July 13, 2009: A Family Member Speaks Out (in Spanish)

The "13 de Marzo" Tugboat Massacre 15 Years Later: A Family Member Speaks Out (in Spanish)

Jorge Garcia lost 14 family members on July 13, 1994 when they were extrajudicially executed by Cuban government agents who attacked the tugboat "13 de Marzo" after it had surrendered. In the video below Jorge Garcia described the events leading to the massacre. This is only the first part. There are two additional videos available online as well offering more details.

REPORT Nº 47/96


CASE 11.436

VICTIMS OF THE TUGBOAT "13 DE MARZO" vs. CUBA

October 16, 1996

I. BACKGROUND

On July 19, 1994, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights received a complaint stating that in the early morning hours of July 13, 1994, four boats belonging to the Cuban State and equipped with water hoses attacked an old tugboat that was fleeing Cuba with 72 people on board. The incident occurred seven miles off the Cuban coast, opposite the port of Havana. The complaint also indicates that the Cuban State boats attacked the runaway tug with their prows with the intention of sinking it, while at the same time spraying everyone on the deck of the boat, including women and children, with pressurized water. The pleas of the women and children to stop the attack were in vain, and the old boat--named "13 de Marzo"--sank, with a toll of 41 deaths, including ten minors. Thirty-one people survived the events of July 13, 1994.

Read the full report here:

http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/96eng/Cuba11436.htm

In the above video Jorge Garcia outlines how Cuban state security attempted to neutralize him and his families moral authority to denounce their crimes. It is in Spanish and gripping testimony that relates to the power of nonviolence and love when confronted with hatred and violence.

En castellano:

INFORME Nº 47/96

CASO 11.436

VÍCTIMAS DEL BARCO REMOLCADOR "13 DE MARZO" vs. CUBA

16 de octubre de 1996

I. ANTECEDENTES

Con fecha 19 de julio de 1994, la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos recibió una denuncia según la cual en horas de la madrugada del 13 de julio de 1994, cuatro barcos pertenecientes al Estado cubano y equipados con mangueras de agua embistieron un viejo barco remolcador que huía de Cuba con 72 personas a bordo. Los hechos ocurrieron a siete millas de distancia de las costas cubanas, frente al puerto de la ciudad de La Habana. La mencionada denuncia señala, asimismo, que las embarcaciones del Estado cubano embistieron con sus respectivas proas al remolcador fugitivo con la intención de hundirlo, al mismo tiempo que les lanzaban agua a presión a todas las personas que se encontraban en la cubierta del mencionado barco, incluyendo mujeres y niños. La súplica de las mujeres y niños para que el ataque cesara fue en vano, ya que la vieja embarcación denominada "13 de Marzo" se hundió con un saldo de 41 muertos, de los cuales 10 eran menores de edad. 31 personas sobrevivieron a los sucesos del 13 de julio de 1994.

El reporte completo esta aqui:

http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/96span/Cuba11436.htm