Tag: marxism

Tribute to a Cuban Revolutionary Heroine MELBA HERNANDEZ


By Carlos “Carlito” Rovira

Melba Hernandez’s life is filled with many fascinating stories which reflect the courage, strength and resilience of Cuban women who made overthrowing the U.S.-puppet regime of Fulgencio Batista a reality. Melba was a combatant and leader in the Rebel Army of the July 26 Movement. She became an important and symbolic political figure of the 1959 Cuban Revolution.

During the armed struggle Hernandez fought gallantly alongside of Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz. She was a confidant of the revolutionary leader and after the seizure of power this heroine became part of his executive staff. Melba played a pivotal role during the critical period of consolidating the Cuban state apparatus.

Melba was introduced to politics by her parents who partook in Cuba’s War for Independence of 1895, led by the legendary Jose Marti. She was a lawyer who was affected by witnessing first-hand the disturbing social and economic inequality in Cuba. From the time she completed her education the young Melba was empathetic with the plight of poor peasants and exploited workers whom she represented as legal counsel.

Melba Hernandez (right) and Haydee Santamaria in custody following the
attack on Moncada Barracks.

Melba Hernandez and Haydee Santamaria were the only two women that partook in the July 26, 1953, attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago, the event that sparked the Cuban Revolution. Part of Fidel Castro Ruz’s plan was for the revolutionary insurgents to enter the surrounding restricted zone at Moncada dressed in the same uniforms as government soldiers. It was Melba who illegally obtained the uniforms. She convinced a military official who supported the rebel cause to assist with her mission.

The attack on Moncada was bloody and ended in failure. By the time it ended most of the insurrectionists were wounded and killed. Many of these revolutionaries died as by torture at the hands of sadistic henchmen of the Batista regime. Some, like Fidel Castro Ruz managed to escape and hide in the jungle until they negotiated a surrender days later through an intermediary.

Hernandez and Santamaria were arrested, convicted and given shorter prison sentences in comparison to their male counterparts who were released two years later. During their incarceration, Hernandez and Santamaria experienced humiliating abuse by Batista’s prison officials.

My portrait of Melba Hernandez. 20″ X 24″, acrylic paint on canvas.

After these heroines were released, they were determined to carry out the work of building a mass movement and the clandestine network that would eventually topple the Batista government. Melba was instrumental in smuggling out of the prison where Fidel Castro was held a draft of his famous courtroom speech when he was tried “History will Absolve Me”, one of the most important documents of the Cuban Revolution.

After the seizure of power on January 1, 1959, Hernandez was assigned to several important roles in the government. In 1960, she was placed in charge of women’s prisons in Cuba. For Hernandez, a top priority was to spearhead prison reform to align with the humane principles of the revolution.

Melba Hernandez meeting with Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh.
Melba Hernández and Vilma Espín welcomed Vietnam‘s General Nguyễn Thị Định, during her visit to Cuba

During the late 1960s – 1970s, at the height of the vicious colonial war the U.S. was waging against the Vietnamese people, Hernandez risked danger to herself by traveling frequently to the war-torn country as head of the Cuban Committee in Solidarity with Vietnam. She also served as Secretary General of OSPAAAL, the Organization of Solidarity with the Peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

In the 1980s, Hernandez earned Cuba’s Ambassadorship to Vietnam and Cambodia due to her diligent work of solidarity with the Vietnamese Revolution. This heroine also served the Cuban government as a Deputy in the country’s National Assembly of People’s Power.

Melba Hernandez with Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz.

Sadly, on March 9, 2014, Melba died of natural causes. Having lived her life as a diplomat and high-ranking official of a revolutionary government, her legacy shall inspire revolutionaries for generations to come, especially women who will be duty-bound to confront backward traditions that perpetuate women’s oppression.

Hernandez was among other iconic female figures who were decisive in that revolutionary experience, such as Vilma Espin, Celia Sanchez, Aleida March, Haydee Santamaria, and others. Their selflessness and loyalty to the revolution surmounted of of what many would have expected.

Thanks to the Cuban Revolution Melba Hernandez, dared to be amongst those to set standards for challenging the greatest tyrant in human history.

LONG LIVE THE CUBAN REVOLUTION!

Long live the legacy of Comandante Celia Sanchez!

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“We rebels… get far too much credit for winning the Revolution. Our enemies deserve most of the credit, for being greedy cowards and idiots.”                    -Celia Sanchez

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By Carlos “Carlito” Rovira

One of the greatest heroines and leader of the 1959 Cuban Revolution was Celia Sánchez. This historic figure played a pivotal role in the revolutionary struggle that resulted in the overthrow of the notorious U.S.-puppet Fulgencio Batista.

Celia Sanchez was born on May 9, 1920, in the municipality of Media Luna, Oriente, Cuba. She grew up in a relatively affluent household and raised by her father, Dr. Manuel Sanchez, who practiced medicine. Celia’s mother died when she was a very young child.

