Terrorism Against Cuba

To know the long history of the 43-year Cuban Revolution, in which Cuba has been the victim of innumerable acts of terrorism, aggression, invasions and provocations, bringing death to more than 3000 innocent human beings, helps to understand why the actions of Antonio, Fernando, Gerardo, Ramón and René are considered a legitimate defense. Away from family and loved ones, they were prepared to postpone the joy of daily existence alongside their people in order to fulfill their duty. The list is practically endless, but here are the most highlighted facts... October 14, 1990: Two armed terrorists sneaked into Santa Cruz del Norte as part of an action concocted in Miami. They had orders to carry out violent actions. Their weapons and false documents supplied in Miami were confiscated. They also carried literature urging people to join what they called "The Cuban Liberation Army" headed by Higinio Díaz Anne who had given them money and propaganda before they set out.September 17,1991: Two counterrevolutionaries from Miami infiltrated into Cuba. Their mission was to sabotage tourist shops to spread terror among foreign tourists. Their weapons and a radio transmitter were confiscated.December 29, 1991:Three terrorists from the so-called Commandos L group in Miami entered Cuba illegally. Their weapons and other war materiel were confiscated. These three had received training with 50 or 60 other men in a camp on 168 Street in Miami.July 4, 1992:A group of terrorists set out from the United States to attack economic targets along the Havana coastline. Once detected by Cuban patrol boats, they moved to waters off Varadero, where U.S. coastguards rescued them after their boat had a mechanical failure. The FBI released them after the confiscation of weapons, maps and videos made during their journey.July 1992:An operation to infiltrate an U.S. based terrorist into Cuba with the mission to sabotage an economic target in Villa Clara province failed. He was carrying the weapons and explosives needed for the job and had the assistance of Brothers to the Rescue who kept him informed about the position of the U.S. coastguard to make it easier for him to reach Cuban territory.September 9, 1992:The FBI arrests a Cuban born terrorist for illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Law of Neutrality. He is released without charges.October 7, 1992:An armed attack against the Varadero Meliá Hotel is perpetrated from a vessel manned by four Miami terrorists who were later arrested and questioned by the FBI, then released.October 19, 1992: Three Miami based counterrevolutionaries entered Cuba illegally with plenty of weapons and military equipment that were confiscated. At the same time, three other terrorists were arrested in the Bahamas with weapons and explosives apparently destined for Cuba, which were also seized from them. These terrorists had left Miami on October 17.January 1993:Five terrorists on board a vessel armed with heavy machine guns and other weapons were arrested by the U.S. coastguard as they were heading toward the Cuban coastline. They were soon released.April 2, 1993:The tanker ship "Mikonos" sailing under the Cypriot flag was fired on 7 miles north of Matanzas from a vessel crewed by Cuban born, U.S. based terrorists. May 18, 1993. A violation of Cuban airspace by a plane registered to "Brothers to the Rescue" with the number N8447May 18, 1993:uban airspace is violated by airplane N8447M belonging to the terrorist organization Brothers to the RescueMay 21, 1993:Nine terrorists arrested by the U.S. Customs Service on board a vessel as they prepared to sail for Cuba to launch attacks on that country. Their weapons and explosives were seized. On August 21, Judge Lawrence King dismissed charges against them. May 1993. "Brothers to the Rescue" planned to blow up a high-tension pylon near San Nicolás de Bari in Havana province. October 1993. "Brothers to the Rescue" publicly encouraged attempts on the life of President Fidel Castro and violence against Cuba. It also confirmed its readiness to accept "the risks that come with doing this". Andrés Nazario Sargén, head of terrorist group Alpha 66, makes an announcement in the United States that his organization has recently carried out five operations against Cuba.October 18, 1993:A terrorist living in the United States is arrested on his arrival in Cuba. His orders were to carry out acts of violence on Cuban soil.1993:A Cuban citizen visiting the United States is recruited by a terrorist organization to carry out sabotage in Cuba against the tourism and agricultural sectors. He was supplied with some of the materials needed for such actions and was offered the sum of 20,000 US dollars.November 1994:Terrorist Luis Posada Carriles and five of his accomplices smuggled weapons into Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, during the IV Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government in order to make an attempt on the life of President Fidel Castro. However, the security belt keeps him at a distance thus thwarting his aim. Posada Carriles later told the New York Times: "I was standing behind some journalists and I saw Castro's friend, García Márquez, but I could only see Castro from a long way away."March 11, 1994:A terrorist group from Miami fires on the "Guitart Cayo Coco Hotel."September 4, 1994:Two U.S. based terrorists infiltrated into the area around Caibarién, Villa Clara, with the aim of carrying out sabotage in that province. A number of weapons and large amounts of military equipment were seized.October 6, 1994:Another armed group fired automatic weapons at the "Guitart Cayo Coco Hotel" from a boat that set out from Florida.October 15, 1994:A group of armed terrorists coming from the United States landed on the causeway to "Cayo Santa María" near Caibarién, Villa Clara, and murdered comrade Arcelio Rodríguez García.November 11, 1994:Four terrorists were arrested in Varadero, Matanzas. After sneaking into Cuba, they were relieved of weapons and