THE 25th anniversary of the Cubana air disaster in which 11 Guyanese were among the 73 who died, was observed here this week with a common clarion call against acts of terrorism.

Speakers at the Tuesday commemorative ceremony in the National Library annexe in Georgetown denounced all acts of terrorism and condemned the "heinous and horrendous" bombing in mid-air of Cubana Airlines aircraft CUT-11201 on October 6, 1976.

The explosion on the aircraft took place in the Caribbean Sea just off the coast of Barbados.

Fifty-seven Cubans and 11 North Koreans also died in the tragedy. Some of the Guyanese who died were students going to study in Cuba.

The commemorative ceremony, hosted by the Foreign Ministry in collaboration with the Embassy of Cuba, was addressed by Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford; Cuban Ambassador, Jose Manuel Inclan Embade; and Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Korea, Guyana, Ho Kwang Chol. Chairperson was acting Director General of the Foreign Ministry, Ms. Barbara Haley.

In a moving tribute, Westford recalled that the news of the tragic bombing and crash of the Cubana aircraft "shocked the countries whose citizens were victims, and in fact, the entire Caribbean, which had never before experienced an act of such a horrendous nature."

She noted that at a sitting of the Guyana Parliament on November 24, 1976, the members unanimously passed a resolution which "condemned the despicable acts of sabotage and terrorism, and reaffirmed (Guyana's) commitment to work with all states, agencies and institutions to eradicate this regime of terror."

She said that 25 years later, "this resolution is as relevant as it was then."

Noting that six of the Guyanese who perished were Guyana scholars on their way to Cuba to commence studies to become doctors, she said, "For Guyana, it was an immeasurable loss since six of our young, brilliant scholars were cut down in the prime of their lives, just as they were about to embark on training for their chosen careers."

Also killed in the tragedy was the wife of the then Student Affairs Officer at the Guyana Embassy in Havana, who left behind an infant daughter.

"Twenty five years later the indelible scars are still there for their families and indeed this nation," Westford said.

She pointed out that as "we pause to remember those who lost their lives", the world had again witnessed a horrendous tragedy in the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Cuba still visibly feels the hurt of October 6, especially since the perpetrators have not been brought to justice, even though their whereabouts are known and their deeds well documented, the minister said.

Westford was one of the first scholars, following the bombing of the Cubana aircraft, to travel to Cuba to pursue studies in medicine. She successfully completed her studies and returned to serve her country.

"If the aim of the cowardly acts on October 6 on the civilian Cuban aircraft was an attempt to turn back the Cuban Revolution, we may safely assert that it failed," she affirmed.

"Twenty five years later, the Cuban Revolution remains intact.

"If the attempt was to frighten Guyanese away from studying in Cuba, that too has failed. In fact, in the weeks following the tragedy, Guyana resolutely sent seven additional students to Cuba to fill the offered scholarships," she said.

Cuban Ambassador Inclan Embade said, "Today, when the world was shaken by the events of last September 11, in New York, where 25 Guyanese have also been reported missing, and a wave of condemnation to terrorism rises, deep in our memories the 6th of October, 1976 is ever more present, and it forces us to fight to avoid similar acts."

He endorsed President Bharrat Jagdeo's message to the New York inter-faith service for the Guyanese who died in the September 11 attacks which read in part: "You and I must eschew violence and the things that make for violence and set people against people in death dealing hate. We must teach the peace that our several faiths teach..."

He recalled President Fidel Castro's call for an international struggle against terrorism, following the September 11 events, when he said: "None of the problems of the world can be solved by force. The international community should build a world conscience against terrorism...

"We are and will continue to be opposed to war. No matter what happens, nothing will separate us from that line!"

The Ambassador said the well-known terrorist and assassin, Luis Posada Carriles, continued his mischief and terrorist activities after his involvement in the bombing of the Cubana airliner.

He was arrested last November in Panama, during the Ibero-American summit while working on a plot to assassinate President Castro, which would have involved blowing up a university auditorium where thousands of students would have been gathered.

He said Posada Carriles and his group have neither been extradited nor punished, adding, "there are reasons to believe they could escape even before being taken to court, or just walk away with total impunity."

Of these developments he reiterated: "...We warn the international community not to let this crime go unpunished, and we demand that those responsible be tried and convicted."

"Our brothers and sisters who died (in 1976) are no longer only our martyrs, they are also symbols in the struggle against terrorism..."

Mr. Kwang Chol of the Korean Embassy in Guyana, expressing deep condolences and sympathies to the governments and families of the 73 passengers who perished in the Cubana disaster, condemned the nature of those who "manufactured that terrorist outreach and committed it."

He said that was an act of terrorists which should always be condemned by the international community.

"In fact, both at home and in the United Nations, our Government and people have condemned terrorism. This is our constant position...we condemn all the terrorist actions anywhere in the world with much commitment."

He said Korea hopes the September 11 disaster in the U.S. will inhibit any further terrorism.

"Today, as we look back on the terrible Cubana air disaster, we are more committed to act against and resent terrorism, and we join the United States to act against terrorism everywhere and not selectively", he said.

Among those gathered for the solemn occasion were Prime Minister Sam Hinds; Opposition Leader, Desmond Hoyte; ministers of the Government; members of the diplomatic corps and relatives of some of the Guyanese who perished in the disaster.

The 11 Guyanese who died were Eric Norton; Ann Nelson; Seshnarine Kumar; Jacqueline Williams; Rawle Thomas; Raymond Persaud; Margaret Bradshaw; Gordon Sobha; Violet Thomas; Rita Thomas and Harry Paul.