Armando Hart dies › Cuba › Granma - Official voice of the PCC

28.11.17

Armando Hart dies › Cuba › Granma - Official voice of the PCC - Outstanding revolutionary combatant Armando Hart Dávalos died yesterday afternoon, November 26, as a result of respiratory failure.

Hart was born June 13, 1930 in Havana, and as a student at the university here, held numerous positions of responsibility in the Federation of University Students and the Orthodox Youth. He graduated with a PhD in Law in 1952 and took a firm position in opposition to the Batista dictatorship, joining the National Revolutionary Movement led by Rafael García Bárcena. When this leader was accused of conspiracy in 1953, Hart defended him in court, asserting the people's right to rebel. He was imprisoned on several occasions during this period.

He was a founder of the July 26 Movement and part of the original leadership alongside Fidel. He participated in the Santiago de Cuba uprising in November of 1956, working closely with Frank País, was arrested and imprisoned, but escaped to return to underground work in support of the Rebel Army in the Sierra Maestra, and going on to serve as National Coordinator of the July 26 Movement, before being arrested again in 1958. He remained imprisoned until the dictatorship was defeated.

After the triumph of the Revolution, Hart took on important responsibilities and was a member of the Communist Party of Cuba's Central Committee from its foundation in 1965 until 1991. He was a member of the Council of State from 1976 until 2008 and a deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power, from its constitution until his death.