END DI BLOCKADE, SEND AID TO CUBA 4MAI26
Defense neo-nazi fascist petie hegseth a commit extrajudicial killings a Venezuelans, Colombians an Ecuadorians inna di Caribbean an Eastern Pacific since last Summer, di laas murders dem a komit jos laas wiik. Di corrupt fascist drumpf / trump-vance administration also illegally an immorally attack Venezuela an kidnap Pres Nicholas Maduro an him wife, Cilia Flores earlier dis year. pres drumpf / trump also meet wid fascist war criminal vladimir putin inna Alaska inna 2025, an dem refuse fi honor di arrest warrant weh di ICC did issue fi him fi crimes weh did involve kidnapped children fram Ukraine. Not My pres drumpf / trump, NOT MY vp vance wid dem corrupt administration lead by Sec of Defense fascist petie hegseth an Sec of State fascist little markie rubio have also drag America into an illegal and immoral war on Iran. Dis administration's justifications fi dem threats a action against Cuba a grossly hypocritical an di US Congress haffi prevent di US military fram tek any action against Cuba. Please work wid di Virginia congressional delegation fi prevent American military action against Cuba.
Trump Administration Live Updates: US Charges Former Cuban President Raúl Castro Wid Murder
Weh We A Cover Today
Cuba: Di Justice Department indicted Raúl Castro, di fos president an defense minister a Cuba, pan murder an conspiracy charges inna di deaths a four people inna 1996. Mr. Castro did get charge along wid five others inna di case. Read more ›
Cuba's Response: Di charges dem stem fram di downing a two planes weh a Cuban exile group did a operate weh did a follow months a diplomatic wrangling. Cuba's president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, seh dat him country did act in self-defense afta dem airspace did repeatedly violate by “notorious terrorists.”
Pressuring Havana: Di charges dem a one extraordinary escalation a di Trump administration's pressure campaign gens Cuba's Communist govament, an get Secretary of State Marco Rubio closer to him long-held goal a transforming di country.
Di indictment a Raúl Castro a one extraordinary escalation a di administration's pressure pan Cuba.
Alan FeuerFrances Robles an David C. Adams
Alan Feuer did report fram New York, an Frances Robles an David C. Adams fram Miami.
Di Justice Department pan Wednesday unsealed an indictment against Raúl Castro, di 94-year-old former president a Cuba, charge him wid murder an a conspiracy fi kill US citizens weh did come fram di fatal downing 30 years ago a two planes.
Di indictment, weh did issue inna Federal District Court inna Miami, was an extraordinary escalation a di Trump administration's multifaceted pressure campaign against Cuba's Communist government. It also accuse five others weh did involve inna di downing a di planes.
Di charges, weh did build pan an earlier case weh did fos file inna 2003, bring to bear pan Mr. Castro, di bredda a Fidel Castro, di powers a di American criminal justice system at a moment a high tension wid Cuba an saddle him wid a maximum penalty a life inna prison.
Dem also laid di grounds fi potential action by di military fi tek him weh fram di country chruu a means similar to how US Special Operations forces use an indictment against Nicolás Maduro, di former leader a Venezuela, fi swoop inna Caracas inna a brazen operation inna January an capture him.
Di superseding indictment did secretly return last month an did announce it at a news conference in Miami by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche an Jason A. Reding Quiñones, di US attorney fi di Southern District of Florida.
Dem accuse Mr. Castro an di ada dem, including former Cuban pilots, a kill four people weh ded wen di Cuban military shot dung two planes inna 1996 run by Brothers to the Rescue, a Cuban exile group weh use aircraft fi look fi Cubans weh did a run weh fram di country by sea. Fidel Castro tek responsibility fi down di planes dem shortly afta dem did shot dung dem, an claim seh di organization did drop anti-regime leaflets ova Havana inna dem earlier flights.
“Mi message today clear,” Mr. Blanche seh. “Di United States an President Trump nuh — an naa go — forget dem citizens.”
Echoing dat deh theme, Mr. Quiñones seh dat Cuba's Communist government did act wid impunity fi decades, but dat di indictment woulda finally hold some a dem leaders accountable.
“Dem weh kill Americans,” him seh, “cyan jus wait out American justice.”
Wen reporters dem ask if di indictment was a prelude to US military action inna Cuba, Mr. Blanche seh dat decision was up to Mr. Trump an him foreign policy team.
