Source of drinking water in Güines. Arango and Fraga Streets, October 2002. Photo by Elodia Basaco, Whittier, California

Puente de Hierro (Iron Bridge), closed, October 2002. Photo by Elodia Basaco, Whittier, California

Saint Barbara's Festivities in Güines

By José Izquierdo, Grupo Decoro

Güines, December 2002 (www.cubanet.org) - Last December 4, during the religious festivities on the feast day of Saint Barbara, agents of the political police conducted a strong intimidation operative against a dozen opponents, where more than 150 agents participated.

From the early hours of the preceding day, military forces were mobilized and they visited each and every one of the dissident opponents in Güines' Municipality and near areas, warning them to remain in their homes from that day until after 9 o’clock in the evening on the 4th. That warning, for practical purposes, became a house arrest.

About a dozen opponents remained firm and were able to break the siege established by the political police, the Technical Investigations Department and the local Rapid Response Brigades, getting into the place where the procession was held in honor of Saint Barbara (Shangó in Afro-Cuban santeria religion).

The procession was one kilometer long around the chapel located on Avenue 105, in this locality. It is estimated that around 15 thousand persons were present at the procession.

Among those present there were the veteran anti-Castroist opponent Onelia Sigler, as well as opponents Jesús Adolfo Reyes, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, Sergio Pérez Hierro, Orestes Hernández Álvarez, Ulises Campos, Ascanio Montero, Heriberto Correa Rodríguez, Jesús Isidro Hernández, Yamila Pérez Reyes and Virgilio Morante, all members of different resistance groups.

During the religious march several incidents occurred between members of the Rapid Response Brigades and two dissidents, at the intersection of 189th. Street and Avenue 103, when State Security's Agent Héctor Bacallao, violently pushed Messrs. Jesús Adolfo Reyes and Orestes Hernández. The people reacted, rejecting the abusive procedure of the political police against defenseless persons that only wanted to accompany the Virgin.

At the conclusion of the religious ceremony, the group of dissidents went to where the independent library Francisco Riverón is located, to hold an evening act in favor of the release of all political and conscience prisoners unjustly jailed in the regime’s prisons.

After holding a minute of silence to remember those Cubans who have perished in the Florida Straits and praying for the eternal rest of their souls, those present sang the National Anthem and proceeded to light candles, a tradition performed every Wednesday by members of February 24th. Movement.

“Let us pray for those that unfortunately are not with us anymore, and that without any doubt gave the best of themselves to see a truly free Cuba”, dissident Jesús Adolfo Reyes, stated. And he added: “We support more than ever our colossal Varela Project, only way to establish the democracy we all dream of during 43 years of dictatorship.”