“U.S. Explosive Given Cuban Rebels”

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29389, 16 December 1960, Page 17

“U.S. Explosive Given Cuban Rebels”

HAVANA, December 15. The Prime Minister of Cuba (Dr. Castro) said today that the United States was equipping counterrevolutionary elements with a “special type of explosive of great power” used by the United States Army. He said the new type of explosive was being given to enemies of the Castro Government by United States Central Intelligence agents and “bandits of the Pentagon,” American Associated Press reported.

Dr. Castro spoke at a meeting called to denounce the anti-Com-munist leaders of the Electrical Workers’ Union. The Cuban Labour Minister •Senor Augusto Sanchez) condemned the leaders of the Electrical Workers’ Union who criticised the communist trend in the Government.

The sudden appearance of Dr. Castro at the meeting emphasised the importance of the dispute.

The Government’s condemnation was aimed at the union leader, Mr Amaury Fraginals, who had been fighting a communist take-ovet; of his union. Mr Fraginals and some of the electrical workers marched on the presidential palace last week to protest. It was the first open defiance of the. Castro regime by a Labour group The Labour Minister was cheered when he said that the union leaders should be executed A bomb was exploded near the

meeting but no-one was reported injured.

Some persons outside the meeting said they were members of the Electrical Workers’ Union who had been barred from entering because they were supporters of Mr Fraginals. They claimed the meeting was packed with students, members of other groups opposed to Mr Fraginals. and “the usual crowd paid to cheer at these things." The meeting which started last night continued into the morning when Dr. Castro made his appearance and his attack on the United States. The Government earlier ordered the arrest of Mr Fraginals but h« was reported to have gone into hiding. Eleven other leaders of the electrical workers were reported to have taken asylum in foreign embassies.

Dr. Castro said mechanism to sabotage Havana's electrical equips ment was prepared abroad.