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| Latin America |
| Cuban Airmen Indicted in Civilian Deaths |
| 2003-08-22 |
| EFL A Cuban general and two fighter pilots have been indicted in the shooting down of two civilian planes in 1996 over the Florida straits, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. The four men aboard the planes were killed. The three accused men are in Cuba, and extradition is impossible since no diplomatic relations exist between Cuba and the United States. Gen. Ruben Martinez Puente, who was then head of the Cuban air force, and pilots Lorenzo Alberto Perez-Perez and Francisco Perez-Perez were named in an indictment to be released later Thursday. The charges against the men include murder, conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and destruction of aircraft. The penalties include up to life in prison or the death penalty. Hate to say it but this sounds like the Belgians indicting someone. This isn’t a matter for law enforcement, it’s a matter for diplomacy/military force. Cuba’s intent was "to terrorize the Cuban population" on the island and in Miami, U.S. Attorney Marcos Jimenez said at a news conference announcing the indictment. "These were defenseless U.S. nationals who were carrying out a humanitarian mission over international waters." The planes of the group Brothers to the Rescue were shot down by two Cuban MiGs in Feb. 24, 1996, over international waters as three aircraft searched for migrant rafters trying to flee Cuba. A third plane, carrying Brothers to the Rescue leader Jose Basulto and two observers, was not hit. On several flights before that day, members of the group had violated Cuba’s airspace and dropped leaflets over the island supporting human rights. Basulto called the indictment "a step in the right direction." Cuban-American activists have been lobbying for the indictment of Cuban President Fidel Castro in the attack. "The fact that the indictment is taking place is a good measure because it’s sending a signal to Cuba," Basulto said Thursday. "I expect the indictment of Castro takes place shortly because he’s the one that ordered the shootdown and that is well-documented." There was no immediate comment from the Cuban government about the indictment. Spy ring chief Gerardo Hernandez is appealing his murder conspiracy conviction and life sentence in the deaths of the Miami-based fliers. The spy ring conspired to lure the Brothers to the Rescue "aircraft into flying on the day of the shootdown by ensuring that the FBI would not stop the flights," Jimenez said in a statement. The Cuban government has always maintained that the Cessna 337s were in Cuban airspace when they were shot down. At the time, Havana said that the Miami group provoked the attack by repeatedly intruding on Cuban airspace for nearly two years and that the United States did little to respond to official Cuban protests. An investigation by the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization later concluded the small planes were attacked in international airspace between Florida and Cuba, but within a Cuban-posted danger zone beyond its 12-mile territorial limits. The Cuban MiG pilot told ICAO investigators that he made two warning passes in front of the Cessnas before downing them with missiles, but Cuban cockpit transcripts don’t reflect any visual or radio warning. We all know what happened. Lawsuits and indictments won’t solve the problem. Deposing Fidel will. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #2 Actually Ford signed an Executive Order. I was hoping that Cuba had stepped over the line when it helped Iran jam our anti-goverment broadcasts. Too bad - I think the Navy could have handled Cuba alone. |
| Posted by: Steve D 2003-8-22 12:54:39 PM |
| #1 Assasinating him would be better, but Ford signed that bill saying we couldn't kill a leader we weren't at war with. Never stopped us from trying though. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-8-22 2:21:01 AM |