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FROM
CUBA
Security tight in Santa Clara for July 26
celebration
SANTA CLARA, July 23 (Javier Machado,
Cubanacán Press / www.cubanet.org)
- Contrasting with the mass rallies of previous
anniversaries, this year's July 26 celebration
in Santa Clara's Ernesto (Che) Guevara Square
will be limited to 30,000 carefully selected
invitees who have been given a long list
of strict do's and don'ts'.
Attendees will all wear red or black shirts,
the original colors of Castro's July 26
movement, and may not have with them newspapers,
food, containers with liquids, umbrellas,
or hats with signage in English. The only
thing they are expected to hold will be
Cuban flags. They must check in to the event
with previously-issued credentials at least
five hours before starting time to be admitted.
All those who are expected who cannot make
it, must let the appropriate authorities
know so that "the chair that goes to
that pass will not be empty" is the
way Party officials explained it at preparatory
meetings. For every 20 attendees, there
will be one designated group leader who
will make sure they don't move about, even
to go to the rest rooms, reportedly.
Roaming Party militants and members of
the Association of Fighters of the Revolution
will patrol the perimeter of the Square.
In the days leading up to July 26, Santa
Clara residents have noticed an increase
in the number of cars with Havana plates,
some coming and going, some just stopped
with their occupants observing everything
around the Square. Residents have also said
they have seen people in the roofs of buildings
and on trees.
Several commercial operations near the
Square have all given their workers time
off.
The ceremony itself is officially set for
7 p.m. , but there are rumors that it could
be held as early as 7 a.m.
Versión
original en español
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