The Secret History of How Cuba Helped End Apartheid in South Africa
As the world focuses on Tuesday’s historic handshake between President Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro, we look back at the pivotal role Cuba played in ending apartheid and why Castro was one of only five world leaders invited to speak at Nelson Mandela’s memorial. In the words of Mandela, the Cubans ‘destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the white oppressor … [and] inspired the fighting masses of South Africa.’Historian Piero Gleijeses argues that it was Cuba’s victory in Angola in 1988 that forced Pretoria to set Namibia free and helped break the back of apartheid South Africa. We speak to Gleijeses about his new book, “Visions of Freedom: Havana, Washington, Pretoria, and the Struggle for Southern Africa, 1976-1991,” and play archival footage of Mandela meeting Fidel Castro in Cuba.
Read the full article here
Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / December 12, 2013
Thanks Colombo Telegraph, for your initiative in seeking this out and posting it. By the way, Prof Piero Gleijeses was one of the examiners of my PhD thesis on Fidel Castro.
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Native Vedda / December 12, 2013
Dr Dayan Jayatilleka … In essence you liberated South Africa from Apartheid regime……. The entire world is indebted to you…. Thank you….
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Sowden Edward Asange / December 12, 2013
fishing for compliments? who cares what you did? none asked u whether or not you had written a thesis about Fidel….
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Patriot / December 12, 2013
That’s right comrade Dayan, the best way to support the GOSL is to enhance the fault lines between the NE and Colombo. Keep arguing that the “global south” represented by Cuba, is the natural ally of the GOSL, and that the “imperialist” West is it’s enemy. The Tamil people are not going to complain. About 30-40% of Tamils who originate from the NE already hold citizenship in first world nations. They will have no problem with saying that the global north is their natural ally. Yes, let’s make this a battle between global north and global south. I wonder who is going to win!!
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Native Vedda / December 12, 2013
Patriot …….. You are determined to support Dayan in the fight against the North where Cuba’s Castro, Saddam, Naser, Qaddafi, Patrick Lumumba, Che, Wijayaweera, Weerawansa, Somawansa, Vasu, Mr & Mrs B, Colvin, ……….. failed. ………. It is an noble idea one should fight for…. However I wouldn’t trust Dayan if I were you. ………..If and when you decide to fight the North on your own please let me know I will be right behind you…..
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justice / December 13, 2013
Native Veddha and Patriot,
Dayan J invented an “external threat” to sri lanka,after the LTTE had been decimated, to justify the military occupation of the nothern and eastern provinces.
This resulted in the subjugation of tamils mainly of these provinces and oppression of all citizens by the army,even now ongoing.
What would Fidel Castro say about this.
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hela / December 15, 2013
It refreshes my memories of Southern African liberation movements in Mozambique, Angola, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa in the 70s and 80s.
There were major wins and major failures.
The greatest win was the natives gaining power over external imperialist forces.
The greatest failure to date is that these countries still could not fully dismantle the oppressive structures, and create common Pan South African agenda for a progressive destiny for the peoples of that region. These countries have common borders and the leaders of the liberation movements knew each other fairly well. Yet they seem to have been failed in working out a common agenda and action plan.
The Western tributes to Mandela has to be understood in the context where he allowed the white rulers a safe passage out of power (understandably Mandela didn’t want a protracted conflict) and didn’t make radical changes to the system. Therefore it allows continued exploitation of vast poor black masses of South Africa.
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Migara / December 15, 2013
Justice
Dr Dayan has distanced himself from the government.He has challenged the extremist elements openly.What more do you want?The way forward for the country is to be secular,democratic and modern,the ideals espoused by Dr Dayan.
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Native Vedda / December 15, 2013
Migara
Have a break, have a KitKat
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