HAVANA – There was no sign of a convalescing Fidel Castro as hundreds of thousands of Cubans marched through Havana’s Revolution Plaza to celebrate May Day, casting new doubts on his recovery and whether he will return to power.
Tuesday marked only the third time in nearly five decades that Castro has missed the sweeping International Workers’ Day festivities – a major celebration around the world.
While recent images of Castro meeting with Chinese leaders indicated he had improved considerably since undergoing emergency surgery nine months ago, his absence at the parade through the Revolution Plaza raised questions about whether he is strong enough to run the country.
The 80-year-old leader has missed two other major events since announcing his illness on July 31 and temporarily ceding power to his 75-year-old brother Raul Castro, the defense minister. Raul Castro presided at the Nonaligned Summit in September and a major military parade in December.
“It now seems more unlikely than before that he will fully resume the presidency,” said Wayne Smith, the former head of the American mission in Havana. “And the more time that passes, the more unlikely it seems.”
Smith said that with Castro failing to show up on Tuesday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s assertions this week that Castro was back “in charge” appeared to be “a lot of hot air.”
Raul Castro, wearing his typical olive-green uniform and cap, stood stiffly and smiled under the shadow of a towering statue of Cuban independence leader Jose Marti. He occasionally waved as marchers clad in red T-shirts and dark slacks streamed past, clutching plastic Cuban flags, portraits of his more famous brother and banners denouncing U.S. “imperialism.”
Elsewhere on May Day, riot police charged into crowds of protesters in Turkey, spraying tear gas and kicking and clubbing fleeing demonstrators. Hundreds were arrested.
Hundreds of thousands of Russians took to the streets as an array of political forces held marches and rallies for May Day, a holiday that was of great importance in the Soviet era.
In Philippines, riot police blocked thousands of protesters who tried to march toward President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s residence to demand higher wages and her removal from office.
In the German town of Dortmund, more than 300 leftist rioters set fire to train tracks and vandalized streetcars and buses after a May Day demonstration against right-wing extremism got out of control. More than 130 protesters were detained.
Police used water cannons in Chile when protests turned slightly violent.
Latin American immigrants in the United States also marched against U.S. immigration policies, while other rallies were held in Russia, Japan, Venezuela, Brazil, Pakistan and Bolivia.
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