Donald Trump commented death od former Cuban president, calling him a ‘brutal dictator’. The US President-elect who takes Office next January hopes now the Cubans could move towards a freer future.
Mr Trump never liked Fidel Castro as a political person who defied the US for decades, surviving many assassination plots. The opinions on Mr Castro are totally different, while his supporters said he returned Cuba to the people, the critics called him a dictator. Or even ‘brutal dictator’ like Mr Trump said.
Donal Trump released a statement, in which he expressed the hope that ‘the wonderful Cuban people finally live in the freedom they so richly deserve’. With the US assistance, of course. These two neighbour countries have cut ties in 1961 amid rising Cold War tensions. The strict economic embargo was imposed in 60s and remained in place more than half a century on.
In 2015 only, under Barack Obama presidency, the US-Cuban relationship warmed and diplomatic ties were restored in 2015. Mr Trump roundly criticised Mr Obama’s policy on the campaign trail but made no mention of his pledge to reverse it in his statement, saying his administration would do all it could to ensure Cubans could “begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty”.
Fidel Castro: life and death of Comandante
Fidel Castro was the longest serving non-royal leader of the 20th Century. He had been retired from political life for several years but in 2006, his illness made Fidel hand power to his brother Raul.
Comandante was cremated on Saturday at a private ceremony in Havana and a period of official mourning has been declared on the island until 4 December. Then his ashes will be laid to rest in the south-eastern city of Santiago.
News of his death left some in Havana stunned, at least three generation of Cubans grew up under Comandante times. Cubans always knew that Fidel is with them, he was and he will be. ‘I always said it couldn’t be,’ said one woman, a government employee. ‘Even though they said it now, I say it can’t be.’
Nelson Mandela had a great respect for Fidel Castro, both men’s lives were full of struggle
In Miami, where there is a large Cuban community, there have been celebrations in some parts of the city, so-called Little Havana banging pots and cheering. But Cuban dissident group Ladies in White, which was founded by wives of jailed dissidents, tweeted: ‘May God forgive him, I won’t’.
