By Ventura de Jesús—Granma daily staff writer—

CARDENAS.—The people of this city, through their Municipal Assembly of People's Power, have granted Fidel the honorary title of Illustrious Guest of this city in Matanzas province, for his infinite dedication to the revolutionary cause and his work of a lifetime.

The award took place during the Dec. 6 national event marking the 8th anniversary of the Battle of Ideas and the 37th of the creation of the Federation of Students in Intermediate Education (FEEM), in the Cárdenas movie theater, filled to capacity with young people linked to the programs of the Revolution.

Just before the event began, President Fidel Castro telephoned Elián González to wish him a happy 14th birthday. "I have just been speaking with the Comandante and I want to tell all the people of Cuba that he is feeling very well. He sent me his congratulations," Elián explained.

The key that accredits the leader of the Revolution as an Illustrious Guest of the city was presented to National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcón by Ela Clara Valle Rodríguez, president of the provincial government, so that the former could deliver it to Fidel.

Eight years ago, one of the most just and energetic battles led by our people began when the cause of a child and his family became the cause of millions of Cubans, stated Patrica Flechilla, president of the FEEM.

In his speech, Ricardo Alarcón recounted the battle waged by the Cuban people in response to the genocidal, unyielding and infamous policy of the superpower.

He congratulated the FEEM students on the 37th anniversary of that organization, and Elián González on his 14th birthday. "And not only because he was born on this day," he said, "but because of his excellent educational and sports results and his conduct, which make him an example for our young people and children." Alarcón ended by calling for redoubled efforts for the liberation of the five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters still unjustly incarcerated in the United States.

Also present at the anniversary event were Yadira García Vera, member of the Political Bureau; Fernando Remírez de Estenoz, member of the Central Committee Secretariat; Otto Rivero Torres, vice president of the Council of Ministers; Rolando Alfonso Borges, head of the Ideological Department of the Central Committee; and Pedro Betancourt García, first secretary of the Communist Party in the province, as well as Party, government and youth leaders.

Elián’s father Juan Miguel González and his family, and relatives of Gerardo, Fernando, Ramón, René and Antonio also took part in the ceremony.

On behalf of all Cuban women, early on Dec. 6, mothers and grandmothers of Cárdenas took part in a large demonstration calling for the release of the five political prisoners in the United States.

Other celebrations included sports festivals and a special morning event in the Marcelo Salado school, while more than 3,000 students paraded for the 37th anniversary of the FEEM, an organization whose next congress is in 2008.

Translated by Granma International  •

Granma 06-12-2007