Final farewell to Cuba’s Castro
Ashes of leader interred beside those of other national heroes
SANTIAGO DE CUBA // Fidel Castro’s ashes were buried alongside national heroes yesterday, as Cuba opened a new era without the leader who ruled the island for decades.
Capping a week of tributes and mass rallies, Castro’s remains were laid to rest near the mausoleum of 19th century champion of independence Jose Marti and comrades of his rebellion in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba.
A small group of guests attended the private ceremony , after the cedar urn containing Castro’s remains was driven into the Santa Ifigenia cemetery as thousands lined the streets, chanting “viva Fidel”.
“There were no speeches. It was very simple. There were just the ashes that were interred, the family, the government and officials,” said French environment minister Segolene Royal after the hour-long funeral.
About 30 guests and five women in olive green uniforms stood next to a monument to rebels who died in Castro’s failed raid on Santiago’s Moncada military barracks in 1953, but his tomb was not seen. Castro died on November 25 at age 90.
On Saturday night, his brother and successor, president Raul Castro, led a massive, final rally in his brother’s honour at Santiago’s Revolution Plaza, leading the crowd in a pledge to uphold socialist ideals.
“In front of Fidel’s remains we swear to defend the fatherland and socialism,” the president said.
“He demonstrated that, yes we could, yes we can, yes we will overcome any obstacle, threat, turbulence in our firm resolve to build socialism in Cuba.”
While Castro was sidelined by emergency intestinal operation a decade ago, he remained a towering figure in Cuba.
He was revered by supporters for the free health care and education he established on the island, but vilified by dissidents who saw him as a brutal dictator.
Although he was an omnipresent figure in the lives of Cubans, the leader’s dying wish was that no statue be erected in his memory and no street or building be named after him.
His brother said that the national assembly, which meets this month, would pass a law to follow Castro’s order.
“The leader of the revolution rejected any manifestation of a cult of personality,” he said.
Castro’s burial ended a nineday period of mourning during which Cubans, often encouraged by the government, flooded the streets to pay tribute to their former leader, chanting “I am Fidel” as his ashes were taken across the country.
Many held an all-night vigil at Santiago’s Revolution Plaza.
“His death has hurt me a lot,” said 59- year- old restaurant worker Daisy Vera Ramirez. Marina Brito Carmenati, a 66- year- old retiree who lives near the cemetery, woke up before dawn to bid farewell.
“I feel a lot of pain, a lot of sadness. He’s the father to all of us,” she said. The botched attack on the Moncad barracks on July 26, 1953, planted the seed of a revolution that triumphed in 1959.
After taking power, Castro became a Soviet ally and was a constant thorn in the side of successive US presidents until illness forced him to hand power to Raul in 2006.
Since succeeding his brother, Raul has implemented modest economic reforms in recent years, restored diplomatic relations with the US and vowed to step down in 2018. “No longer under the shadow of his older brother, Raul may now feel freer to pursue the modest economic reforms he initiated in the last decade,” said Jorge Duany, director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University.