Where is Fidel?
The stunning announcement made simultaneously in Washington and Havana of renewed diplomatic ties between both nations after nearly 56 years has raised many questions.
Among the most prevalent: Where is Fidel Castro? And did he consent to the historic change? Or is the former Cuban leader in such deteriorated health that it no longer matters?
“Dictators need an enemy, the bigger the better,” said former Cuban political prisoner Sebastian Arcos, who now serves as assistant director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University. “I would be very surprised if Fidel Castro is conscious and approved this agreement.”
Frank Mora, director of the Latin America and Caribbean Center at FIU, also doubts Castro green-lighted the new accord.
“Fidel Castro always took advantage of an adversarial relationship with the United States,” he said.
The 88-year-old Castro ceded power to his younger brother RaĂºl in 2008 after falling ill in 2006. But he continues to have a looming presence even though he is rarely publicly seen or heard.
Essays signed by him continue to be published in state-run newspapers, most recently on Oct. 14 in response to a New York Times editorial. And photos of meetings with foreign heads of state were published in July.
But Fidel Castro’s last public appearance was on Jan. 8, when he attended the inauguration of an art gallery in Havana featuring the work of Cuban artist Alexis Leyva, aka Kcho. Looking fragile, he was hunched over and used a cane to walk, surrounded by an entourage of security. Even then, many speculated his years on earth were numbered.
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| Castro 88 yrs Old |
In making the new U.S.-Cuba ties announcement Wednesday, the two addressed their respective nations at the same time and each spoke for about 10 minutes.
“The normalization of relations, especially trade relations has always been a priority for RaĂºl Castro, not because he is a Democrat but rather for his legitimacy as ruler,” Arcos said. “He did not do it before because Fidel would not allow it.”
Longtime anti-embargo advocate Max Lesnik disagrees.
“If Fidel Castro wasn’t in agreement, it would not have happened,” said Lesnik, of the Miami-based Alianza Martiana and founder of Replica magazine, who has long been known as a personal friend of Fidel Castro.
Before January’s appearance at the art gallery, Fidel Castro attended the National Assembly meeting in February 2013 but did not speak. Lesnik said he has not seen the former leader but is sure he remains in good health.
“If he has suffered a setback in his health, that would be very difficult to keep secret,” Lesnik said. “Besides RaĂºl would not do anything so dramatic to affect his brother’s well-being if Fidel were opposed.
“It is important for this agreement to have taken place while Fidel Castro remains alive and lucid because had it been done with Fidel not physically present, there would always be doubt as to whether or not he agreed or would have done something different,” Lesnik said. “This was done with his blessing. Otherwise, it would be viewed as a betrayal to the revolution.”
Much remains to be seen about how the agreement between Washington and Havana will unfold. Also in question is whether there with be changes to the current government structure on the island.
RaĂºl Castro, 83, appeared alone in military uniform during his noon television address on Wednesday. Watching from a couch inside government offices, according to published photos in Cuba, was Vice President Ramiro ValdĂ©s, a high-profile revolutionary who represents the old guard and now oversees the island’s telecommunications.
"That's very interesting and suggests that Ramiro can be a contender in an internal struggle,” Arcos said. “The back story is that RaĂºl and Ramiro do not get along. ... RaĂºl has not given Ramiro a high profile under his administration. If Fidel is in his final phase, the dispute between RaĂºl and Ramiro gets interesting “
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