The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, addressed this Thursday the removal of the controversial statues of Fidel Castro and Ernesto “Che” Guevara from the Tabacalera Garden in the Cuauhtémoc borough of Mexico City.
In addition, Sheinbaum suggested that the figures could be relocated elsewhere, considering that they are part of a "historical moment" related to the shared history between Cuba and Mexico.
"If your intention is for that to no longer be there, then we should talk to the head of government because this is a historic moment, regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with this or that individual, as it pertains to Mexico," Sheinbaum stated during a press conference.
"If you don't want this monument, then it should be located somewhere else," she added, referring to the decision of Mayor Alessandra Rojo de la Vega, who ordered the removal of the sculptures citing a lack of permits.
The official also addressed potential criticisms regarding the comparison with the previous removal of the statue of Christopher Columbus, reminding that "it was restored and placed in another location" following sustained demands from Indigenous organizations.
"That's why I say, if you don't want this monument, we can agree and place it somewhere else," he insisted.
The controversy erupted after the confirmation of the removal of the statues on Wednesday, a decision that prompted an immediate response from the Mexican Communist Party (PCM), which deemed it an "anti-popular and anti-communist" act.
Through its account on X, the PCM issued a call for protest.
"Alessandra Rojo de la Vega, the mayor of Cuauhtémoc, ordered the removal of the statues of Fidel and Che from the Tabacalera Garden. The flimsy arguments do not justify such an anti-communist act. It is an affront to the friendship between Cuba and Mexico that will not go unanswered. We call for protest."
In another message, the Communist Party intensified its rhetoric by claiming that the official intends to turn the mayor's office into "a right-wing stronghold."
"This reactionary thinks she can act with impunity... But it won't be like that. Long live Fidel and Che!"
The sculptures were installed in 2017 to commemorate the meeting between Castro and Guevara in Mexico before they set off for the Cuban Revolution.
Mayor Alessandra Rojo explained that the removal was due to the lack of legal documentation that justified their presence in the public space.
While President Sheinbaum advocates for relocating the monument to preserve its historical value, the mixed reactions reveal the deep political and symbolic division that the figures of Fidel and Che continue to provoke in the Mexican context.
Additionally, the City of Mexico hosts a large community of Cubans who, fleeing the regime on the island, found themselves stranded in that city as they were unable to enter the United States.
Frequently asked questions about the removal of statues of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara in Mexico
Why were the statues of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara removed in Mexico City?
The statues were removed due to irregularities in their placement and the lack of necessary permits from the Committee on Monuments and Artistic Works in Public Spaces (COMAEP). Additionally, multiple neighborhood complaints were received regarding their presence in the Tabacalera Garden.
What does President Claudia Sheinbaum propose regarding the statues of Fidel and Che?
President Claudia Sheinbaum has proposed to relocate the statues to another place, emphasizing their historical value and the connection between Mexico and Cuba. She believes that, regardless of whether one agrees with the figures, the statues represent a significant historical moment.
What has been the reaction of the Mexican Communist Party to the removal of the statues?
The Mexican Communist Party described the withdrawal as an "anti-popular and anti-communist" act. They called for protests in response to what they see as an affront to the friendship between Cuba and Mexico, and accused the mayor of Cuauhtémoc of wanting to turn the municipality into a "rightist stronghold."
What was Mayor Alessandra Rojo's rationale for removing the statues?
The mayor Alessandra Rojo argued that the removal was due to the lack of legal documentation supporting the presence of the statues in public space. She also mentioned that the statues were installed without the required authorization from the COMAEP.
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