Fidel Castro reappears in public

Havana, Jan 9 (EFE).- Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro reappeared in public for the inauguration of an art studio in Havana that coincided with the 55th anniversary of his triumphal entry into the capital, official media said Thursday.

The 87-year-old Fidel, whose last public appearance had been in April 2013, on Wednesday night attended the opening of the “Kcho estudio Romerillo, Laboratorio para el arte.”

“On the 55th anniversary of the entry into Havana of Fidel at the head of the Rebel Army, the historic leader of the Revolution came to the workshop … and greeted artists and the public who applauded emotionally,” Communist Party daily Granma said.

The only photograph released of the event appeared Thursday on the official Cubadebate Web site, and in it Castro is seen from the back seated in a chair and gesturing with his left arm toward one of the works of art in the gallery, but later a state-run television news program transmitted a report with video images of the former president.

In the video, Castro can be seen seated and dressed warmly, while chatting in a friendly manner with some of the gallery’s invited guests and with the artist Kcho, although no remarks of the Cuban leader were included.

Castro gave up power in July 2006 after falling gravely ill, delegating leadership of the country to his younger brother Raul, who in 2008 was formally confirmed in the post of president of Cuba.

Since then, the leader of the Cuban Revolution has maintained a low public profile although he has made sporadic appearances and published, albeit less and less requently, columns in the press.

Cuban authorities postponed the events to commemorate Wednesday’s anniversary due to bad weather.

On New Year’s Day, President Raul Castro was in the eastern city of Santaiago de Cuba to preside at the main political event commemorating the triumph of the Revolution.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/cuba/140109/fidel-castro-reappears-public

GlobalPost – Regions

Fidel Castro reappears in public

Castro victim returns to Cleveland house where she was held for years

• Michelle Knight, 32, was held by Ariel Castro for 11 years


• Knight thanked residents on Seymour Avenue who helped in her rescue


• Altagracia Tejeda says Knight asked: “Did you see me?”

Cleveland, Ohio (CNN) — Michelle Knight, one of three women kidnapped by Ariel Castro, returned Friday to the Cleveland house where she was chained up and tormented for 11 years, a neighbor said.

The visit came a day after Knight came face-to-face with Castro, telling him during a sentencing hearing: “I spent 11 years in hell, and now your hell is just beginning.” Castro was sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years.

Knight, 32, stood outside the house at 2207 Seymour Avenue, looking at where she and two other women — Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus — had been held for years, neighbor Altagracia Tejeda said through a translator. Then she walked across the street to Tejeda’s house, she said.

It was Tejeda’s house where Berry and her 6-year-old daughter fled after making their escape May 6 from Castro’s house.

Michelle Knight: ‘I was so alone’

It was there, using a cell phone, that Berry made her now famous 911 call: “Help me, I am Amanda Berry. I’ve been kidnapped and I’ve been missing for 10 years. And I’m here. I’m free now.”

On Friday, Knight thanked Tejeda and others for helping in the women’s rescue.

During her captivity, Knight said had glimpsed Tejeda on her porch.

A couple of times over the years, Tejeda said she saw what she believed was a young girl through a screen door at Castro’s house. She later learned the girl was actually a diminutive woman. It was Knight.

“Did you see me?” Knight asked, according to Tejeda.

Her answer: Yes.

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Castro victim returns to Cleveland house where she was held for years