Cubans Mourn President Chávez’s Death · Global Voices
Silvia Vinas

Article [es] written by La Redacción IPS Cuba, originally published on IPS-Inter Press Service
“The news still causes us to shiver, it's hard to believe. The grief is deep and heartbreaking, but America must honor, right now, and in its own future, the prophecies and efforts of one of the greatest men from this continent. As Maduro said, thank you, Commander Chávez, thank you…”, expressed on Facebook Yoelvis Lázaro Moreno Fernández [es] after learning about the passing of Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez Frías.
Last Tuesday afternoon, at 4:25 p.m., Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's Executive Vicepresident, announced from the “Carlos Arvelo” Military Hospital in Caracas that Chávez had died. The Venezuelan leader was back in Caracas since February 18, and on Tuesday, March 5, there was an announcement that he was suffering due to a new respiratory infection.
For journalism student Jessica Anthuané Jiménez [es] it's been an irreparable loss. “But one that must serve as momentum for the Venezuelan people for them to keep on going forward… to the memory of Commander Chávez!”, she expressed on her Facebook profile.
Venezuelan President died at 16.25 at Caracas Military Hospital. IPS Cuba archives.
“Life was good, there were roses. Some minutes earlier, a child had smiled… It came by flying and grazed my forehead… but now, today, life is so sad and finite…”, shared Yuliet Pérez Calaña [es].
Taking the lyrics of one of the most symbolic songs by Cuban songwriter Gerardo Alfonso, journalist Melbys Nicola regretted the Venezuelan President's death. “Commader Chávez!!! It's still the dreams the ones that pull people as a magnet that get us closer day by day! May you rest in peace, live forever!”, she stated.
Also on Twitter, there have been countless gestures of sympathy with the Chávez family and sorrow for his passing could be noticed on tweets by many Cubans.
“#CHAVEZLIDER [Chavez leader] is reborn just as the great human beings of #NuestraAmérica [our America]. He united us, he showed us the way and how to clear the path”, was how @BlogueroCubano [es] expressed it. Meanwhile, @ErnestoGuerra21 [es] pointed out how out of the pain “we have to pull our strength to continue #Chávez's life work”.
Paola Rodríguez, ‏@cubamar [es] on Twitter, declared: “God, this is so sad, I'm so sad for Chávez's death… poor man!!! :´´(“.
Other users have changed their profile picture on Facebook to sympathize with the genuine grief caused by the physical extinction of Hugo Chávez. Among them, Milena Recio, Yosnovi Frias Rivera [es] and Yurisander Guevara Zaila [es], who also stated that “the world was terrible already for us to be without Hugo Chávez. FAREWELL, COMMANDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!”.
On Yelanys Hernández Fusté's [es] profile, a journalist from Juventud Rebelde newspaper, we can read: “a great one is gone. Chávez's death is so sad, but he lives in each one of his social works, in his political speech, in ourselves”, she claimed.
Ariel Torres [es] stressed that “Chávez is not here physically with us anymore… a severe and huge wound for the people of America. A passionate giant that always fought for the revolutions and for the liberty of the people. Long live Chávez! However, those who die for life can not be considered dead. We must always take Chávez as a symbol of good luck, a symbol of resistance and love for the Motherland”.
On that platform, philosopher and researcher Eliades Acosta ‏ [es] asked not to give Twitter a break, “a weapon Chávez knew how to use for the fight against the despicable and contemptible slobbering that tries to discredit him. They shall not pass”, he confirmed.
Likewise, @amayaterry pointed out that “Hugo Chávez has left life… but not the Bolivarian Revolution!! All Latina America with you forever, Commander”, he stressed.
For @lolitovc “all the solidarity must be with Venezuela, all the strength and infinite tribute to Chávez :’-(“, he stated on his space on Twitter.