This escalation by the U.S. government should be taken seriously, discussed by working people, and protested by all who defend Cuba's national sovereignty and oppose the attempts by Washington to overturn the revolution there.

This past week the U.S. government arrested Mariano Faget, an official of the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Miami, and charged him with espionage on behalf of the Cuban government. They then demanded Cuban diplomat José Imperatori, who works at the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, D.C., leave the United States for his association with Faget.

The action has been met with energetic protest by the Cuban government and people. They have decided so far to refuse to obey the expulsion order, stating personnel at the Interests Section are barred by direct order from Cuban president Fidel Castro from engaging in spy activity.

Castro said in a statement: "If we asked the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba to withdraw all those officers who actively participate in illegal and very undiplomatic actions, then practically very few--or none--would be left in that mission." This is true, and points to the kind of response Cuba may be forced to make in response to the U.S. government's hostile act.

In a high-level response from State Department spokesperson James P. Rubin, Washington reiterated its demand that the diplomat "depart the country by 1:30 p.m. on Saturday." The New York Times reported that Rubin said after that time Imperatori would lose diplomatic privileges and immunities and become subject to the laws of the United States

Working people and fighting youth around the world can join in condemning Washington's moves and demanding normalization of relations with Cuba.  
 
 
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