“Pensaba dejar de escribir una reflexión por lo menos en 10 días, pero no tenía derecho a guardar silencio tanto tiempo. Hay que abrir fuego ideológico sobre ellos”.. Fidel Castro.
Sobre la salud del Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz.
Dice un reportaje del periódico El Nuevo Herdald (The Miami Herald) quelhay alerta ante los rumores de que la salud del Comandante Fidel Castro ha empeorado seriamente.
Aunque reconocen que estas especulaciones se repite periódicamente -el caso más reciente fue en agosto del 2007- los que tienen vínculos regulares con Washington afirman que las autoridades no están tomando el asunto a la ligera.
Aunque reconocen que estas especulaciones se repite periódicamente -el caso más reciente fue en agosto del 2007- los que tienen vínculos regulares con Washington afirman que las autoridades no están tomando el asunto a la ligera.
"Fuentes de alto nivel en Washington han dicho que Castro está gravemente enfermo'', dijo Andy Gómez, asesor del US Task Force on Cuba, una rama de la Institución Brookings formada por académicos y diplomáticos retirados. "Están siguiendo este asunto muy de cerca, observando si hay movimientos adicionales de seguridad y tropas. Hasta el momento no ha ocurrido nada''.
El asunto es su larga ausencia pública.
La continua ausencia de Castro en público, el hecho que lleva un tiempo inusualmente largo sin publicar sus "reflexiones'', el no haberse reunido con los presidentes que han visitado recientemente el país y las alusiones de su aliado venezolano Hugo Chávez a su estado de salud dan fuerza a informes no confirmados de la muerte cercana del ex gobernante cubano.
Funcionarios del Departamento de Estado admitieron que estaban al tanto de los informes pero negaron que estén observando de cerca las actividades militares en la isla. Sin embargo, la Casa Blanca emitió el martes una declaración del presidente Bush al pueblo cubano, que también parecía ser un mensaje al presidente electo Barack Obama, quien ha dicho que levantará las restricciones de viajes a la isla.
Fuentes gubernamentales cubanas han dicho que Castro seguía gobernando en octubre, haciendo llamadas y dando órdenes a funcionarios de alto nivel. Fuentes en la isla dijeron esta semana que la reciente ausencia de Castro se debía a que mostraba una fuerte pérdida de la memoria y estaba incoherente.
Castro publicó su última "reflexión'' hace un mes y han transcurrido dos desde que se publicó su foto más reciente. No se dieron a conocer imágenes de su reunión en noviembre con el presidente ruso Dimitri Medvedev, no participó en las celebraciones del 50 aniversario del triunfo de la revolución el primero de enero y hasta donde se conoce no se reunió con dos presidentes latinoamericanos que visitaron la isla recientemente.
Su última "reflexión'' se publicó el 15 de diciembre. Y la última foto publicada, que lo muestra recibiendo con alegría al presidente chino Hu Jintao, se dio a conocer el 18 de noviembre. Tampoco se publicaron fotos de su encuentro con la escritora argentina Stella Calloni a principios de diciembre, aunque la autora dijo que parecía recuperado y alerta.
El presidente panameño Martín Torrijos no se reunió con Castro cuando visitó la isla el 3 de enero y el líder cubano no escribió sobre la visita de Torrijos. En su lugar, la página electrónica oficial del gobierno cubano publicó un discurso de Castro en 1976 en honor a Omar Torrijos, padre de Martín Torrijos.
De igual manera, el presidente ecuatoriano Rafael Correa regresó la semana pasada a su país y dijo que no había podido reunirse con Castro y que no sabía nada de su estado de salud.
Pero los comentarios más inquietantes vinieron del presidente Hugo Chávez, que durante su intervención semanal en televisión dijo que Castro nunca regresaría a la vida pública y añadió que, de cualquier forma, viviría más allá de su existencia física.
Cuando los rumores se extendieron por la comunidad cubanoamericana del sur de la Florida, un dirigente del exilio dijo que parecían más serios que informes similares en el pasado reciente.
"Creo que finalmente Castro está en los últimos días de su vida'', dijo Ernesto Díaz, secretario general de Alpha 66, una de las más antiguas organizaciones militantes anticastristas. ‘‘En un futuro no muy lejano morirá''.
"Las declaraciones de Chávez de que Castro no se volverá a presentar en público y el hecho de que no haya publicado más artículos son señales de que puede tener problemas'', añadió Díaz.
