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Death and state funeral of Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro in 2003
Death date	25 November 2016 at 22:29 Cuba Time (UTC−05:00)
Funeral date	26 November 2016

The former President of Cuba Fidel Castro died of natural causes at 22:29 (CST) in the evening of 25 November 2016. His brother and President Raúl Castro made an announcement about his death on state television. International reactions followed, especially on Twitter.

Background

In April 2016, Fidel Castro told the Communist Party of Cuba: "I’ll be 90 years old soon/ Soon I’ll be like all the others. The time will come for all of us, but the ideas of the Cuban communists will remain as proof on this planet that if they are worked at with fervour and dignity, they can produce the material and cultural goods that human beings need, and we need to fight without truce to obtain them."

Funeral

Following Fidel Castro's death, his brother Raúl Castro announced: "According to the will expressed by comrade Fidel, his body will be cremated in the early hours" of 26 November 2016.

Reactions

Domestic

President Raúl Castro announced on national television: "The commander in chief of the Cuban revolution died at 22:29 (CST) this evening." He recalled at the end of his speech: ""Towards victory, always!"

International

•  Ecuador - President Rafael Correa wrote: "He was a great one. Fidel is dead. Long live Cuba! Long live Latin America!"
•  El Salvador - President Salvador Sánchez wrote on Twitter that "with deep pain we received news of dear friend and eternal companion, Commander Fidel Castro Ruz." He also expressed "condolences and solidarity with the government and people of Cuba."
•  India - President Pranab Mukherjee wrote on Twitter: "Heartfelt condolences on sad demise of Cuba's revolutionary leader, former President & friend of India, Fidel Castro." Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wrote on Twitter that he extended "deepest condolences to the Government & people of Cuba" and that "e stand in support...in this tragic hour." He further noted that "India mourns the loss of a great friend."
  • Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed condolences to the Cuban people and noted Castro's "contribution to the Non Aligned Movement and his unflinching support for India's cause on various fora."
  • Communist Party of India (Marxist) General-Secretary Sitaram Yechury said: "Fidel Castro will remain a legend and a source of inspiration. The world will miss him."
•  Mexico - President Enrique Peña Nieto said that Castro was a friend of Mexico, who had promoted bilateral relationships based on "respect, dialogue and solidarity. He added: "I lament the passing of Fidel Castro Ruz, leader of the Cuban revolution and emblem of the 20th century."
•  Pakistan - Tehreek-e-Insaaf convener Imran Khan wrote on Twitter following the news: "Today the world lost an iconic revolutionary leader Fidel Castro who liberated his nation from all vestiges of imperialism," "Castro reasserted the Cuban nation's dignity & self worth that withstood US aggression & became a global ldr [sic] for anti colonial struggles" and that "e in Pakistan will always remember with gratitude Cuba's support on the ground in the aftermath of the 2005 earthquake."
•  Russia - Communist Party President Gennady Zyuganov expressed his condolences and proclaimed that "Fidel Castro will remain an authority and example for all mankind" and "Russia must continue to help Cuba, which remained true to its friendship with Russia in the most difficult times."
•  Spain - The Foreign Ministry issued a statement that read: "A figure of great historic importance has gone, a man who brought about a turning point in the country’s evolution and whose great influence was felt across the region. As the son of Spanish parents, former President Castro always maintained strong links with Spain and was bound by ties of blood and culture.
•  South Africa - President Jacob Zuma expressed his condolences to the government and people of Cuba and noted that Castro "inspired the Cuban people to join us in our own struggle against apartheid" and "as a way of paying homage to the memory of President Castro, the strong bonds of solidarity, cooperation and friendship that exist between South Africa and Cuba must be maintained and nurtured."
  • The Nelson Mandela Foundation sent condolences to the people and government of Cuba.
•  United Kingdom - Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone called Castro an "absolute giant of the 20th century." He also told BBC Radio 4' Today: "I’m sure they will, over time, move towards something like a traditional west European democracy. It could have happened a lot earlier if you hadn’t had, the entire time, a blockade by America, attempts to overthrow the regime, eight assassination attempts authorised by American presidents." He further commented that "even if Trump goes a little bit bonkers...Of course Fidel did things that were wrong...Initially he wasn’t very good on lesbian and gay rights, but the key things that mattered was that people had a good education, good healthcare and wealth was evenly distributed. He was not living as a billionaire laundering money off into a Panamanian bank account or anything like that, he was good for the people.
•  United States - Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) wrote on Twitter: "We must seize the moment and help write a new chapter in the history of #Cuba; that of a Cuba that is free, democratic, and prosperous." Although, she added that with Raúl Castro still in charge, change would be unlikely. She added: "A tyrant is dead." Representative Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) also wrote: "The passing of the dictator marks the end of a long, horrifying chapter in #Cuba's history. The #Cuban people need our solidarity #Castro."
  • In the early hours of 26 November, the Cuban-American diaspora in Little Havana, Miami, Florida celebrations occurred amongst the self-imposed exiles. In San Francisco, California, the diasporic reaction was more mixed.
•  Venezuela - President Nicolás Maduro wrote: "To all the revolutionaries of the world, we have to continue his legacy and his flag of independence, of socialism, of homeland." He added: "He made history together with the peoples of the world to signal a way of dignity...Great history with the principles of Bolivar and Martí...Fidel and Chávez constructed el ALBA, PetroCaribe and left the path of liberation of our peoples...the history absolved." He also said: "I just talked with President Raúl Castro to send the solidarity and love to the people of Cuba before the passing of Commander Fidel Castro."

References

1. "Cuba's Fidel Castro, former president, dies aged 90". BBC News.
2. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/19/fidel-castro-farewell-speech-cuba-communist-congress
3. "Fidel Castro, Cuba's longtime leader, dies at 90". RT.
4. "Cuba's Fidel Castro dies". PressTV.
5. ^ "Fidel Castro, revolutionary Cuban icon, dies aged 90 - latest news, reaction and what does it mean for Cuba". Telegraph.
6. ^ "Fidel Castro: world reacts to death of Cuban leader – live updates". The Guardian. 26 November 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
7. "Fidel Castro's unflinching support for India's causes will be remembered forever: Sonia Gandhi". New Delhi, India: Business Standard. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
8. http://news.rediff.com/commentary/2016/nov/26/india-mourns-loss-of-a-great-friend-pm-modi-on-fidel-castros-demise/d0aa8d60e00cd925a1da62d875439778
9. ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/26/world/fidel-castro-death-reaction/index.html
10. "'Among the Great who change world': Politicians about Fidel's contribution to history". ITAR-TASS. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
11. Evans, Jenni (26 November 2016). "Castro dedicated his life to freeing the oppressed - Zuma". Cape Town, South Africa: News24. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
12. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/11/26/fidel-castros-death-stuns-social-media/94462942/
13. http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/25/bay-area-reacts-to-news-of-fidel-castros-death/
14. https://gma.yahoo.com/fidel-castro-dead-90-world-leaders-public-figures-073504004--abc-news-topstories.html

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