One and a half million people filled Havana's Revolution Square at the close of the 2nd Congress of the

Communist Party of Cuba.

Castro offers peace

but warns U.

By KERRY McCUAIG

HAVANA — The Cuban people want peace and
normalized relations with the United States, but if
the Reagan administration wants to fight then it had
better be prepared to take on a determined and
strengthened Cuban people.

This was the message given Dec. 20 by Cuban
leader Fidel Castro to over a million and a half
people gathered in Revolution Square on the clos-
ing day of the party’s 2nd congress. An estimated
80% of the population of Havana came to hear the
first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party.
Every means of transportation was made availa-
ble. They came by bus, car, in the back of trucks,
tractors pulled fiat beds in from the countyyside,
everywhere there was the mood of festive occa-
sion.

But there was a serious side to Castro’s remarks.
He almost directed his address at Reagan, warning
that the Cuban people would not be intimidated
and did not fear imperialism’s threats. ‘“We long
ago lost the feeling of being afraid.”’

But he also cautioned the people about the com-
plex and difficult international situation and the
real possibility of war that is emerging. He re-
minded them of their essential contribution needed
to end the arms race and the danger of war.

With a tremendous shout of ‘‘NO’’ the people
answered Castro when he asked if they should
comply to U.S. demands to take their troops and
advisors out of Angola and Ethiopia and break their
ties with the Soviet Union-as the price-for ending
the economic blockade.

“The day we. take just one man out of those
countries,” he replied, “‘will be the day we are no
longer needed or by agreement between our two
governments. It will not be to make concessions to
imperialism; and our relationship with the Soviet
Union will never, never be broken. As long the
Soviet Union and Cuba exist, those relations will
exist.”

Despite the hardships imposed by the blockade

STOS — KERRY McCUAIG ~

Humberto Ortega leader of the Nicaraguan re-
volutionary forces holds up hand of Cuban leader
Fidel Castro.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JAN. 9, 1981—Page 6

S. hands off

Castro warned Reagan that the Cuban people
would sooner die than be traitors. ‘‘What right has
the U.S. to tell us who may be our friends. Let
them continue their blockade for another 100 years
if they want. For another 100 years we are ready to
resist, that is if imperialism lives for another. 100
years.”

He pledged that the Cuban people were willing
to be blockaded back into the stone age, that they
would. suffer even greater hardships. For every
man, woman and child would ‘‘prefer to die a
thousand times but not to surrender.”

Imperialism had better not harbor any illusions
as to the willingness of the Cuban people to fight.
Castro wamed “‘that more Yankees would die here
than in all of World War IT.”

Beside the Cuban leader on the platform was the
leader of the Nicaraguan revolutionary forces,
Humberto Ortega and Grenadian Prime Minister
Maurice Bishop. Castro referred to the new order
that had been established in these two countries
despite U.S. interference. He spoke of the deter-
mination of all Latin America to be free of tyranny.

‘“‘Imperialism is ready to attack the liberation
movements of Central America,’’ he stated, but
reaffirmed that no just struggle of the peoples for
freedom can ever be halted.

‘*The Sandinistas (of Nicaragua) with a few men
and no arms defeated the imperialist puppet Somo-
za. All the Somozas of this hemisphere will have
their end,”’ he vowed.

Castro outlined the two basic themes of the Con-
gress: production and defence. The economic
plans for 81-85 are achievable and realistic but will
require increased effort and efficiency from the
people. He called on them to donate their free time
and vacations to be trained in the militia. ‘‘We must
not ask if the Yankees are going to spare our lives,”’
he said. ‘‘We must be prepared. They must know
that what they face here will be very hard for
them.”’

The new leadership of the Communist Party was
introduced. Party membership has doubled in the
past five years to over 450,000 members. The lead-
ership has been strengthened with a strong injec-
tion of workers, women, representatives from the
armed forces, from mass organizations, trade
unions, peasant groups and the militia.

This shows the character of the Communist |
Party of Cuba said Castro. ‘‘In order to reach the ©
highest ranks, you can do it by cutting cane, work-.

ing in a mine, laboratory, textile factory, mass
organization, union or cooperative.”’ The result
will be even stronger ties between the party and the
people.

