Fidel chides FARC for 'cruel actions'

Fidel Castro on Friday made his first public comment on the rescue Wednesday in Colombia of Ingrid Betancourt and other prisoners of the FARC guerrillas. In the closing paragraphs of an article on assorted historical and current issues, published in the official daily Granma, Castro wrote that moved "by a basic sentiment of humanity, we were gladdened by the news that Ingrid Betancourt, three American citizens and other captives had been liberated."
The Colombian guerrillas "never should have kidnapped the civilians or held the military men prisoner under the conditions existing in the jungle," Castro wrote. "Those were objectively cruel actions. No revolutionary purpose could justify them. In due course, it will be necessary to analyze the subjective factors in depth. In Cuba, we won our revolutionary war by granting immediate and unconditional freedom to our prisoners. We turned over to the International Red Cross all soldiers and officers captured in each battle, keeping only their weapons. No soldier will surrender them if he expects death or cruel treatment."
The negotiated release in January of two hostages was, to Castro, the opening of "a chapter of peace for Colombia, a process that Cuba has been supporting for more than 20 years as the most convenient toward the unity and liberation of the peoples of our America, utilizing new paths in today's complex and special circumstances." To read the entire article (in Spanish only), click here.
---Renato Pérez Pizarro.

Comments

[MiamiChico]

What a hypocrite! Now that the whole world is aware of the malicious ruthlesness of the FARC, this caveman dictator wants to join in the celebration of Ms. Betancourt's and fellow hostages. However, when Castro's comment may have influenced the release of those hostages, he didn't do it. This hypocrite johnny-come-lately only makes his hypocrisy that more obvious and true.

[martin]

"In Cuba, we won our revolutionary war by granting immediate and unconditional freedom to our prisoners. "

That's true. Once you shoot a bullet thru someone, they typically will die immediately.

[Fernando]

Oh Fidel, please don't quit your day job! Your attempt at humor failed miserably. I know you are old and your mind is failing you but I must remind you of the folowing: After the Bay Of Pigs invasion, some exile soldiers were herded like cattle into a closed trailer and transported to prison, some died of ashyxiation and one of your rebel leaders was quoted as saying it was better that way because it would save bullets destined to kill them. And what about Boy Scout, Christ-like Che Guevara? He said when uncertain of a prisoner's guilt or innocence, it was better to kill him. History has shown us that you can trust communists (to be communists).

[Ron]

Today is the 4th of July, when we celebrate the freedom we have in the USA! Why in the hell is the cuban herald even publishing this!
If cuba is so great, I will donate inner tubes
for iliana and the diaz-balart brothers to go back to the country they love so much! I was offended today when I saw an ad on tv for an upcoming event to celebrate columbia! Hey if you love the country you left, go back!

[Jose Marti]

Ron,

Go back to the farm.

[jmdiaz10]

No one in Latin America has killed more innocent civilians and trampled on the human rights of its citizens more than Fidel Castro. His comments are the sign of a sick and dying tyrant trying to white-wash his soiled and bloodied past.

[Fernando]

Hey Ron, please take some remedial English courses. The country of Colombia is spelled with an "a", not a u. You probably got confused with Columbia University, a place you obviously didn't attend.

[The Most Interesting Man In The World]

Castro’s colostomy bag has backed-up into his brain.

[Pete]

Ron, proper nouns are capitalized. You could do more for America if you learned how to write in English.

[carlos]

LEAVE RON ALONE! LEAVE HIM ALONE!!

HE DUNNO TO SPELL OK? HE GO TO ESCOOL IN MEEAMEE.

[anthonyp]

I agree with Ron. Although I am of Cuban ancestry, I am an American, and my ancestry is just that--PAST TENSE. I've been to the land of my ancestors, and though the people are nice and there's a rich cultural heritage (just as in any other country), Americans should be putting America first.
I assume those of you obsessed with other countries are posting your comments from those countries. But, if you're here in the US and don't like it--please, feel free to exercise your freedom to leave, and leave!
Happy Fourth to my American brothers and sisters!

[ludebf]

To Ron and anthonyp and any other idiot out there who thinks like them:

Being patriotic doesn't mean you close your mind to what is happening in the world. Do you really think the US and its news do not take top spot in other countries sometimes? Does this make does people less patriotic? No. They are just educated and smart enough to know that what happens outside their countries also affects them inside their countries.

Stop being such narrow-minded, ignorant fascists!

[charles]

Ron, you have to be an idiot!! If you hate people that much, move to a red neck, trailer park infested town in the middle of the heartland of America!

