The proposal to declare December 17 International Solidarity with Cuba Day is advancing in Peru, stated professor and journalist Gustavo Espinoza Montesinos, who was presented with the Friendship Medal awarded by Cuba’s Council of State, in Havana, for his continued support of the country’s social project.
“Our movement has become SoliCuba - Solidarity with Cuba -, and aims to enshrine the day the Five Cuban anti-terrorists were released (December 17, 2014) in our historic memory, helping to unite efforts and expand actions,” Espinoza Montesinos, also a trade union leader and member of the Directorate of the Communist Party of Peru, stated during his thank you speech.
In a brief conversation with Granma International, Espinoza Montesino also noted that the solidarity struggle must continue given the existence of the unjust U.S. financial, economic and commercial blockade; the illegal occupation of the Guantánamo Naval Base territory; and the distortions and silence surrounding the achievements of the Revolution by the traditional mass media.
He gave details about preparations underway for an event in February which aims to strengthen Cuba’s image on the continent, focusing on three historic moments: the history of the 19th century independence struggles through January 1, 1959; events from the triumph of the Revolution to December, 2014; and finally to publicize the Cuban experience at a time when anti-imperialist processes are emerging throughout the continent, such as in the case of Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua and others rising up across the globe today.
Since the 1960s, this Peruvian activist has been organizing public actions in support of the Caribbean island; coordinating student, youth and trade union demonstrations; has published numerous articles to counteract the lies spread by the mass media and led the Peruvian Committee to Free the Cuban Five for 13 years until their release in 2014.
The Cuban people have learned of his combative presence through his participation in regional meetings in solidarity with Cuba, continental events and publications supporting just causes in Peru and throughout the world which have appeared on sites such as Rebelión and Argenpress, allying himself with capitalism’s victims: the poor, oppressed and forgotten.
In his current role as leader of SoliCuba, a group which works to support the struggles of the peoples of Latin America, Gustavo Espinoza has a website called Nuestra Bandera, where he nurtures and promotes this humanist effort, internationalism, altruism and the principles of fraternity among the peoples of the region.
”I have always been a communist and my political convictions have led me to work tirelessly in the struggle for a better world. I support socialism wherever it appears and embrace the revolutionary ideas of all the emancipatory processes,” emphasized the Peruvian friend, who also added that Cuba knows that it can count on his support.
