CPI(M) condemns 'illegal indictment' of Cuban leader by US

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday adopted a resolution condemning alleged US threats against Cuba and expressing solidarity with former Cuban president Raul Castro and the Cuban people.

The resolution was unanimously adopted at the CPI(M) Central Committee meeting being held at HKS Surjeet Bhawan in New Delhi from May 22 to 24.

Titled 'Cuba Is Not Alone - US Should Back Off From Cuba', the resolution denounced what the party described as a ''shocking and illegal indictment'' announced by the US Department of Justice against Castro, a historic leader of the Cuban Revolution.

''We denounce the shocking and illegal indictment which the US Department of Justice has recently announced against the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Raul Castro Ruz,'' the CPI(M) said.

The Left party alleged that the charges were linked to the 1996 shooting down of aircraft belonging to the Miami-based organisation Brothers to the Rescue and claimed that the case was being revived nearly three decades later as a ''cynical political move without any legal basis''.

The party said the move stemmed from what it called the inability of ''imperialism'' to weaken Cuba despite economic sanctions and hardships faced by the country.

The CPI(M) further alleged that the United States was seeking to destabilise Cuba and enforce regime change, referring to remarks attributed to US President Donald Trump on May 21 regarding Cuba.

Warning against any military intervention, the resolution said such a move would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe as Cubans would defend their country.

''The CPI(M) strongly condemns the US imperialist threats on Cuba,'' the resolution said, while reiterating solidarity with the Cuban leadership and people.

The party also called upon people in India to express opposition to what it termed an affront to Castro and any attempts to launch an attack on Cuba.

Federal prosecutors in the US on Wednesday announced charges against former Cuban president Castro in the 1996 downing of civilian planes operated by Miami-based exiles as the Trump administration escalated pressure on the socialist government.