Santa Clara, October 8 (RHC)—Cubans are paying tribute to Argentinian-Cuban legendary guerrilla Commander Ernesto Guevara de la Serna ‘Che’ with a broad program of activities on the 55th anniversary of his death in Bolivia.
A commemorative gala performance took place in the Central City of Santa Clara, with general direction by choreographer Ernesto Alejo. In statements to Cuban press, Alejo said the gala was based on the love letters that Che wrote to his wife Aleida March”.
Friday’s gala was attended by Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secretary of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, also Revolution Commander Ramiro Valdés, deputy prime minister and comrade in arms of Che and Rebel Army Commander José Ramón Machado Ventura.
It featured the performance of trio ensembles Trovarroco, Raptus and Palabras, singer Patricia Casaña, and the dance company Danza del alma, which performed choreographies based on Che’s guerrilla war in Bolivia in 1967.
Havana’s José Martí National Library celebrated Che's life, a symbol of internationalism and commitment to just causes across Latin America and the world.
On its Twitter account, the library posted images of the last entry in Che’s Bolivian diary, dated October 7th, 1967, a day before he was captured by Bolivian forces, following direct CIA orders.
On the same social network, the Association of Writers and Artists (UNEAC) shared high words of praise to Che by poet, ethnologist and UNEAC honorary president Miguel Barnet.
Ernesto Guevara de la Serna is a major Cuban Revolution leader. He first arrived on the Caribbean island state from Mexico in 1956, on the expeditionary force commanded by Fidel Castro.
After the triumph of the 1959 Revolution, Che served in many high posts within the new government. He was designated president of the National Bank, head of the Industrialization Department at the National Agrarian Reform Institute and Minister of Industry.
On Che Guevara’s initiative, Prensa Latina news agency was founded to counter the slander and misinformation campaigns in the mainstream media against the newly born Revolution.
Friday’s edition of the space ‘La Pupila Afilada’ was dedicated also to Che Guevara.
Organized by the staff of the TV programs La Pupila Asombrada and Con Filo, and Cubadebate digital website, the event takes place traditionally on the first Friday of every month at Casa de la Amistad in the Havana neighborhood of Vedado. It featured singer-songwriter Tony Ávila and his group.
The Cuban Friendship Institute (ICAP), Cuba’s oldest Record and Musical Editions Company EGREM and Nuevo Milenio and Abril publishing houses also collaborated in Friday’s special edition of ‘La Pupila Afilada’ dedicated to Che.
Beyond Cuba borders, friends of the Caribbean island state in Serbia held a solemn ceremony Friday as tribute to leader Fidel Castro, and guerrilla commander Ernesto Che Guevara, organized by the Serbia-Cuba Friendship Association with support from the Socialist Party of Serbia.
Keynote speakers at the ceremony included Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin, and deputy to the country’s national assembly, Djordje Komlenski, who spoke extensively about Fidel Castro’s youth and legacy.
Cuban ambassador to Serbia Gustavo Tristá del Todo spoke about the friendship between Fidel and Che Guevara, ever since they met in Mexico and launched the Cuban Revolution, which achieved victory on January 1st, 1959.
The Cuban diplomat recalled Che’s visit to Yugoslavia in a goodwill mission in 1959, his meeting with Josip Broz Tito, as well as his role as a diplomat, representing Cuba at United Nations and in his many travels around the world.
“That is why, we confirm today our people’s determination to follow the legacy of both, Fidel and Che, confident that Cuba, our Revolution will come out victorious once again,” concluded Tristá del Todo.
