On the occasion of the Day for Peace, against the economic, financial and commercial blockade of Cuba and Terrorism, called by the Cuban Friendship Institute (ICAP), it is fair to recognize those who support and defend the cause of this noble and heroic people, like Argentine Chau Bloqueo.
Cuban patriots wholeheartedly embrace those who, in different parts of the world, believe in and defend this just cause regardless of the risks, as is done in a sustained manner, together with his wife Irene Perpiñal, by the supportive Argentine friend Eladio González (Toto), founder of the renowned Chau Bloqueo (Bye Blockade) movement and of the first South American museum dedicated to Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara.
The fact is that Toto has never had to be summoned to show his support for Cuba and he does it in any scenario. Irene even remembers one of the many days when he went out into the street carrying a white sign that read NO MORE BLOCKADE TO CUBA, and heard Miguel Angel La Fuente, a great admirer of Che, say: “Look, this is a determined loco (madman).
This is happening in the Republic of Argentina, home to many people who love peace and solidarity among peoples although, paradoxically, its current president has made statements and adopted measures that are inconsistent with the will of both peoples to live in peace and harmony, as countries twinned by history and, consequently, It may happen that this country, the eighth largest in the world, will not support at the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) the proposal of this Caribbean island for the Resolution “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”, a unilateral measure that has been intensified since 1962.
How did Toto begin his support for Cuba?
On his first visit, with his wife Irene, as tourists, he learned about the sad events that occurred on January 9, 1992 at Tarará Nautical Base, in Havana, where young men, Orosmán Dueñas Valero (soldier of the Border Guard Troops), Yuri Gómez Reinoso -sergeant of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) – and Rafael Guevara Borges (security officer of that unit), were vilely murdered by people who tried to seize a boat to emigrate to the United States, stimulated by the Cuban Adjustment Act; and Rafael Guevara Borges (custodian of that unit), were vilely murdered by people who tried to take a boat to emigrate to the United States, encouraged by the Cuban Adjustment Act.
Tarará Crime, Cuba
The Tarará crime marked Eladio González forever and inspired him to create the Che Guevara Museum and the Chau Bloqueo group. Photo: Taken from Radio Rebelde
A victim of that criminal terrorist act was also seriously wounded the young PNR sergeant Rolando Pérez Quintosa, who received four bullets in his abdomen and despite the careful medical attention he received at the Havana Naval Hospital, he died 37 days later.
During the time that Pérez Quintosa remained in the hospital, Cubans kept an eye on his state of health and, as is traditional, many voluntary blood donations were made. Among those who offered theirs, altruistically, was Eladio Gonzalez, who was received by the then head of hemotherapy and as his donation was not necessary because of his blood group, he thanked her kindly and he was able to accompany Rolando’s father in that health center to whom he reiterated his solidarity.
The next day Toto arrived with Irene in Buenos Aires and as a sensitive man he told some friends about his experiences in Havana, as well as his admiration for the patriotic commitment and the human quality of the people.
“For example, the driver who took me from the Presidente Hotel, where we were staying, to the naval hospital, where Pérez Quintosa was being treated, refused to charge me for the fare and said: “I am going to stay here as long as you need”.
A journalist, witness of the humanitarian gesture of the Argentinean tourist, took the note and published it in the newspaper Trabajadores, whose professional action gave rise to a spontaneous response of gratitude from the readers, who sent more than five thousand letters from all the Cuban provinces and Toto, with the sensitivity that characterizes him, had the delicacy to answer them as they arrived.
Among the first letters he received was one from the Holguín lyric artist Martín Arranz, producer of the popular tango radio program dedicated to Carlos Gardel.
Eladio Gonzalez visits Holguin
“That day I entered the cabin of Radio Angulo to conduct my program and while I was getting ready I was struck by that headline in the newspaper Trabajadores that reported on the Argentinean’s gesture of solidarity, and the letter delivered to the young fighter’s father asking him to reply when he was recovered.
“That made a great impact on me and I included the note in the program asking the listeners to write to Toto thanking him for his gesture of solidarity, as I did immediately, and the following Sunday I dedicated the program to him.
“My letter and a cassette with the recorded program were sent to him with the also Argentine friend Rodolfo Livingston, who was visiting this city and later commented that Toto’s reaction was one of great emotion and joy.”
Toto supports the initial ideas of “Chau Bloqueo”.
On this Day of Peace against the economic, financial and commercial blockade of Cuba and Terrorism, it is stimulating to know how personalities, simple people and groups from different parts of the world are forcefully demanding the end of this inhuman measure, sustained and intensified by successive U.S. governments for more than sixty years.
Solidarity with Cuba from Argentina
Along with the strong and sustained movement of international solidarity, the actions of Chau Bloqueo, which arose in very difficult times for the Cuban Revolution, and to which very dear people of that sister nation devoted themselves with the support of the Cuba-Argentina House of Friendship, collecting, packing and overcoming the ten thousand kilometers that separate us sent dozens of tons of different assortments, which here were received and distributed by a small group of people, who also deserve praise, are still in force.
Several personalities and other friends participated in those actions, from the search for the boxes for the packaging to the last resource, and Chau Bloqueo has carried out many other activities with his heart set on Cuba and his admiration for Fidel Castro Ruz, to whom he sent a grain of corn melted in silver, along with a message for the 40th anniversary of the assault on the Moncada Barracks, which the Cuban leader thanked.
And as there are ideas that can be sculpted, those of Toto, at 82 years of age, do not lose their validity, because, besides managing material aid to Cuba and remaining active in the claim for the end of the blockade, he continues to support the first South American museum dedicated to Che Guevara, of which he was founder together with Irene, its coordinator; he is a profound political analyst, with an extraordinary level of information whose ideas he spreads without fear, without any desire to be a protagonist.
Che Guevara Museum, Argentina
At the ends, Toto and Irene, at the Che Guevara Museum. Photo: Courtesy of Martín Arranz (Archive)
Even though in his beloved country there are those who are carried away by the anti-Cuban current promoted by the United States, some lackey countries and uninformed or ill-intentioned people, through social networks, Toto censures what should be censored, he thanks Cuba for its example and the solidarity shown in the literacy program Yo sí puedo (Yes, I can); Operation Miracle, which returned sight to so many fellow citizens and the graduation of a large number of doctors for his country, among other signs of solidarity. All of this at no cost.
A passionate man is this Argentinean who also considers himself Cuban, as he commented to Martin Arranz during a visit to Holguin, where he was received with much affection and gratitude, being precisely Arranz the main host with the presence, among others, of Dr. Pura Aviles, surgeon who operated Rolando Perez Quintosa and whom Toto visited whenever he came to this city, where he held meetings with professionals of the culture and the press.
Toto, Irene and Arranz agree that there are plenty of reasons to join the activities taking place during the current Day for Peace, against the economic, financial and commercial blockade of Cuba and Terrorism, in which the active members of the Argentine solidarity group Chau Bloqueo will be present.
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