National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP, has questioned the inclusion of Cuba in US State Department’s “state sponsor of terrorism” list.The following is the text of an open letter MP Weerawansa has sent to US Ambassador in Colombo Julie Chung: “We would like to place on record our objection to the inclusion of Cuba into the list of states that support terrorism published by the US State Department on 16 May 2024.

The US State Department began to list states sponsoring terrorism from 2nd December 1979 & included Iraq, Libya, South Yemen & Syria in it.

Having declared these states as sponsoring terrorism, the fate that befell these states is nothing a civilized state that respects democracy, human rights can agree to.

The world is well aware that Iraq was removed from this list in February 1992 as a result of its role in the Iran-Iraq war indirectly intervened by the US. However, on 13th September 1990, Iraq was added to the list of states sponsoring terrorism by the US State Department accusing Iraq of “invading Kuwait”. Though Iraq was again removed from the list in October 2004, the devastation Iraq suffered is known by all.

Libya known as the “Switzerland of Africa” had become a war-torn country by the time it was removed from the list on 15th May 2006. The Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi who is to be credited for leading Libya to great heights in the world’s socio-economic indicators was ruthlessly killed.

Likewise, the tragedy that befell Yemen after being removed from the list on 22nd May 1990 resulting in the merging of North & South Yemen to form one government has resulted in South Yemen disappearing from the world map.

Sudan was included to the US State Department “State Sponsor of Terrorism list” on 12th August 1993 and removed on 14th December 2022. Today, it is a nation where daily corpses keep piling.

Iran which is also included to the US State Departments ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism” list, recently faced the untimely & tragic death of its President Ebrahim Razi & the response by the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was that the death “heralded better times for the Iranians”.

The above examples go to highlight the fate of states that end up being included in the list of “State Sponsors of Terrorism” by the US & not only countries that value democracy & human rights but all nations of the world must condemn the outcome for these countries.

This is a trend that must be defeated & countries that are friendly towards the Cuban state are protesting the decision taken by the US State Department and all others must join in too.

Sri Lanka as a state that has been a traditional friend of Cuba & our political party join the rest of the nations’ supporting Cuba against its inclusion in the US State Department “State Sponsor of Terrorism list”.