• The Council of State of the Republic of Cuba has passed Decree-Law No. 279 which officially declares every October 6 as the "Day of Victims of State Terrorism."

The policy of state terrorism, perpetrated against Cuba through actions that, in the majority of cases, have been, organized and endorsed by the U.S. authorities, is responsible for the grief and pain of many Cuban families, as well the destruction and devastation of goods, resources and installations belonging to our people. The complicity of the United States is demonstrated by the fact that many of the authors of those attacks are at large in that country.

The decision by the Council of State establishes October 6 for this remembrance event given the abominable crime that was committed on that date in 1976, namely the mid-flight explosion of a Cubana de Aviación passenger plane resulting from a terrorist attack, in which 73 innocent passengers lost their lives, the majority of them young people. The authors of that attack had proven links with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and are still enjoying impunity and protection on U.S. territory.

For having personally suffered the cruelty of this criminal policy, the Cuban government and people have reaffirmed their decision to condemn and confront terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, particularly that of state terrorism, wherever it is committed and whatever the reasons cited by the authors may be.

The Decree-Law of the Council of State stipulates that every October 6, the flag with the solitary flag will be flown at half mast during an established schedule within civil and military institutions and Cuban embassies and consulates abroad. •

We cannot say that the pain is shared. The pain is multiplied. Millions of Cubans are weeping today together with the loved ones of the victims of the abominable crime. And when a strong and energetic people weeps, injustice trembles.

(Fidel, at the funeral service for the victims of the Cuban airliner explosion on October 6, which took place in Plaza de la Revolución on October 15, 1976)

- Letter to Obama from the Committee of Relatives of the Victims of the crime over Barbados

Translated by Granma International

Havana. October 6, 2010

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