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'The old man is dead': Fidel Castro's death sparks celebrations on streets of Miami 'The old man is dead': Fidel Castro's death sparks celebrations on streets of Miami
(about 3 hours later)
As in life, in death Fidel Castro was a deeply divisive figure. The death of Fidel Castro has provoked celebrations on the streets of Miami, home to the largest diaspora of Cuban exiles, with many taking to the streets to express their delight at the leader’s passing.
In Miami, where the largest diaspora of Cuban exiles live, news of his death was greeted with celebrations, street parties, and flag waving. Those taking to the streets banged pots and pans and chanted “Cuba Libre!” (Cuba is Free) and “el viejo murió” (the old man is dead). Within half an hour of the announcement, celebrations, parties, and bouts of flag waving had erupted. Those taking to the streets banged pots and pans and chanted “Cuba Libre!” (Cuba is free) and “el viejo murió” (the old man is dead).
Starting to be a real crowd outside Versailles in Little Havana, cars stopping to honk and cheer "Cuba Libre!" (And "el viejo murió!") pic.twitter.com/pzBvC4fdNVStarting to be a real crowd outside Versailles in Little Havana, cars stopping to honk and cheer "Cuba Libre!" (And "el viejo murió!") pic.twitter.com/pzBvC4fdNV
But in Havana, news of his death, was treated with solemnity. The streets of the Cuban capital were reportedly quiet, following the announcement, which came late at night. In the city, which is closer to Havana both geographically and psychologically than Washington, the news of Castro’s death had long been anticipated by the exiles who left after Castro took power, and in the decades since. Rumours have come and gone for decades, and Castro’s death had become something of a joke mostly because it seemed to happen so frequently. This time, though, it was real.
“I am very upset. Whatever you want to say, he is public figure that the whole world respected and loved,” Havana student Sariel Valdespino told Reuters. On Calle Ocho in Miami’s Little Havana, thousands of people whooped in jubilation as honking and strains of salsa music from car stereos echoed off stucco buildings, and fireworks lit up the humid night sky.
Castro seized control of Cuba in a 1959 revolution and ruled Cuba for 49 years with a mix of charisma and iron will, creating a one-party state and emerging as a central figure in the Cold War, equally reviled and adored. Police blocked off streets leading to Cafe Versailles, the quintessential Cuban American hotspot where strong cafecitos - sweetened espresso - were as common as harsh words about Fidel Castro.
He had been in poor health since 2006, when intestinal bleeding almost killed him. He handed over the presidency to his brother Raul that year and had been seen in public increasingly rarely in recent years. “Cuba si! Castro no!” they chanted, while others screamed “Cuba libre!”
The announcement of his death was greeted by thousands online with celebration and condemnation of the “cruel dictator” and his repressive regime. Jay Fernández, who is now 72, came to Miami at the age of 18 in 1961. He, his wife and another woman held up a bilingual sign he’d made four years ago when Castro first became ill: “Satan, Fidel is now yours. Give him what he deserves. Don’t let him rest in peace.”
Several blocks away, at the Bay of Pigs memorial, Antonio Hernández, 76, stood at the eternal flame that honours the men who tried, and failed, to wrest Cuba from Castro’s grip in 1961. “Everybody’s happy. Now this guy won’t do any more damage,” said Hernández, who came to Miami on the Mariel boat lift in 1980. “His brother will now go down, too. But the world has to pay attention to this, not just we Cubans.”
Valentin Prieto, a prominent Cuban-American blogger who refuses to afford the late Cuban leader the honour of capital letters, wrote on Facebook: “A few hours of sleep tonight is the very last thing fidel castro will ever rob me of.”
Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the most senior US representative from Florida, and who emigrated to the US from Cuba at the age of seven, said Castro’s death marked a potential watershed in Cuba’s development.Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the most senior US representative from Florida, and who emigrated to the US from Cuba at the age of seven, said Castro’s death marked a potential watershed in Cuba’s development.
Today's cover: Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro dead at 90 https://t.co/ecKcwOPD9Q pic.twitter.com/K8g070qy5wToday's cover: Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro dead at 90 https://t.co/ecKcwOPD9Q pic.twitter.com/K8g070qy5w
“The day that the people, both inside the island and out, have waited for has arrived: a tyrant is dead and a new beginning can dawn on the last remaining communist bastion of the western hemisphere. The message is now very clear to those who think they will continue to misrule Cuba through oppression and fear. Enough is enough. The Cuban people have been shortchanged for too long to continue down this reviled path.“The day that the people, both inside the island and out, have waited for has arrived: a tyrant is dead and a new beginning can dawn on the last remaining communist bastion of the western hemisphere. The message is now very clear to those who think they will continue to misrule Cuba through oppression and fear. Enough is enough. The Cuban people have been shortchanged for too long to continue down this reviled path.
“We must seize the moment and help write a new chapter in the history of Cuba, that of a Cuba that is free, democratic, and prosperous.”“We must seize the moment and help write a new chapter in the history of Cuba, that of a Cuba that is free, democratic, and prosperous.”
But others mourned the passing of “a fighter of US imperialism” and a “charismatic icon”. In Havana, news of his death was treated with solemnity. The streets of the Cuban capital were reportedly quiet, following the announcement, which came late at night.
Pakistan’s Imran Khan, the former cricket captain now chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf political party, said of Castro’s passing: “Today the world lost an iconic revolutionary leader Fidel Castro who liberated his nation from all vestiges of imperialism. “I am very upset. Whatever you want to say, he is a public figure that the whole world respected and loved,” Havana student Sariel Valdespino told Reuters.
“Castro reasserted the Cuban nation’s dignity & self worth that withstood US aggression & became a global leader for anti-colonial struggles,” he wrote on twitter.
1. Today the world lost an iconic revolutionary leader Fidel Castro who liberated his nation from all vestiges of imperialism.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi offered his “deepest condolences to the Government & people of Cuba on the sad demise of Fidel Castro. May his soul rest in peace”.
He said India stood in support of the Cuban government and people “in this tragic hour”.
“Fidel Castro was one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century. India mourns the loss of a great friend.”
Fidel Castro was one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century. India mourns the loss of a great friend.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Twitter: “I lament the death of Fidel Castro Ruz, leader of the Cuban revolution and emblematic reference of the 20th Century.”
There has not yet been any reaction to Castro’s death from the White House. The US, in particular the CIA, reportedly considered or launched more than 600 assassination attempts on Castro over decades, including using poison pills, toxic cigars and exploding molluscs. His eventual death was long considered by the US to be the “biological solution” to communism in the Caribbean country.
But in December 2014, President Obama and Raul Castro announced an extraordinary rapprochement in US-Cuban relations, promising to restore diplomatic ties and bring the two nations into a more congenial relationship.
An end to the US’s 58-year embargo of Cuba, however, is dependent on Congress, where many remain opposed to normalising relations with Havana as long as any Castro is in power.