PAUL HAVEN
HAVANA— The Associated Press
Last updated Sunday, Apr. 17, 2011 5:27PM EDT
Fidel Castro apologized on Sunday for not making it to a military parade
celebrating the 50th anniversary of his victory over CIA-backed exiles
at the Bay of Pigs, then praised brother Raul's speech proposing major
economic changes and term limits for Cuba's leaders.
The 84-year-old revolutionary icon said in an opinion piece that the
speech opening the Sixth Party Congress after Saturday's parade made him
proud, a key vote of confidence in the direction his brother is taking
the country.
"It has been worth the trouble to have lived to see today's events, and
it is worth the trouble to always remember those who died to make them
possible," Fidel wrote, adding that he felt "the same feelings of pride"
when he heard Raul's address and saw the faces of the 1,000 Communist
Party delegates who attended the speech.
Fidel said he didn't feel physically up to attending the military parade
at Revolution Plaza and begged forgiveness to those who were
disappointed by his absence.
"I could have been at the Plaza, perhaps an hour in the blazing heat and
sun, but not three," he wrote. "Believe me that I felt pain when I saw
that some of you were looking for me on the dais. I thought everyone
understood that I can no longer do what I have done so many times before."
Fidel handed power over to his brother after falling gravely ill in
2006, and Raul took over formally two years later. In the last year,
Raul, 79, has pushed a limited but significant opening to private
enterprise, and said the government must slash the labour force and
reduce generous subsidies that are an impediment to hard work.
On Saturday, the Cuban president added a clarion call for political
change to his agenda, saying politicians and other leading figures
should be limited to two five-year terms, a remarkable statement on an
island run by him and his brother for more than a half century.
Raul acknowledged that errors have left Cuba with no obvious successor
and promised to rejuvenate the island's political class in what time he
has left.
The term-limit proposal would mean there could be no repeat of the
Castros' political dynasty, but it will have little practical impact on
Raul's future. Having been sworn in 2008, he would be at least 86 years
old at the end of a second five-year term.
Nonetheless, hearing one of the Castro brothers talk about the need for
political rejuvenation was stunning. Raul's government is still chock
full of graying veterans of their glory days fighting the revolution
against Fulgencio Batista from the Sierra Maestra mountains and other
battles.
There is Jose Ramon Fernandez, an 87-year-old vice president who
commanded defenses during the 1961 Bay of Pigs attack, and Ramiro
Valdes, a 78-year-old vice president who was with the brothers when they
and their rebel forces landed in Cuba aboard the yacht Granma in 1956.
Then there is Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, who is 80 and considered by
many to be the most important political figure after the Castros, and
78-year old Jose Ramon Balaguer, head of the important Health Ministry.
One major task of the Congress is to select a new Communist Party
leadership. Raul Castro presumably will be named to succeed his brother
as first secretary, but it is unknown who will be tapped to be No. 2.
But the congress was not without controversy. Cuba's highest-profile
dissidents marched Sunday, defying Raul Castro's warning, issued hours
earlier, that foes of the communist regime were not welcome on Cuban
streets.
"Our fight has been and will continue to be achieving freedom for
political prisoners," said Laura Pollan, leader of the Ladies in White
group of political prisoners' kin, as the group took to Havana streets.
The dissidents, who have been honoured with the European Parliament's
Sakharov prize, march most Sundays in Havana, dressed in white and
carrying flowers, to draw attention to their relatives' plight.
But this Sunday was different: just hours earlier the president
addressed the rare Cuban Communist party congress under way, putting
political foes on notice that they would not find a public space or
openness to anti-regime ideas.
"Defending the independence of the achievements of socialism, and our
squares and streets, will continue to be the duty of all Cuban
patriots," Raul stressed.
Ms. Pollan said Castro was inciting pro-government activists, who may
believe they will be rewarded by the regime for actions against
dissidents, to target her award-winning group.
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