At the Defence Council 29_04_05 of the Korea Zone, in the Avilanian municipality of Primero de Enero, and just hours before the 65th anniversary of the heroic victory of Playa Girón, Territorial Defence Day took place as an expression of the people’s readiness to face any aggression, to reaffirm the will to preserve peace and national sovereignty, and to defend, with unity, dignity and firmness, the achievements of the Cuban Revolution.

The day constituted a demonstration of the population’s commitment to the defence of the Homeland, at a time when Cuba continues to be subjected to the siege of the United States government, intensified through the economic, commercial and financial blockade, along with media campaigns and actions aimed at breaking citizen tranquillity and the morale of the people.

During the exercise, the people’s defensive capacity was demonstrated, prepared to face any threat from internal or external enemies that might jeopardise the nation’s independence, sovereignty and peace, as well as Cubans’ determination to continue marching along that path without surrendering to pressures or threats. That same history of resistance, heroism and firmness remains alive in every community, workplace and study space in the country.

Daimy Zamora Arteaga, president of the Defence Council of the municipality of Primero de Enero, denounced that the coercive measures imposed against Cuba seek to affect the economy, paralyse essential services, damage sensitive sectors such as health and education, and generate desperation among the population. She also rejected the communications and media war that attempts to manipulate Cuban reality, divide the people and weaken their spirit of resistance.

Faced with these aggressions, she affirmed: «The nation’s main strategic weapon continues to be unity. Under the concept of war of the whole people, we have the sacred duty to defend the Homeland, its rights, its independence and the social achievements attained by the Revolution.»

At the Defence Council of the Korea Zone, the willingness to continue strengthening defensive readiness was reaffirmed, as was the commitment to free public health, education for all, sport, culture and social justice – values that are integral to the essence of the Cuban revolutionary project.

The day concluded with a firm patriotic reaffirmation: Cuba does not surrender, does not renounce its sovereignty, and will continue to defend, with dignity and steadfastness, the right of its people to live in a free, independent and socialist nation.