November 8, 1999
By Alejandro Escalona. Chicago Tribune, November 7, 1999
HAVANA -- At first, Gov. George Ryan's speech at Havana University ending his recent five-day visit to Cuba seemed like a routine matter. But that changed when Cuban President Fidel Castro suddenly appeared in the auditorium. Cameras clicked nonstop. Expectation reigned.
At the end of Ryan's speech, bodyguards spread word that Castro would meet the media. Journalists had already surrounded Castro, so he spoke in the midst of cassette recorders, cameras and microphones.
In a two-hour press conference, reporters asked Castro about Ryan's trip, Cuba's financial woes, human rights, political prisoners and the U.S. embargo, among other subjects. Castro answered emotionally, displaying his legendary oratorical skills, gesticulating to emphasize the words, although at 73 his voice is somewhat weary. He stared directly at the reporters' eyes and prodded them on the arms and shoulders.
After several unsuccessful attempts, I was finally able to ask him a question.
Castro interrupted me and asked me to identify myself. That done, I repeated the question:
Escalona: "Are you willing to hold a plebiscite in Cuba like the one carried out in Chile regarding Pinochet?"
Castro: "You are making comparisons that have nothing in common. We do more than just hold plebiscites. We elect the country's leaders through the National Assembly. Who are we going to please by holding a plebiscite? And . . . where are you from?"
Escalona: "I am Mexican, but I live in Chicago.'
Castro: "Why don't they hold a plebiscite in Mexico? Has Mexico been asked to hold a plebiscite? Has anyone asked the Latin American countries to hold a plebiscite before imposing their neoliberalism?"
Escalona: "But they are holding elections with international observers."
Castro: "Of course, I am not criticizing Mexico. They ask us for a plebiscite. Why? To please whom? And what about the people? We know what our people think. We have scientific methods to know their opinions.
"Do you want to bring all the students to a meeting, Escalona? We'll gather them to ask them if they want a plebiscite. We don't need a plebiscite to become aware of the people's support and their support for the revolution. Therefore, we will not hold a plebiscite. We have elections every five years. No other country in this hemisphere has such a high percentage of people who vote, and voting is not mandatory (in Cuba). And when we make changes in the economy, like the time we had seven currency revaluations in 4 1/2 years, we consulted the people in hundreds of thousands of meetings, and we come here to discuss it with the students, and we go to the countryside to discuss it with the farmers, and we go to the factories to discuss it with the workers. The economic measures are not imposed by decree."
Escalona: "In these few days, Mr. President, I have spoken with average Cubans, and many of them have told me that it is becoming increasingly difficult to make a living. That they have to resort to the black market, to get U.S. dollars; that they cannot go on like that any longer."
Castro: "Yes, they can. The situation now is a lot less difficult than it was four years ago. It's very hard. Yes. Did they also explain the causes to you? And did you ask them about the blockade? We can walk through the city streets and mingle with the workers, laborers and farmers, to talk with them. We tell them the truth. We explain everything to them. You say no; but I tell you that our people have held on. The toughest period is over."
Escalona: "But each day you demand more from the people."
Castro: "I don't demand. I encourage them to be brave. They know how to make certain comparisons. They have honor and patriotism, and don't surrender. And they know that an attempt is being made to starve them into submission. The majority of them would rather die than surrender."
Escalona: "After 40 years, isn't it time to leave power to the new generations?"
Castro: "The power in this country is held by the people; it is not held by an individual. You'll see young people everywhere. I am not here for power, ambition or money. Not one of us can be accused of robbing a cent. If we are confronting the most powerful nation, why do we resist? The interesting thing is that we have a new generation, the important cadres are quite young. Let's ask the people if they want me to leave. There's no need for a plebiscite. We can discuss that openly in any city square. I am a combatant. I am a fighter. And as long as I have any energy left, I will not leave my post. But if the people decide to replace me, they can do it through the (appropriate) mechanisms. And the supreme test has been shown in these years: by saving the country."
Another journalist beat me to the next question, but I already had enough to write a story. When the press conference was over, Castro agreed to pose with reporters and photographers. To everyone's surprise, he suddenly told security agents: "Bring on the Mexican, let's get him in the photos."
Several bodyguards found me in a corner of the auditorium and led me back to the stage. There we were photographed with other journalists. I thought that once Castro left the auditorium, we would rush to the airport. Not quite.
Castro left the auditorium surrounded by journalists and headed for the streets. Several college students, who had been waiting for him, gave him a round of applause as soon as they saw him. The comandante went down the steps and crossed the street to stand on the opposite sidewalk facing the students. He spoke briefly about Ryan's trip before asking his assistants once again to bring over "the Mexican."
I was barely stepping out of the auditorium when I heard the bodyguards' voices: "Where's the Mexican? Bring out the Mexican." As soon as I was facing him again, Castro raised his voice to address the students:
"He asked me a good question. Repeat the question about the plebiscite to the students."
So I did. The reaction from the students was immediate. "Noooo! Noooo!" they shouted in unison.
One said, "The best plebiscite is the support that the people have given the comandante of the revolution, firmly giving him our most aggressive support, to let him know that he can count on us always."
"You say that because you are in front of the comandante." I said.
