The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) strongly condemns the unjustifiable US embargo against Cuba, waged as an economic war and general fascination of persecution. COSATU notes that the very core of the embargo is to make the Cuban people socio-economically deprived and in dire need of basic items, leading to social unrest, and rise against their revolutionary government.
We further note that the sanctions against Cuba by the Trump Administration have been extremely intensified because of Cuba’s support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. President Trump’s frustration over the failure of his “maximum pressure” campaign to unseat Maduro has spurred foreign policy aides to press for tougher sanctions on the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member by European and Latin American partners. This embargo is as unacceptable, as it is a demonstration of utter disrespect for human rights.
Cuba is a Marxist–Leninist state par excellence. The state has been very instrumental in the provision of free healthcare, education, low-cost transportation and housing for its people. Under the current circumstances, the Cuban people cannot freely and actively participate in the global economy. This, therefore, is crippling the Cuban economy as it is an obstacle to development and growth – and the primary obstacle in Cuba’s implementation of AGENDA 2030 on sustainable development. COSATU reverberates the message from the international community that this systematic violation of human rights qualifies as an act of genocide by virtue of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948. It contravenes the United Nations (UN) Charter and international law and constitutes an obstacle for international cooperation.
COSATU is encouraged by the massive support from many Cuban immigrants in the US, US nationals, and the international community to the lifting of the embargo. We call for the mobilisation of Cuban support in this plight and call upon all influential countries, solidarity networks and freedom-loving people of the world to speak up and take action in support of the call to end the blockade.
On the 6th and 7th of November 2019, the UN General Assembly will again, consider the Draft Resolution entitled, “Necessity to end the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”. In 2018, the same resolution was proposed and Cuba received overwhelming support from the international community – obtaining 189 votes in favour, to 2 against – (Israel and the US).
COSATU remains in support of the Cuban struggle and will continue to wage forward in solidarity with our allies. Following the US’s vicious intensification of aggression against the people of Cuba, in our 2018 National Congress, the Federation once again reaffirmed its resolution to develop a special angle to bring back to the centre of focus, the struggle to defend the sovereign right to self-determination, and human dignity that the Cuban revolution represents.
Força!
Issued by COSATU
Sizwe Pamla (Cosatu National Spokesperson)
Tel: 011 339 4911
Fax: 011 339 5080
Cell: 060 975 6794