02-27-06,9:14am

The equal civil and political rights for which the founding fathers of Cuban independence fought are still a dream for millions of people around the world, said Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada, President of the Cuban Parliament on Friday.

Alarcon spoke at a rally in Havana on the 111th anniversary of the beginning of the War of Independence against Spanish colonial rule, organized by Cuban National Hero Jose Marti, who named the struggle “The Necessary War.”

Cuban President Fidel Castro attended the ceremony where 138 Cuban flags were hoisted at the Jose Marti Anti-Imperialist Plaza facing the US Interests Section. A 24-hour honor guard was begun as part of the tribute.

Alarcon underscored the historical importance of February 24, 1895, not only in the struggle against the Spanish, but also to achieve equality and social justice on the island.

The President of the Cuban Parliament noted that ever since that period the “main enemy was always the new empire.” He recalled that the Spanish colonialists had received logistical support from US governments that “always acted with the most cynical calculations and evil intentions.”

The democratic roots contained in the constitutions of the Republic at War, were also highlighted by Alarcon in his speech. He underscored the lessons of Jose Marti on the need for unity among all Cuban patriots, demonstrated by the creation of a single political party to guide the revolution, and in the clear understanding that for Cuba to be a free nation it would have to defeat a powerful enemy: US imperialism.

Alarcon pointed out that this February 24, Cuba also celebrates a half century since the founding of the Directorio Revolucionario, the armed branch of the Cuban Federation of University Students, and three decades since the founding of the People’s Power system on the island.

Alarcon emphasized the authentic and democratic spirit of the 1976 Cuban Constitution, which he said was subjected to popular debate among more than 6.2 million people, and voted on by 98 percent of the electorate, of which 97.7 gave it their backing.

The head of the Cuban legislature also noted that as in the other four previous constitutions of independence, the 1976 one was approved under enemy fire. He recalled how that same year a Cuban passenger plane was blown up off the coast of Barbados, and that the authors of that monstrous crime are currently protected by the Bush administration. He noted that at the same time, five Cuban heroes that fought against terrorism remain in US prisons.

Previously Hassan Perez, the deputy secretary of the Communist Youth League, criticized the shameful and interventionist attitude of the US Interests Section in Havana, to which he said Cuba will “be responding with an avalanche of ideas and arguments.”

“As long as there is a single Cuban alive, he will be standing up and fighting in defense of this flag,” the youth leader affirmed