Fidel Castro TV appearance today, Monday, July 12, 2010

HAVANA/CUBA – The Cuban state-run Granma newspaper reported that former Cuban president, “El Commandante” Fidel Castro, will make a public appearance during a televised government program planned to be held today, Monday, July 12, 2010. He plans to discuss the problems in the Middle East. This will be Castro's first major public appearance since 2006.

Last Saturday, July 10, three pictures of Castro were uploaded on a pro-government blog which, according to the blogger, were taken last Wednesday when Castro had a “surprise visit” at Havana's National Center of Scientific Investigations. Apparently, the three pictures show the 83-year old ill-looking Castro meeting with some people at the Center. If the claim is true, this will be the second time Fidel Castro makes a public appearance in less than a week.

Fidel Castro focused over the past few weeks on his prediction that nuclear will soon break out. He gave his opinion on how the conflict between Iran and the United States over international sanctions being imposed on Iran for not abandoning its nuclear activities will trigger a nuclear war between the two nations. Castro said this - and much more - in his “Reflections”, the opinion columns he writes for the Cuban state-run media. Castro wrote on July 5, "The empire is at the point of committing a terrible error that nobody can stop. It advances inexorably toward a sinister fate." Castro has been referring to the United States as “the empire”since he took over the power in Cuba during the Cuban Revolution of 1959. 

The communist ex dictator – or “president for life” - stated that the “principal purpose” of his columns has been to "warn international public opinion of what was occurring." He published this last Sunday night. Castro also said he has reached his catastrophic conclusion based in part on "observing what happened, as the political leader that I was during many years, confronting the empire, its blockades and its unspeakable crimes." In spite of his columns has not causing much reaction in Cuba, nor have attracted many attention from the international media, Castro vowed to continue warning the world of the coming disaster even if he has to do it on his own. Fidel wrote on Sunday, "I don't hesitate in running risks of compromising my modest moral authority," "I will continue writing 'Reflections' about the topic." he added.  

Castro ceded power to his younger brother Raul after he had an intestinal surgery in July, 2006. This transfer of power was meant as a temporary measure. By then he had ruled Cuba for 49 years. In February, 2008, Fidel Castro had officially resigned his presidency due to claims of infirmity and old age,  and Raul Castro was elected president by the National Assembly. Raul Castro is now 79 years old.

The following video is the first part of a documentary on the life of Fidel Castro.

Fidel Castro's reappearance coincides with Cuba paving the way to release 52 political prisoners who were all sent to prison after a hard-handed rally against the opposition in 2003. This was done while he was still “El Presidente” of Cuba. The release of the prisoners comes after Cuban dissident Guillermo Fariñas said he would not abandon his hunger strike, which he survived for more than four months, until Raul Castro's administration government released "10 or 12 political prisoners that are very sick".