Castro’s Domestic Policies – Part 2

1. Castro’s Domestic Policies – Part 2

2. Castro’s Treatment of Minorities • Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) is a network of committees across Cuba • The organizations are designed to report "counter-revolutionary" activity

3. Castro’s Treatment of Minorities • The CDR officials have the duty to know the activities of each person in their respective blocks • There is an individual file kept on each block resident, some of which reveal the internal dynamics of households • Citizens must be careful of their actions and of what they say, as they are being constantly monitored

4. Castro’s Treatment of Minorities • The committees have often received negative international coverage, and been cited by human rights groups as being involved in activity described in Cuba as "acts of repudiation“ • These acts include abuse, intimidation and sometimes physical assault against those deemed "counter-revolutionary"

5. Castro’s Treatment of Minorities • In the weeks prior to the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Castro regime had rounded up tens of thousands of Cubans, holding them up in sports stadiums across the island in order to quash discontent on the island and prevent its adversaries from joining exile forces • However, the idea that Cubans would rise up against Castro would never happen — probably as a result of the widespread arrests throughout Cuba and the reprisals the families would have to endure, like public humiliation and harassment

6. Castro’s Treatment of Minorities • Thousands of political opponents to the Castro regime have been killed, primarily during the first decade of his leadership; exact numbers are not known • Some Cubans labeled "counterrevolutionaries", "fascists", or "CIA operatives" have been imprisoned in extremely poor conditions without trial

7. Castro’s Treatment of Minorities • Military Units to Aid Production, or UMAPs, were labor camps established in 1965 which confined "social deviants" including homosexuals and Jehovah Witnesses in order to work "counter-revolutionary" influences out of certain segments of the population • There were thousands of executions • The camps were closed in 1967 in response to international outcries

8. Castro’s Treatment of Minorities • Castro acknowledges that Cuba holds political prisoners, but argues that Cuba is justified because these prisoners are not jailed because of their political beliefs, but have been convicted of "counter-revolutionary" crimes, including bombings

9. Castro’s Treatment of Minorities • Fidel Castro portrays opposition to the Cuban government as illegal, and the result of an ongoing conspiracy fostered by Cuban exiles with ties to the United States or the CIA • Many Castro supporters say that Castro's measures are justified to prevent the fall of his government, whereas his opposition says he uses the United States as an excuse to justify his continuing political control

10. Castro’s Treatment of Religious Groups • Cuba was declared to be atheist • No religions were allowed to proselytize • Cuban agents from the Ministry of the Interior watched and spied on those who have worshiped in churches and in their homes

11. Castro’s Treatment of Religious Groups • The Fidel Castro government presently still restricts religion by: • Blocking construction of new churches • Limits the arrival of foreign religious leaders • Refuses to recognize most new denominations • Import of religious articles is controlled and monitored • Many private churches and other houses of worship, including meetings in private places have been disbanded, boarded up and shut down • So called "unregistered religious groups" (not state recognized) experience regular harassment, and repression • Religious material is confiscated

12. Castro’s Treatment of Religious Groups • There are still many Cuban religious leaders in prison for their religious beliefs • The Ministry of the Interior still engages in controlling and monitoring religious activities and uses surveillance, infiltration, and harassment against any religious people

13. Castro’s Treatment of Religious Groups • In 1992, Castro agreed to loosen restrictions on religion and even permitted church-going Catholics to join the Cuban Communist Party • He began describing his country as "secular" rather than “atheist” • Pope John Paul II visited Cuba in 1998, the first visit by a reigning pontiff to the island. Castro and the Pope appeared side by side in public on several occasions during the visit. Castro wore a dark blue business suit (in contrast to his fatigues) in his public meetings with the Pope and treated him with reverence and respect

14. Role of Women in Castro’s Cuba • One of the most significant changes brought about by the Cuban Revolution has been to the lives and status of women • Before 1959, the role of most Cuban women resembled that of other women in most countries • Women enjoyed few rights and were expected to sacrifice their interests for the well-being of the family

15. Role of Women in Castro’s Cuba • The Cuban Constitution guarantees women rights: • Economic • Political • Social • Cultural • Family • Opportunities equal to those of men

16. Role of Women in Castro’s Cuba • The Labor Code ensures equal rights and opportunities for women in all fields of work as well as an equal salary • Social security applies to men and women equally • Women have the right to an abortion • Equality of access is ensured in both education and health

17. Role of Women in Castro’s Cuba • Much of the success in implementing the legislation relating to the rights of women has been achieved thanks to the work of the Federation of Cuban Women • Over 85% of Cuban women are members and it now has 73,710 branches throughout the country

18. Role of Women in Castro’s Cuba • The Federation’s activities cover a wide number of areas: • Works collaboratively with the government, trade unions, mass media, international organizations, etc. • Mounts grass-roots level campaigns • Runs women’s training centers for awareness of their rights • Develop non-sexist attitudes among students in schools • Carry out research where there are still problems

19. Castro’s Cuba – The Arts • After the Cuban revolution of 1959 Cuban artists became more isolated from the artistic movements of the United States and Europe • Though artists continued to produce work in Cuba, many pursued their careers in exile • Theaters, cinemas, concerts, art exhibitions, etc. were all censored

20. Castro’s Cuba – Media & Propaganda • Citizens and press must be careful of their actions and of what they say, as they are being constantly monitored • Castro usually wears military uniforms and has made fiery speeches

21. Castro’s Cuba – Propaganda • Castro’s speeches lasted for several hours on end. In the early years, he seriously tries to inform the Cuban people, illustrating his arguments with facts and figures and speaking openly about problems • Much propaganda had to deal with the U.S. being stubborn or evil • Other propaganda emphasized the preeminence of Castro and the revolution

22. Castro’s Cuba – Propaganda • However, his “cult of personality” has been less built up than other dictators (Hitler, Mussolini, Zedong, Stalin) • For example, you will find no statues, streets, schools, towns, or money with Castro’s name Castro is looking for statues of himself

24. World solidarity with Cuba

25. No economic blockade of Cuba! Foreign exchange, petroleum, medicaments, imported and exported goods

26. 7th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution

27. Poster calling for Cubans to celebrate the 17th anniversary of the Moncada attack. The attack is seen as the starting point of the Cuban revolution, and is celebrated every year with a big meeting at the Square of the Revolution in Havana

28. May Day. All with Fidel on the Square of the Revolution