He told the people they had many reasons to be
satisfied and proud. “‘If we ever trusted our people
we trust them now more than ever. We have al-
ways been committed, but we are now even
more.”

Next week interview with Canadian delegates to
the Communist Party of Cuba Congress.

Se ea a
Submission to the Special
‘on the Constitution!

The Communist Party of Canada op-
poses the patriation of the British North
America Act to Canada, despite the ar-
gument advanced that it would constitute
but the first step in moulding a Canadian
Constitution. This argument however
goes contrary to all historical experi-
ence. We respect the strong sentiments
of Canadians that it is time to have a
Canadian Constitution and finally end all

+ vestiges of colonialism. The BNA Act

however, is a British document, not a
Canadian Constitution. Bringing it to
Canada would not make it a made-in-
Canada constitution. The BNA Act de-
nies the right of self-determination and
equality to the French Canadian nation.
Bringing the BNA Act to Canada would
therefore perpetuate this inequality. It
would drive a deeper wedge between the
French Canadian and English-speaking
peoples.

Bilingualism is no substitute for na-

' tional rights. And yet this is the essential

thrust of the resolution the government
has introduced to parliament. The right
of Francophones in English Canada to
their schools, radio programs and so on
in French, where there is a demand for
this, important as this is, is no substitute
for what is basic — ‘the right to self-
determination and equality for the,
French Canadian nation in Quebec.

By making bilingualism outside of
Quebec the core of the problem, :the
government has made it possible for
chauvinist elements in English-speaking
Canada to oppose constitutional reforms

‘vital to Canada’s continued prog-

ress. Indeed, failure to come to grips
with the reality of a bi-national state, has
opened the door, around the theme of ‘‘a
renewed federalism’’, for the demand for
decentralization of power with more
powers to be given to the provincial
governments at the expense of the coun-
try and its people. Decentralization of
power would fragment and balkanize
Canada and weaken its ability to cope
with the grave economic and social prob-
lems arising from the capitalist crisis.
Behind this demand for decentraliza-
tion of power is the hand of the foreign
multi-national corporations, particularly
those in control of Canada’s energy and
natural resources.

These multi-national corporations are

| the strongest opponents of constitutional

reform because genuine constitutional
reform would weaken their control over
the resources and the economy of Cana-

da. Behind these corporations stands -

U.S. imperialism which prefers a weak
and divided Canada from which to ex-

tract the maximum of conces*
expense of Canada’s indeped®
sovereignty, and the we
Canadian people. Thus, 4 oll
constitutional reform is the #*§
ending multi-national corpo!

_over Canada’s energy, its res*®

over the Canadian economy:

The door to decentrali®
opened when provincial right®
stituted for national rights, af
sed by the Conservative
Mr. Clark’s slogan of a “cont
communities’.

We have now entered a mé!
ous phase of the constitutié'
This is reflected in the d®
separatism in some parts *
Canada.

Who are these proponents™
tion which in effect, means
up of Canada? The same mV
corporations who oppose the!
zation of energy resources, !
that only they have the right
control these vital resources®
includes economic blackmail,”
destabilization of the Canadi#®
and other forms of sabotage:

Alberta separatism began
rooms of the oil corporations!
It was their response to if
budget and its proposals for!

' zation of energy resources. ff

press at first called this the “f
rebellion’? and called them
chip separatists”. Now the !
press in Alberta has changed.
has become respectable on?
clear that the ‘‘elite’’ were pel
were using it as a bludgeon af

stitutional reform and C
energy. aa

It must be stated quite blut
stead of condemning separatif
against the best interests oft
people including the people
Messrs. Clark and Lou
helped to inspire and stimulatt
sentiments. They have acted?
with the multi-national corpo

It is interesting to note in th
tion that the Native people wh
Ottawa to present their cast
rights as a people within aunits
faced harassment by the aut!
cluding the RCMP and an irod

’ front of. parliament, while th

the multi-millionaires in
called, and continue to call, fo
up of Canada and in fact com
against Canada, are patted on!
heroes.

Neither bilingualism as a sul