DATE=8/25/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237667
TITLE=CUBAN EXILE INDICTMENTS (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FEDERAL AUTHORITIES HAVE INDICTED SEVEN CUBAN-EXILES ON
CHARGES OF CONSPIRING TO MURDER CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO.
AMONG THE SEVEN IS A DIRECTOR OF THE INFLUENTIAL LOBBYING
GROUP,THE CUBAN AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION. V-O-A'S JIM TEEPLE
REPORTSTHE INDICTMENTS WERE HANDED DOWN IN SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
WHERE COAST GUARD AUTHORITIES FIRST DISCOVERED THE ALLEGED PLOT
TO KILL MR. CASTRO LAST YEAR.
TEXT: FOLLOWING A LENGTHY INVESTIGATION BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY
PROSECUTORS IN SAN JUAN HAVE CHARGED THE SEVEN CUBAN-AMERICANS
WITH PARTICIPATING IN A FOUR-YEAR CONSPIRACY TO KILL FIDEL
CASTRO. THE CHARGES STEM FROM AN INCIDENT LAST OCTOBER WHEN U-S
COAST GUARD AUTHORITIES STOPPED A 12-METER CABIN CRUISER OFF THE
COAST OF PUERTO RICO ON SUSPICION THE VESSEL WAS CARRYING DRUGS.
WHEN THEY SEARCHED THE LA ESPERANZA, U-S CUSTOMS AGENTS FOUND NO
DRUGS. INSTEAD THEY FOUND TWO ASSAULT RIFLES CAPABLE OF HITTING
LONG RANGE TARGETS, PORTABLE RADIOS, A SATELLITE
TELEPHONE,MILITARY FATIGUES AND SEVEN BOXES OF HIGH POWERED
AMMUNITION. ON BOARD THE VESSEL WERE FOUR CUBAN-EXILES. DURING
QUESTIONING ONE OF THEM CLAIMED OWNERSHIP OF THE WEAPONS SAYING
HE PLANNED TOUSE THEM TO KILL CUBAN LEADER FIDEL CASTRO AT A
LATIN AMERICAN SUMMIT TO BE HELD ON MARGARITA ISLAND OFF THE
COAST OF VENEZUELA LAST NOVEMBER.
A SUBSEQUENT FEDERAL GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT LA
ESPARANZA WAS OWNED BY JOSE ANTONIO LLAMA, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD
OF THE CUBAN AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION AND THAT THE BOAT SET
SAIL FROM A DOCK WHICH BELONGS TO ANOTHER FOUNDATION MEMBER.
MR.LLAMA WAS INDICTED ON TUESDAY BUT THE FOUNDATION'S PRESIDENT
FRANCISCO "PEPE" HERNANDEZ WAS NOT, EVEN THOUGH ONE OF THE TWO
ASSAULT RIFLES FOUND ON BOARD THE LA ESPERANZA WAS REGISTERED
UNDER HIS NAME.
U-S OFFICIALS ARE NOT COMMENTING ON THE CASE EXCEPT TO SAY THAT
IF CONVICTED THE SEVEN COULD FACE LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
// REST OPT //
MAX CASTRO IS A SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE AT THE NORTH SOUTH
CENTER IN MIAMI. MR. CASTRO WHO IS NOT RELATED TO THE CUBAN
LEADER SAYS SOME CUBAN-EXILES BELIEVE GETTING RID OF FIDEL CASTRO
BY ANY MEANS IS A WORTHY CAUSE.
// INSERT CASTRO ACTUALITY //
THE VIEW IS THAT HE IS THE EMBODIMENT OF EVIL. THE
EMBODIMENT OF EVERYTHING THAT THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT AND
THE CUBAN REVOLUTIONS STANDS FOR THAT HAS TRAUMATIZED
THE EXILES, THAT HAS DISPOSSED THEM, THAT HIS DISPLACED
THEM. THEY THINK THAT HIS DEATH WILL BE THE END OF THE
SYSTEM.
// END ACTUALITY //
OFFICIALS OF THE CUBAN AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION RELEASED A
STATEMENT TUESDAY NIGHT EXPRESSING CONFIDENCE IN THE INNOCENCE OF
JOSE ANTONIO LLAMA. THE STATEMENT CALLS THE INDICTMENT
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND SAYS THE CUBAN AMERICAN NATIONAL
FOUNDATION DOES NOT SUPPORT VIOLENCE TO ACHIEVE POLITICAL CHANGE
IN CUBA. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/PT
25-Aug-98 6:36 PM EDT (2236 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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