Fidel Castro’s ashes were taken ton Sunday to a cemetery in the cradle of his revolution as Cuba opens a new era without the communist leader who ruled the island for decades.
Capping a week of tributes and mass rallies, a jeep pulled the cedar urn into the Santa Ifigenia cemetery in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba as a crowd chanted “viva Fidel!”
Castro, who died on November 25 at age 90, will be laid to rest during a “simple” ceremony near the mausoleum of 19th century independence hero Jose Marti, said his brother and successor, President Raul Castro. The funeral was closed to the public.
last night, Raul Castro led a massive, final rally in his brother’s honour at Santiago’s Revolution Plaza, leading the crowd into pledge to uphold the socialist ideals.
“In front of Fidel’s remains ... We swear to defend the fatherland and socialism,” Raul Castro said.
“He demonstrated that, yes we could, yes we can, yes we will overcome any obstacle, threat, turbulence in our firm resolve to build socialism in Cuba,” he said.
While Castro was sidelined by emergency intestinal surgery a decade ago, he remained a towering figure in Cuba. He was revered by supporters for the free health care and education.