Funcionarios del Departamento de Estado admitieron que estaban al tanto de los informes pero negaron que estén observando de cerca las actividades militares en la isla. Sin embargo, la Casa Blanca emitió el martes una declaración del presidente Bush al pueblo cubano, que también parecía ser un mensaje al presidente electo Barack Obama, quien ha dicho que levantará las restricciones de viajes a la isla.
Fuentes gubernamentales cubanas han dicho que Castro seguía gobernando en octubre, haciendo llamadas y dando órdenes a funcionarios de alto nivel. Fuentes en la isla dijeron esta semana que la reciente ausencia de Castro se debía a que mostraba una fuerte pérdida de la memoria y estaba incoherente.
Castro publicó su última "reflexión'' hace un mes y han transcurrido dos desde que se publicó su foto más reciente. No se dieron a conocer imágenes de su reunión en noviembre con el presidente ruso Dimitri Medvedev, no participó en las celebraciones del 50 aniversario del triunfo de la revolución el primero de enero y hasta donde se conoce no se reunió con dos presidentes latinoamericanos que visitaron la isla recientemente.
Su última "reflexión'' se publicó el 15 de diciembre. Y la última foto publicada, que lo muestra recibiendo con alegría al presidente chino Hu Jintao, se dio a conocer el 18 de noviembre. Tampoco se publicaron fotos de su encuentro con la escritora argentina Stella Calloni a principios de diciembre, aunque la autora dijo que parecía recuperado y alerta.
El presidente panameño Martín Torrijos no se reunió con Castro cuando visitó la isla el 3 de enero y el líder cubano no escribió sobre la visita de Torrijos. En su lugar, la página electrónica oficial del gobierno cubano publicó un discurso de Castro en 1976 en honor a Omar Torrijos, padre de Martín Torrijos.
De igual manera, el presidente ecuatoriano Rafael Correa regresó la semana pasada a su país y dijo que no había podido reunirse con Castro y que no sabía nada de su estado de salud.
Pero los comentarios más inquietantes vinieron del presidente Hugo Chávez, que durante su intervención semanal en televisión dijo que Castro nunca regresaría a la vida pública y añadió que, de cualquier forma, viviría más allá de su existencia física.
Cuando los rumores se extendieron por la comunidad cubanoamericana del sur de la Florida, un dirigente del exilio dijo que parecían más serios que informes similares en el pasado reciente.
"Creo que finalmente Castro está en los últimos días de su vida'', dijo Ernesto Díaz, secretario general de Alpha 66, una de las más antiguas organizaciones militantes anticastristas. ‘‘En un futuro no muy lejano morirá''.
"Las declaraciones de Chávez de que Castro no se volverá a presentar en público y el hecho de que no haya publicado más artículos son señales de que puede tener problemas'', añadió Díaz.
***
El reportaje en ingles:
U.S. keeps an eye on Fidel Castro's shaky health
Fidel Castro's public absences have elevated unconfirmed reports of a grave illness. U.S. officials acknowledged that they were aware of the reports.
By LIZA GROSS AND FRANCES ROBLES
frobles@MiamiHerald.com
Cuba watchers from Miami to Washington were on high alert Tuesday, reacting to widely circulating but vague reports that Fidel Castro's health had taken a serious turn for the worse.
While recognizing that this kind of speculation happens periodically -- most recently in August 2007 -- those who deal with Washington on a regular basis say authorities aren't taking it lightly.
''High sources in Washington are saying that reliable sources have said that he has taken gravely ill,'' said University of Miami's Andy Gomez, who serves as an advisor to the U.S. Task Force on Cuba, an arm of the Brookings Institution think tank comprised of academics and former diplomats. ``They are monitoring this very closely, including looking for additional movements of security and troops. So far, none of this has happened.''
Castro's continued absence from public view, an unusually long break from published essays, failure to schedule private chats with recent visiting presidents and veiled remarks by Venezuelan ally Hugo Chávez has elevated the unconfirmed reports of the Cuban leader's pending death.
U.S. officials from the State Department acknowledged that they were aware of the reports on Castro's health but denied they were monitoring troop activities on the island. However, the White House issued a statement Tuesday by President George W. Bush to the Cuban people, which also appeared to serve as a message for President-elect Barack Obama, who has said he would ease travel restrictions to the island.
