New York Times
July 21, 1957. p. 24.
Program Credited to Castro, Asking Isolation of Army, Is
Published in Havana
HAVANA, July 20 – The resignation of President Fulgencio Batista and the establishment of a Provisional Government is demanded by Dr. Fidel Castro, rebel leader, from his stronghold in the Sierra Maestra range, according to a statement published here by the newspaper El Pais.
Purporting to have been issued by Señor Castro, the statement is signed also by Raul Chibas, leader of the Ortodoxo party, who went to Sierra Maestra about two weeks ago, and Felipe Pazos, a former president of the National Bank of Cuba.
The document makes a list of demands and proposals for a settlement of the violent Cuban political situation.
The formation of a Civil Revolutionary Front is proposed by Señor Castro. He rejects the intervention or meditation of any other nation in the affairs of Cuba. On the other hand, he supports charges of violations of human rights against the Batista Government made by Cubans before the United Nations and asks the United States Government to stop the shipment of arms to Cuba.
Señor Castro opposes the formation of a military junta as the Provisional Government and declares the armed forces must be separated from the political life of the nation.
He and his followers emphasize the necessity for the immediate choosing of a nonpolitical figure to preside over the Provisional Government—a person to be selected by the civil organizations of the island.
The first act of the Provisional Government, the Castro statement says, must be liberation of all political prisoners, both civilian and military, and the establishment of a free press and free speech. General elections must be held in one year, according to the statement.
It is not necessary for anyone to go to the Sierra Maestra to see him, Señor Castro says. He proposes that his representatives meet with representatives of civil institutions and political parties in Havana, in Mexico or in any other place convenient.
Meanwhile, the Government forces are attempting to cut off supplies from Señor Castro and his forces, reportedly now numbering about 500 men in the mountains of Oriente Province. Col. Pedro Barrera, chief or operations against the rebels in Oriente, has reportedly said he was in a position to destroy the rebels.
While rebel sources admit the Government troops have made it more difficult to furnish the Castro organization with food, ammunition and medicine, they assert that supplies are still going through in Oriente, Cuba’s easternmost province.
It was made known during the day, however, that the Batista troops in Santiago de Cuba, Oriente’s provincial capital, were being reinforced and special security measures were being taken there.
Reports from Santiago said 250 soldiers had arrived by air at the Moncada army post. National police and navy forces there also have been reinforced. The city is now being patrolled by soldiers armed with rifles.
These preparations were being taken as the much-publicized date of July 26 approaches. The insurgent movement headed by Señor Castro is known as the Twenty-sixth of July Movement.
It was named to commemorate the attack on July 26, 1953 by Señor Castro and a group of poorly armed youths on the Moncada army post, in which 100 insurgents and army men were killed. Reports from rebel sources say Señor Castro and his forces will stage some dramatic action next Friday at Santiago.