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Fidel Castro Officially Steps Down
81-year-old Fidel Castro has officially announced his retirement from the Cuban presidency. His 76-year-old brother Raul is expected to take over.
For the full text of the resignation letter, click here.
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HAVANA (AP) — An ailing, 81-year-old Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba’s president today after nearly a half-century in power, saying he will not accept a new term when parliament meets Sunday.
The end of Castro’s rule — the longest in the world for a head of government — frees his 76-year-old brother Raul to implement reforms he has hinted at since taking over as acting president when Fidel Castro fell ill in July 2006. President Bush said he hopes the resignation signals the beginning of a democratic transition.
“My wishes have always been to discharge my duties to my last breath,” Castro wrote in a letter published today in the online edition of the Communist Party daily Granma. But, he wrote, “it would be a betrayal to my conscience to accept a responsibility requiring more mobility and dedication than I am physically able to offer.”
In the pre-dawn hours, most Cubans were unaware of Castro’s message. Havana’s streets were quiet, and there was no movement at several party-run neighborhood watch groups in Old Havana. It wasn’t until 5 a.m., several hours after Castro’s message was posted on the internet, that official radio began reading the missive to early risers.
Castro temporarily ceded his powers to his brother on July 31, 2006, when he announced that he had undergone intestinal surgery. Since then, the elder Castro has not been seen in public, appearing only sporadically in official photographs and videotapes and publishing dense essays about mostly international themes as his younger brother has consolidated his rule.
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Crowd Power
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Brian A Kennedy
Brooklyn, New York, United States -
AlvarezGalloso
Miami, Florida, United States -
alexcascone
Brooklyn, New York, United States -
peter_overgaard
Denmark -
tonistico
Chile -
dandavidshapiro
San Mateo, California, United States

















Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (20)
at 05:30 on February 19th, 2008
I think this is an important story and would benefit from other NowPublic contributors working on it. I've flagged it as News Wanted and invite others in relevant locations to look for more evidence.
at 07:32 on February 19th, 2008
at 09:07 on February 19th, 2008
The Associated Press, I like this story. It's good stuff. I would like to add some comments with a photo. I have a photo of Fidel Castro's Daughter Alina Fernandez Revuelta working as a Volunteer Chemist in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami Florida. While it was taken some time ago and as a result, I have had problems with her and her distant relatives [The Diaz Balart who are Republican Congressmen from Florida and Fidel Castro's Nephew] since it was supposedly a secret. Regardless, I think the photo deserves to be published as a historical footnote.
Now for my comments based on personal experience and from what I have read.
at 09:10 on February 19th, 2008
US Won't Lift Cuba Embargo
Source: news.yahoo.com
at 09:14 on February 19th, 2008
As a Latin born in the United States of America with Cuba, Spain, and France in my blood; I will respond that there are NO Wild Celebrations in Miami Florida. The reason is because there was no change; this was just simply an abdication of one absolute king to another absolute king. Nothing has changed except that Cuba and North Korea have become the only countries in the world that have implemented an absolute monarchy disguised as a dictatorship of the proletariat. Again, the concept of a Monarchy dressed as a Republic has been followed in places such as Azerbaijan, Syria, and the United States of America.
Castro was a demagogue who turned Cuba over to the Cold War Interests called United States and Russia [at the time USSR]. Within nearly five decades, he killed the soul of Cuba to the point that there is no happiness in Cuba or anyone with Cuban Blood [with some notable exceptions]. Who cannot forget the fact that there was an apartheid system in place in which Cubans could not go to hotels in their own country so that tourists can enjoy Cuba? Who cannot forget the people who died crossing the Florida Straits? Who cannot forget the prohibition of Christmas? Who cannot forget the Concentration Camps called UMAP for Catholics, Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, and Homosexuals? Examples of two artists who suffered under Castro were Los Pacificos and Meme Solis.
In 1967, four teenagers between 15 and 17 years of age formed a group called Los Pacificos (The Peacemakers) and did a rock concert in a Havana neighbourhood. They recorded nine songs in two hours. Their purpose was to bring peace, love, and harmony. For this, the group was sent to prison and the youngest member of the group, Carlos Davila, was sent to die in Angola during the 1970's. Luckily, the tape was rescued and was released as a CD here in Miami. Unfortunately, the group did not receive a rescue or a mention, secondary to the pact of silence between the United States of America and Castro's Cuba.
Another artist called Meme Solis (who started his career in the 1950's) was sentenced to 20 years in anonymity (1969) for his desire to leave Cuba and for writing "degenerate music". He was set free in 1989 after a little help from Felipe Gonzalez (Socialist Prime Minister of Spain, 1982-1996).
Believe me or not, there was always a pact of silence between the United States of America and Cuba. I took liberty of calling the office of Congressman Diaz-Balart (nephew of Fidel Castro and Republican Congressman) to enquire about the possibility that the Diaz-Balart family has used its influence on the employment of Alina Fer-nandez-Revuelta (Castro's daughter) as a volunteer in a Veterans Hospital in Miami, Florida. The Secretary (at Diaz-Balart's Office) tersely stated: "I am sorry I cannot reply to that question, goodbye" and hung the phone. This is one of the examples of the pact of silence obtaining between the governing elites of Cuba and the USA. Juanita Castro (Raul and Fidel Castro's sister) called for clemency. In response, the ideal thing would be reconciliation but both sides would have to admit wrongs and the fact that there is a possible pact of silence between the Republicans, Democrats, and Communists in the American Continent.
I have always felt for Cuba and Spain without feeling for the despot or the dictators of the
Of the father of the Castro Revolution which was Russia and the USA.
