice Lumumba, leader of the Congolese nationalist movement, was elected as the first Prime Minister of what was soon to become independent Congo. A few weeks after Independence Day in June 1960, military uprisings and a separatist movement, sponsored and organised by the CIA, broke out in the country. This provided the pretext for the arrival of imperialist troops, under the banner of the United Nations, posing as a peace force. By September, a coup overthrowing Lumumba was carried through. Lumumba was arrested and murdered in secret with the participation of Belgian officers and other imperialists.
The newly established revolutionary government of Cuba and the Cuban people were appalled at the Congolese slaughter and the treachery of the UN. And Cuban leadership, with Fidel Castro at the head, took the decision to organise whatever aid they could to help the African peoples struggling to throw off the chains of western colonialism.
This film documents two of the Cuban first attempts: in Congo and in Guinea Bissau. The film is about 1 hour long and tells an important story about Africa and Cuba that the western governments would rather bury.
The newly established revolutionary government of Cuba and the Cuban people were appalled at the Congolese slaughter and the treachery of the UN. And Cuban leadership, with Fidel Castro at the head, took the decision to organise whatever aid they could to help the African peoples struggling to throw off the chains of western colonialism.
This film documents two of the Cuban first attempts: in Congo and in Guinea Bissau. The film is about 1 hour long and tells an important story about Africa and Cuba that the western governments would rather bury.
ray davis
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Remember the Cuban bombing of Eritrea
14.07.2009 21:59
Those with even half an interest in understanding the reality of Cuba's involvement in Africa should listen to the ghosts of the Eritrean dead, bombed by Cubans (after the US had had a go too) as they nightly tended their fields or fought back at the socialist DERG government.
John Pilgers book 'Heroes' has a good section on Eritrea and can be read free on google books.
Even better read Dan Cornells - "Against All Odds: A chronicle of the Eritrean Revolution".
While both are good first hand sources (the authors were both there on the ground) they should obviously be read critically.
States whatever their colour are always fundamentally enemies of liberty. Cuba is no exception.
anon