In a story posted today (Dec. 4, 2016) by USA Today Staff Writer Alan Gomez, it was reported that fallen Cuban leader Fidel Castro's ashes were interred in the city of Santiago. The city of Santiago holds special meaning for Castro, as it was where he launched a revolution in the 1950s that eventually led to his regime over the island-nation.
Castro's remains were laid to rest following a private ceremony. A 21-gun salute was given. According to Castro's brother, Raul (the current Cuban leader), his fallen revolutionary brother specifically stated he did not want statues made of him, streets named after him or parks that were christened with his name.
Castro's funeral was not on state television in Cuba, for reasons unknown.
According to a Reuters report filed today, Nov. 26, 2016, from Havana, Cuba, it was reported that Fidel Castro, the former long-time prime minister of Cuba, has died at the age of 90.
Fidel Castro
Castro, whose birth name was Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on August 13, 1926 and died November 25, 2016. The Cuban leader's passing was reported on Cuban state television just after midnight today by his brother, Cuban President Raul Castro. The cause of his death has not yet been announced.
Castro's political rise in Cuba came after the Biran-born son of a wealthy farmer adopted communist sympathies as he was studying law at the University of Havana. In 1953, Castro began his path to power with a failed attack against the Moncada Barracks, during the presidency of then-Cuban President Fulgencio Batista. Castro was imprisoned for his role in the attack and, after a year's confinement, he was released and traveled to Mexico, where he formed the "26th of July Movement." Castro and his followers then returned to Cuba and fought a guerilla war against the Batista regime. By 1959, the war was over and Castro and his movement had toppled Batista and the former law student was made leader of the Cuban people.
Castro then went on to create a one-party communist state wherein he was installed as its life-long leader.
Some of the milestones involving the tenure of Castro as Cuba's leader includes: the abortive "Bay of Pigs" Invasion by CIA-backed anti-communist Cuban forces, in 1961; the infamous Cuban Missile Crisis, in 1962; Castro's partnership with Russia and other communist nations, resulting in Cuba exporting terrorism to Central America and the world; and economic stagnation for the Cuban people.
