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Lifting lid on poster boy of the revolution
HE is the world's most famous revolutionary.
In the '60s and '70s his image graced millions of student flats and bedsits. Now memories of Ernesto "Che" Guevara are being brought to Leeds via his closest comrade Orlando Borrego.
The 71-year-old from Cuba will be in the city on Monday to give an intimate talk about the Marxist icon at the Wade Suite of the Merrion Hotel from 7pm.
He told the Yorkshire Evening Post about his most treasured memory of the man who literally died for the cause – socialism.
He said: "The moment Che came back from the Congo to prepare for the expedition to Bolivia he sent for me to come to his secret location.
"It was a sign of his extreme and massive trust in me, Borrego, and my trust in him – it was the most special moment of my life to see him again."
Che was executed by the US-backed Bolivian army in October 1967 after trying to lead a revolution in the country.
Borrego had earlier joined Che's guerrilla army, which was gathering strength in the Escambray Mountains of Cuba, in the 1950s as his first lieutenant. Shortly afterwards the pair joined Fidel Castro who led the battle to overthrow US-backed leader General Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Che later asked Borrego to work for him in the Ministry of Industries from 1959 to 1964. He was also Cuba's first minster for the sugar industry – the country's main crop.
Borrego's visit comes just days after Castro sensationally stepped down as the country's leader.
Castro nationalised all US property and assets on taking power. In return the US formed a blockade in the hope it would cripple the nation.
Borrego said he now hoped that there could be change and an improvement in relations between the two countries. He will be joined in Leeds on Monday by Jesus Pastor Garcia Brigos, a Cuban philosopher, and Yoselin Rufin, a leader from the Cuban Federation of Students.
The free event is organised by Rock Around The Blockade.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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