Bogota, Colombia – The Cuban regime held a rally in Havana today. Days after revolutionary leader Raul Castro was indicted by U.S. authorities.
Castro, the younger brother of longtime dictator Fidel, was indicted in a U.S. court on Wednesday on charges of shooting down two civilian aircraft in 1996.
The move is the latest in a campaign of increased pressure that the White House has said this year is aimed at overthrowing the communist regime.
On May 20, the U.S. Justice Department unsealed an indictment against Castro, 94, accusing him of ordering the Cuban military to shoot down two civilian aircraft 30 years ago.
Four members of the Miami-based Cuban dissident group Hermanos al Rescate (Brothers to the Rescue) were killed while piloting the plane when it was shot down. U.S. authorities claim Castro, who was Secretary of Defense at the time, must have been involved in the attack that killed three U.S. citizens.
But the Cuban regime flatly rejected the charges, with President Miguel Díaz Canel writing of
In the days that followed, the president used his social media accounts to defend Castro’s reputation.
Yesterday, he shared an image of the revolutionary leader in Cuban military uniform, writing: “You don’t disrespect the heroes of your country, you don’t insult its history and traditions and you don’t pay the price. Not in #Cuba.”
This morning, Castro shared a photo of a rally held in Havana in solidarity with Castro, writing: “Raul is Raul. He is Cuban, he embodies heroism, dignity and deep love for his people.”
Díaz-Canel also noted that the country was “just a few days away” from celebrating Castro’s 95th birthday on June 3.
Photos showed thousands of people gathered on Havana’s Malecón (promenade), some waving flags and others dancing.
Raúl did not attend the rally in front of the U.S. Embassy, but his daughter Mariela Castro did.
Asked about the possibility of war on the BBC, she said: “We are used to constant threats. There have been more dangerous moments, but nothing has happened.”
Meanwhile, state-owned newspaper Granma is fighting back against US claims that Cuba represents a national security threat to its northern neighbor.
‘Cuba does not threaten, challenge or provoke the United States or any country in the world. ‘Cuba is a peaceful country,’ read a headline quoting Díaz-Canel on the newspaper’s website today.
It’s still unclear what plans Washington has for the island. Some predict an operation similar to the one that ousted Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro in January, while others say the White House may pressure Havana to reach a deal.
But with the government doubling down on its anti-imperialist rhetoric, a negotiated changing of the guard would mark a major shift in the regime’s position.
Featured image caption: President Díaz Canel and other senior officials pose in military uniform in front of crowds waving Cuban flags during a solidarity march on May 22.
Featured image credit: @DiazCanelB via X