During her early adulthood, Sanchez worked assisting her father’s medical clinic until she became inspired to be politically active, a change that came about in her life in response to Batista’s military coup on March 10, 1952. Celia’s political involvement led her to organize the July 26th Movement in the municipality of Manzanillo, Cuba in 1955.

Fidel Castro Ruz named the new entity the “JULY 26 MOVEMENT” to honor the martyrs that courageously attempted to seize the Moncada Barracks by force on July 26, 1953. Although the attack ended in failure with many revolutionaries killed by torture, the event sparked the Cuban Revolution.

My portrait of Celia Sanchez, painted in 2016. 24″ X 30″, acrylic paint on canvas.

Celia never hesitated to voluntarily take on tasks, including such that posed danger and required risking her life. This heroine’s passionate energy and uncompromising commitment to the revolution made her one of the most trusted comrades of Fidel Castro Ruz’s and Ernesto Che Guevara.

Cuba was militarily invaded and colonized by the United States, along with the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico, the consequence of the 1898 Spanish-American War. Although the United States gave Cuba the political status “Protectorate”, with cleverly disguised semblances of “independence”, it was actually another form of outright colonial domination.

What replaced Spain’s tyrannical rule in Cuba was a system exclusively serving the interest of U.S. monopoly capitalism which aimed to super-exploit the Cuban people. Cuba’s sugar, tobacco, textiles, and tourism was the target of U.S. billionaires while the people went further into the depths of poverty and despair.

Celia Sanchez with fellow guerillas in the Sierra Maestra mountains.

And because U.S. rulers were motivated by malicious intent it was natural for their less significant junior partners in the Mafia to behave like scavengers and turn Cuba into a haven for every kind of criminal activity. Havana became the epicenter of capitalist decadence endorsed by the native white elite.

While Batista government officials catered to the comforts of U.S. financial investors they viewed the Cuban people with disdain. Their disposition resulted in the deaths of 20,000 Cuban men, women and children, who were mercilessly shot, tortured and raped by police and soldiers of the Batista regime.

Celia Sanchez was a staunch Marxist–Leninist who desired to teach the doctrine she embraced and strived to embed its principles as the guiding light of the Communist Party of Cuba. She was among many in that experience who wanted to ensure the revolution’s anti-capitalist direction.

Celia Sanchez posing with her weapon.

In December 1956, Sanchez shared the responsibility for deciding the location where the Granma boat would land on Cuba’s coastal shores once it arrived from Mexico, filled with combatants ready to fight. She also took responsibility for recruiting and training from among the poor peasants and workers to provide reinforcements for the Rebel Army.

As the guerillas intensified their actions Batista responded by increasing repression on the populace to tighten his grip on power. The frenzy Batista demonstrated with terror only served to inspire mass support for the Rebel Army.

From l to r: Vilma Espin, Fidel Castro Ruz, Raul Castrol Ruz, and Celia Sanchez.

Along with other women combatants like Vilma Espin and Haydee Santamaria, Celia Sanchez play a pivotal role in organizing a broad network for smuggling weapons, food and medical supplies to the growing Rebel Army in the mountains.

These warrior women were compelled to fight on two fronts, against the ruthless Batista army on the one hand, and sexist traditions manifesting in paternalistic behavior from male comrades. However, through example the Cuban Revolution took many steps forward towards achieving women’s equality. This is a continuous ideological struggle in which Celia Sanchez played a big role initiating, as a leading combatant at first, then a government official.

Sanchez was the first woman to join the July 26 Rebel Army. And because of her experiences and courage under gunfire from enemy troops she earned a leadership role in the Rebel Army’s General Staff.

Celia Sanchez in the Sierra Maestra.

After the overthrow of U.S. and Mafia controlled Batista’s regime, it was of the utmost importance for the revolution to consolidate in order to guard against a counterrevolution and retain political power. Washington officials were furious in disbelief of what had occurred in “their backyard.” The more extreme elements of the U.S. ruling class were itching to call for military intervention.

Celia Sanchez’s leadership during this period was instrumental for consolidating the new revolutionary state. She served the Cuban Government as Secretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and in the Department of Services of the Council of State. Her many examples of valor served to inspire and galvanize support for the revolution among the youth.

Celia Sanchez being honored in a state funeral.

Sadly, on January 11, 1980, Celia Sanchez died after a long battle with lung cancer. Her death saddened many in Cuba and supporters of the revolution throughout the world, familiar with her feats. President Fidel Castro Ruz was known to be devastated having lost someone with whom he had developed a strong personal and political bond.

Sanchez always demonstrated selflessness and a passion for the emancipation of humanity. Her contributions to the revolution’s achievements are cardinal. She has secured a very special place for her legacy in the archives of the Cuban Revolution and the struggles for women’s equality throughout the world.

LONG LIVE THE CUBAN REVOLUTION!

LONG LIVE THE LEGACY OF CELIA SANCHEZ!