In the heat of the International Workers' Day, in 1959, the organizers of the workers' event in Camagüey did not conceive that communists would be among the speakers, which is why Commander Camilo Cienfuegos warned that, if representatives of the Popular Socialist Party (PSP-Communist) were not included, there could be no talk of unity.
This was one of the early manifestations of confrontation with the pretext of anti-communism, which sought to hinder the advance of the Revolution.
In addition, while speaking at the event, Camilo himself clarified what had really happened during the passage of his Antonio Maceo Invasion Column through the Camagüey territory the previous year.
"Today I want to take advantage of this first trip to this province of Camagüey to clarify some misconceptions." "I, for this province of Camagüey and for all the inhabitants, for the sons and daughters of this brave province, I do not hold grudges, I do not hold hatred, and I only hold consideration, affection and respect."
"We said that only one or two leaders of the (26th of July Revolutionary) Movement left us abandoned. At no time did we judge the whole province by the action of these individuals."
"We could not express ourselves in a general way about the inhabitants from Camagüey. We could not do so because in our column there were many of them who today continue rendering great services to the homeland". "Let things not be confused, because that is neither of patriots nor of well-intentioned men".
And as if to clear any doubt, Camilo exclaimed, at the end of his speech: "(...) this Camagüey that is marching at the forefront of the revolutionary provinces". "Brothers from Camagüey, you are doing very well!"
In order to place in context the later activities of Camilo Cienfuegos in Camagüey, it cannot be ignored that that province stood out for its support to the Revolutionary Government and its Agrarian Reform, with more than 97% and 85%, respectively, according to surveys of the Bohemia Magazine, of February and June 1959.
It is worth mentioning that, in the meantime, Commander Huber Matos, head of the Provincial Military Plaza, was plotting a counterrevolutionary plot that was reflected both in his maneuvers to hinder the implementation of the Reform in the territory, and in his words at the Livestock Exposition Fair in the municipality of Guáimaro, on October 4 of that year. He said then:
"It is not about the eagerness to do away with the rich, it is not about capricious attitude moved by hatred, but to do justice to the needy men who have the right for having nourished the ranks of the Liberating Army that came down from the Sierra. These men are ready to defend the Cuban Revolution, 100% humanist, Cuban and olive green, because we will not allow them to paint it in another color".
With such a budget, Matos wrote a "private" letter, addressed to Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz -received on October 19-, in which he announced his resignation from his military leadership.
In this regard, Jorge Enrique Mendoza, who was the Delegate of the National Institute of Agrarian Reform (INRA) in Camagüey, the following day informed the Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban Revolution of the organized scheme; at the same time, Fidel gave him precise instructions on what and how to act.
Mendoza testified that the referred "letter ceased to be absolutely private and first reached the officers of the Regiment, the provincial leaderships of the 26th of July Movement, of the CTC (Confederation and then Central de Trabajadores de Cuba), of the student associations, of the peasant associations, of the public prosecutor's office, and other officials."
Mendoza also testified that one of the first things they did was to go to the Adelante newspaper, where they found revelations of what was being plotted. For example, a note ready for publication read:
"The news of the resignation of Commander Huber Matos Benitez from the position he holds in this province (supposedly unknown) caused commotion among the citizenry. Without confirming the resignation, sad faces were seen, confessions of adhesion to the great leader were heard (...). His pains or joys are poured emotionally on the people, who admire him and esteem him as theirs."
Needless to say.
In this environment, following the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Camilo arrived at the scene of the events at approximately six o'clock in the morning of October 21, and immediately went to Huber Matos' house, which was located on the premises of the headquarters of the Military Plaza.
There he took prisoner the seditious commander, an operation supported by the revolutionaries who in the province had under their control the two Police stations and the Rebel Army Tactical Forces, the airport, the telephone exchange, and the Press (Radio and Television stations, and the Adelante newspaper).
That same morning Fidel arrived in Camagüey and went to the INRA headquarters. There he met with Camilo, who informed him about the prevailing situation; and then he ordered him to march towards the barracks, unarmed, on foot, and with the accompaniment of the people.
At the stroke of 11:00 a.m., the way was cleared for what was perhaps the first antecedent of what, in later years, were the marches of the fighting people in the Revolution. The people of Camagüey marched en masse in support of Fidel and Camilo.
The historic event was reflected in the newspaper Adelante, the following day:
"The Revolution won a battle yesterday in this city when more than 50,000 people abandoned their homes and usual work (and) took to the streets to consolidate the freedom obtained after suffering the tyranny that cost the blood of more than 20,000 compatriots, to fully support the maximum leader of the Revolution (...). The danger was averted by the people, arriving en masse to demonstrate that the peasants and workers would not give in and would defend the triumph inch by inch".
The solution of the plot had a high significance both for the development of the Revolution, in a general sense, as well as to face the obstacles to the materialization of the transformations that the Camagüey society needed. It also constituted reliable proof of the popular support, in the province, to the revolutionary process headed by Fidel Castro Ruz.
Camilo Cienfuegos himself, echoing the above, wrote: "Through the Adelante newspaper we are the ones who say thank you, thank you Camagüeyano people, your presence in Camp Agramonte helped to solve a new betrayal to the Homeland, there will be traitors, but no people, especially not Camagüey," as stated in the newspaper.
Notwithstanding the triumphant outcome of this counterrevolutionary action, a week later it became a national mourning. Precisely because he was at the head of the political, military and administrative restructuring process in the province, Commander Camilo Cienfuegos kept in direct contact with the Camagüey territory, and on October 28, 1959, after leaving the local airport Ignacio Agramonte, at six in the afternoon, heading northwest, the pilot's inexperience in adverse weather conditions caused his physical demise.
* Professor of the Institute of Marxism, History and National Security of the University of Camagüey Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz.