Inna di 30 years since di planes dem did get down, Cuban American lawmakers, exile activists, survivors a di episode an family members a di victims dem did a call fi Raúl Castro, who was di minister of defense at di time, fi get criminally charge. But Mr. Blanche neva have nuh fi seh wen reporters dem ask him why dem return an indictment inna di case now.
“Believe mi, di ting weh most true is dat fi 30 years weh pass since den, di delay inna justice a di biggest injustice weh tek place,” José Basulto, weh did run Brothers to the Rescue, seh inna wan interview dis year.
Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, Cuba's ambassador to di United Nations, tell The New York Times pan Wednesday seh di charges against Raúl Castro was an attempt by di Trump administration fi create a pretext fi military action against Cuba.
“Mi cyan call it anodda word dan a circus — a circus dem a mount now as one more action fi justify military aggression against Cuba,” Mr. Guzmán seh inna one interview.
Im add seh Brothers to the Rescue did violate Cuban airspace 25 times before di Cuban military did shot dung dem planes, an seh Cuban officials did repeatedly plead wid US authorities fi stop di group's flights ova Cuba, including inna a letta fram Fidel Castro to President Bill Clinton, a point weh did support by declassified US documents fram di time.
“How many deliberate an serious violations a US airspace woulda any US government allow before dem tek action?” him ask.
While di investigation inna Mr. Castro did a gwaan fi weeks, Mr. Blanche an Mr. Quiñones choose fi unseal di charges dem pan Wednesday. Ikuinsaid wid Kyuuban Indipendans Die, we komemorate di hen a di Yunaitid Stiet milichri akiupieshan a di ailan ina 1902.
Di indictment a Mr. Castro come at a moment a rising crisis fi Cuba as di country's oil supplies fi domestic use an power plants don exhaust. It also followed an unusual visit by John Ratcliffe, di CIA director, who meet wid senior Cuban officials, including Mr. Castro's grandson, bout a week ago. Inna di talks, him warn di govament seh dem haffi mek economic changes an stop allow Russia an China fi operate intelligence posts pan dem soil.
Jack Nicas contribute reporting.
President Trump tell reporters pan Wednesday jus before him board Air Force 1 fi travel to Connecticut seh him neva have no plan fi escalate him campaign against di Cuban government afta di Justice Department's indictment a di country's former president Raúl Castro.
“No, it naa go have no escalation,” Trump seh. “Mi no tink it need fi deh.”
“Look di place a fall apart, it a mess,” him added.
One a di survivors fram di shooting dung was at di announcement a di indictment a Raúl Castro. Sylvia Iriondo, 85, memba wen him did inna wan airplane wid Jose Basulto, di pilot weh did found Brothers to the Rescue, wen him did si smoke fram one a di group's two planes weh did get shot dung by Cuban fighters. “Wi deh next,” him tell har. Shi pull out a rosary as Basulto fly dem to US airspace.
Republicans weh represent Florida pan Wednesday stop short a call fi US military action fi force regime change inna Cuba. “Mi no tink it a go tek military action,” Senator Rick Scott a Florida seh at a news conference pan Capitol Hill. Im seh President Trump neva waan put US troops inna harm's way. “Mi tink di people dem a Cuba a go rise up,” him added.
Di charges dem against former President Raúl Castro come during a period a extraordinary hardship inna Cuba.
It deh inna economic free-fall fi several years, an it have several nationwide power outages. Food prices dem soar, an di tourism industry dem cratered.
Di crisis worse considerably dis year wen President Trump cut off much-needed oil shipments fram Venezuela, afta US forces tek weh dat deh country's president an tek control a it oil industry. Mr. Trump also impose an effective blockade pan fuel shipments to Cuba fram any country.
Cuba run out a jet fuel, an airlines cancel flights. Transportation largely come to a standstill as black-market gas prices have risen.
Laas week, di Cuban govament seh di country did run out a oil reserves. It officials dem lash out at di United States, an seh it deliberately inflict pain pan Cuba an violate it sovereignty by blocking oil shipments.
Cuba produce oil domestically, but far less dan weh it need fi function. As a result, even Havana, di capital, a experience blackouts weh can last 24 hours.
Residents weh dem interview inna Havana last weekend seh people did resort to banging pots an pans fi protest di blackouts. Dat deh tactic, dem seh, usually result inna power being restore — proveng, inna dem view, dat di government coulda control which neighborhoods get power an wen.