I have also felt for the downtrodden of the world like the Indigenous Populations and even the Kurdish people because we all suffered the same inhumanity. These sentiments were because of the events that transpired in Cuba and the USA during my almost 46 years in this life. I do have my sentiments because Castro and the USA with their politics have destroyed families, destroyed happiness, and created a mess in Cuba. I myself at the age of 11 years old as an exchange student from the USA in Germany had to cross the border with Switzerland to see my Grandfather.
I would like to thank my family at Now Public for being able to hear what had to be said. For those who participated in the Castro Revolution or did not have the guts to do something except for screaming your support just the same way you screamed your support for the Republicans and Democrats, I hope that you also go to trial like your political leaders for crimes against humanity.
My reason is that those who complain, comment, and just sit as spectators are as guilty as those who committed the crimes. For those who deny that Castro killed or at least attempt to justify his crimes are also guilty as those who deny the existence of the Holocaust, the genocide in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge Years, and the massacre in Rwanda.
It is with this article that I say Good Riddance to Castro and the corrupt politicians in the American Continent [including the United States of America]. It is also with this article that I reinforce that I am a Libertarian because Castro, the Communists, the Republicans, and Democrats destroyed the island of Cuba and the world. While I have forgiven the people for their errors, I hope that the day the Castro Regime falls that he takes with him all of the corrupt governments in the American Continent including the USA via a peaceful revolution. That would be something to celebrate.
at 09:23 on February 19th, 2008
AlvarezGalloso, thanks for your personal perspective. Please let us know if anything happens in Miami.
at 09:21 on February 19th, 2008
Cuban bloggers are responding to the news of Castro's departure:
Source: globalvoicesonline.org
at 09:58 on February 19th, 2008
ANOTHER BULLSHIT ARTICLE BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. CASTRO IS A DICTATOR THEREFORE RESIGNING AS PRESIDENT MEANS NOTHING. LIKE MIKE HUCKABEE SAID CASTRO MUST BE "DEAD" TO GIVE UP POWER.
at 10:15 on February 19th, 2008
Ace Preston, you're entitled to your opinion about Castro, but please keep your comments civil. Thanks.
at 15:37 on March 8th, 2008
There is nothing civil when you have lost most of your family to the Castro Regime. Don't go there. Anyway it is just another cuban fantasy story being given more news than it deserves and the news stations are running with it. Castro will never die(at least not ideologically). Not in our lifetime.Mike Huckabee is correct. So is McCain my next US President. I have never personally seen a dictator voluntarily step off from power except for Cedras of Haiti. Castro would open himself up for persecution as was the recent case of Fujimori of Peru, Pinochet of Chile, Hussein of Iraq, Noriega Panama, Milosevic Serbia/Yugoslavia, Ceausescu Rumania, Nuremburg Trails etc..No, he's not going anywhere except for his hospital bed. Dictators such as Idi Amin, did not listen to reason because they were insane. Castro is just a little smarter than that but he's no Marshal Tito. tata
Following Article Exempt Posted by Will Weissert on Yahoo
The column published Friday in both major government-controlled newspapers focused on the United States, with Castro poking fun at U.S. presidential candidates. He said word of his retirement forced them to talk about Cuba.
"I enjoyed observing the embarrassing position of all the presidential candidates in the United States," he wrote. "One by one, they could be seen forced to proclaim their immediate demands to Cuba so as not to alienate a single voter."
DEATH TO TYRANTS
at 10:24 on February 19th, 2008
It's going to be the headline read 'round the world, but we'll see if any actual change occurs. At the moment, opportunities are getting squandered.
at 10:31 on February 19th, 2008
I agree with Jordan about the opportunities getting squandered. More photos will be sent.
at 10:47 on February 19th, 2008
Thanks AlvarezGalloso - we'll look out for the photos!
at 11:38 on February 19th, 2008
At the present time, people have been switching their TV Sets and Computers from Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and the Wisconsin Primaries to the Castro Resignation. In spite of my personal reflection, I am sending more photos and more reports.
at 13:26 on February 19th, 2008
I have just spoken to Andrew Davis who is the spokesperson of the Libertarian Party. The Libertarian Party has just issued a press release asking the USA to lift the embargo on Cuba. It can be appreciated on the website lp.org
at 13:26 on February 19th, 2008
I have just spoken to Andrew Davis who is the spokesperson of the Libertarian Party. The Libertarian Party has just issued a press release asking the USA to lift the embargo on Cuba. It can be appreciated on the website lp.org
at 17:08 on February 19th, 2008
In the afternoon, I went to Versailles Restaurant in Miami Florida. The restaurant appeared like a reunion of dignitaries with the press parking in almost every available space and the reporters wanting a piece of the story. I tried to get an Associated Press Reporter to take a photo of me but he misunderstood amongst the crowd and said "No". I decided to take a self portrait as testimony to my presence in the historical event of one "king" abdicating in favour of another "king". I took photos of a Cuban Family who were petitioning to see their family members which they have not seen in thirty years. There were photos of reporters and trucks as well as people selling Cuban Flags and American Flags. People were also selling trinkets, singing, and drinking a lot of coffee. At night, two helicopters from Homeland Security hovered over Versailles to keep an eye on whatever happens. Actually, Homeland Security in America is like the Secret Police in Cuba. They do not tolerate dissent. After sending more photos, there will be more to report on this never ending story.
at 09:39 on February 22nd, 2008
I agree that we're seeing the end of a chapter, not the end of the story!
at 09:15 on February 22nd, 2008
Hello: Here I am with my personal friends Fidel Castro and Yasser Arafat in "Madamme Taussaud" wax museum of New York, I never expected to find Fidel in this place, it was a big surprise!!!
tonistico has contributed a photo to this story.
at 06:27 on February 23rd, 2008
Public parade in Havana, celebrating José Martí January 2008
peter_overgaard has contributed a photo to this story.