For the Victims of Terrorism

Since the beginning of the Revolution, North American policy has been marked by terror. Although some events like the Crime of Barbados [referring to the 1976 bombing of Cubana Flight 455] or the La Coubre explosion oppress our hearts with their monstrosity, they are among dozens of actions that have cost the lives of innocent Cubans as the effect of North American barbarism.

It is because of this that Oct. 6 was chosen — a date commemorating the explosion of the Cubana plane in 1976 — as the Day of the Victims of State Terrorism, an anniversary marked by emotional mourning and a demand for justice.

In fact, this first occasion, after the adoption of the decree Law No. 279 of Oct. 5, 2010, that enacts the regulation, is colored by the early release of René González from prison and the opposition of the North American government to his immediate return to his homeland.

In addition to the death of Carlos Leyva and Leonardo Mackencie in that tragic flight, the loss of other victims of terrorism pains Las Tunas, like that of Ramón López Peña, killed by the Marines at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base; Guillermo Martínez Ramírez, who fell during a pirate motorboat attack during the Mariel boat lift, and Julio César Góngora Rodríguez, who has suffered his whole life from serious injuries received during the explosion of La Coubre.

Also counted are Rodolfo Rosell Salas, a fisherman killed at Guantanamo Bay, and Eusebio Izquierdo Ramírez and Heriberto Cortés Ingesias, martyrs of the Bay of Pigs. A total of 15 compatriots from Las Tunas who fell in the War against the Bandits, either in actions in our territory or in other provinces, are equally victims of state terrorism. Neither can we forget Lorenzo Dalis Negró and Ángel Torres López, killed by Tuto Pupo’s gang. And Ascanio Díaz Tamayo and Ramiro Guerra Guerra, who suffered the same fate at the hands of counterrevolutionaries.

Claudencio Betancourt Rivero, Luis Noelio Bacallao Molina, José Domínguez Olazábal and Oslider Romero Figueredo perished while fighting in the Escambray Mountains. Noel Turruelles Garcés, Rogelio Rojas Tamayo and Rubén Rodríguez Durán died in confrontations with bandits. Others like Alberto Arcos Luque, Rigoberto Batista Chapman, Andrés Leyva Montaña and Herlán Raya Leyva lost their lives while fighting against Gusberto Guerra’s gang.

More than five decades, millions and millions of dollars, the training of counterrevolutionary groups smear campaigns later, varied and numerous have been the resources invested by North American administrations against the Revolution that has suffered since the first day of state terrorism.