munitions.March 2, 1995:Two terrorists from the United States sneaked into the coast near Puerto Padre, Las Tunas. They were carrying 51 pounds of C-4 explosives and other munitions.May 20, 1995.The "Guitart Cayo Coco Hotel" was once again attacked by terrorists manning a fast launch coming from the United States.July 12, 1995:Three terrorists were arrested in the United States as they were preparing to sneak into Cuba using an act of provocation just off the Cuban coast as cover. Despite confiscation of their weapons and explosives, U.S. authorities released them.December 16, 1995:Two terrorists were arrested in the United States as they readied to sneak into Cuba through Pinar del Río to carry out subversive actions. Despite confiscation of their weapons and explosive, U.S. authorities released them.January 12, 1996.A Cuban immigrant living in the United States was arrested while trying to transport explosives from the City of Havana to Pinar del Río.January 13, 1996: Several "Brothers to the Rescue" planes violated Cuban airspace over the City of Havana. Later, terrorist Basulto said: "They say I was flying over Cuban airspace, something everybody knows and which I have never denied."January 23, 1996:U.S. authorities intercepted a vessel in Marathon Key with five armed terrorists on board. It was headed for Cuba. The FBI released the five that same day.February 11, 1996.After firing on our coastline, a vessel coming from the United States carrying three terrorists was captured by the Cuban a cost guard patrol.February 24, 1996:"Brothers to the Rescue" launched a new foray. Three light planes violated Cuban airspace over the heart of Havana and two of them were shot down. In the 20 months prior to this incident there had been at least 25 other violations of Cuban airspace.August 21, 1996:An U.S. citizen is arrested in Cuba. He had clandestinely brought military equipment into the country and was planning to carry out terrorist actions on Cuban soil.September 16, 1996:A person is arrested who was sneaking into Cuba through Punta Alegre, Ciego de Ávila, on a boat carrying weapons and a great deal of military equipment.21 October 1996:An SS-RR light plane, registration number N3093M owned by the U.S. State Department sprays a substance containing the pest "Thrip Palmi Karny" as it flies over the "Girón" international corridor about 25-30 kilometers south of Varadero. November 1996. Miami television channel 23 carried a live interview with Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch where they stressed their intentions of continuing with their terrorist activities against Cuba.April 12, 1997:An explosive device was detonated in the "Meliá Cohíba" Hotel in the City of Havana. April 30, 1997. Discovery of an explosive device in the "Meliá Cohíba" Hotel.July 12, 1997:Bombs blasted in the "Capri" and "National" hotels.August 4, 1997:Another bomb exploded in the "Meliá Cohíba" Hotel.August 11, 1997:The Miami press published a statement from the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) giving unconditional support to the terrorist bomb attacks against civilian and tourist targets in Cuba. The chairman of this organization claimed: "We do not think of these as terrorist actions" and went on to say that any action against Cuba was legitimate.August 22, 1997:Bomb exploded in the "Sol Palmeras" Hotel in Varadero. September 4, 1997. Several bombs exploded in the "Tritón", "Chateau Miramar" and "Copacabana" hotels. The explosion in the latter killed young Italian tourist Fabio Di Celmo. On that same day another bomb exploded at "La Bodeguita del Medio " restaurant.October 27, 1997:The U.S. Coastguard arrested a vessel West of Puerto Rico. They confiscated 2 high velocity rifles .50 caliber with their tripods, night vision gear, and military uniforms and communications equipment. These sophisticated weapons, strictly military in nature, are designed for long-range attacks on vehicles and aircraft. One of those on the vessel said that his aim was to assassinate President Fidel Castro when he arrived on Margarita Island, Venezuela, on November 7, 1997 to attend the Ibero-American Summit. U.S. authorities found that the vessel was registered by a Florida company whose chief executive officer, manager, secretary and treasurer is José Antonio Llama, a director of the CANF and a Bay of Pigs mercenary. One of the guns was registered in the name of José Francisco "Pepe" Hernández, CANF co-chairman. A member of Brigade 2506 had bought the other in 1994. The four crew members on the vessel were identified as: a well-known CIA agent; the captain of a CIA boat used by Florida infiltration teams sneaking into Cuba; the chairman of a New Jersey counterrevolutionary group and a member of Alpha 66. Despite their confessions and clear proof of the illegal possession of arms, false testimony and arms smuggling, these terrorists were acquitted by a Federal court of law in December 1999 after a rigged trial.May 1998:Two terrorists sneaked into Santa Lucía, Pinar del Río. They had set out from the United States with a great deal of weapons and war materiel.August 1998:Even before President Fidel Castro's announcement that he would attend the Summit of Heads of State and Government of CARIFORUM in the Dominican Republic, several Cuban born terrorists had planned an attempt on his life to be carried out some time between August 20 and 25. To that end, terrorist Posada Carriles arranged a meeting in the Guatemala City Holiday Inn Hotel one month before the summit to plan how to get weapons and explosives into Santo Domingo.November 17, 2000:A group of terrorists headed by Posada Carriles was arrested in Panama. They had entered Panama with false documents to make an attempt on the life of President Fidel Castro during the X Ibero American Summit of Heads of State and Government. Their weapons, explosives and a sketch of Castro's route and public meetings were seized from them. The Cuban American National Foundation is paying for the team of lawyers defending the terrorists.