Radio Havana Cuba, October 8, 1999 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Friday, October 8, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- INTERNATIONALIST GUERRILLAS WHO FOUGHT IN BOLIVIA BURIED AT CHE GUEVARA MAUSOLEUM IN SANTA CLARA 2.- URUGUAYANS COMMEMORATE 32nd ANNIVERSARY OF CHE'S DEATH 3.- ANGOLAN STUDENTS PAY TRIBUTE TO ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA 4.- CUBA REJECTS WASHINGTON'S CHARGES OF A LACK OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ON THE ISLAND 5.- INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON INFECTIOUS CHILDHOOD DISEASES UNDERWAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 6.- 4th IBERO-AMERICAN MEETING ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING TO BE HELD IN HAVANA 7.- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "INFO '99" WINDS UP IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 8.- 14th INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL IN HAVANA INTERNATIONALIST GUERRILLAS WHO FOUGHT IN BOLIVIA BURIED AT CHE GUEVARA MAUSOLEUM IN SANTA CLARA Santa Clara, October 8(RHC)-- Some 100,000 Cubans took part today in the solemn burial ceremony of another group of internationalist guerrillas who fought in Bolivia alongside Ernesto Che Guevara. The remains of three Cubans and four Bolivians joined Che and another 16 combatants whose remains were discovered by a Cuban forensic team working in Bolivia over the past three years. The remains of Cubans Juan Vitalio Acuna, Gustavo Machin and Israel Reyes and Bolivians Freddy Maymura, Moises Guevara, Walter Arencibia and Apolinar Aquino were deposited in seven of the 36 burial chambers inside the Mausoleum -- the number of combatants who were killed, of a total of 46 who participated in the internationalist mission. The solemn ceremony coincided with the 32nd anniversary of Che's death in combat in Bolivia. Two years ago -- on the 30th anniversary of Che's death -- Cuba's Heroic Guerrilla and six of his comrades-in-arms -- the first group to be found in Bolivia in mid-1997 -- were buried during an emotion-packed ceremony. Tens of thousands of Cubans lined the streets and highways as a military motorcade carrying the remains traveled from Havana to Santa Clara. In September 1998, the Cuban forensic team found the remains of German-born Argentinean citizen Hayde Tamara Bunke Bider -- known as Tania the Guerrilla -- along with nine others. With today's burial, a total of 24 internationalists are now occupying their final resting places inside the Ernesto Che Guevara Mausoleum. URUGUAYANS COMMEMORATE 32nd ANNIVERSARY OF CHE'S DEATH Montevideo, October 8(RHC)-- Thousands of Uruguayans took part on Friday in various political activities throughout the country to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the death in combat of Ernesto Che Guevara. Early this morning, Cuba's Ambassador to Uruguay, Miguel Martinez, accompanied by other Cuban officials, laid a floral wreath at a bust of the legendary guerrilla fighter, located at the top of the city's highest point -- El Cerro de Montevideo. An activity honoring Ernesto Che Guevara is also scheduled to take place this evening in downtown Montevideo. ANGOLAN STUDENTS PAY TRIBUTE TO ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA Luanda, October 8(RHC)-- Angolan students in Luanda paid tribute to the life and work of revolutionary leader Ernesto Che Guevara on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of his death. During an activity held in the Angolan capital on Friday, the students praised Che's efforts in the liberation of the African continent during the 1960's. The Cultural Attache at the Cuban Embassy in Angola, Margot Castro, said that it was very emotional to see how people remember Ernesto Che Guevara in such distant places. CUBA REJECTS WASHINGTON'S CHARGES OF A LACK OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ON THE ISLAND Havana, October 8(RHC)-- Cuba's Foreign Ministry has rejected Washington's charges that religious freedom on the island is restricted. Referring to a report released earlier this week by the U.S. State Department, Cuban Foreign Ministry spokesman Alejandro Gonzalez said that Cuba has a clean record in preserving religious worship. At a news conference in Havana with national and foreign correspondents, Gonzalez called the State Department report "another attempt to damage Cuba's image that is hardly worth a comment." He said the U.S. government "has an obsession with certifying the conduct of all countries except its own." The Foreign Ministry spokesman also termed as "ridiculous" recent speculation in the U.S. news daily The Miami Herald concerning the situation of former Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina. Gonzalez informed reporters that Robaina is currently preparing for an extensive course at a prestigious Cuban institute, dedicated to training important officials of the Cuban government and Communist Party. INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON INFECTIOUS CHILDHOOD DISEASES UNDERWAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, October 8(RHC)-- Lower infant mortality rates due to the successful struggle against infectious diseases and the development of medicine to prevent childhood illnesses are the main achievements of the island's health care system, according to Cuban pediatrician, Dr. Juan Carlos Velazquez. These were among the issues discussed during the International Congress on Infectious Childhood Diseases, currently being held at Havana's International Convention Center. Dr. Juan Carlos Velazquez stressed that the production of vaccines, the rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases and the island's mother-child program have achieved the reduction of Cuba's infant mortality rate to 7.1 for every one thousand live births. 4th IBERO-AMERICAN MEETING ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING TO BE HELD IN HAVANA Havana, October 8(RHC)-- The Fourth Ibero-American Meeting on Urban Development and Housing will be held in Havana from October 13th to the 15th with the objective of elaborating a strategy for the construction of homes for larger populations. Other issues to be discussed at the meeting are efforts to consolidate experiences on community development in the region and regulate the construction of housing projects. Ways to prevent and ease the effects of natural disasters will also be discussed during the upcoming meeting on urban development and housing. A final document will be presented to the Heads of State and Government during the 9th Ibero-American Summit to be held on November 15th and 16th in Havana. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "INFO '99" WINDS UP IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, October 8(RHC)-- The International Conference on Information INFO '99 wound up at Havana's Convention Center on Friday. The conference was attended by some 700 specialists from 26 countries. Prior to the closing ceremony, Nicolas Garriga, president of the organizing committee, told reporters that INFO '99 was a milestone in the history of information conferences in Cuba. Garriga said that this 9th conference served to debate issues that are vitally important for the next millenium. And he added that the exhibition fair -- part of INFO '99 -- had the largest participation this year compared to previous conferences. He stated that this reflects the growing interest of foreign companies in exchanging information and production services with Cuban experts in the field. 14th INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL IN HAVANA Havana, October 8(RHC)-- The 14th International Contemporary Music Festival is underway in Havana with participants from around the world. The Amadeo Roldan Theater is hosting two concerts daily with Cuban and international chamber and symphonic music. On Friday, the Festival pays tribute to Ernesto Che Guevara on the 32nd anniversary of his death. The National Symphonic Orchestra, directed by Cuban composer and musician Guido Lopez Gavilan, performs the works of Cubans RobertoValera and Harold Gramatges. Gramatges' piece -- "Death of the Guerrilla Fighter" -- closes the concert. The National Concert Band, under the direction of Irina Guerra, will also perform, celebrating its 100th anniversary. 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