Havana Province, Cuba. - Ruben Martinez Villena has been rightfully regarded as one of the most emblematic characters of our literature. He was a restless fighter for Cuban national and social liberation and he devoted his revolutionary life to a fair cause.

He was born on December 20 1899, in Alquizar, Havana Province. Since a very early age, he showed a natural gift for literature. However, his dedication and zeal to see an independent Cuba, free of foreign tutelage, would shape his future.

Hence, he gave up literary fame since his early youth. He embraced his Motherland’s cause with a passion unusual for a young man of those days, with the possibilities of his profession as a lawyer. Once he passed the bar exam, he relinquished a comfortable job in a law firm to fully join the labor class’ struggle.

He advocated the principle that ideas only had some value if they had a life of their own. Therefore, he upheld each and every idea with great love and zeal. This attitude earned him many supporters and opponents in the intellectual circles.

He was a natural leader and this became evident pretty soon too. He played a leading role in the group that subscribed the paper known as “The Protest of the 13.” They denounced President Alfredo Zayas’ administrative frauds.

His innate sagacity helped him realize the importance of uniting all the revolutionary forces and the need to establish strong bonds between labor movement and students (the most radical groups in Cuban society). As a result, he was invited by Julio Antonio Mella to participate in the First National Students’ Congress.

The 20’s were a revival stage to the consciousness of many Cubans, which materialized in the overthrow of tyrant Gerardo Machado in the 30’s. It was a decade when young Villena deployed an intense political and militant work. The Phalanx of Revolutionary Action, the Minority Group and the Movement of Veterans and Patriots were rostrums to voice their dissent.

His political activity would reach maturity in 1925, with the foundation of the first Cuban Communist Party. He became one of its main leaders, next to Carlos Baliño.

By that time, he had already become dictator Machado’s relentless opponent and led the general strike against him. He wrote a letter of protest against the extension of Machado’s powers and served as legal counselor of Havana Labor Federation and the National Confederation of Cuban Workers.

By 1933, tuberculosis had seriously deteriorated his health and was forced to rest. From his bed, Villena chaired the meetings of the Communist Party Central Committee and issued relevant instructions during the strike that toppled Machado.

He attended his last meeting in December of that year, before being admitted to La Esperanza Sanatorium, where he spent his last days.

He died in January 16 1934, but the principles that always guided him found continuation in the struggle of his comrades. They were determined to turn into reality what he enunciated in his Civil Lyrical Message:

“We need a charge to kill crooks/to finish the work of revolutions/ to avenge the honor of those that suffer outrage/to cleanse the tenacious colonial scab.”

Translated by: Pedro A. Fanego

( 03.12.2009 10:13 AM )