National Network On Cuba Co-Chair report on May, 2015 delegation to Cuba
The five National Network on Cuba co-chairs (Nalda Vigezzi, Banbose Shango, Alicia Jrapko, Cheryl LaBash, and Franklin Curbelo) traveled to Cuba at the end of April and early part of May for a series of meetings and activities in coordination with the Cuban Institute for Friendship (ICAP) our longtime partner in solidarity actions.
Before mentioning some of the highlights of our trip, we joyfully relay the message of the Cuban 5 giving thanks and appreciation for all that was done by so many people in the United States and encouraging us to keep active and involved in the struggle for Cuban sovereignty and right to self-determination.
The activities included a meeting with a ceramic co-operative; one of the enterprises that has been formed as part of the new economic model. We visited a community project in the Cotorro neighborhood of Havana where we met with Rene’s mother, Irma, and participated in a series of cultural activities with the children of the neighborhood.
We spent a full day traveling to Villa Clara where we visited the Che Guevara memorial, the sight of the armored train derailment, and had a memorable meeting at the Villa Clara ICAP with solidarity groups and ICAP members.
On April 29, the ICAP hosted a meeting with the NNOC co-chairs, ICAP officials, and members of U.S. solidarity groups and NNOC member organizations. The Cuban officials participating in the meeting included several representatives from the U.S. Division who had been working with us to organize this first solidarity/NNOC meeting since the return of the Five. In addition, ICAP President, Kenia Serrano and ICAP Vice President, Fernando Gonzalez, and MINREX representative, Patricia Pego, spoke about the proposed United States changes in approach toward Cuba as well as facing the challenges of expanding and strengthening the role of the NNOC. The representatives from the United States based solidarity organizations offered their ideas, experiences, and comments on the Action Plan that was formulated to continue to move forward in the solidarity movement. (The Action Plan will follow as a separate document).
Following the meeting, we attended the opening of an exhibit of photos at the Jose Marti Memorial. The photos were taken during and shortly after the December 17, 2014 return to Cuba of Antonio, Ramon, and Gerardo. All the Five and their families were at the opening and graciously posed for pictures and spoke with everyone there.
On May 1, we participated in the extraordinary May Day march which was led by the Five and immediately followed by hundreds of health care workers; with Raul Castro, Nicolas Maduro, and the general secretary of the Cuban Workers’ Federation, Ulises Guilarte de Nascimiento, observing the massive display of support and unity.
May 2 was the International Meeting of Solidarity. In addition to over 1000 invited international delegates, all of the Five participated and received special Cuban Trade Federation (CTC) awards at the meeting which was chaired by Cuban Vice President, Miguel Diaz Canel. Minrex Deputy Foreign Minister, Ana Teresita Gonzalez spoke about Cuban Foreign policy and the status of U.S. / Cuban talks aimed at reestablishing diplomatic relations. ICAP President, Kenia Serrano spoke about initiatives to strengthen the solidarity movement, gain new activists, and engage other sectors. Both speakers praised Cuba’s human rights record and history of humanitarian initiatives. The many international activists who commented all touched on the themes of the return of the Five and the importance of Cuba’s participation in the Summit of the Americas. There was an activity during the program in recognition of the work of more than a dozen activists including many from the United States in the cause of the Five. The closing words were those of Gerardo Hernandez (see NNOC webpage, NNOC.info, for full comments) who recognized the resistance of the Five, the resistance of the Cuban people, and resistance of the international solidarity movement.