People did a describe a daily quest fi food, since it was impossible fi run a refrigerator long enough fi freeze meat or keep food fresh. Dem describe buying food inna small, affordable daily increments: five eggs one day, a pound a pork di next, three pounds a chicken pan di day afta dat.
Pan a recent Monday, di power did deh on fi jus one hour, seh a woman weh live inna Havana an weh neva waan har name publish, fearing retribution fram di police. Tings did a likkle beta di neks day: Di power did a stay on fi two hours.
Florida Republicans pan Capitol Hill did a call pan President Trump fi seize Raúl Castro as him did do Nicolás Maduro, di Venezuela leader weh US forces did capture an bring to New York fi face federal charges. “Pay attention, an look weh happen to Maduro,” seh Representative Maria Elvira Salazar, whose district include downtown Miami.
Edwad Wong eh-ripuot pah intanashinal nyuuz ah farin palisi fi muo dah tuu deked, ah eh-kova chrii sekretary a stiet.
Sekretari a Stiet Maako Rubio pieransdem emigriet frah Kyuuba gaa di Yunaitid Stiet chrii ier bifuo Fidel Kaschro siiz powa chuu wah Kamiunis revaluushan ina 1959.
Dem did a look fi economic opportunities. Mr. Rubio's fadda, Mario, eventually find work in Florida as a bartender, an him mada, Oriales , as a hotel maid, cashier an Kmart stock clerk.
Yet, Mr. Rubio talk bout dismantling di Communist govament wid di same passion weh galvanize plenty political exiles weh lef di island afta di revolution. Di indictment a di Raúl Castro, 94, di patriarch a di family, deh inna line wid Mr. Rubio's enduring mission, an it a jus di laas inna a series a efforts by di US govament fi weaken Havana weh Mr. Rubio did support or engineer.
“President Trump a offer a new path between di US an a new Cuba,” Mr. Rubio seh inna a brief video address pan Wednesday weh did a direct to di Cuban people.
“Di reason yuh afi survive 22 hours a day widout electricity a nuh due to an oil blockade by di US,” Mr. Rubio seh inna Spanish. “Di real reason yuh nuh have electricity, fuel or food is because dem weh control yuh country plunder billions a dollars, but nutten neva use fi help di people dem.”
Widin Mr. Trump's cabinet, Mr. Rubio's focus pan Cuba stan out, but it par fi course inna di Cuban American milieu a South Florida. Deh, fiery anti-Communist politics a di norm, an casual banter can revolve roun di ways in which di United States might one day oust di leaders inna Havana.
“Rubio come out a di anti-Cuban politics a Miami,” Benjamin J. Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser to President Barack Obama, tell The New York Times last December.
Mr. Rhodes manage Mr. Obama's policy fi try restore, to a degree, US economic an diplomatic ties wid Cuba. Mr. Rhodes did a taak bout di policy at di time wid Mr. Rubio, weh was a US senator weh did a represent Florida.
“Im always did a root inna a regime-change policy toward Havana,” Mr. Rhodes seh. “A core to him identity.”
Mr. Rubio was one a di architects a di Trump administration's military campaign against Venezuela, weh result inna US forces seize Nicolás Maduro, di country's leader, an bring him to New York fi stan trial pan drug trafficking charges. Inna 2020, di Justice Department get a grand jury indictment gens Mr. Maduro.
Di aggression against Venezuela was in part aimed fi knock dung di pillars a Cuba's Communist government. Venezuela was di main supplier a oil fi Cuba, an di Trump administration pressure di country's new ruler, Delcy Rodríguez, an ally a Mr. Maduro, fi stop shipments to di island. As a result, Cuba's economy come unda greater strain dan it did see inna decades.
Inna 2019, during di first Trump administration's efforts fi unseat Mr. Maduro by trying fi encourage an uprising, Mr. Rubio tell NPR dat a weakening Cuba woulda be a welcome “byproduct” a one change inna Venezuela's government, even if it neva “di central rationale” fi push out Mr. Maduro. “Anyting weh bad fi a Communist dictatorship a someting weh mi support,” him seh.
