ANC YOUTH LEAGUE SALUTES THE JULY 26 MOVEMENT AND DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE CUBAN REVOLUTIONARIES FOR THE ECONOMIC FREEDOM STRUGGLES:
The ANC Youth League joins the Cuban people and all people of progressive world in celebrating and commemorating the July 26 Movement, which overthrew the Batista regime in Cuba in 1959 and liberated Cuba from political, social and economic bondage. The July 26 Movement was led by Commandante Fidel Castro and included some of the world's most outstanding revolutionaries such as Che Guevara, Huber Matos, Commandante Jorge Risquet, and Raul Castro.
In 1959, the entire contingent of the July 26 Movement was youth, and because of their determination, ideological clarity, and willingness to fight, millions of people in the world were liberated from colonial subjugation and repression.
The July 26 Movement should be commemorated, celebrated and saluted by all progressive forces in the world, because their victory in Cuba led to the liberation of many colonised countries and territories across the world. Algeria, Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and inversely South Africa gained political freedom and independence, because of the direct contribution and active role by the Cuban government and forces, in particular the core of the July 26 Movement. These forces did not only bring arms to defeat imperialism in Africa, they brought correct liberation consciousness, which shaped many liberation movements in the continent.
Despite isolation, assassination attempts, economic blockages and sabotage on various occasions, the Cuban progressive forces have remained the only resounding voice against imperialism across the world. Cuba has proven to the world that imperialism and its ideology of white supremacy and subjugation of the oppressed is not invincible, and be challenged and shaken at all times.
Cuba is not very far from the master imperialist, the US, yet it has never pretended to agree with the US even when conditions were difficult. Countries that are thousands of kilometres away from the US always postpone decisions and fear to take decisive action on key and central economic transformation issues, because they fear the US and imperialism.
This generation of the ANC Youth League is inspired by the July 26 Movement of Freedom Fighters, who understood that their political and economic liberation is closely linked to the liberation and freedom on the colonised people of the world.
In commemoration, celebration and salutation of the July 26 Movement, the ANC Youth League will intensify the war for economic freedom in our lifetime. Inspired by the July 26 Movement, this generation of the ANC Youth League is ready to fight tirelessly for the economic emancipation of the economically oppressed and excluded people of South Africa, Africa and the world.
The ANC Youth League also calls for the release of the Cuban Five and demands that the South African government should speak louder and clearer on the calls for the release of the Cuban Five, who are incarcerated in American prisons. Their release will be a perfect salutation of the entire contingent of the July 26 Movement.
Statement issued by the ANC Youth League, July 26 2011
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