[Ron]

I only use capital letters when I show respect, and BTW, it is spelled colombia, look it up. p.s I already bought a new home in the country, can't wait to leave north cuba, i.e. miami!

[Ron]

Folks, if you love your country so much, go back!

[anthonyp]

ludebf,
I'm assuming by writing "Does this make does people less patriotic?" you meant, "Does this make people less patriotic?" I certainly agree that in this small world of ours international news is crucial to understanding what may affect our own country.
My comment was pointed to individuals who obsess over the news of their country while losing focus of more pressing matters in the U.S. I'm not quite sure that the opinions of a former leader of a poor third-world nation regarding the atrocities of rebels in another poor third-world nation are of much consequence to me as an American.
Of course, as an American I am disappointed that billions of my country's tax dollars have been pumped into fighting the FARC, while I have brothers and sisters here in America homeless or can't afford decent health care.

[Jorge]

This is a clear indication that Fidel is senile and in his last days. He has plainly forgotten or wants to forget that he, Raul, Che and his followers executed before a firing squad or sent to jail for 30 years hundreds of citizens and particularly previous government members during the first few years of his governmment. This is probably the reason why none of the people now in government are willing to establish a different type of democratic government as they fear some sort of reprisal.

[Fernando]

Hey Ron, get your act together! Now you say it is spelled Colombia, which is it, the country or the university? I still have room in my ESOL class for folks like you, sign up!

[Pete]

Ron, for the last time, proper nouns are capitalized. The standards of the English language don't care what you have respect for. But I don't blame you; I blame the education system here.

[Ed]

Ron, you an inbred idiot, this article is about Fidel, it has nothing to do with America or being patriotic

[Ron]

Sure as heck got you goin' didn't I, now, get your guns loaded and shoot them in the air, remember it is a fireworks event! One more thing, honk your horns and park your car on your neighbor's grass!

[Jean]

Impotence and blind hate!
But... what can one expect from this Miami based opinions?
Angry because what Castro has said is the truth?
I challenge anyone to prove that one single prisoner in The Sierra Maestra was tortured, beaten or humiliated.
I live in this country now, but as a former rebel I witnessed the humane treatment given to Batista's soldiers after surrendering. Some of them even hugged and thanked us for not mistreating them.
But... if one us us was captured by them, a sure death after being tortured was almost 100% sure.
A rule of ethics: You don't win wars by lying about your enemy.

[Manuel]

I am surprised that nobody has mention that clown of Chavez, the one that stated that the FARC was not a terrorist organization, he is the real enemy of freedom, Fidel is gone, the Cubans need to start a different approach if they want to liberate Cuba, no longer their country

[Jean]

"Patriotism is a double edge sword.
It opens the heart but it narrows the mind"
Julius Caesar (Roman Emperor)

[Billy James]

I don't understand why Cubans in Miami can't forget about Cuba.Thats the way it is, accept it,in my opinion they have become too American.Get over it.Live and let live.

[Jean]

Billy James: You will understand why, if someday you have to leave your dear America and start a new life in a country saturated with xenophobia!

[hunter helmsely]

You go Ron! I admire Fidel Castro he has done what every leader in this so called free country of ours cannot do for the past 250 years and that is provide proper education and health care for everyone free of cost.No wonder our kids can't read or do the basic mathematics. We are giving Fidel a hard time but lets take a look at Africa America has done nothing to help that continent or its people, but instead the American government has drain the brain trust of all developing nations by luring them here with the promise of freedom which is the biggest lie of our generation.So people lets examine ourselves first before we cast stones.

[ginrai]

Poor Ron is prejudice and jealous at the same time. Lighten up Ron and stop acting like the typical American stiff. Fidel Castro is a mad man that the Americans should of stopped years ago. He's a threat to democracy. Look at how this man how he killed alot of innocent Cuban people and made many of the others suffer in Cuba for nearly five decades. It's pityful how many Americans respect this guy along with Che Guevarra. Castro needs to go along with Chavez, Ortega, Correa, Lugo, Morales, the Farc, ,Binladen, Alqaeda, etc. among other evil tyrants. Whether they are right extremists or left extremists.

[ginrai]

All communists and their followers deserve a long jail sentence.