Months ago, Mr. Rubio staat taak directly wid Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, a grandson a Raúl Castro, fi try negotiate an economic opening wid Cuba weh woulda include some political concessions. US officials did a push inna early March fi di Castro family fi tek weh President Miguel Díaz-Canel, weh woulda allow di Trump administration fi argue seh it did successfully engineer political change inna Cuba, The New York Times ripuot.
At di time, US officials did willing fi tolerate di Castros dem stay inna power behind di scenes as long as dem agree fi guide di country chruu economic changes weh di Trump administration did a push. But US officials don grow impatient wid di slow pace a negotiations an weh dem see as stubbornness pan di part a di Castro family.
Republican lawmakers weh did a call pan di Trump administration fi exert more pressure pan Cuba's Communist government did a celebrate di indictment. “Today a one glorious day,” Representative Maria Elvira Salazar, Republican of Florida, seh at a news conference pan Capitol Hill.
Representative Carlos Giménez, anodda Florida Republican, seh di charges dem against Raúl Castro sen a clear message seh Washington did “laser focused” pan di Western Hemisphere. “Wi naa go tolerate dictatorships inna wi hemisphere,” him added. “Wi a go fight fi di people dem.”
Di indictment did have bipartisan support locally, even though some Democrats did a question di highly publicized nature a di announcement. “A one great day no matter yuh party,” seh Daniella Levine Cava, di mayor a Miami-Dade County, weh a one Democrat.
Shi added: “Look, it was coldblooded murder. It was state sanctioned. It mean too much fi lef it be. Yuh a go haffi pursue justice. It's also a tremendous symbol fi di future. Obviously, people a celebrate today, but dem anxious fi know how dis ago lead to change a di regime, Cerly's it not entaind.”
Inna one shaat video weh dem did a address to Cubans pan Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio seh dat President Trump did a offer dem “a new path.”
Hours later, di Justice Department did indict Cuba's former president, Raúl Castro, fi did gi order fi shoot dung two small civilian planes inna 1996. Di indictment was part a one multipronged US strategy fi topple Cuba's communist government, weh did include threats fram Mr. Trump seh him ago “take” di country.
But di laas US pressure campaign gens Cuba, including it attempts fi control who lead di country, reflect a dynamic weh more dan a century old. An di US govament decision fi indict Mr. Castro pan May 20 carry particular significance.
Pah Mie 20, 1902, di Yunaitid Stiet faamali hen deh milichri akiupieshan a Kyuuba, we deh eh-mien ina di ierdem afta wah rout a Panish koluonial fuos bai wah kombinieshan a Yunaitid Stiet chruup ah Kiyuban gerila uu eh-don-fait wah indipendans waar fi chrii deked. Wails ada Panish kalani laka Guam, Puoto Riiko ah di Filipiinz ton US pozeshan, Kyuuba get grant indipendans.
Plenty Cubans “celebrate dem independence to di tilt” at di time, seh Michael Bustamante, who direct di Cuban American studies program at di University of Miami. “But it come wid a big asterisk.”
Dem did have more dan one asterisk. Di biggest was di Platt Amendment, weh “basically authorize di United States fi intervene inna Cuban affairs going forward,” Dr. Bustamante seh. Cuba did essentially force fi accept dem deh terms or allow di US military occupation fi continue. Durin dat deh era, US business interests, particularly inna sugar, staat buy large plantations pan di island.
Wan neda asterisk was di granting a one perpetual lease ova a strategic port inna Cuba's southeast weh did become Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
Di terms dem pan weh di US lift dem military occupation “gi di United States plenty a di benefits a colonization widout di responsibility,” Daniel Immerwahr, a historyan at Northwestern University weh study US colonialism, write inna him book “How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States.”
Bifuo di Platt Amendment did get repeal inna 1934, di US woulda military occupy Cuba twice more, step in largely fi protect dem economic interests. Di amendment help destabilize Cuba, Dr. Bustamante seh, cause lan owners woulda drum up unrest fi precipitate US intervention an di replacement a democratically elected leaders weh dem did oppose.
Di kamiunis gobament we kom tu powa ina Kyuuba 1959 revaluushan ivenchali abandan Mie 20 az ofishal indipendans die. Di White House, inna wan statement pan Wednesday weh did a commemorate Cuban independence , seh dat di current govament a represent a “direct betrayal a di nation weh dem founding patriots dem bled an ded fah.”
Di choice a May 20 woulda resonate fi most Cubans, seh Dr. Bustamante.
