"The first victory we can claim is that our hearts are free of hatred. Hence we say to those who persecute us and who try to dominate us: ‘You are my brother. I do not hate you, but you are not going to dominate me by fear. I do not wish to impose my truth, nor do I wish you to impose yours on me. We are going to seek the truth together’. THIS IS THE LIBERATION WHICH WE ARE PROCLAIMING."
Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas (2002)
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Brothers to the Rescue shoot down 23 years later: Memory, calling for Justice, and taking action
'Sir, I say that justice is truth in action. Truth should animate an
opposition, and I hope it does animate this opposition." - Benjamin
Disraeli, speech in the House of Commons (2 February 1851).
Artists rendering of the attack on February 24, 1996
23 years ago on Saturday, February 24, 1996
at 3:21 pm and 3:27 pm in international airspace two civilian aircraft
belonging to the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue were
destroyed by air-to-air missiles fired by a Cuban MiG-29 killing Armando
Alejandre Jr. (age 45), Carlos Alberto Costa (29), Mario Manuel de la
Peña (24), and Pablo Morales (29). Author Matt Lawrence translated and
subtitled the audio of the Cuban MiG pilots who hunted and destroyed the
two planes. The planes had been engaged in a search and rescue mission
for Cuban rafters in the Florida Straits. Three planes set out only one
returned.
Cuban dictator, then General, Raul Castro ordered the shoot down of the two planes. A fact sheet prepared earlier today
provides additional information on the months long Castro regime
conspiracy to destroy Brothers to the Rescue, and murder their pilots in
an act of state terrorism. It also provides a breakdown of the legal actions and decisions that followed afterwards.
Murdered by the Castro regime on February 24, 1996
Last year on February 23, 2018 JusticeCuba,
an international commission composed of legal, civic, and political
leaders from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Syria, Venezuela,
Spain, Peru, China, Uruguay,and Costa Rica sent a letter to the White House
calling on the President to simply follow what is in U.S. law and that
is to bring the agents of the Castro Regime responsible for the Brothers
to the Rescue shoot down to an international tribunal to be held
accountable for this crime.
Both planes were shot down in international airspace (ICAO)
Please join me today from 3:21pm to 3:27pm wherever you are for a moment
of silence at the time when the planes were attacked and shot down
murdering Armando, Carlos, Marion, and Pablo. On Sunday, February 24,
2019 at 3:00pm sharp we will gather at the sidewalk in front of the Cuban Embassy located at 2630 16th St NW, Washington, DC to protest the crimes of the Castro regime against Cubans, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans. From 3:21pm to 3:27pm we will join hands together in a silent vigil for justice in their remembrance.
Justice is truth in action. Remembering, sharing the facts with others,
and continuing to demand accountability is truth in action which is
justice. Mohandas Gandhi, the Indian independence leader who practiced
non-violence understood that "full effort is full victory." Please join us in this effort.
Please share the videos in this blog entry over your social media. Below
one of the four survivors of the plane, Jose Basulto, explains what
happened and the context.
Pido al señor presidente de Estados Unidos de América que aplique sanciones establecidas a los asesinos de sus ciudadanos intervención de negocios y expulsar de el país o carcec lo que corresponde comenzar por Obama que libero a los asesinos Castro-Canel-comunista
Pido al señor presidente de Estados Unidos de América que aplique sanciones establecidas a los asesinos de sus ciudadanos intervención de negocios y expulsar de el país o carcec lo que corresponde comenzar por Obama que libero a los asesinos Castro-Canel-comunista
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