Castro Update

See Babalu Blog for an update. It appears that repression in Cuba is reaching new heights (depths?) and it is getting quite bad for the average Cuban.

Meanwhile AFP indirectly supports the reports of severe repression:

"Any attempt by the opposition to hold a meeting at this time would be crushed at once," opposition leader Vladimiro Roca told AFP.

Instead, officials said more than three million Cubans were holding 80,000 meetings around the country under the theme, "Reaffirming the Revolution," giving patriotic speeches, waving Cuban flags and chanting "Viva Fidel."

Cuba on Wednesday justified the dearth of news on the ailing leader's health, arguing that the country faces a clear and imminent threat from the United States.

Castro, who has ruled over the island's communist government for almost 48 years, temporarily handed his duties over to his brother Raul, the defense chief, on July 31, after undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. Neither Castro has appeared in public since.

Due to the "concrete threats" from Washington, "the information that we give about this whole situation has to be careful, limited to inform what is indispensable," National Assembly speaker Ricardo Alarcon said in an interview with Radio Rebelde.

Cuban authorities have gone all out over the past few days to convince the island's citizens that Castro is well on his way to recovery and that the ruling communist party is in top shape.

They have said Castro would be back on the job within months, or possibly weeks, but have shed no light on the exact condition of the bearded leader, who turns 80 on Sunday.

Sources close to Fidel Castro's circle however did say that the surgery was believed to have been performed early July 27, and that a few days later Castro began ingesting light food and now was able to read documents.

Alarcon justified limited disclosure referring to a 1996 US law that establishes the US goal "to put an end to (Cuba's) revolutionary government," as well as a 2004 report by the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba which details US programs aimed at encouraging democracy in Cuba.

The Cuban government is clinging to power.