NUM to join a motorcade protest action in support of the people of Cuba against the economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba by the United States of America

Press ALERT, 18 June 2021

NUM to join a motorcade protest action in support of the people of Cuba against the economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba by the United States of America

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will be part of the broader progressive movement motorcade protest action in support of the people of Cuba against the continued US economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba this coming Sunday at Arcadia in Pretoria. The ANC, SACP and Cosatu will lead the motorcade protest action. ANC Gauteng Provincial Secretary comrade Jacob Khawe, SACP 2nd Deputy General Secretary Chris Matlhako and Cosatu General Secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali will be part of the motorcade protest action. This is part of the Friends of Cuba Society – South Africa Declaration initiative on ‘The Necessity of Ending the United States’ Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade Against Cuba’

The details of the motorcade protest action are as follows:

Venue: Pretoria Art Museum in Arcadia

Time: 11 am

Date: 20 June 2021

The motorcade will start at 11 am and proceed to the US embassy  where a memorandum will be handed to the US ambassador.

The Friends of Cuba Society – South Africa (FOCUS-SA) is a volunteer solidarity platform of a wide range of ordinary South Africans, believing in the universal principles of sovereignty of nations, multilateralism, equality and mutuality - indeed the very founding principles of the United Nations (UN), joins the entire progressive world, yearning for the peaceful coexistence of nations under the aegis of the United Nations’ principles and frameworks, for the United States (US) to ‘end the illegal and unilateral economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba’.

This blockade which existed for over six decades has created huge economic and commercial difficulties for the population of the island nation. The blockade is a cruel policy, which causes suffering, deprivation, shortages and hardships to the Cuban families and the entire population. Over the last period, in particular, since the Trump presidency, it has been tightened and even now amid the worldwide Corona pandemic. It hinders access to medicines, supplies and necessary equipment in Cuba’s efforts to battle the virus. Its extra-territorial application impedes trade with Cuba and is against international law.

On 23 June 2021, Cuba will bring to the UN General Assembly the resolution for the ending of the blockade in accordance with UN prescripts. This exercise is important to end the more than six decades of the immoral blockade against a people and country committed to maintaining their sovereignty, their democratic right to choose the path and trajectory of development and coexistence of nations. Cuba, the exemplar of solidarity and selflessness occupies a special place in the hearts and minds of many peace and freedom-loving people of Africa and the Third World. 

Despite the blockade and many other manoeuvres against it, Cuba has continued to unselfishly aid the poorest nations and extend a hand to the worldwide effort to roll back the Coronavirus impact, including in the ‘developed world’ – Italy, Spain, etc. We call upon the progressives and peace-loving peoples and nations, to rally behind this call and ensure the final death knell to the illegal and immoral economic, commercial and financial blockade is ended – for the benefit of humanity and the example that Cuba is.

Ending this blockade is an imperative humanity cannot sway away from. Ending unilateralism is an urgent task of our times. Ensuring the peaceful coexistence of nations and UN scripts is a duty of our era.

Patrick Mathebane, NUM International Relations Unit Head, 079 513 8764

Livhuwani Mammburu, NUM National Spokesperson, 083 809 3257 

The National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2111 Cell: 083 809 3257
Twitter: @Num_Media

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