[ringwraith]

Fidel, you mischievous old goat! Do you actually expect anyone to believe your outrageous lies-(with the exception of useful idiots like Hunter Helmsely & AnthonyP and of course, the bigoted, bumbling & hateful Ron).
Just yesterday, Castro and his cronies arrested another 27 dissidents in Cuba, for no reason whatsoever. Oh yeah, they disagreed with the communist system as a whole. Puh-leeeeese, spare us your pathetic diatribe Fidel and just leave the planet! Your Cuban jails and henchmen are no different than those of the FARC.
As as for you Jean, so you're an ex-rebel? Right, and I'm Billy Idol... NOT!

[ginrai]

Fidel is an instrument of Satan. A real backstabber and a liar.

[ginrai]

I don't think Fidel Castro is even alive. Fidel had intestinal cancer. That is uncurable. He's quite probably dead and in hell. The communists over there in Cuba are probably making it up. Fearing a revolt in Cuba. Since they are always making up lies. Well Fidel brought that to himself for letting himself be tricked by Satan. All other people beware those that listen to those bad thoughts the enemy Satan put inside the mind end up in the lake of fire and brimstone. Known as the second death. The place of eternal torment. A place that Jesus made to those that are unrepentive. Satan is extremely evil and decieving. He wants to take as many with him there. Cause Satan will be there forever. Jesus has given us time to repent for our sins ,and accept him as our savior. But we also got to behave as well. In order to be pardoned by him.

[Jean]

How can some of the participants in this forum, noble citizen of America, criticize other countries for not properly treating its prisoners?

[Clement]

Why in the world the Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald gives such kind of coverage of what this cruel hypocrite and assassin says?. This assassin has kept on captivity millions of cubans for almost 50 years.

[Joe]

Ron=

Redneck
Obtuse
Nitwit

[Benji]

Fidel is either already DEAD or is close to being DEAD. There's no way that these words are coming out of Fidel's mouth. Someone must be doing the writing for him and want to trick us into thinking that he's still alive. Everytime they show images of him in the news, he's always wearing the same stupid jogging suit in 100 degree weather. I don't know about you but, I think he's been 6 feet under for a while. Usually people that are close to death want people to forgive them for their actions before they die. Something stinks here and its not cigars.

[shoesky]

Castro likes to brag about free education,he must be kidding. Judging from the Havana photo's, I dought any of those toothless wonders have enough education to spell cat.

[Mora]

The dirtbag is trying to rewrite history to erase all memory of his summary executions and killings. Once again, it's all about him.

Meanwhile, he was the FARC's early sponsor and gave it office space, exile privileges, rest and recreation and other comforts. He doesn't want anyone to know about that, either. But that's why he's officially classified as a state sponsor of terror on US lists.

He's counting on Ingrid to have a big political career, to be fooled by his sweet talk, to hug and kiss and validate him, to see her win against President Uribe, and then revive FARC once more with a weak appeasing president once again in power. That's his game.

[MrMuddle]

Guess someone forgot to tell Oscar Elías Biscet about Fidel's humane treatment of prisoners.

I believe Biscet is still locked up in a filthy, closet-sized solitary confinement cell. Most have left him for dead.

Chances are the average Guantanamo detainee gets better treatment. Not that anyone would know, since nobody has been allowed to visit Biscet.

[Mora]

Hey castro! One last thing!

How did it FEEL to learn that your precious godchild FARC was separated from its precious hostages by Colombian army men WEARING CHE TSHIRTS! What does that say about castro family value? What does that say about your stinking filthy revolution and its acolytes? What does that say about you?

[MRA]

First, Happy Fourth of July. Second, can the Miami Herald stop posting crap like this? Third, Castro's in a no win situation with many of you. If he condemns them he's terrible and if he says i support FARC it's bad. Good riddance, applaud the man for making a statement that is largely true. If you want to talk about hypocrites, I have two words for you: Guantanamo Bay.I love this country dearly, but it has flaws, like all the other ones.

[MrMuddle]

Agreed on Guantanamo Bay, MRA, but I think the point that most here are making is that the statement is self-serving and duplicitous.

I don't think anyone can seriously believe that a man that holds hundreds of people captive over their political differences can really be deemed a humanitarian, as he's attempting to portray himself.

Beyond that, it's simply not in line with the facts of history: The truth is that he and his cohorts often summarily executed their opponents. Without a trial or so much as a hearing. Many of those executed were the loved ones of people who now live here. Many of those imprisoned now are the friends and loved ones of Americans.

When someone spouts off lies in attempt to make themselves look better, they should be rebuked. That ought to be no different on our own shores or theirs.

[Richard Cheeseman]

This is not new. Fidel and Chavez have both gone on record a long time ago as opposing the FARC's holding of civilian prisoners including Betancourt. No amount of frothing from right-wingers can change that.

