Cuban revolution and Papuan struggle for independence

A Papuan activist. Photo by Ambrosius Mulait.

July 26 is the anniversary of the Cuban revolution,

a popular movement that overthrew the tyrannical regime of Fulgencio Batista that ruled Cuba (1952-1959).

Overview of the Cuban Revolution 

When we mention the Cuban Revolution, the images of Fidel Castro and Ernesto (Che) Guevara in their military uniforms and starry berets probably come to mind. Thanks to a photo by Alberto Korda, Che in particular has become the second most popular icon in the world after Jesus Christ, incarnating the struggle of all the oppressed.

Indeed, there is much to admire about the Cuban Revolution, where between 1956-1959, two dozen young idealists were able to rally the Cuban people from all walks of life, from peasants, workers, students, artists, the middle class, to a number of important figures to fight the regime of Fulgencio Batista, supported by the United States, strong with an army of 50,000 soldiers.  

From the Cuban revolution we can learn how a seemingly impossible sea change can happen when the revolutionary ideas of a few individuals are adopted by the masses, and eventually these become the ideas of the people themselves.

Education and health, pillars of the revolution

If armed struggle is the prevalent image of the Cuban revolution, the real story was more than just a fight led by bearded guerrillas. Fidel Castro and his comrades had a very humanist approach by prioritizing education and health. This was developped from the beginning, when they waged guerrilla war in the Sierra Maestra mountains. Che Guevara was active in providing free medical treatment to the locals while Camilo Cienfuegos campaigned to eradicate illiteracy among the peasants. The harsh life among the poor in the Sierra Maestra made these Cuban leaders understand the true meaning of revolution, which is to lift society from the bottom, and create a new social order.

At the time of the Revolution, the social situation in Cuba was dire: 23% of its population was illiterate, and only 55% of children under 14 went to school. But today, almost all Cuban children attend school, at least until the end of secondary education. The 320,000 teachers allow Cuba to achieve a literacy rate of almost 100%. There is no longer white domination as in some other Latin American countries. Since the fall of the Batista regime, Cuban revolutionaries have made health a national priority and have established a public system that is universal and free of charge. There is no doubt that the revolution has improved the lives of many Cubans. It expanded access to food and housing for everyone, and eliminated the island's worst poverty problems. 

Cubans benefit from health protection based on preventive methods and the concept of the "family doctor". Medical services in Cuba are comparable to the most developed countries in the world. Today Cuba has about one hundred thousand doctors and many of them have been serving abroad especially during the Covid 19 pandemic. Education in Cuba is known for being progressive. The University of Havana is in demand by international students.

Cuban Revolution and black emancipation

Nelson Mandela with Fidel Castro

During the cold war between 1960-1980s, Cuba exported its revolutionary ideas to the third world and in particular, to the African continent. Although caricatured as an authoritarian communist country, Cuba has played an active role in the liberation movement of Africans in Congo, Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Some 5,000 Cuban soldiers sacrificed their lives for African independence. 

In July 1991, Nelson Mandela, a leading figure of the African National Congress (ANC), thanked Cuba for its military support, which was decisive in fighting the apartheid regime in South Africa. At a rally in front of thousands of people, Madiba mentioned that "his friend Fidel" and "the Cuban people occupy a special place in the hearts of the African people".

Black emancipation militants from the time of Malcolm X to Black Lives Mattter have honored Fidel Castro and his fight for universal freedom. The Movement for Black Lives continues to affirm its solidarity with the Cuban people and the spirit of the Cuban Revolution.

Cuba and Timor Leste 

The Cuban Revolution also inspired the freedom fighters of Timor Leste who, after declaring independence from Portugal in late 1975, had to struggle for 24 years against Indonesian military occupation. Cuba was the second country after China to recognize Timor Leste's independence from Indonesia in May 2002. 

Cuban doctors contributed to health care in the rural areas of Timor Leste during the country's early independence. There are now hundreds of Timorese health workers who have received training at the Latin American school of medicine in Havana.

The Timorese have such a genuine affection for Fidel Castro that upon the Comandante's death on November 25, 2016, masses and celebrations were held across Timor Leste to honor his memory. 

Flames of revolution in Papua 

Now the question is, to what extent does the Cuban Revolution resonate in Papua? 

Today, conditions in Papua are not much different from Cuba before the revolution with 600,000 young people out of school. In remote areas, illiteracy rates are as high as 20 percent, while life expectancy is low and maternal-infant mortality rates are high. For six decades, the daily lives of indigenous Papuans have been characterized by the omnipresence of the Indonesian army. Today there are an estimated 47,000 of them. Faced with this dramatic situation, independence is clearly the only way out for Papuans.

While attacks by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) have intensified against Indonesian army across Papua, civil resistance has been no less prevalent. Young Papuans with a revolutionary spirit are ready to make a change. Many like to adopt symbols of Cuban revolution such as the starry beret and the fist raised. They sometimes shout "Viva!" in their non-violent actions. 

The Morning Star flag, which looks similar to the flag of free Cuba, indirectly reflects the spirit of revolution that burns in every Papuan freedom fighter. The Papuan struggle is not only about independence from the Indonesian colonial regime, but also the liberation of all Papuans from ignorance and poverty. In the same vein as Che and Camilo in Sierra Maestra, a number of Papuan intellectuals activate alternative education programs that prioritize local indigenous peoples. 

In conclusion, we can say that the struggles of the Cuban and Papuan people are essentially the same, as both are fighting for the universal values of freedom and dignity. Together with Cuban revolutionary pioneers, we can sing: "We march towards an ideal, knowing that we will win. For peace and prosperity, let us all fight for freedom!"