Memorandum to the Embassy of the United States of America in South Africa demanding the lifting of the 59 year old economic blockade imposed by the government of the unites states against Cuba
We, the organisations represented here:
The South Africa Communist Party (SACP)
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
The African National Congress (ANC)
The Friends of Cuba Society in South Africa (FOCUS)
Believing that:
- One of the key terrains of struggle that contributed decisively to the defeat of Apartheid in South Africa was the international solidarity movement.
- The contribution of Cuba to the liberation of the peoples of Africa, and of Southern Africa in particular was vital, and was based on selfless and principled internationalism and solidarity.
- The Cuban Revolution and its achievements, particularly in terms of the defence of national sovereignty, independence, internationalism, education, health, social services and participatory democracy, serve as a model and an inspiration to oppressed peoples all over the world.
- It is the duty and responsibility of all progressive forces in South Africa and the world to support the struggle of the Cuban people to defend their sovereignty and the remarkable achievements of their Revolution.
- The decisions of the United Nations General Assembly are supreme laws binding to all Nation States regardless of military power or wealth.
- Cuba has a right to self-determination and deserves a fair chance in combating the COVID 19 Pandemic like all other states in the world
- The sanctions against Cuba are equal to genocide against the people of Cuba and amount to crime against humanity
Noting that:
- For over 59 years Cuba has been a victim of a sustained criminal and terrorist campaign organised and directed by the US government, which has caused massive human and financial damage to Cuba.
- Cuba has every right under International Law to defend its sovereignty and independence.
- The US has increased its aggression and hostility towards Cuba, including the strengthening of the blockade to unprecedented levels.
- The blockade against Cuba is the most comprehensive, prolonged and severe system of unilateral sanctions and coercive measures ever applied against any country in the history.
- The developments in the US to undermine the progress by President Obama in normalising the US-Cuba relations by adopting new measures to reinforce the illegal, unilateral, evil and inhumane economic blockade against Cuba.
- The African Union, the Community of Caribbean States (CARICOM), the Group of 77, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, among many others international and regional organizations have demanded the lifting of the illegal and criminal blockade against Cuba.
- The United Nations General Assembly has approved resolutions for the last 28 consecutive years, including on 23 June 2021 demanding the end of the economic, commercial and financial blockade unilaterally imposed by the US government against Cuba, in violation of the International Law.
- The Severe Strengthening of the US blockade through 243 new measures imposed by the Trump administration remains in place and has deepened under the Bidden Administration over the past 18months cutting remittances from reaching Cuba as the world struggle with the crisis caused by the global COVID Pandemic.
- Many banks all over the world have shut down relations and cooperation with Cuba drastically reducing the ability for Cuba to
- Over the past 5years Cuba has lost 17 billion dollars due to the blockade
- Because of these stringent measures by the U.S unilateral blockade on Cuba, Cuba is unable to access urgently needed essential goods like medical supplies, food, fuel and spare parts for medical equipment.
- The impact of this severe blockade has affected every level of the Cuban family unit, no family has escaped the impact and has created a humanitarian crisis.
We therefore,
Demand that the US government, in compliance with the international law and the United Nations resolutions and for the sake of humanity(Ubuntu) in the era of the global COVID crisis, immediately and unconditionally lifts the criminal and illegal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed against Cuba.
Call on the progressive forces in South Africa and around the world, the solidarity movement, the international working class, and all fair-minded people, to reject the irrational and aggressive policies of the US government against Cuba and other countries of the world. We call on the peace-loving citizens and progressive organisations including the trade union movement of the United States to support the campaign for the end of the US aggression and blockade. We further call on all justice loving people to join hands in ensuring Cuba receives and can access much needed medical supplies and food to afford Cuban people a fair chance to survive the scourge of the pandemic.
Commit to continue our solidarity actions in defence of the Cuban Revolution and our rejection of the US blockade against the Cuban people.
Signed on this 2 day of September 2021 by:
The South Africa Communist Party (SACP)
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The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
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The African National Congress (ANC)
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The Friends of Cuba Society in South Africa (FOCUS)