Nor is that any contradiction to their support for removing the "terrorist" appellation from the group and negotiating a peaceful settlement to the civil war. The two policies fit together perfectly.

The civil war in Colombia only benefits the right wing there politically. If it was settled the Colombian people would have no reason not to follow their fellows all over Latin America and vote out the politicos representing the oligarchy.

[Leonardo Cabañas]

TO ALL OBJECTIVE HERALD READERS: Please don’t be swayed by ignorant bigots, be bamboozled by rabid demagoguery or allow ideological smokescreens to distort the truth. Just check the facts and use your common sense.

To learn the truth and debunk the myths, I invite you to visit informational sites (like therealcuba.com and others), avail yourselves of all the readily-available data and see for yourself (through historical fact, pictures and videos) what pre and post-Castro Cuba were really like.

You’ll learn that social indicators (on health care, economy, education and more) ranked pre-Castro Cuba among the best in the Americas (U.S. and Canada included) and, in many cases, the world.

You’ll learn that it had a thriving middle class composed of doctors (more per capita than 1959 Holland or the UK), dentists, engineers, artists, academics, and entrepreneurs. And, hang on to your hats: Contrary to what America’s enemies would have you believe, pre-Castro Cubans DID have free health care and education, plus one of the lowest infant mortality rates, one of the longest life spans in the Americas and one of the highest levels of literacy. Surprised, huh?

You’ll learn -through facts and figures- that the ‘supposed’ socio-economic ‘achievements’ for which the Castro dictatorship and their lackeys have been taking credit… were ALL in existence BEFORE the revolution. NONE has IMPROVED since 1959, but many have declined considerably. All this in a country that NOW has no free press; no freedom of speech; where education means indoctrination (can you spell ‘North Korea’?); where real health care is only available to foreigners and government officials (while the average Cuban has to bring his own sheets and aspirin to the hospital); where dissenters are imprisoned or killed; where government controls internet, phone and postal communications; where food is rationed; whose citizens are not allowed to travel freely…where even the most basic human rights continue to be violated!

But if facts don’t appeal to you, then just ask yourself: Why would thousands of men, women and children have risked their lives crossing the Florida straits in ramshackle rafts or worn inner tubes in order to flee this supposed socialist nirvana’?

Why isn’t this common knowledge? Google ‘Herbert Matthews’ and see.

[Brian Cousins]

MiamiChico simply does not get it. The US has backed terrorists and right wing dictators in latin and south america for decades - all in the interest of unfettered US access to making money on the backs of latinos. (Check out NPR's broadcast yesterday of an interview about the cozy mafia-Batista-US government control of Cuba before the revolution as an example!) Castro's comments are correct and well documented. He did not practise hostage taking and has never supported it. Compared to US actions in Iraq and elsewhere, his treatment of military prisoners (after the successful Cuban revolution was exemplary) - something that has been well documented by many international writers.

[ginrai]

Hugo Chavez pays the Farc Colombian terrorist network. Hugo and The Farc both oppose peace and democracy in Colombia. The Farc paid for Rafael Correa's presidential campaign in Ecuador. Hugo Chavez is a disciple of Fidel Castro. Of course Fidel wants them to succeed Fidel is no better than they are. They want to make slaves out of everyone with their socialism communism worldwide. Facism communism, socialism communism , imperialism, terrorism ,etc. are the same dog with a different collar. Don't be fooled.

[Leonardo Cabañas]

TO BRIAN COUSINS: ALL DUE RESPECT, BUT EITHER YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OR YOU'RE TRYING TO FOOL READERS. TO SAY THAT "FIDEL DOES NOT PRACTICE HOSTAGE TAKING AND HAS NEVER SUPPORTED IT" IS LIKE SAYING ADOLF HITLER NEVER PRACTICED OR SUPPORTED THE MURDER OF JEWS.

YOUR ARGUMENTS ARE SO OLD, SO RIDICULOUS, SO PASSE. FORTUNATELY, FOR EACH DISTORTION OR LIE YOU AND YOUR RED FRIENDS POST, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE LIKE ME, WITH FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE REAL FACTS WHO WILL TELL READERS THE TRUTH. SO, BEFORE YOU TRY TO POLLUTE ANY MORE MINDS WITH EMPTY DEMAGOGUERY THAT HAS NO BASIS IN FACT, PLEASE REMEMBER WHAT SHAKESPEARE SAID ABOUT THE TRUTH: "IT WILL OUT!"