Nonhlanhla Nxumalo. The Sowetan (Johannesburg). September
4, 2001. AllAfrica.com
DESCENDANTS of slaves in both Africa and other parts of the world have a
right to demand reparations from the "superpowers," Cuban leader Fidel
Castro said.
Addressing thousands of African National Congress alliance members in Durban
at the weekend, Castro called on the Western nations - including the government
of the United States to compensate the African nations that have been and still
continue to be the "victims of colonialism".
"We have a right to demand reparations for our people. The time has
come to fight what are called super power nations. But this is no more the time
to fight with weapons. We must fight them with missiles filled with ideas,"
said Castro in his address before he left for Cuba after four days in Durban.
Castro's address was part of his government's campaign to strengthen
relations with the ANC and its alliance partners - the South African Communists
Party and the Congress of South African Trade Unions.
"In the world, there are more than 6,2 billion people who are victims
of oppression imposed by the super power nations. Many more people suffered and
continue to suffer oppression inflicted by these nations," said Castro.
Among the sufferings Castro claimed that continued to ravage communities in
the under-developed countries were hunger, poverty and illiteracy.
"We can protest against these abuses by using the weapons of truth and
justice which are within our reach," Castro added.
Turning to the ongoing violence between Israel and the Palestinians in the
Middle East, Castro lashed out at the US government for providing Israel with
weapons.
"Israel is committing genocide against the people of Palestine and yet
they (the US) do not want these issues to be discussed. There is no way that we
cannot discuss these issues where people continue to die because of the pain
caused to them," said Castro.
Copyright © 2001 The Sowetan. Distributed by AllAfrica
Global Media (allAfrica.com). | 
