Bolivian internet users closely followed the Fifth International Forum of Solidarity with Cuba, which was broadcast on the Ecos Latinos platform and concluded this Sunday with a presentation by activist Betsy Cuti.
Following Saturday’s opening session, in which speakers concurred in denouncing the U.S. government’s preparations for a direct armed attack against Cuba, Sunday´s session featured the participation of intellectuals from Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Bolivia.
Moderated by Dr. José J. Pacheco, Ramón Franquesa addressed the topic “The Attack on Cuba in the Current Geopolitical Situation,” and Daniela González discussed the economic, commercial, and financial blockade and its impact on human rights in the context of politics and daily life.
For his part, Dr. Oscar Barrantes addressed the historical features of the struggle for sovereignty in Costa Rica and Central America, and the relationship with Cuba, both in its origins and today.
Finally, Bolivian human rights activist Nadeshda Guevara presented the paper “Economic Sanctions and Human Dignity: The Case of the Blockade Against Cuba from the Perspective of International Law.”
On Saturday, the opening day featured presentations by Ramón Franquesa, Professor of World Economy at the University of Barcelona; Gustavo de la Torre, President of the José Martí Association of Cubans in Catalonia; and Karen Barrios, a social anthropologist and sociologist with a long history of activism in the Catalan left.
The speakers denounced the current aggression of the U.S. administration, which is destroying and trampling on international law and publicly expressing, through its president, Donald Trump, the intention to force a change of government in Cuba.
In such circumstances, they stated, it is necessary to move beyond international condemnations and statements to more effective material support and even to be prepared to contribute in various ways to the organized resistance of Cubans in what they call the people’s war to defend their sovereignty and independence in the event of an invasion.
During the debate, it was noted that April 6th marks the 66th anniversary of the writing of a secret memorandum by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Lester Mallory, which expresses the philosophy behind the criminal economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the White House for six decades against an entire people.
“The majority of Cubans support Castro (…), the only foreseeable way to reduce his internal support is through the disillusionment and dissatisfaction arising from economic hardship and difficulties (…),” the document states.
In his secret document, Mallory suggests that “all possible means must be employed rapidly to weaken Cuba’s economic life (…), a course of action that, being as skillful and discreet as possible, achieves the greatest advances in depriving Cuba of money and supplies, in order to reduce its financial resources and real wages (…)”.
The speakers at the Fifth Forum condemned this policy, maintained for more than 60 years, as criminal, stating that it seeks “to provoke hunger, desperation, and the overthrow of the government.”