The People’s Liberation Front -Srilanka expresses its deep concern over the persistent designation of the Republic of Cuba on the United States State Department's State Sponsor of Terrorism List (SSOT). This list identifies and includes governments that are purportedly engaged in providing active support to violent non-state actors involved in terrorist activities. JVP finds this classification by the United States as arbitrary and unfounded.
It is appalling that even sixty-five years after the Cuban Revolution, the U.S. continues its economic and propaganda war against Cuba. This hostility began with President Reagan adding Cuba to the State Department’s State Sponsors of Terrorism List (SSOT) in 1982, citing its support for national liberation movements.
Cuba's inclusion on the "State Sponsors of Terrorism" list is not only unjust but also devastating for the Cuban people. The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has highlighted that U.S. sanctions on Cuba are the most severe and prolonged unilateral coercive measures ever imposed on any country. Labeling Cuba as a "terrorist" state intensifies the harsh effects of the American blockade, which has cost the Cuban economy an estimated $144.4 billion from the early 1960s to 2020. This designation restricts foreign assistance, exports, and World Bank loans, and it prevents Cuban Americans from sending remittances, faith-based groups from providing humanitarian aid, and American universities from collaborating with Cuban academics. Additionally, non-U.S. citizens who have traveled to Cuba face visa restrictions when entering the United States.
Labor unions and city councils across the U.S. have passed over 80 resolutions calling to end the blockade against Cuba, promote scientific collaboration, and remove Cuba from the terror list. Recently, the Washington, DC Council unanimously passed a Cuba solidarity resolution, urging President Biden and Congress to end the blockade. These resolutions collectively represent the support of over 50 million Americans.
The 33 member states of CELAC have demanded that the U.S. remove Cuba from the terror list. Over 100 Democratic House members, including prominent figures, have urged President Biden to normalize US-Cuba relations and remove Cuba from the SSOT list. Nearly 9,000 Cuban and American business owners, over 10,000 individuals, and 100 progressive advocacy groups have signed letters demanding the president Biden to lift Trump-era sanctions and reverse Cuba's terrorism designation. Additionally, hundreds of U.S. lawyers have called for Cuba’s removal from the list.
Despite an extensive review by the State Department and efforts by President Obama in 2015 to improve relations, the Trump and Biden administrations have continued to unjustly use the SSOT designation. As such we firmly assert that the SSOT designation is being misused to perpetuate the embargo, despite the lack of credible evidence supporting such a claim against Cuba. Therefore, the People’s Liberation Front Srilanka strongly calls for the immediate revocation of Cuba's baseless and unfair designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Therefore, we reiterate our call for the lifting of U.S. economic sanctions and the stabilization of relations with Cuba, which has significantly contributed to the economic development and welfare of the Caribbean region. We stand in solidarity with Cuba, condemn terrorism in all its forms, and reaffirm our strong support for Cuba, which has never used to organize, finance, or execute terrorist acts against any country.
Department of International Relations,
People’s Liberation Front,-Srilanka.
27-05-2024