Cuba Inaugurates Center to Conserve & Study Castro Works
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As part of commemorations marking the fifth anniversary of Fidel Castro’s death, Cuba inaugurates a center to preserve his writings.
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The Fidel Castro Ruz Center
Cuba inaugurated, on Thursday, a center to preserve the writings of its revolutionary figure Fidel Castro as part of commemorations marking the fifth anniversary of his death.
The Fidel Castro Ruz center in Havana is the first and only building in Cuba to bear his name.
Ubicado en la Avenida Paseo entre 11 y 13 del Vedado capitalino, el #CentroFidelCastroRuz abrirá al público este 26 de noviembre. Las visitas podrán realizarse de martes a domingo, en el horario comprendido entre las 9:00 am y 3:00 pm. #FidelVive #SomosContinuidad #GraciasFidel pic.twitter.com/VokQvdC9dA
— Centro Fidel Castro Ruz (@centrofidel) November 26, 2021
A law enacted a month after his death in 2016 prohibits naming institutions, squares, parks, roads, or other public places after the former president and Communist Party leader.
Also banned, following Castro's wishes, is the erection of monuments, busts, statues, or plaques in his name or image -- however, this has not prohibited the proliferation of murals and placards in honor of the late leader on the streets of Havana.
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Cubans walk past a mural in Havana in 2008
The only exclusions to the rule are made for institutions created solely for "the study and dissemination of his thinkings and work."
Castro, a national figure for most Cubans, became gravely ill and handed most of his duties for his vice president to perform in 2006. The Vice President, his brother Raul, was elected President in 2008.
Castro led the revolution that ousted dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959 and is accredited with creating Cuba's socialist system, which provides healthcare and education for all. Not only that, but he was able to repel a US invasion of Cuba, a number of CIA assassination attempts, and US-supported attempts on his life by Cuban pro-Batista-regime exiles. The chief of Cuba's Intelligence Directorate said there were over 600 plots on Castro's life during his 49 years as president.
Maduro's visit to Cuba
On Thursday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took part in the inauguration of the Fidel Castro Ruz Center in Havana, Marking the first visit to the country since December 2019.
Maduro was accompanied by his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel and former President Raul Castro in scenes broadcast by state television.
Agradezco al hermano Presidente Díaz-Canel y al Comandante Raúl Castro por invitarme al maravilloso evento de inauguración del Centro Fidel Castro Ruz, un espacio para el estudio, difusión del pensamiento y la obra del Padre de la Revolución cubana, el Comandante de la Dignidad. pic.twitter.com/UKy47WkRxe
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) November 26, 2021
Maduro's participation in this event was a surprise since his visit to Havana was not announced in advance.
Hoy conmemoramos 5 años de la siembra del Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz. Un héroe trascendental e inquebrantable que supo guiar al pueblo cubano en medio de las dificultades, para defender la dignidad y la soberanía de todas y todos. Desde Venezuela, nuestro cariño eterno, Fidel. pic.twitter.com/kxj18OThc0
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) November 25, 2021
In a message posted on Twitter, the Venezuelan president praised the late Cuban leader, noting that he was a "transcendental and unshakable hero who knew how to guide the Cuban people in the midst of difficulties, to defend the dignity and sovereignty of all."