“Inna di context a broader foreign policy worldview weh di Trump administration a push fi reassert US dominance — dem words not mine — inna di Western Hemisphere,” him seh, “dem a hearkening back to dis moment wen di US did treat Cuba as its backyard.”
Di acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, deflect di kweschan wen dem aks im weda di Trump adminischrieshan plan fi kyari Raúl Castro kom a Florida fi tan jojment, an se a “wan kweschan we invalv di president a di United States, di Secretary a War, di Secretary a State.”
Mirta Mendez, di sista a Carlos Costa, one a di pilots dem weh did get kill inna di 1996 downing by Cuba a two American planes, seh she neva have no idea seh di US attorney's office did secretly revive di case. “None a wi neva lose hope,” she seh.
Maggie Alejandre-Khuly, 80, di sista a one a di Cuban Americans dem weh did get shot dung pan Feb. 24, 1996, did a hold a copy a di indictment at di event at di Freedom Tower weh dem did announce di charges dem. “It still bittersweet,” she seh. “It gud inna dat justice inna wi case look like it a gwaan. It bitter inna di sense seh it a tek 30 years an, yuh know, no good justice woulda eva be achieved unless we have wi dead people back, which is impossible.”
President Miguel Díaz-Canel a Cuba call di indictment against Raúl Castro “a political action, lacking any legal basis,” fi build a case fi potential military aggression against di island. Im defend di 1996 shooting dung a planes weh Brothers to the Rescue did a operate, an seh Cuba “act inna legitimate self-defense widin it jurisdictional waters, following successive an dangerous violations a wi airspace by notorious terrorists.”
Cuba “no act recklessly, nor did it violate international law,” Díaz-Canel seh pan social media. Im turn di accusation back pan Washington, an seh US forces did carry out extrajudicial killings during boat strikes inna di Caribbean Sea an di Pacific Ocean.
Todd Blanche, di acting attorney general, wouldn't seh why di Justice Department decide fi unseal di indictment against Castro today, since prosecutors did get it inna late April.
“A nuff factors go inna wen a sealed indictment get unsealed, if eva,” him tell reporters. Im seh dat im neva care seh some people did a speculate di indictment might be used as a pretext fi military intervention inna Cuba.
Di charges dem against Raúl Castro result fram di 1996 shooting a two civilian Brothers to di Rescue aircraft weh did go dung inna international skies north a Cuba, an episode weh did a follow months a diplomatic wrangling between di United States an Cuba ova di organization's flights.
Inna di early 1990s, thousands a Cubans migrate to di United States by sea, usually aboard rafts or other precarious homemade vessels. Brothers to the Rescue was a volunteer group a pilots who woulda fly ova di Straits of Florida looking fi stranded migrants an den alert di US Coast Guard.
Cuba an di United States did end a massive wave a migration by agreeing fi turn back any Cubans weh dem ketch at sea. Afta dat, Brothers to the Rescue continue fi fly, but wid a more provocative mission.
Di organization, an it founder José Basulto, woulda fly ova Cuba an drop leaflets wid various messages, including excerpts fram di UN Declaration on Human Rights. Di Cuban govament did furious an spen months a complain to di US State Department, according to records weh di National Security Archive, a research institute weh collect declassified documents, did post pan Tuesday .
Di records dem show seh di Cuban govament an di Clinton administration did a hold several meetings weh did a discuss Mr. Basulto's flights, wid di Federal Aviation Administration a demand seh Cuba fi provide evidence seh dem air space did get violate.
Wen wan FAA official laan seh Mr. Basulto did a plan anodda flight, she warn colleagues, jus two days before di doomed flight.
“In light a last week's intrusions, dis latest overflight can only be seen as further taunting of the Cuban government,” di official write.
“Worst-case scenario is dat one a dem days di Cubans dem ago shoot dung one a dem planes yah an di FAA better have all dem ducks inna a row.”
Two days later, afta Mr. Basulto announce himself to Cuban air traffic control, di Cuban defense ministry scramble two MiG fighter jets. Di jets dem fire Soviet-made air-to-air missiles, weh bring dung di two northbound planes inna international waters.
Three US citizens an a US resident, who did himself a rafter rescued by di group, did get kill. Mr. Basulto, who did deh pan a third plane, get weh an neva get harm.
“Mi si smoke pan di right side a wi plane,” Mr. Basulto seh inna wan recent interview.
