As the United States Department of Justice announced federal charges against Raúl Castro for the downing of Brothers to the Rescue aircraft, two former Cuban agents associated with the operation stepped forward to support the regime's account.
René González and Gerardo Hernández, members of the Cuban spy network known as the Wasp Network, continue to assert that the Brothers to the Rescue pilots were "CIA-trained operatives" rather than "humanitarian aviators."
The irony is hard to overlook: both men were convicted for their roles in the Cuban intelligence operations tied to the February 24, 1996 incident, where Cuban Air Force MiG fighters shot down two Cessna planes over international waters in the Florida Straits, killing four Cuban-American volunteers.
Controversial Defense of the Regime
In an interview with the state-run channel Razones de Cuba, René claimed that the founders of the organization "were trained in sabotage, terrorism, and infiltration techniques against propaganda by the CIA" since the 1960s.
González argues, "When they came to violate Cuban waters, they were free Cubans coming to claim a right. But when Cuba reacted in self-defense, they were suddenly American citizens demanding the U.S. government protect them."
What René omits is his own infiltration into Brothers to the Rescue in May 1991, where he completed 54 missions as a pilot, transmitting information about their flights and activities to Havana, as stated by founder José Basulto.
He was sentenced in 2001 to 15 years imprisonment for conspiring to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, and was released in December 2014 amidst the diplomatic thaw between the Obama administration and Cuba.
Gerardo Hernández's Standpoint
Gerardo Hernández, who led the Wasp Network in Miami, received two life sentences plus 15 months for conspiracy to commit espionage and specifically, conspiracy to commit murder related to the plane shootdown.
On Wednesday, he took to Facebook, stating that "if they open Pandora's box, many truths will finally come to light, and many myths will fall," referring to the February 24, 1996 shootdown.
He also claimed that "the United States could have prevented what happened" as Cuba had sent at least 16 diplomatic notes complaining about repeated violations of its airspace before the attack.
The four victims of the shootdown were Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales, all Cuban-American volunteers whose bodies were never recovered.
Symbolic Charges Against Raúl Castro
The charges against the 94-year-old Raúl Castro are based on a June 1996 audio recording where the then Defense Minister admits issuing the order: "Well, shoot them down at sea when they appear; and no need to consult those who have the authority."
The indictment is largely symbolic as there is no extradition treaty between Cuba and the United States, yet Brothers to the Rescue founder José Basulto expressed the sentiment of the victims' families: "I have longed for this for a long time. I have hoped for justice to be served, for justice to become reality."
Frequently Asked Questions about the Brothers to the Rescue Incident
What were the charges against Raúl Castro related to the Brothers to the Rescue incident?
Raúl Castro was charged based on an audio recording where he admitted ordering the shootdown of the planes on February 24, 1996.
Who were the victims of the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown?
The victims were Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales, all Cuban-American volunteers.
What was the role of René González in the Brothers to the Rescue incident?
René González infiltrated the organization in 1991, completed multiple missions as a pilot, and provided information to Cuba, leading to his conviction in 2001.