We will renounce none of our principles
Excerpts from speeches by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz emphasizing the need to respond to every challenge with unity, strength, optimism, and unwavering confidence in victory

Raúl Castro Ruzjune 3, 2019 09:06:21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Estudio Revolución
Once again, an adverse scenario has been created and again our enemies’ euphoria resurfaces, and they rush to make their dreams of destroying the example of Cuba a reality. This is not the first time, nor the last, that the Cuban Revolution must face challenges and threats. We have faced all dangers and resisted undefeated for 60 years.
For us, as for Venezuela and Nicaragua, it is very clear that the siege is tightening and our people must be alert and prepared to respond to every challenge with unity, strength, optimism, and unwavering confidence in the victory.
After almost a decade of practicing unconventional methods of war to prevent continuity or stop the return of progressive governments, the circles of power in Washington sponsored coups, first a military one to overthrow President Zelaya in Honduras and later the parliamentary-judicial coups against Lugo in Paraguay and Dilma Rousseff in Brazil.
They promoted rigged, politically motivated judicial processes, as well as manipulative campaigns to discredit leaders and organizations of the left, making use of their monopoly control of mass media. In this way they succeeded in imprisoning compañero Lula da Silva and deprived him of the right to run for President as the candidate of the Workers’ Party, to avoid his sure victory in the last elections. I take this opportunity to appeal to all honest political forces on the planet to demand his release and to stop the attacks and judicial persecution of the Dilma Rousseff and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

Those who have illusions about the restoration of imperialist domination in our region should understand that Latin America and the Caribbean have changed, and the world, as well.
The escalating economic war, with the strengthening of the blockade and the continuous application of the Helms-Burton Act, reflect the longstanding desire to overthrow the Cuban Revolution through economic asphyxiation and hardship. This aspiration has failed in the past and will fail again.
We defend socialism, a system that the government of the United States disdains, because we believe in social justice, in balanced and sustainable development, with fair distribution of wealth and guarantees of quality services for the entire population; we practice solidarity and reject self-interest, we share not what we have left over, but even what we lack; we repudiate all forms of social discrimination and fight organized crime, drug trafficking, terrorism, trafficking in persons and all forms of slavery; we defend the human rights of all citizens, not of exclusive and privileged segments; we believe in the democracy of the people and not in the political and undemocratic power of capital; we seek to promote the prosperity of the homeland, in harmony with nature and caring for the resources on which life on the planet depends; and because we are convinced that a better world is possible.
Over 60 years, in the face of aggressions and threats, Cubans have shown the iron will to resist and overcome the most difficult circumstances. Despite its immense power, imperialism does not possess the capacity to break the dignity of a united people, proud of its history and of the freedom conquered by so much sacrifice. Cuba has already shown that, yes, it was possible, yes it is possible, and it will always be possible to resist, fight, and achieve victory. There is no other alternative.