Cuba marks bicentennial of Bolivia's independence

HAVANA, Cuba, Aug 1 (ACN) The bicentennial of Bolivia's proclamation of independence was commemorated at the headquarters of the Cuban Friendship Institute (ICAP by its Spanish acronym) with a solidarity event, days before the historic August 6, 1825.

Fernando Gonzalez Llort, president of ICAP, emphasized that these are two centuries of history marked by impressive cultural and ethnic diversity and heroic struggles, defeating the desire for colonial reconquests and the current fascist imperialism that seeks to seize the region's wealth.

He denounced the external threats that jeopardize the Andean nation's sovereignty, referring to the attempts of foreign powers interested in appropriating strategic natural resources such as lithium, water, and biodiversity.

“The Bolivia of the future faces great challenges. We trust that together we can find the best solutions. The unity of our forces is essential to confront the vestiges of colonialism and the devastating imperialist and fascist machinery that overwhelms our people,” he remarked.

Bolivian Ambassador Yeshika Crespo thanked the Cuban people and their government for being an example of resistance against the blockade and solidarity, stating that today, the 200th anniversary becomes a cry for dignity, sovereignty, and freedom.

The diplomat considered that the bicentennial is not an act of nostalgia but a call to the present, a responsibility toward the future.

“It must be a cry that they will never again steal our lithium, our gas, our water, our hope, they will never again divide us or colonize our minds, our schools, our decisions,” she emphasized.

In his speech, she demanded international justice for violations of people's rights, while strongly denouncing the genocide against the Palestinian people, the criminalization of the Mapuche people, and the blockade against Cuba, and reaffirming his support for just causes.