Waubonsee Community College

The Ochoa Affair, a Cuban military idol toppled, by Jean-Stephan Michaux and others

eng

videorecording

The Ochoa Affair

electronic resource

767805914

by Jean-Stephan Michaux and others

61

World history in video

a Cuban military idol toppled

Arnaldo Ochoa was a revered military commander in Cuba, the leader of 50,000 troops who triumphed in Angola, and a staunch supporter of Fidel Castro. In June of 1989 he was arrested by Raul Castro and put on trial for drug trafficking, negligence of duty, and misappropriation of hard currency. The country was rocked by the televised show trial. A generation of young men had grown up with a belief in the righteousness of the revolution. Yet Fidel had led them to a costly victory in Africa where many young Cuban soldiers died or were maimed. There were severe shortages of food, water, drugs and electricity after the Russians pulled out and the U.S. embargo was imposed. Narrated passionately by a disenchanted supporter of the revolution, The Ochoa Affair combines unique archival footage, compelling narration and inventive graphics. The cream of Cuba s leadership was brought down by the military tribunal, perhaps sacrificed to the despotic whim of Fidel Castro. The truth may never be known definitively as to whether the men committed the deeds for which their lives were taken. But we are as close as we will ever be to the workings of justice in a Latin American dictatorship

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