Cuba has been subjected to blockades by the United States since first imposed in the 1960s by US President John F. Kennedy. The United Nations General Assembly has voted against the blockades more than thirty times, but they remain in place.
A US fuel blockade imposed since January of this year has brought a deepening humanitarian crisis, rolling blackouts and severe shortages of essential supplies.
Paul Murphy has called on the Irish Government to end its silence and subservience and demand that the US end its embargo on Cuba.
People Before Profit’s Paul Murphy said:
“The United States has subjected Cuba to blockades for decades for no reason other than its aim to crush any resistance to US power. The United Nations General Assembly has voted against the blockades dozens of times, but the blockades remain in place.
“Cuba had received most of its fuel from Venezuela until the US’s unprovoked attack on Venezuela in January, killing an estimated 100 people and kidnapping President Maduro and his wife Cilla Flores. The US fuel blockade imposed since then means the people of Cuba are suffering endless electricity blackouts, and life in Cuba is extremely difficult and hunger is common.
“As is invariably the case in relation to victims of US imperialism, the Irish Government’s response to the blockade of Cuba is silence or, at most, performative expressions of concern.
“I salute the people from Ireland who recently participated in a humanitarian aid flotilla that reached Cuba with medical supplies. Their humanitarianism and bravery are in stark contrast with Micheál Martin who travelled to Washington at the same time to genuflect before the perpetrator of the humanitarian crisis in Cuba.
“The US blockade of Cuba is inflicting mass suffering on 10 million people. There must be an end to the Taoiseach’s subservience and silence. The Irish Government must issue an unequivocal condemnation of the US and a demand for an end to its blockade of Cuba”.