THE Irish Communist Party strongly condemns the threats made against Cuba by the President of the United States, Donald Trump; and in particular the specific threats against former Cuban president Raul Castro.
From the outset US imperialism has been outraged that Cuba broke free of US control, and has subjected the country to blockade and attempts to undermine its economic coherence, along with direct efforts to kill its leadership and to promote an armed coup from outside to overthrow the regime.
Cuba, as its president Miguel Diaz-Canel has stated, is a peaceful country that has given freely humanitarian aid to other countries when hit by natural disasters and has stood shoulder to shoulder with the oppressed of the earth when confronted by the armed aggression of the US and other imperialists.
Despite the blockade Cuba has established the best health service in the entire Americas, an achievement which it is a particular aim of the current US administration to undermine.
The US attempted to interdict Cuba from receiving oil from outside, with the aim of crippling the economy and forcing the people to surrender, but both Russia and China stepped up and gave Cuba what it need to overcome this threat.
The US has now upped its aggression with a direct threat against Raul Castro, calling his role in defending Cuba against an émigré attack a criminal act. But the only criminal act is that of the US itself.
The current threat facing Cuba outlines that ending US hegemony must be a priority for the working class in all countries, as the struggles for national autonomy and popular mobilisation for socialism are inextricably linked.
There is now a real threat that the US will attempt to kidnap Castro as they did with Maduro in Venezuela.
The Irish Communist Party/Páirtí Cumannach Éireann calls on all progressive forces on the Left, the Centre Left and all who uphold international law, to speak out against this threat. The Trade Union movement too must raise its voice.
In particular, the Irish government must not be allowed to stay silent on this matter, and we call on it to publicly condemn the US threat and insist that it stands by Cuba now.