* Veteran revolutionary increasingly out of public view
* Physically frailer, but still seems alert mentally
* Helping Venezuela's Hugo Chavez through cancer treatment
By Jeff Franks
HAVANA, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Revolutionary legend Fidel Castro turns 85 on
Saturday, still an important figure in his communist-ruled Cuba, but
increasingly a fading presence in the life of the country he ran for 49
years.
He gave up his last leadership post this year when he stepped down as
head of the ruling Communist Party and has retreated further and further
from public view.
His gradual slipping away appears to be a product of choice borne of
necessity, but also of a transition plan to wean Cuba from its once
near-total dependence on the charismatic Comandante's leadership.
He is rarely seen or heard from and has stood largely on the sidelines
as his younger brother and replacement, President Raul Castro, struggles
to reform Cuba's Soviet-style economy.
"His role has diminished significantly. He has stepped away more so than
at any point in the last five years," said Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado, a
Cuba expert at the University of Nebraska in Omaha.
"It may be a case of Raul Castro solidifying his governing style and
Fidel willingly receding," he told Reuters.
Cuba was to celebrate the birthday on Saturday with a nationally
televised "serenade" by a lineup of musicians. Organizers said this week
they did not know if Fidel Castro would attend personally.
He came to power on New Year's Day 1959 when his guerrilla forces swept
down from the eastern Sierra Maestra mountains to topple U.S.-backed
dictator Fulgencio Batista.
As Cuba's president, he outlasted nine U.S. presidents and five decades
of U.S. hostility, but in July 2006 he underwent emergency intestinal
surgery and suffered complications from which he never fully recovered .
He handed power provisionally to Raul Castro, then did so officially
when he resigned in February 2008 and his younger sibling was elected
president by the National Assembly.
The fading of Fidel's political presence has mirrored a physical decline
that was most notable at a Communist Party congress in April when he
made just one appearance and had to be helped to his chair on the stage.
The man once famous for his hours-long speeches sat wordlessly as his
brother did all the talking in a silent passing of the torch.
TENDING TO SICK CHAVEZ
A year ago, when he reappeared in public after four years of
semi-seclusion, he was vigorous enough to launch a campaign warning the
world that U.S. moves against Iran's nuclear capability could lead to a
nuclear holocaust.
Now, like many elderly, he is tending to the health of a sick friend, in
this case close leftist ally Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who is
being treated in Cuba for an undisclosed type of cancer.
Fidel Castro has not been seen since the party congress except in videos
chatting with Chavez, in which his physical frailty was clear, but he
still seemed mentally alert.
Chavez' illness inspired the only opinion column, or "reflection," by
Fidel Castro this summer. Until three months ago, the old revolutionary
had written regular opinion pieces on world affairs assiduously
published by Cuban state media.
In his July 3 piece on Chavez, in which he predicted the Venezuelan
leader's full recovery, he said he had "momentarily" been writing less
because he was "attending to other matters that are now top priority."
He gave no more explanation.
After his five years out of power, life without Fidel Castro is not as
unimaginable for Cubans as it once was.
He is loved by some and hated by others, but increasingly Raul Castro,
80, has supplanted him as the man considered critical to the future of
the Revolution. His importance is magnified by the lack of younger
potential leaders under him.
"People used to worry about what would happen if Fidel died, but now
it's Raul. Raul replaced Fidel, but who will replace Raul?" said
mechanic Rafa Marrero.
Nevertheless, Benjamin-Alvarado said Fidel Castro's death will be a
"historical moment" for Cuba and perhaps the catalyst for more change.
Whether they like Fidel Castro or not, Cubans "are ready to move on. So
that will be the point where there will be pressure on Raul to extend
the changes he has initiated," he said. (Editing by Pascal Fletcher and
Anthony Boadle)
http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFN1E77920H20110812?sp=true
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