''As much of the world celebrates the dawning of a new year, Cuba marks 50 years of one of the cruelest dictatorships this hemisphere has witnessed,'' Bush stated. ``As long as there are people who fight for liberty, the United States will stand with them and speak out for those whose voices have been temporarily silenced.
''All Cubans have the right to be treated with dignity so that they can rise as high as their talents and hard work will take them,'' the statement said. ``This is the standard my administration and past administrations -- regardless of political affiliation -- have expected from the Cuban government as the condition for improved relations.''
Government sources in Cuba have said that Castro remained in control as recently as October, even making calls and barking orders to high-level officials. Sources on the island this week said Castro's recent absence was because he was exhibiting memory loss and incoherence.
It's been a month since Castro wrote a fresh newspaper column, known as Reflections, and almost two since his last published picture. No images were released of his November meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, he was a no-show at the Jan. 1 celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the triumph of the revolution, and did not host recent visits by two Latin American presidents.
His last ''Reflection'' was published in Cuban newspapers on Dec. 15. And the last published picture, showing him glad-handing Chinese President Hu Jintao, was released Nov. 18. There also were no photos of his meeting with Argentine writer Stella Calloni in early December although she reported that he looked recovered and alert.
Panamanian President Martín Torrijos did not meet with Castro when he traveled to Cuba Jan. 3. And the Cuban leader did not write a column on Torrijos' visit. Instead, the Cuban government website posted a 1976 speech Castro gave in honor of Torrijos' father, Omar. Likewise, President Rafael Correa of Ecuador returned home last week saying he was unable to meet with Castro.
But the most disquieting comments came from Chávez, who during a weekly address Sunday said Castro would never return to public life and added that he would live on beyond physical life.
As rumors swept through the Cuban American community in South Florida, one exile leader said they appeared to be more serious than similar reports in the recent past.
''I believe Fidel Castro is finally in his final days of life,'' said Ernesto Díaz, secretary general of Alpha 66, one of the oldest anti-Castro militant organizations. ``In a not too distant future, he will cease to exist.''
''Chávez's statements that Castro will no longer make public appearences and the fact Castro himself has not written one of his periodic articles in a while are signs that all may not be well with him,'' Díaz added.
But another prominent member of Miami's Cuban American community said he was not sure the vague reports were true.
Max Lesnik, a local radio commentator who often travels to Cuba, said he talked to a high-ranking Cuban official by telephone on Monday and that the official -- a friend -- never raised the issue of Castro's health.
''We talked about many topics and not once did he make any reference to Castro or his health and I did not notice any tone of concern in his voice,'' Lesnik said. ``Nothing out of the ordinary.''
While acknowledging that Castro's prolonged absence is not business as usual, a veteran Cuba observer urged against jumping to dramatic conclusions.
''I would tend to think there is something here,'' said Jaime Suchliki, director of the UM's Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies. ``Whether he is ill or getting better in a few days, who knows. But we will have to wait and see.
''He will die someday. Nobody is immortal. He is an 80-some-old man,'' Suchliki added. ``When we see the military in force on the street and hear funeral music, then we'll know something has happened.''
Miami Herald staff writer Alfonso Chardy and El Nuevo Herald's Wilfredo Cancio Isla contributed to this report.
Fidel Castro's public absences have elevated unconfirmed reports of a grave illness. U.S. officials acknowledged that they were aware of the reports.
By LIZA GROSS AND FRANCES ROBLES
frobles@MiamiHerald.com
Cuba watchers from Miami to Washington were on high alert Tuesday, reacting to widely circulating but vague reports that Fidel Castro's health had taken a serious turn for the worse.
While recognizing that this kind of speculation happens periodically -- most recently in August 2007 -- those who deal with Washington on a regular basis say authorities aren't taking it lightly.
''High sources in Washington are saying that reliable sources have said that he has taken gravely ill,'' said University of Miami's Andy Gomez, who serves as an advisor to the U.S. Task Force on Cuba, an arm of the Brookings Institution think tank comprised of academics and former diplomats. ``They are monitoring this very closely, including looking for additional movements of security and troops. So far, none of this has happened.''
Castro's continued absence from public view, an unusually long break from published essays, failure to schedule private chats with recent visiting presidents and veiled remarks by Venezuelan ally Hugo Chávez has elevated the unconfirmed reports of the Cuban leader's pending death.
U.S. officials from the State Department acknowledged that they were aware of the reports on Castro's health but denied they were monitoring troop activities on the island. However, the White House issued a statement Tuesday by President George W. Bush to the Cuban people, which also appeared to serve as a message for President-elect Barack Obama, who has said he would ease travel restrictions to the island.
