on the activation of the helms-burton act of 1996

                                          End the Cruel and Unjust U.S. Blockade
                                      Respect Cuba's Right to Self-Determination

To cause hunger, disillusionment and desperation among the people of Cuba so that they stop supporting their government and work to overthrow it: these were the reasons behind the so-called trade embargo imposed by the U.S. in 1962 and these are still the reasons for the continuing and tightening financial, commercial and economic blockade after 57 years. This unjust U.S. policy on Cuba has been punishing the Cuban people.

​The Philippines-Cuba Cultural and Friendship Association, an organization of educators, artists, businesspersons, students, workers, fishers and community activists in the Philippines promoting friendship with and support for the Cuban people joins the global call to end this cruel, irrational and inhumane blockade.

​This coming November 7, Cuba is forwarding to the UN for the 28th time its draft resolution calling for the end of this blockade. Year after year since 1991, the UN has been passing this resolution. Over the years, a great majority of the members of the UN General Assembly have increasingly voted in support of Cuba's resolution, while the U.S. obstinately casts its veto with the lone support of Israel, or one or two others  joining or abstaining.

Instead of heeding the greater majority, the Trump administration has tightened the blockade, and reversed the reforms initiated during the Obama presidency. On April 17, this year, it activated the implementation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act of 1996, which extends the scope and impact of the blockade beyond Cuba in violation of rules and principles of international law, contravening the rules of trade and international economic relations and undermining h sovereignty of other states.

These new restrictions intend to bring more economic hardships as they would hamper Cuba's economic, commercial and financial relations with third-world countries as well as its capacity to attract direct foreign investments to support its development.

Obviously, the U.S. Goliath has failed to bring Cuba's socialist government to its knees during the past fifty-seven years of the blockade. Adversity has strengthened the people's unity and will continue to overcome difficulty and advance in the socialist path they have chosen.  Cuba has proven to be a responsible member of the international community, assisting countries during disasters and sending thousands of its doctors to other countries to help improve peoples' health conditions.

How much longer will the international community allow U.S. bullying to continue? Enough is enough.  Imposing more hunger in Cuba, causing sickness and death, punishing not only Cuba but also other countries that relate and trade with Cuba through an unjust, illegal blockade is totally and absolutely cruel and criminal.

PhilCuba calls on all freedom-loving people of conscience to express their support for the Cuban Resolution to end the U.S. blockade against Cuba!