“Mi did believe wholeheartedly seh wi did a go be next an fortunately it neva happen.”
Di Cuban govament neva waan comment dis week, except fi share a social media post by di Cuban ambassador to di United States, Lianys Torres Rivera, wid a link to di memos.
Di records dem did compiled chruu a Freedom of Information Act request fi a 2014 book, “Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations Between Washington and Havana,” by William LeoGrande, a Cuba scholar at American University, an Peter Kornbluh, a senior analyst at di National Security Archive.
Mr. Basulto did deh inna a hospital pan Tuesday an dem couldn't reach him fi comment bout di FAA documents.
Inna di past, di organization did denied violating Cuban air space dat deh day, an seh it did widin dem rights fi fly inna di area.
Raúl Castro a one former guerrilla weh did fight alongside him bredda Fidel fi topple di dictator Fulgencio Batista inna di 1950s. Im lieta ton difens minista an tek uova az prezident afta Fidel Castro get sik an step dong. Im a go turn 95 pan June 3.
One a di MiG pilots dem weh dem name inna today's superseding indictment, Lorenzo Pérez-Pérez, did fos get indict inna 2003. Him bredda, Francisco Pérez-Pérez, weh a pilot tu, did get indict back den, too, but him ded since den.
Todd Blanche, di acting US attorney general, did vague wen dem aks him how him did expect Raúl Castro fi be bring to di United States fi face charges, an him seh, “Im ago show up yah by him own will or by anodda way.”
“Wi indict man outside a dis ya konchri aal di taim, an a aal kain a difrant wie wi kyan get dem ya,” im se.
Di indictment a Raúl Castro a di laas step inna di Trump administration's escalating pressure campaign gens Cuba — paat a wan broader effort by di president fi topple di Cuban govament.
Di Justice Department unseal an indictment pan Wednesday, weh charge Mr. Castro, di former president a Cuba, an five ada people wid murder an a conspiracy fi kill US citizens.
Since him retake office, President Trump neva mek no secret a him desire fi expand US territory an oust leaders weh him dislike. Afta di successful military operation in Venezuela an di so far unsuccessful efforts fi secure Greenland or di Panama Canal, Mr. Trump mek it clear seh Cuba a him next target.
Fi Mr. Trump, di interest inna Cuba a nuh new . Inna 2011 an 2012, Trump Organization executives did visit Cuba fi scout a golf course, an inna 2016, while him did a run fi president, Mr. Trump seh Cuba “would be a good opportunity fi investment.”
An even as him did a deride Cuba as a “failed nation” inna di recent months, him did a continue fi talk up its geographical advantages.
“Mi tink Cuba, inna it own way, tourism an everyting else, a one beautiful island, great weather,” Mr. Trump seh inna March.
Dis a nuh di first time federal prosecutors a draw up an indictment against Raúl Castro. Di US Attorney's Office inna South Florida did prepare a criminal indictment a Castro fi drug trafficking, an seh dat cocaine fram di Medellín cartel did a get to di United States fram Cuba, wid express permission fram di Cuban military. Di draft indictment did leak to di press inna 1993, but di case neva did bring to a grand jury.
It's notable dat one a di people dem weh neva deh a di announcement was José Basulto, di founder a Brothers to the Rescue, weh did deh pan a third plane dat deh day weh get weh. Im did get sick yeside an im did deh inna di hospital, im wife seh.
One a di people dem weh did deh a di announcement a di charges dem against Raúl Castro was Bryan Calvo, di mayor a Hialeah, Fla., di city wid di highest percentage a Cuban exiles an dem descendants. Calvo did born inna December 1997, more dan a year afta di downing a di planes dem weh deh central to di charges. Im seh more need fi be done. “Dis a one web a individuals,” him seh. “Obviously Castro deh pan di top a dat deh web, but di guy is 94 years old, so weh wi need fi see is a much broader effort in terms a di indictments an direct action.”
Di Department of Justice seh dat if dem get convict, di defendants dem face a maximum penalty a death or life imprisonment pan di counts a murder an conspiracy fi kill US nationals. Raúl Castro an one a di pilots dem face up to five years inna prison fi each a di destruction a aircraft counts.
Di setting fi dis announcement is highly unusual. It rare fi federal charges fi be announced before a audience a so many people. Hundreds a dignitaries an guests deh deh.
Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, Cuba's ambassador to di United Nations, tell The Times seh di Brothers to the Rescue group did violate Cuban airspace 25 times before di Cuban military did shot dung dem planes, an dat Cuban officials did repeatedly plead wid US authorities fi stop di group's flights ova Cuba, including inna a letta fram Castro-Clinton-Pident Billton.
Den him question how di US government woulda react unda similar circumstances. “How many deliberate an serious violations a US airspace woulda any US government allow before dem tek action?” him ask.
Di crème-de-la-crème a South Florida politics deh yah, including mayors, local Cuban-American politicians an former prosecutors, some a dem did work pan previous efforts fi indict Raúl Castro weh neva bore fruit. “It prove once an fi all seh it's not justice delayed an it's certainly not justice denied,” said Guy Lewis, a former US attorney fi di Southern District of Florida. “Maybe delayed a likkle bit, but certainly not denied.”
Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, Cuba's ambassador to di United Nations, tell The New York Times pan Wednesday seh di indictment a Raúl Castro a one attempt by di Trump administration fi mek a pretext fi military action against Cuba. “Mi cyan call it anodda word dan a circus — a circus dem a mount now as one more action fi justify military aggression against Cuba,” him seh.
Reporting fram Miami
Raúl Castro was Cuba's defense minister fi 49 years an also di country's president fi 12 years, serveng until 2018, afta him bredda Fidel step dung because a illness.
Raúl Castro is 94 an no hold no official title no more, but him still wield enormous power, experts seh, particularly ova di military, an him have a hand inna secret negotiations wid di Trump administration ova di current standoff between Havana an Washington.
Cuban state media still call him reverentially as “di leader a di Cuban Revolution” who, along wid Fidel, help fi lead di 1959 uprising weh topple a US-aligned dictator.
Raúl Castro frail, im no ier gud an it aad fi taak, bot im stil go a impuotant ivent an dem laas si im ina poblik pan Mie 1 a wier im milichri yuunivors a wan Intanashinal Wokaz Die paried.
Despite being known as a heavy drinker earlier in life wid a penchant fi shots a neat vodka (im did study inna Moscow an was an admirer a di former Soviet Union), Raúl Castro did a get remarkably well, him former chief a staff, Alcibiades Hidalgo, weh did defect to Florida by raft inna 2002, told The New York Times.
“Di fact remains dat as long as him alive, him ago continue fi be a decisive factor inna di country's trajectory,” Mr. Hidalgo seh.
While Fidel Castro, who did ded inna 2016 , was di revolution's charismatic leader, Raúl Castro did look content fi stay inna di background. “Raúl an Fidel did dramatically different,” seh Brian Latell, a former longtime Cuba analyst fi di CIA “Fidel was di director, him was di temperamental an creative one. Raúl did do all di backstage work.”
Afta di revolution, a did Raúl Castro weh did build di new Revolutionary Armed Forces, weh did repell di disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion weh di CIA did organize Wen Fidel Castro did declare Cuba fi be a Communist state inna 1961, Raúl Castro did do di heavy lifting fi organize di Cuban Communist Party.
As defense minister unda Fidel, Raúl Castro guide di creation a GAESA, an enormous military conglomerate weh include hotels, stores, gas stations an plenty ada businesses. Deh kansida di muos powaful ikanamik fuos ina Kyuuba.
Experts once regarded Raúl Castro as a potential change agent afta him relax some a di Cuban government's most rigorous communist economic policies, fi example by allowing Cubans fi buy an sell homes an vehicles. Inna 2015, him restore diplomatic relations wid di United States an a year later welcome President Barack Obama to Havana.
Bot im kip op di Komyuunis Paati tait palitikal kanchruol uova di ailan wan-paati sistim an mentien di ripreshan stiet sikyuoriti apaatment.
Di victims inna di downing a di 1996 Brothers to the Rescue planes did include two pilots, Mario Manuel de la Peña, 24, an Carlos A. Costa, 29, weh did a work a di Miami airport. Dem passengers dem was Armando Alejandre, 45, who was a Vietnam veteran, an Pablo Morales, 29, a Cuban exile who did get save by Brothers to the Rescue himself an goh on fi volunteer fi di group. Morales was di only one a di four man dem weh get kill weh neva a American citizen.
