Some of the Havana residents who had spotted him insisted that their names, sex, and even the exact day in which they saw Mr. Castro not be published to avoid running afoul of the government, which has declared Mr. Castro’s illness a state secret.
Why do you think the Cuban government declared Fidel's illness a state secret? Why do you think Havana residents would be so paranoid about this?
Want to know more about Cuban politics? Try this article from the Journal of Democracy.
(Crossposted at our other blog)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteKeeping Fidel Castro's illness a state secret seems to confirm what Eusebio Mujal-León and Joshua Busby wrote when they described the Cuban regime over the past decade and a half as a 'transitional charismatic post-totalitarian' regime. If indeed a 'post-Castro era' was soon approaching, publicly releasing information concerning F. Castro's illness may indeed be the catalyst for launching such a movement. It is F. Castro as a personality, a charismatic leader that is sustaining this Cuban regime - so perhaps his being out in public is a political move: he is still around behind the scenes supporting his brother.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, Raúl Castro has been in power one year compared to the five decades of his older brother; surely this is an immense change for the Cuban people. Although R. Castro has, according to the New York Times, 'engineered the biggest shake-up of the Cuban government in decades,' it remains to be seen what specifically new policy this will result in.
As it turns out, F. Castro blogs that he was in fact consulted by his younger brother Raúl about the changes to government and that he gave his approval. Does this suggest that he is still calling the shots, if he gave his 'approval?' How would public knowledge of his illness affect how he is seen as a leader?
As for the paranoia of the residents of Havana, could it be that in acknowledging F. Castro's illness is to contradict and indeed question the state and to 'disrespect' the leader of the 'Revolution?'
Cuba's government kept Fidel Castro's health as a secret of state bacause Fidel castro is the symbol of Cuba's communist regime, if he dies, Castro's regime dies with him.
ReplyDeleteIt is not a secret that his brother Raul have a diferent point of view concerning the future of the island. He has started talking with the US and now more Americans tourists are aloud in the island.