"No, I am saying that because I feel it, and because I am willing to give my life for the comandante."
By then we were in the middle of a swirling crowd of local and foreign journalists, students, Cuban government officials and a growing number of bodyguards.
Castro again addressed the students:
"I told him, `Look, if you Mexicans have resisted (laughs), we will also resist.' I explained to him that every 2 1/2 years we have a plebiscite, in which people vote like nowhere else in this hemisphere, where, get this, the percentage of people who vote drops every five years. Here, before approving a law, it is discussed in hundreds of thousands of workplaces, schools and universities. But a plebiscite to please the fools . . . ?"
Escalona: "And what about free elections with United Nations observers?"
Castro: "Yeah. What else? Let them meddle?"
Escalona: "No, with UN observers, like everywhere else."
Among the students, voices were heard, disapproving of my question.
Castro: "We do not accept observers because people and men who respect themselves don't need witnesses of their dignity. There's no need for them. It's a shame. Do you know who guards the polls in here? Children, not the army. A shame indeed. It's like going around buying votes and selling government jobs. What are those campaigns for? What are those plebiscites for? In that case, just to please him (addressing the students again), leave the books, leave everything, drop the reconstruction of the hurricane (damages), farming, that we are going to hold a plebiscite to please (laughs) those who even compare us with Pinochet. What similarities do you see in that?"
Escalona: "You have been in power for 40 years."
Castro: "No, I said that the people have been in power for 40 years, not I. The first thing that the revolution did was to turn over the arms to the people, the defenders of the revolution. But you, come on, have you studied history?"
Escalona: "If the real power is held by the people, why don't you leave the presidency?"
Castro: "Because I don't feel like it!"
The students broke out in applause and cheers of "Fidel! Fidel! Fidel!"
Castro: "What do you want? My resignation? Let them ask for it!"
Escalona: "Of course they are not going to ask for it!"
Escalona: "These last few days, when I asked a Cuban for his opinions . . ." (Castro interrupts.)
Castro: "Let's see, where did you get him, perhaps the (U.S.) Interest Section recommended him to you. Did you see his face? That lumpen look on his face?"
The students laughed.
Escalona: ". . . he would say, `I cannot talk about that because you leave and I stay.' What did he mean by that?"
Castro: "What a great patriot, and what a great coward!"
Escalona: "No, that he's afraid."
Castro: "And you, don't you say things worse than that? And we don't even get angry. That guy who told you that . . . ."
Escalona: "Well, it wasn't just one. There were several who said it."
Castro: "Even 500,000 could have told you that. What do you think of that? It's just a little worm in the mind trying to influence you, just like the most illustrious dissidents created by the Interest Section. What did you study?"
Escalona: "Literature.'
Castro: "Where?"
Escalona: "In the U.S."
Castro: "Ah! When?"
Escalona: "Sometime back."
Castro: "You have been there for a long time. And do you agree with the attack on Yugoslavia?"
Escalona: "Let's talk about Cuba, comandante."
Castro: "Do you agree with the invasion of Panama?"
Escalona: "No, no, let's talk about Cuba."
Castro: "I want to know your philosophy and your thoughts."
Escalona: "Let's talk about Cuba. Mr. President."
Castro: "Well, in that case we'll talk about whatever you want. I also have a right to know what you think."
Escalona: "What can you say to a Cuban whose (monthly) rationing card is good enough for ten days, and beyond that he has to do a thousand other things, like driving a taxi to get dollars, because he needs dollars to survive?"
Castro: "Yes. That's right. And there are some who take the house that the revolution gave them, practically for free, and rent it, thus making more money than all the Council of Ministers put together. How much do you think a legislator makes in any Latin American country? I won't tell you which, $6,000, $5,000 a month?"
Escalona: "A Cuban teacher has to drive a taxi to make ends meet."
Castro: "Yes, and do you know how many of them are teaching? Two hundred fifty thousand. I was saying that the situation is not the same as it was four years ago. We have just raised the salaries of all those teachers . . . I can see you have a mentality. You have an ideology.
Escalona: "No, I am simply doing my job: Asking questions."
Castro: "Don't you have an ideology?"
Escalona: "My job is to ask questions."
Castro: "Have any ideas? Have you any political culture?"
Escalona: "My job is to ask questions."
Suddenly, a woman interrupts Castro: "No Cuban is afraid to express his opinions."
Castro: "If I take you to a factory you are going to say the same thing, these workers are . . . If I take you to the countryside, if I take you a neighborhood Revolution Defense Committee, what will you say? So you have turned into a Sherlock Holmes. And then, you don't even want to tell me what you think. He admits to me that he doesn't have an ideology (addressing the students again), he admits to me that he has no political culture. He admits to me that although he studied literature, he knows nothing of history.
Escalona: "Let's talk about Cuba, comandante."
Another student intervenes: "He answers to an interest. What he says about not having ideas. It can't be like that. A journalist has to defend one cause or another. Journalism is a political function."
The students applaud him.
Castro: "Argue with the students. I am leaving."
I stretched my hand and he shook it, just before turning around with his acolytes and disappearing on the streets of Havana.
This is an edited transcript.
Alejandro Escalona is editor of !Exito!, a weekly Spanish newspaper owned by the Chicago Tribune.
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