Cuban revolutionary figures Fidel Castro and Ernesto "Che" Guevara's sculptures remain undisturbed in Cuauhtémoc City despite calls for their removal.
**Controversial Removal of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara Statues in Mexico City Sparks Political Debate**
The statues of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, known as the "Monument Encounter" or "Che and Fidel's Bench," were removed from the Tabacalera Garden in Mexico City due to administrative irregularities and public opposition. The statues, installed in 2017 to commemorate the meeting between Castro and Guevara in Mexico before the Cuban Revolution, were not installed with the necessary permits.
The removal was announced by Mayor Alessandra Rojo de la Vega, who emphasised the importance of upholding the law in public spaces. The statues were initially placed without authorisation from the Committee on Monuments and Artistic Works in Public Spaces (COMAEP), a requirement for public installations in Mexico City.
The decision to remove the statues has sparked significant reactions:
- **Mexican Communist Party (PCM):** The PCM condemned the removal as an "unpopular and anti-communist" act, viewing it as an affront to Cuba-Mexico relations. They accused Mayor Rojo de la Vega of attempting to transform the district into a "right-wing stronghold" and demanded the return of the statues. The PCM also expressed a need to respect history and support for the solidarity between their peoples.
- **Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum:** She proposed relocating the statues to another location to preserve their historical significance, suggesting dialogue with officials to find an appropriate site. Sheinbaum stated that power is humility, not arrogance.
- **Public Opinion:** The statues were controversial due to the historical legacies of Castro and Guevara, with many Mexicans opposing them as symbols of political repression and violence.
Cuban Ambassador Marcos Rodríguez Costa responded to the removal by emphasising the essence of the revolution as a "transformed consciousness," rather than physical monuments. His statement aimed to downplay the physical removal of the statues while maintaining the ideological significance of Castro and Guevara.
As of now, the embassy of Cuba in Mexico has not issued a statement regarding the removal of the statues. Several groups, including the Communist Party, have condemned the action of the Cuauhtémoc municipality. The Communist Party believes the removal of the statues from the Tabacalera Garden is an aggression against the citizens who have cultivated the space. The statues are currently in storage pending a final decision on their fate.
The controversy surrounding the removal of the "Monument Encounter" or "Che and Fidel's Bench," has led to a significant debate about policy-and-legislation regarding public art in Mexico City, as the statues were installed without the required permits. This incident has sparked political discussions, with the Mexican Communist Party claiming the removal as an anti-communist act and an affront to Cuba-Mexico relations.
In light of the public opposition and the legal irregularities, Mayor Alessandra Rojo de la Vega's decision to remove the statues has been justified as upholding the law in public spaces, emphasizing the importance of cultural sensitivity and respect for general news and events that unfold in such spaces.
