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<div id="reader-header" class="header" style="display: block;"> <font
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href="https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Cuba-Celebrates-60-Years-of-Che-Guevaras-Radio-Rebelde-20180224-0021.html">https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Cuba-Celebrates-60-Years-of-Che-Guevaras-Radio-Rebelde-20180224-0021.html</a></font>
<h1 id="reader-title">Cuba Celebrates 60 Years of Che Guevara's
Radio Rebelde<br>
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<div id="reader-estimated-time">24 February 2018 </div>
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<p>It was 60 years ago today that the now-famous <strong>Cuban
radio station</strong> founded by iconic <strong>guerrilla</strong>
leader <strong>Che Guevara</strong> finally crackled
into life over the <strong>Caribbean</strong> airwaves.</p>
<p><strong>Radio Rebelde</strong>, the voice of the <strong>Cuban
Revolution</strong>, began as a clandestine <strong>pirate
radio </strong>station nestled in the <strong>Sierra
Maestra Mountains </strong>in the eastern part of the
island. </p>
<p>Founded by <strong>Ernesto 'Che' Guevara</strong> at
Altos de Conrado, the station's on-air signature became
a screeching howl of "Aqui, Radio Rebelde!" </p>
<p>Its February 24, 1958 maiden broadcast, which lasted 20
minutes, came at a time when almost all of Cuba's <strong>media
</strong>was controlled by loathed dictator <strong>Fulgencio
Batista</strong>. </p>
<p>The broadcast began with the rebels' anthem, followed
by a report on the battle of <strong>Pino del Agua</strong>
and other news from Che's guerrillas.</p>
<p>"Here is Radio Rebelde, the voice of the Sierra
Maestra, transmitting for all Cuba on the 20 meter band
at 5 and 9p.m. daily... I'm Station Director <strong>Captain
Luis Orlando Rodriguez</strong>."</p>
<p>Rebelde's first director, Rodriguez then read an
editorial on the founding of the station and notable
events from that day in Cuban history – of which its own
initiation is now one.</p>
<p>As the battle continued to rage between capitalist,
U.S.-backed President Batista and the <strong>Communist
</strong>guerrillas led by <strong>Fidel Castro</strong>,
Radio Rebelde broadcast firsthand reports of the rebels'
progress almost round the clock. </p>
<p>As a tribute on pateplumaradio.com notes: "Castro had
always seen the importance of broadcasting, but Che
Guevara was the main rebel proponent of a clandestine
station. Guevara knew that a radio station was the only
way to speak directly to the Cuban people.</p>
<p>"Guevara rounded up a technician, a former newspaper
reporter and two ex-announcers from Havana's popular <strong>Radio
Mambi </strong>from among supporters. An old ham
transmitter would do the broadcasting."</p>
<p>By the time Castro told listeners he had seized the
capital, Havana, on January 1, 1959, every one of the
guerrilla columns had its own radio equipment, and a
total of 32 small rebel stations had joined forces to
create the <strong>Cadena de la Libertad</strong>, or<strong>
Liberty Network</strong>.</p>
<p>Castro himself, during Rebelde's 15th anniversary
celebrations in 1973, recalled: "Radio Rebelde truly
became our means of mass communication, to talk to the
people, and it became a much-listened-to station. It was
crucial for disseminating <strong>military</strong>
information and played a key role throughout the <strong>war</strong>."</p>
<p>Today, Radio Rebelde is a 24-hour operation employing
more than 270 people, with an emphasis on news programs,
sports and and live talk shows, and outposts in every
Cuban province. </p>
<p>As co-founder Ricardo Martinez is quoted as saying in
the station's official history: "A guiding principle of
our effort was to always communicate the truth, which
gave us credibility." <br>
______________________________________________________________________<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><font color="#ff0000"><b><i>FROM
THE FREEDOM ARCHIVES:</i></b></font><br>
Sample from actual broadcast of <span class="highlight_search">Radio
Rebelde</span>, the clandestine station of the Cuban Revolution.
The announcer introduces Fidel Castro, who calls for a general
strike to defeat the Batista tyranny. <br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://search.freedomarchives.org/search.php?s=%22radio+rebelde%22">https://search.freedomarchives.org/search.php?s=%22radio+rebelde%22</a></font><br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415 863.9977
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://freedomarchives.org/">https://freedomarchives.org/</a>
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