By Bill Hackwell on December 11, 2015
Resumen Latinoamericano, North American Bureau
Photo: Bill Hackwell
A large crowd of Arabs living in Cuba and their supporters filled the Jerusalem – Alquds, Union of Arabs of Cuba, cultural center in old Havana to celebrate the 48th anniversary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).The program gave a historical view up to the present of the struggle of the Palestinian people for their homeland and was presented primarily by the youth of the Arab community.
Amongst other guests, representing the Cuban 5, was Rene Gonzalez, Hero of the Republic of Cuba and his wife Olga Salanueva. Also in attendance was Kenia Serrano Puig, President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).
Clara Pulido Escandel, the coordinator of the Africa and Middle East Area of the Department of the International Relations of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party addressed the audience reaffirming Cuba’s long term support for the liberation of Palestine and the right of the Palestinian people to return to their homeland.
Areej Al-Khawaja who is in her 5th year at the Latin America School of Medicine in Habana, spoke on behalf of the youth of the PFLP.
Graciela Ramirez of the International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity and Resumen Latinoamericano brought greetings from Carlos Aznárez, the editor of Resumen who is facing prosecution from by an Argentinian court coming from a complaint from the Delegation of Argentine Israeli Associations (DAIA). If found guilty he would have to allow Google to turn over all of his emails for several years. Ramirez stated that “the accusation against Aznárez is not against one person, or a specific media, but against all of those who struggle for the right of return of the Palestinian people, and who stand in solidarity with the resistance of the Palestinian people. She also brought greetings from Kifah Afifi, a Palestinian who was born in the refugee camp of Sabra and Shatla. Afifi was tortured and spent 7 years in an Israeli prison.
Bassel Ismail Sahem, representing the PFLP, closed the event by thanking the people of Cuba for all their support for Palestine.