[NYTr] Fidel Castro's New Year Message to Cubans - Jan 1, 2008

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[Text in Spanish follows PL news item; unofficial English translation is
3rd item. -NYTransfer]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Fidel Castro's New Year Message to Cubans

Havana, Jan 1 (Prensa Latina) President Fidel Castro sent a message to
the Cuban people on occasion of the 49th Anniversary of the Revolution,
which permitted the country to rule its own destiny for the first time.

In the text the Cuban leader highlights this nation entered the 50th
year of the Revolution, which symbolizes half a century of heroic
resistance.

"If I have the rare privilege to address you again it is because you saw
in this citizen a person who always told the truth, which more than a
merit is a sacred duty," says the President.

"Let's proudly proclaim to the world this record that make us worthy of
the fairest claim: the respect for its right to live and to the clean
joy of our motherland," he affirmed.

For this right we will fight to the death. For Cubans, more than a
century ago, Marti proclaimed: "Motherland is humanity," concludes the
message headlined by Granma on Tuesday.

ef PL-8

                               ***

Granma Daily - Jan 1, 2008
http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2008/01/01/nacional/artic02.html

Mensaje de Fidel al pueblo de Cuba

QUERIDOS COMPATRIOTAS:

Dentro de unas horas se cumplirá un aniversario más de aquel bello
amanecer, hace 49 años, en que triunfó nuestra Revolución.

Sobre los restos de la tiranía proyanqui seguimos el largo y empinado
camino. Gracias al pueblo noble y abnegado de Cuba, a sus obreros y
demás trabajadores manuales e intelectuales, sus campesinos y
estudiantes, hombres y mujeres, niños, ancianos y ciudadanos de todas
las edades, alfabetizados o analfabetos, Cuba fue entonces por primera
vez dueña de su destino.

Si tengo el raro privilegio de dirigirme de nuevo a ustedes es porque
vieron en este compatriota una persona que siempre les dijo la verdad.

No es mérito ser honrado sino deber sagrado.

En el transcurso de la madrugada habrá quedado atrás el Año 49 de la
Revolución y entraremos de lleno en el año 50, que simbolizará el medio
siglo de resistencia heroica.

Proclamemos al mundo con orgullo este récord que nos hace acreedores al
más justo de los reclamos: que se respete el derecho a la vida y a la
sana alegría de nuestra Patria.

Por ese derecho lucharemos hasta la muerte. Para los cubanos, hace más
de un siglo, Martí lo proclamó: "¡Patria es humanidad!"


                            ***

Unofficial English translation:

Fidel's message to the people of Cuba


Dear Compatriots,

In a few hours we will mark an anniversary of that most beautiful
sunrise, 49 years ago, that our Revolution triumphed.

Despite remnants of pro-yanqui tyranny we proceeded on a long and
steep road.  Thanks to the selfless and noble people of Cuba -- the work
of manual laborers and intellectuals, peasants and students, men and
women, children, elderly people and citizens of all kinds, literate or
illiterate -- Cubans were for the first time masters of their own
destiny.

If I have the rare privilege to address you again it is because you saw
in this citizen a person who always told the truth, which more than a
merit is a sacred duty,

Tomorrow morning we will transition from the 49th Year of the
Revolution and squarely face Year 50, marking a half-century of our
heroic resistance.

Let's proudly proclaim our record, which makes us worthy of the
fairest claim demand on the world -- respect our right to life and the
healthy joy of our homeland.

For that right, we will struggle to the death. For Cubans, as Marti
proclaimed more than a century ago, "Motherland is humanity!"