''As much of the world celebrates the dawning of a new year, Cuba marks 50 years of one of the cruelest dictatorships this hemisphere has witnessed,'' Bush stated. ``As long as there are people who fight for liberty, the United States will stand with them and speak out for those whose voices have been temporarily silenced.
''All Cubans have the right to be treated with dignity so that they can rise as high as their talents and hard work will take them,'' the statement said. ``This is the standard my administration and past administrations -- regardless of political affiliation -- have expected from the Cuban government as the condition for improved relations.''
Government sources in Cuba have said that Castro remained in control as recently as October, even making calls and barking orders to high-level officials. Sources on the island this week said Castro's recent absence was because he was exhibiting memory loss and incoherence.
It's been a month since Castro wrote a fresh newspaper column, known as Reflections, and almost two since his last published picture. No images were released of his November meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, he was a no-show at the Jan. 1 celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the triumph of the revolution, and did not host recent visits by two Latin American presidents.
His last ''Reflection'' was published in Cuban newspapers on Dec. 15. And the last published picture, showing him glad-handing Chinese President Hu Jintao, was released Nov. 18. There also were no photos of his meeting with Argentine writer Stella Calloni in early December although she reported that he looked recovered and alert.
Panamanian President Martín Torrijos did not meet with Castro when he traveled to Cuba Jan. 3. And the Cuban leader did not write a column on Torrijos' visit. Instead, the Cuban government website posted a 1976 speech Castro gave in honor of Torrijos' father, Omar. Likewise, President Rafael Correa of Ecuador returned home last week saying he was unable to meet with Castro.
But the most disquieting comments came from Chávez, who during a weekly address Sunday said Castro would never return to public life and added that he would live on beyond physical life.
As rumors swept through the Cuban American community in South Florida, one exile leader said they appeared to be more serious than similar reports in the recent past.
''I believe Fidel Castro is finally in his final days of life,'' said Ernesto Díaz, secretary general of Alpha 66, one of the oldest anti-Castro militant organizations. ``In a not too distant future, he will cease to exist.''
''Chávez's statements that Castro will no longer make public appearences and the fact Castro himself has not written one of his periodic articles in a while are signs that all may not be well with him,'' Díaz added.
But another prominent member of Miami's Cuban American community said he was not sure the vague reports were true.
Max Lesnik, a local radio commentator who often travels to Cuba, said he talked to a high-ranking Cuban official by telephone on Monday and that the official -- a friend -- never raised the issue of Castro's health.
''We talked about many topics and not once did he make any reference to Castro or his health and I did not notice any tone of concern in his voice,'' Lesnik said. ``Nothing out of the ordinary.''
While acknowledging that Castro's prolonged absence is not business as usual, a veteran Cuba observer urged against jumping to dramatic conclusions.
''I would tend to think there is something here,'' said Jaime Suchliki, director of the UM's Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies. ``Whether he is ill or getting better in a few days, who knows. But we will have to wait and see.
''He will die someday. Nobody is immortal. He is an 80-some-old man,'' Suchliki added. ``When we see the military in force on the street and hear funeral music, then we'll know something has happened.''
Miami Herald staff writer Alfonso Chardy and El Nuevo Herald's Wilfredo Cancio Isla contributed to this report.
Fuente. El Nuevo Herald, El redactor Alfonso Chardy, de The Miami Herald, y el redactor Wilfredo Cancio Isla, de El Nuevo Herald, contribuyeron a este reportaje.
frobles@MiamiHerald.com
frobles@MiamiHerald.com
***
El nuevo Consejo de Estado de Cuba, hoy (desde febrero de 2008):
Presidente: Raúl Castro Ruz, segundo secretario del Comité Central del Partido Comunista (PCC)
Primer Vicepresidente: José Ramón Machado Ventura, miembro del Buró Político y el Secretariado
Vicepresidentes:
Juan Almeida Bosque, Comandante de la Revolución
Gen. Abelardo Colomé Ibarra, ministro del Interior
Gen. Julio Casas Reguero, viceministro primero de las Fuerzas Armadas
Esteban Lazo Hernández, miembro del Buró Político
Carlos Lage Dávila, secretario del Comité Ejecutivo del Consejo de Ministros
Secretario: José Miyar Barruecos, jefe de las oficinas de la Presidencia.
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