Di indictment accuse Castro an five others a having “participate inna a conspiracy weh did end wid Cuban military aircraft firing missiles” at civilian planes kill four people, di acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, seh.
“Nations an dem leaders cyaan be permitted fi target Americans, kill dem an not face accountability,” he added.
Di acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, seh di message a di indictment was “di United States an President Trump nuh, an naa go, forget dem citizens.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche get a standing ovation fram a crowded room a dignitaries, Cuban exiles, politicians, families a di victims an ada guests even before him staat taak. Afta im mek dem nuo bout di chaaj dem, piipl get op agen an chier im op agen.
Former President Raúl Castro a Cuba did get charge fi conspiracy fi kill US nationals, destruction a aircraft an four individual counts a murder, di acting US attorney general, Todd Blanche, seh.
“Tide wi a announce wan indictment weh a charge Raúl Castro an several ada people wid conspiracy fi kill US nationals,” di acting attorney general a di United States, Todd Blanche, seh, an mek a wave a applause.
Di setting fi di announcement a charges against Raúl Castro have a lot a significance inna Miami. Di Freedom Tower, weh dem did build inna 1925 as di headquarters a di Miami News newspaper, did serve as di Cuban Refugee Center fram 1962 to 1974. It was di first stop fi thousands a Cubans weh did run weh fram di Castro govament an dem did designate it as National Historic Landmark inna 2008.
According to di order fi unseal di indictment, one a di man dem weh dem charge wid Raúl Castro a one retired Cuban Air Force pilot, Lt. Col. Luis Raúl Gonzalez Pardo, weh dem did arrest inna November inna Florida. Dem did accuse him a lie bout him military service fi di communist government inna Cuba pan immigration forms.
Im plead guilty inna January fi fail fi admit im military record an im a fi get sentence pan May 28 inna Jacksonville federal court.
Federal charges dem file against Raúl Castro, di former Cuban leader, an five Cuban MiG pilots in Florida, according to a court order unsealing a superceding indictment. Two pilots did already get indicted inna 2003, but one a dem did dead.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio deliver a rare direct appeal to di Cuban people inna one video weh dem post pan Wednesday, di anniversary a dem independence fram Spain an US military occupation, an urge dem fi align wid di Trump administration as it a try weaken di Cuban regime.
“President Trump a offer a new path between di US an a new Cuba,” Mr. Rubio seh inna di brief video address, weh Axios did report pan Wednesday before it did post.
Inna di address, weh did inna Spanish wid English subtitles an weh did post pan di State Department's YouTube channel Wednesday morning, Mr. Rubio mention di former Cuban leader, Raúl Castro, roun di one-minute mark. Mr. Castro, who also serve as defence minister, did get indict by di Justice Department pan Wednesday fi did order di downing a two civilian planes inna 1996. Four people did get kill.
Mr. Rubio, di son a Cuban immigrants weh did fixate pan Cuba fi decades, blame di country's longstanding electricity an resource shortages pan Mr. Castro an GAESA , di military-run conglomerate weh control most aspects a di country's economy.
“Di reason yuh afi survive 22 hours a day widout electricity a nuh due to an oil blockade by di US,” Mr. Rubio seh inna Spanish. “Di real reason yuh nuh have electricity, fuel or food is because dem weh control yuh country plunder billions a dollars, but nutten neva use fi help di people dem.”
Cuba a struggle wid an energy crisis fi more dan two years because a crumbling infrastructure an a dwindling supply fram it longtime benefactor, Venezuela. Afta di United States uovachuo Venezuela's liida, Nicolás Maduro, earlier dis year, it seize control a Venezuela's oil industry an impose a effective blockade barring all foreign oil fram reaching Cuba. Di Cuban govament seh last week seh dem oil reserves did run dry .
Inna it secan term, di Trump administration ramp up efforts fi isolate di country's Communist govament an draw it closer inna di American orbit. Mr. Maduro's ouster was seen in part as an effort fi weaken Cuba .
Wednesday's message a di first direct appeal Mr. Rubio mek to di people dem a Cuba. Him have long been seen as a hawk pan policy regarding di island nation an him mek likkle secret a him hopes fi topple or undermine its government.
Pan Monday, di Trump administration did issue sanctions against some a Cuba's top leaders, including military an party officials, inna di hopes fi further pressure dem government fi overhaul dem system.
No comments:
Post a Comment