Cuban Civil Society Holds Forum against US Blockade

Attendees to the forum, held this Wednesday in Havana, gave  examples of how the US unilateral and extraterritorial measures have damaged their sectors

Numerous Cuban civil society organizations of students, scientists,
religious persons and others reiterated their strongest rejection of the over-50-year US economic, commercial and financial blockade which has inflicted damage on the island calculated at nearly 754 billion dollars.

During the forum, held Wednesday in Havana, participants put examples of how the US unilateral and extraterritorial measures have damaged their sectors. This was the case of Osvaldo Hidalgo, deputy president of the Cuban Association of Physically Challenged Persons.

Hidalgo said that the US blockade violates the UN Charter and hinders Cuba’s access to transportation means for the physically challenged people, which limits their full social inclusion.

Ramon Labañino, hero of the Republic of Cuba, representing the Cuban Economists and Accountants Association recalled that the US measure bans Cuba from purchasing medications. He said the blockade was a declaration of war and recalled that President
Barack Obama himself described the blockade as a failed policy towards Cuba.

No figure can really illustrate the damage inflicted by the US blockade on the Cuban people for nearly 60 years said University Student Federation member Anibal Barredo.

The final declaration of the forum included the demand by those civil society organizations against the US administration for having maintained its blockade of Cuba. The document also backed the position maintained by the Cuban government in demand of its
unconditional lifting.

On October 26, Cuba will submit to the UN General Assembly its report entitled Necessity to End the Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States on Cuba.