Viva Cuba!!
Hone Harawira; Disarmament and Arms Control spokesperson, Maori Party
Wednesday 2 August 2006

The Maori Party noted the temporary handover of power in Cuba following Fidel Castro's emergency hospitalisation, and expressed concern for the security of the Cuban government during this period of uncertainty.

"Castro has earned a formidable reputation as the world's longest-ruling head of government, ever since the Cuban revolution of 1959," said Hone Harawira, Maori Party Disarmament spokesperson, "and he won and holds his power in the face of continued efforts to unseat him, by the United States of America."

"I have a real fear that the US will try to destabilise Cuba during this time, in the same way they have undermined many other left-wing governments in Central and South America over the years," said Harawira.

"The move to leftist and indigenous governments in Latin America, with the election of people such as Evo Morales in Bolivia, Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, and the close run of Lopez Orbrador in Mexico, will not have escaped the attention of the United States," said Mr Harawira.
"This period of uncertainty in Cuba could well be seen by them as an opportunity to claw back lost ground."

"Furthermore, armed invasions by the USA to impose 'freedom and democracy', in Grenada and in Nicaragua in the 1980s, and the Middle East over the last few years, suggests that such a possibility exists in Cuba right now," said Mr Harawira.

"History tells us how the United States works," said Mr Harawira, "and the Maori Party urges the New Zealand government to send a strong message to the United States of America, that we would not support any illegal invasion of Cuba."

ENDS

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